Recognizing repeated song structure
Payne and Scott McVay’s 1971 paper Songs of humpback whales reported that humpbacks produced ordered sound sequences lasting seven to thirty minutes and then repeated them closely. Successive songs by an individual retained their theme order while the number of phrases within themes varied, allowing researchers to compare repeated structure and individual differences.
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Bringing whale sounds to listeners
Payne’s work with Katy Payne and McVay investigated whale sounds as organized patterns. His 1970 album Songs of the Humpback Whale introduced underwater recordings to a broad audience and supplied memorable material for whale-conservation campaigns.
Following individual whales
Payne initiated long-term southern right whale research in Patagonia. Recognizing individuals through distinctive head markings enabled researchers to follow their lives across repeated observations. He founded the organization later known as Ocean Alliance in 1971, linking sustained observation, acoustic research and public communication.