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A Cape Cod Notebook can be heard every Tuesday morning at 8:45am and afternoon at 5:45pm.It's commentary on the unique people, wildlife, and environment of our coastal region.A Cape Cod Notebook commentators include:Robert Finch, a nature writer living in Wellfleet who created, 'A Cape Cod Notebook.' It won the 2006 New England Edward R. Murrow Award for Best Radio Writing.

Do Whales Perform for Whalewatch Boats?

Bruce Irschick / flickr

Flipper-smacking, lobtailing, breaching - on a recent whalewatch boat trip, Robert Finch witnessed the most spectacular humpback acrobatics he had ever seen.  And it got him to wondering: do whales play to the crowd? After all, a whole generation of whales have now grown up in the presence of whale boats. Maybe they like performing. 

And if they did - how would we know, except by their actions?

Listen to the audio essay above.

Robert Finch is a nature writer living in Wellfleet. 'A Cape Cod Notebook' won the 2006 New England Edward R. Murrow Award for Best Radio Writing.