Jim Brandenburg / Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) flying over water, Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Florida

Flip Nicklin / Southern Right Whale (Eubalaena australis) researchers Roger Payne, right, Jim Darling, left, and Gustavo Alvarez Colombo, center, watching individual dive, Peninsula Valdez, Argentina

Jim Brandenburg / Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) flying, Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Sanibel Island, Florida

Flip Nicklin / Biopsy dart in fin of Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) to collect samples of fat and skin for genetic tests, southeast Alaska

Flip Nicklin / Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) researcher Dr James Darling holds tip of biopsy dart used to collect genetic data on whales, southeast Alaska

Jim Brandenburg / White Ibis (Eudocimus albus) flock foraging in tidal flats, Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Florida

Jim Brandenburg / Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) flying over water, catching food on the wing, Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Sanibel Island, Florida

Jim Brandenburg / Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) flying over water, Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Sanibel Island, Florida

Flip Nicklin / Southern Right Whale (Eubalaena australis) researcher Jim Darling pets friendly individual, Peninsula Valdez, Argentina

Flip Nicklin / Southern Right Whale (Eubalaena australis) researcher Jim Darling pets friendly individual, Peninsula Valdez, Argentina

Flip Nicklin / Southern Right Whale (Eubalaena australis) researchers Jim Darling and Roger Payne photographing flipper, Peninsula Valdez, Argentina

Flip Nicklin / Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) researchers Lea Gerber and Dr James Darling shoot biopsy darts at whales with dart bouncing off whale unnoticed, carrying a sample of fat and skin in the tip, A...

Ralph Pace / Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) biologist Jim Darling and photographer Flip Nicklin observing whales, Maui, Hawaii, image taken under NMFS Permit # 19225

Flip Nicklin / Humpback whale researcher Jim Darling reviewing ID photos i n his home, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada

Flip Nicklin / Marine biologist Dr. Jim Darling listening to and recording Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) songs, Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, Maui, Hawaii

Flip Nicklin / Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) researcher Jim Darling listening to and recording whale songs, Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, Maui, Hawaii

Flip Nicklin / Orca (Orcinus orca) pair filmed for 'Island of the Whales' by Koji Nakamura and Jim Darling, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada

Flip Nicklin / Orca (Orcinus orca) pair filmed for 'Island of the Whales' by Koji Nakamura and Jim Darling, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada

Flip Nicklin / Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) researcher Dr James Darling playing song live from Maui to son's school in British Columbia, Canada

Flip Nicklin / Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) researcher Jim Darling photographing whales for identification, southeast Alaska

Flip Nicklin / Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) shot by researcher Dr Jim Darling with a biopsy dart to collect samples of fat and skin for genetic tests, southeast Alaska

Jim Darling / Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) tail, Frank, taken in March 10, 1979 Same whale was photographed by F Nicklin in March 1, 1997, Maui, Hawaii

Flip Nicklin / Tourists viewing Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), Hawaii

Flip Nicklin / Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) researcher Dr James Darling listening to whales, Hawaii

Flip Nicklin / Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) songs being recorded by Dr James Darling and research assistant, Maui, Hawaii

Flip Nicklin / Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) biologist examining data at campfire, Alaska

Flip Nicklin / Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) researcher Dr James Darling listening to singing whales, Maui, Hawaii

Flip Nicklin / Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) research notes taken by Dr James Darling while observing whales, southeast Alaska

Flip Nicklin / Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) researcher Dr James Darling photographing tail for identification purposes, Southeast, Alaska