Eighteen whales washed up dead or stranded on New York and New Jersey shores November and December 2022, the most recent fatality being a humpback struck by a ship. The number of incidents in this east coast cluster is abnormally high, a reminder of sea life’s increasing fragility. Some scientists suspect things like off-shore wind farms, navy sonar training, seismic surveys and shipping activity are disrupting whale’s natural sonar and hearing. Since 1989, one whale’s distinctive voice has been picked up and tracked annually from August to February by navy hydrophones designed to detect enemy submarines in the Pacific Ocean. This whale puzzles cetologists. It is solitary. It has never been seen, nor does it fraternize with other whales. Its species and gender are not known. Though its migratory behavior is eccentric, some suggest it could be a blue whale or fin whale. The whale’s calls are recorded at 52 hertz frequency -- slightly above a tuba’s bottom note -- much higher than ordinary whale calls and markedly persistent. Affectionately called “52 Hertz”, its sonic signature does not resemble a blue whale’s normal vocal patterns or any other whale “speech”. Perhaps 52 Hertz is malformed or a hybrid. A strong possibility is deafness. No other whale calls out like 52 Hertz. How can a deaf whale make coherent clicks, whistles and pulsed calls it has never heard? How can other whales possibly understand or respond to what they hear as gibberish? Human beings have long been fascinated by whales and their mysterious lives. We admire their gracefulness, mystery, power, loyalty and mutual support. Few sights are more delightful than whale mothers caring for their babies. We feel sadness for 52 Hertz, a highly intelligent social being, utterly without companionship and totally alone in the vast Pacific. Yet its size contributes greatly to its well-being and longevity. As well, surely 52 Hertz’s mother imparted critical information and survival skills in its first year of life. Why am I inclined to pray to God for 52 Hertz? For this whale to be spared from colliding with a ship. For its stomach to be free of plastic. To be preserved from deadly human encounters. For human beings to know their lives are enriched by the lives of whales. As I believe God hears and answers me, a human creature, I believe God cares for 52 Hertz like a shepherd with tenderness and compassion. Call to me and I will answer you, says the Lord, and I will tell you great and hidden things which you have not known. [Jer 33:3] Father Barker
Eighteen whales washed up dead or stranded on New York and New Jersey shores November and December 2022, the most recent fatality being a humpback struck by a ship. The number of incidents in this east coast cluster is abnormally high, a reminder of sea life’s increasing fragility. Some scientists suspect things like off-shore wind farms, navy sonar training, seismic surveys and shipping activity are disrupting whale’s natural sonar and hearing.