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Do whales migrate along the coastline? If so, what are good months to watch for them?
A
A right whale and calf pass just offshore near Beaufort. PHOTO COURTESY OF WAYNE JUSTICE FOR THE NC AQUARIUMS
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Yes, a variety of whales pass through North Carolina waters during migration. Of the 10 great whales—animals in the order Cetacea that reach lengths of 30 feet or more—eight have been reported in our coastal waters: Minke, sei, Bryde’s, fin, blue, humpback and northern right. One of the most predictable great whales that pass through our waters is the humpback. These behemoths tend to swim near shore during migration. December and January are prime months to spot them, as they travel southward to the warmer waters of the Caribbean to breed or give birth. They pass our shoreline again in March and April on their return trip north to cool polar waters for a summer of feeding.. Humpbacks are the most animated and acrobatic of the great whales. They can lift their 40-ton bodies almost completely out of the water in a dramatic behavior called breaching and are the most vocal of the baleen whales, producing an elaborate melody of moans, yelps and chirps that make up the most complex song in the animal kingdom. Another migratory visitor to our waters is the North Atlantic right whale. From November through mid-April these leviathans make their way down the Atlantic coast. It’s estimated there are as few as 450 of these great whales, making them one of the most endangered marine mammals. Each winter, pregnant females travel more than 1,000 miles from feeding grounds off Canada and New England to the warm coastal waters of South Carolina, Georgia and northeastern Florida. These southern waters are the only known calving areas for this species. More than 20 other Cetaceans, which also include dolphins and porpoises, have been recorded in the coastal waters of the Carolinas. The most abundant Cetacean along the Atlantic Coast is the bottle-nosed dolphin; other visitors include the harbor porpoise and four species of beaked whales. Discover more fascinating facts about North Carolina’s aquatic environments and inhabitants by visiting the aquarium. Call 1-800-832-FISH for more information. €
