Federal officials warn mariners that North Atlantic right whales have been spotted in the ocean south of the Vineyard, and a voluntary vessel restriction zone has been temporarily put in place to protect the endangered mammals.

The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Association said 10 right whales were spotted south of the two Islands on Feb. 24.

Hurricanes may begin to strike the southern New England coastline more often and more ferociously than at any time since colonial settlement, according to a new study that offers evidence of ancient hurricane landfalls in the Northeast.

Frigid temperatures and snow cover have put Island birds to the test this winter. Many species are getting by with the help of bird feeders. The barn owl population has been especially hard-hit.

More than 10 years after the state began studying Tashmoo Pond as part of the Massachusetts Estuaries Project, a final report on the pond’s declining health is expected to be released this week.

The gibbous moon appears next to the bright planet Jupiter on Sunday night.

A recurring theme this week is that cold weather, wind, snow and ice make birds show up in unexpected places and do unexpected things.