Beaked whales (family Ziphiidae) consist of at least 21 different species in six genera with relatively little known about many of the species. Research on this family of odontocetes has increased in the last two decades as a result of a mass stranding event of beaked whales in the Bahamas in 2000 in association with a U.S. Navy training event. Results of this research have identified echolocation click characteristics for several species from different areas of the world based upon both tag data and passive acoustic monitoring data

A passive-acoustic glider survey was conducted in the Mariana Islands Range Complex (MIRC) between 2 March and 27 April 2015 (data collection period: 6 March–7 April 2015). The goal of the project was to investigate the spatial distribution and temporal occurrence of odontocetes and mysticetes in offshore areas east of the Mariana Islands. The survey was essentially an exploration of offshore areas adjacent to Guam, Rota, Tinian, and Saipan. The areas east of the Mariana Islands are difficult to access and survey, and thus not much is known about the abundance and distribution of cetaceans in these offshore areas. Few dedicated marine mammal surveys have been conducted in these waters to date, and any additional effort improves the understanding and awareness of marine mammal occurrence in MIRC.

A passive-acoustic glider survey was conducted in the Hawaii Range Complex (HRC) between 11 December 2014 and 26 January 2015. The goal of the project was to investigate the spatial and temporal distribution of odontocetes and mysticetes in offshore areas south of the Main Hawaiian Islands. The survey was essentially an exploration of offshore seamounts and adjacent abyssal areas.

eaked whales (family Ziphiidae) were automatically detected post exercise in recorded acoustic data collected before, during and after a February 2012 U.S. Naval training event at the PMRF, Kauai, Hawaii.

Beaked whale foraging pulses were detected on the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) off Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi, via long term passive acoustic monitoring. The unidentified pulses do not match foraging pulses of known species on the range but are similar to the unidentified beaked whale first detected at Cross Seamount, Hawaiʻi. Although there has not been a visual confirmation of the unidentified beaked whale species, analysis of data collected from 2007 to 2019 has identified beaked whale foraging dive characteristics from echolocation pulses.

Beaked whale foraging pulses were detected on the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) off Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi, via long term passive acoustic monitoring. The unidentified pulses do not match foraging pulses of known species on the range but are similar to the unidentified beaked whale first detected at Cross Seamount, Hawaiʻi. Although there has not been a visual confirmation of the unidentified beaked whale species, analysis of data collected from 2007 to 2019 has identified beaked whale foraging dive characteristics from echolocation pulses.

This report documents Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Pacific marine mammal monitoring efforts in fiscal year (FY) 2021 for Commander, Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT) at the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF), Kaua‘i, Hawai‘i.

This report documents Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific (NIWC Pacific) marine mammal monitoring efforts in fiscal year (FY) 2020 for Commander, Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT) at the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF), Kauai, Hawaii.

This report documents Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific (NIWC Pacific) marine mammal monitoring efforts in fiscal year (FY) 2019 for Commander, Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT) at the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF), Kauai, Hawaii.

This report documents the Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Pacific Whale Acoustic Reconnaissance Project (WARP) Laboratory’s marine mammal monitoring efforts in fiscal year (FY) 2024 for Commander, Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT) at the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF), Kaua‘i, Hawai‘i.

This report documents the Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Pacific Whale Acoustic Reconnaissance Project (WARP) Laboratory’s marine mammal monitoring efforts in fiscal year (FY) 2023 for Commander, Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT) at the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF), Kaua‘i, Hawai‘i.

This report documents Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific (NIWC Pacific) marine mammal monitoring efforts in fiscal year (FY) 2022 for Commander, Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT) at the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF), Kaua'i, Hawai

Beaked whales produce frequency-modulated echolocation pulses that appear to be species-specific, allowing passive acoustic monitoring to play a role in understanding spatio-temporal patterns. The Cross Seamount beaked whale is known only from its unique echolocation signal (BWC) with no confirmed species identification. This beaked whale spans the Pacific Ocean from the Mariana Archipelago to Baja California, Mexico, south to the equator, but only as far north as latitude 29°N. Within these warm waters, 92% of BWC detections occurred at night, 6% during crepuscular periods, and only 2% during daylight hours.