Did you know that Humpback Whales have one of the longest migrations of any animal? Each year they spend their summers in polar regions and their winters in warmer climes closer to the equator. Imagine swimming from Alaska to Hawai’i then back again every year, almost every year of your life. Oh and you also don’t get to eat during your winter vacation in the tropics, there’s not really that much food and you’re worried about finding the perfect mate anyway. That what these 50 foot long animals do though. While we are neither the Hawaiian Islands nor Alaska, Humpbacks seem to like taking a little rest here in the Salish Sea before they finish their migration both heading north and south. We’re sort of a little rest stop, and that is why today, Sunday we were able to see some pretty amazing Humpbacks.
It was another beautiful, sunny spring day, and Captain Mike, Chris, and I set out with some wonderful folk to find – as per usual – some whales. We headed south pretty much on just Captain Mike’s hunch, but as we stopped and looked at adorable Harbor Seals and then an enormous group of Steller’s his hunch seemed to be paying off. First there was a baby Steller’s Sea Lion, which definitely isn’t supposed to be there. Babies are born in the summer and I’ve never seen one here, ever. But maybe this was just the right time. It was super cute to see this furry blob lying next to the giant 12 foot long male Sea Lions on the rocks.
Then we headed out to deep water right where the Strait of Juan de Fuca meets Haro Strait, and pretty soon we saw that Capt. Mike’s hunch definitely did pay off. In the distance towards the Olympic Mountain Range there was huge splashes that could only be made by a breaching whale! AS we approached we saw that it wasn’t just one Humpback but two, and mother and calf pair! The calf seemed to be super happy about something so he/she was breaching left and right complete each time with a body spin. Imagine a 18 ton ballerina doing a pirouette before slamming their back into the water. That’s sort of what it was like but better. Mother watched and tail slapped along while baby had its fun. I think Humpbacks have some of the best breaches because they do achieve an amazing spin as they rotate each time to lan don their back (they hate belly flops too) and their pectoral fins are also extremely long and wing like making them look even more graceful. This is also the first time I’ve ever seen a Humpback breach here! Usually they just want to rest and eat before they continue you on their long journey, but today was our lucky day! We got to watch this calf jump and jump and jump and I could almost imagine it saying “weeeee!” each time if you can forgive my anthropomorphism. After awhile this pair was identified as Big Momma and her calf, which is great since she comes back almost every year and has brought several calves through as well.
It was soon time to head back, but not before we got to stop and see a mother Bald Eagle feeding her chicks in the nest! Whooo what another San Juanderful day, hope yours is as whale.
Naturalist Erick
M/V Sea Lion
Big Mama's calf breaches and spins
Big Mama's calf breaches in Juan de Fuca Strait