Dead Whales Do Tell Tales, Moe Flannery

As a member of the Marine Mammal Stranding Network, the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, along with the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, responds to any dead whale that strands along the Pacific coast between the Rockport in Mendocino County and the San Mateo/Santa Cruz county line. Each carcass offers scientists the opportunity to learn about the health of whale populations and the threats that they face. By performing necropsies in the field, scientists collect valuable data about whale migration patterns, habitat threats, human impacts, and geographic distribution that help to inform critical conservation decisions and scientific research. Moe Flannery will share some of the stories uncovered during recent whale post-mortem exams along our local coastlines. American Cetacean Society - SF Bay Chapter This event is open to the public. Admission is free. Registration is recommended as we expect a high level of interest! We’ll reserve seats for Eventbrite registrants. Donations are encouraged, $10 general, $5 students. Donations support education programs that build appreciation for whales, dolphins, and porpoises, and research grants which help the next generation of marine scientists deepen understanding of threats to cetaceans and find solutions to protect and conserve them. ABOUT MOE FLANNERY Moe Flannery M.S., Ornithology and Mammalogy Senior Collection Manager, California Academy of Sciences As the Ornithology and Mammalogy Senior Collection Manager at the California Academy of Sciences, Moe Flannery manages over 140,000 bird and mammal specimens for scientific research. These specimens originate from all parts of the globe and range in size from an 80’ blue whale skeleton to tiny hummingbird eggs. Of particular note is the Academy’s marine mammal collection, which includes the world’s largest collection of California sea lion specimens. Moe serves as Principal Investigator on several grants supporting work with the Marine Mammal Stranding Network, specifically directing the field collection of marine mammal data and specimens. The Academy’s work with marine mammals is highlighted in the current exhibit Giants of Land and Sea. Moe received her M.S. in Ecology and Systematic Biology from San Francisco State University, studying the co-speciation between quill mites and their bird hosts. She holds a B.A. in Asian Studies from Dartmouth College.