ON CAPE COD BAY, Massn (May 7 2008). - A spotter bangs three times on the boat's cabin roof, signaling the captain to cut the throttle — now. In the foggy gray of Cape Cod Bay, the reason for the abrupt stop soon becomes apparent: The research vessel is surrounded by rare North Atlantic right whales, their glossy black heads bobbing just above the surface as they feed on plankton slicks. Read on more about this Associated Press article written by Jay Lindsay by clicking here.

Picture above: A ballet of three right whale tails are all that is visible of this surface active group (SAG) in Cape Cod Bay near Provincetown, Mass., Thursday afternoon, April 10, 2008. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)