Whale Bones (Ep. 5): Piecing Together a Whale Skeleton

With plans in hand, Mike turns to collaborator Katie Ford to craft a steel framework that will hold the young whale’s skeleton together. Before the humpback bones set out on their journey back north along the British Columbia coast to their final destination, we dive into humpback migration, hitchhiking barnacles, and the mystery behind humpback songs.

Hey, teachers! Here’s a cheat sheet of what’s included in this episode of Whale Bones:
- Humpback whales: migration, winter breeding grounds, birth and babies, summer feeding grounds, humpback whale barnacles, singing
- Humpback whale skeleton: isotope analysis of barnacles, building the steel framework for the skeleton, why build a skeleton display

This episode is part of our series Whale Bones, where we follow the story of a young humpback whale—revealed through his bones.

Created by the Hakai Institute
Produced and edited by Meigan Henry
Videography by Kristina Blanchflower, Grant Callegari, and Bennett Whitnell
Additional imagery and audio provided by blackboxguild/Adobe, patrick/Adobe, viorel/Adobe, Shanna Baker, skirkvold/iNaturalist, the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Chris Gabriele/National Park Service, NOAA taken under MMHSRP Permit #932-1489, NOAA Fisheries, Aleria Jensen/NOAA/NMFS/AKFSC, BlackBoxGuild/Pond5, EthanD/Pond5, luisleamus549/Pond5, MarQ/Pond5, Rohrlach/Pond5, Ulannaqlngemann/Pond5, Katrina Pyne, Josh Silberg, Storyblocks, Eric A. Lazo-Wasem/Yale Peabody Museum, and Matt Zeleny
Illustrations and maps by Mercedes Minck
Title graphic by Josh Silberg
Special thanks to Mike deRoos, Michiru Main, Katie Ford, Jackie Hildering/Marine Education & Research Society (MERS), Paul Cottrell/DFO, Stephen Raverty/DFO, Tyrell Froese, Alyssa Gehman, Carly Janusson, and Larry Taylor

If you see an injured, stranded, entangled, or dead animal, keep your distance and contact the appropriate authorities:
24/7 marine mammal species incident hotline: [phone]

[MrPortsider]

Kudos to Mike and all involved in this project. I've enjoyed every episode and look forward to the next.

[anselmussudirman]

I get into the habit of reading Hakai Magazine on a regular basis. Thank you very much for the detailed information and marine knowledge.

[davegarrison]

I am just loving this series! I can't wait for the next one!

[FeeaarrTannk]

6:16 “complex medoly? “ I heard that 😂. Great video tho .