Thar She Blows!!

Southeast Alaska is famous for humpback whales. We were treated to many sightings.

Humpbacks are big whales, as much as 40 tons. They are usually spotted feeding alone or in small, loose groups.

Blowing a mixture of exhausted air and seawater out their airhole signaled that our humpback had returned to the surface after a deep feeding dive.

Humpbacks did not see the Sea Lion as a threat and would continue breeching and diving in our vicinity. Several times they seemed to address our presence with friendly gestures that were not a part of their feeding behaviors.

Humpback Behaviors

Each deep dive was followed by a period of swimming near the surface, breeching and breathing. Humpbacks enjoy breeching, arching their heavy bodies out of the water at tremendous expenditure of energy. The characteristic hump on their backs -- source of their descriptive name -- is clearly visible.

Fluking

After several preliminary breeches, these whales are rested and ready for another deep dive. They must give their massive bodies a mighty downward thrust. This causes their fluke to rise high out of the water.

A humpback stays underwater for about 5 minutes on these deep feeding dives.

Playing

We also saw humpbacks simply playing. This one rose up out of the water upside down. Here his mouth is not quite open enough for us to spot his baleen. These efficient sieves capture krill and other tiny creatures out of large quantities of water.

Goodbye

Sometimes a humpback raises his flipper out of the water. It is not known what purpose this serves unless it is simply to wave goodbye.

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