Iyoukeen Cove & Pavlof Harbor
The smell of this morning’s breakfast was overpowered by whale breath as we watched a group of hungry humpbacks hunt for herring in the waters off Iyoukeen Cove. These waters are rich in plankton which supports tremendous numbers of schooling fish. As the humpbacks prepare for their yearly migration back to Hawaiian waters, calories become increasingly important to ensure healthy whales reach the mating grounds for their tropical love-fest.
Bubble trails and scavenging birds combined with social foraging calls through the hydrophone helped us plot the location of the lunging whales. Each humpback appeared to have a distinct style in feeding. Flukes, flippers, and bellies were visible at the surface as the whales plunged through the herring. We were mesmerized by the lunging leviathans and their huge, powerful gulps.
We weren’t the only onlookers; members of the Alaskan Whale Foundation joined us in their research vessel. Renowned scientific illustrator Pieter Folkens came aboard, accompanied by several members of his team. Together they held an informal and impromptu whale session in the lounge before we headed in to lunch.
There are no words that can capture the enormity of today’s experience.
The smell of this morning’s breakfast was overpowered by whale breath as we watched a group of hungry humpbacks hunt for herring in the waters off Iyoukeen Cove. These waters are rich in plankton which supports tremendous numbers of schooling fish. As the humpbacks prepare for their yearly migration back to Hawaiian waters, calories become increasingly important to ensure healthy whales reach the mating grounds for their tropical love-fest.
Bubble trails and scavenging birds combined with social foraging calls through the hydrophone helped us plot the location of the lunging whales. Each humpback appeared to have a distinct style in feeding. Flukes, flippers, and bellies were visible at the surface as the whales plunged through the herring. We were mesmerized by the lunging leviathans and their huge, powerful gulps.
We weren’t the only onlookers; members of the Alaskan Whale Foundation joined us in their research vessel. Renowned scientific illustrator Pieter Folkens came aboard, accompanied by several members of his team. Together they held an informal and impromptu whale session in the lounge before we headed in to lunch.
There are no words that can capture the enormity of today’s experience.
