It was one of those days where it seemed we couldn’t go very far without finding another whale in the distance! It started not 10 minutes outside of the Harbour when we spotted our first whale. It turned out this was actually two different whales travelling together just north of Snake Island.

These two whales were great to watch since they were spending a lot of time at the surface and being very consistent and easy to follow, but as you may know there is a downside to having all this surface time. When the humpbacks aren’t diving as deep it means that they don’t usually lift their tail up out of the water. Their tail is what we need to ID them unless they have distinct dorsal fin features, which neither of these whales had. Unfortunately, that means that these two will remain a mystery to us!

After spending some quality time with these two whales we continued the search for wildlife around Gabriola Island and out into the Strait of Georgia. It was close to the Northern tip of the island a few miles out that we spotted the second set of whales! Out of these two, we were able to ID one of them as Kelpie (KEZ0009) but the friend remained a mystery due to the uncooperativeness with their tail. While we were watching this pair Kelpie was swimming on their side, having their tail come out of the water sideways every once in a while.

While preparing to leave these two to their playful activity, we spotted one last set of blows in the distance. These two both cooperated and let us see their tail, It was Honu (BCX1856) and BCX1965 travelling together!

Travelling in pairs or small groups may offer several benefits to humpback whales, enhancing their survival and social interactions in various ways:

Protection from Predators: Humpback whales, especially calves, face threats from predators such as killer whales (orcas). Travelling in pairs or small groups might provide them with safety in numbers, making it more challenging for predators to single out and attack an individual whale.
Coordinated Feeding: While humpback whales typically feed individually, travelling in pairs or groups can be advantageous when hunting for prey. They can work together to corral schools of fish or krill, making it easier for each whale to feed efficiently.
Social Bonding: Traveling in pairs can allow humpback whales to engage in social interactions, strengthening bonds between individuals. These interactions contribute to the social cohesion of whale populations, promoting cooperation and mutual support.
Mating Opportunities: During the mating season, male humpback whales often form pairs or small groups with a female, competing for her attention. This behaviour enhances their chances of successful mating and reproduction.
Learning and Knowledge Sharing: Younger or less experienced whales can learn essential skills and behaviours by travelling with more experienced individuals. This learning process can include finding food, navigating migration routes, and understanding social cues.
Communication: Traveling in pairs or small groups might allow humpback whales to engage in complex communication. Vocalizations, body language, and other forms of communication are crucial for social interactions, mating rituals, and maintaining group cohesion.

While we aren’t quite sure yet which one of these theories plays the most important role in why we see humpback whales travelling in pairs or larger groups, it will be interesting to learn more as more research is done!

Our onboard marine naturalist Val Watson got some great photos of the whales and other wildlife that were seen during this tour, all of which can be viewed below.

September 28, 2023 - A whole lot of Humpbacks!

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