 |
|
Whale Watch Log, pictures, and Videos Humpback Whale Facts Mature length 50-55 feet. Females larger than males. There are three independant populations of Humpback worldwide which do not seem to intermingle: North Pacific, North Atlantic, and Southern Ocean (section under construction)
Thursday, February 25, 2010 Sailing conditions were calm, which allowed us to see many whales. Three breached today, one about 40 feet from the boat! We lost count of how many Tails and pectoral fin slaps we saw. Great Day! Thursday, February 4, 2010 During windy conditions, returning from a sunset sail, we again spotted a whale just outside Honokohau Harbor entrance. Great sailing in 18 to 24 knots of wind! Monday, February 1, 2010 Thar she blows! Just 200 yards from Honokohau harbor entrance, in shallow water (115 feet) as we were returning from a beautiful Sunset Sail, a small baby Humpback surfaced just 100 feet in front of Holy Grail. It was certainly a newborn, just 15 feet long or so. Strangely, we did not see the mother, as they are generally close together. Sunday, January 31, 2010 We
are presently at the peak of the whale watch season, when it is
possible to experience an up close and personal relationship with our
50 ton friends. Even if you do not want to charter a boat, you can still see
them from shore. Try to watch from an elevated position. In Keauhou, go
to the "End of the World" and walk along the shoreside road. There
are spots about 50 feet above sea level. Most locals can tell you where it is, or call Captain Howard and he will be glad to help. Also if you drive north of
Kawaihae, you can park along the coastal road to Hawi for really good
viewing. Binoculars are helpful, and morning is the best time because the water is a little calmer
and the sun is behind you, reducing glare on the water. Enjoy! Sunday, January 2, 2010 The whales are here and putting on a spectacular
show. Today we saw many "blows," a few tails and one
magnificent "breach" where the whale came almost completely out of the
water. There were at least five individuals blowing, slapping tails, breaching and spy-hopping. At the time Holy Grail was sailing just three miles north of Honokohau Harbor and less than half a mile offshore. It was a very clear day, with breezes to 15 knots... great sailing! Migration & Seasonality The North Pacific migration pattern is annual, wintering in Hawaii and summering in Pacific Northwest and Alaska. This pattern may have evolved around the gestation period of 11 months. Males often escourt females during migration and stay attached during the winter mating or birthing season.
Here in the warm water of Hawaii, Humpbacks mate and give birth. They do not feed in warm water. In the nutrient rich cold water of Alaska, and Pacific Northwest, they feed on about 5000 lbs of krill and small fish daily. After about five years old, females mate and give birth every two or three years, and their babies stay with them for about two years. (section under construction) Click underlined blue links below for whale videos, stills and logs Humpback Whales, 19 amazing Flip Nicklin Photos from National Geographic. "Famous for their acrobatic leaps and haunting songs, these whales are
slowly revealing the mysteries of their underwater behavior." Intelligent Humpback Hunters team up Sperm Whale vs Giant Squid Holy Grail, Inc.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
