Researchers have identified the oldest-known recording of humpback whale song, captured in March 1949 off Bermuda, offering new insight into whale communication and the late-1940s ocean soundscape.

Whale vocalizations, including clicks, whistles, and calls, serve essential roles in navigation, foraging, social interaction, and survival.

The recording was preserved on a Gray Audograph disc and surfaced during digitization of archival audio, reflecting how primitive equipment of the era could still capture meaningful whale sounds.

The research is supported by the Walton Family Foundation, and the article highlights the importance of free press and trusted journalism in communicating scientific discoveries.

WH0I Archivist Jester notes the value of historical data for understanding past soundscapes and the need to preserve recordings to travel back in time for future research.

The digitization process and the scientists’ choice to record even when not actively using sonar demonstrate a culture of meticulous data preservation that enabled this historical find.

Ashley Jester, a WHOI archivist, is digitizing aging audio formats, prioritizing materials at higher risk of deterioration, including reel-to-reel tapes and Gray Audograph discs.

Historically, humpback whales were endangered by commercial whaling, with a U.S. moratorium established in 1985, and some populations remain protected as endangered or threatened.

The recording setup used a hydrophone connected to a transducer and an inverter to capture simultaneous sonar and Audograph writing, producing unusually clear audio for its time.

The finding was reported on March 16, 2026, adding historical context to current studies of marine mammal acoustics.

Roger Payne’s 1970 album Songs of the Humpback Whale, which sold over 100,000 copies, helped catalyze the global movement to end commercial whaling.

The same album by Roger Payne played a pivotal role in mobilizing support to end commercial whaling, reinforcing the impact of marine acoustics on conservation.