Featured Image: Elaine Thompson / AP Photo
By: Alice Morris
The Puget Sound is rich in wildlife, both aquatic and terrestrial. Hundreds of species of birds call this corner of Washington home, and mammals such as orcas, sea lions, and sea otters draw nature lovers to the picturesque spot every year.
Humpback whales once thrived here as well, but decades of commercial whaling decimated the population. Now, it looks like these incredible whales are finally making a comeback.
Passengers aboard the whale-watching group Puget Sound Express were treated to an amazing show last month when they spotted a large group of humpback whales, an increasingly common sight in the Sound.
For the past few years, humpback whales have been returning to the area in numbers that haven’t been observed for decades.
Image Credit: Wikipedia Commons
Back in 2013, Tom Averna of Deer Harbor Charters on Orcas Island commented on the whales’ recovery:
“We had up to five humpbacks here for about ten days in May. And we’re continuing to see them into June. I don’t recall having humpbacks in the islands like this in the 25 years I’ve been running trips.”
And it appears, based on the most recent video taken in mid-July, that those numbers are continuing to grow.
The whales are coming to the Sound to feed on krill and small fish, and the presence of many mother whales and young calves indicates that the Sound is once again becoming a suitable nursery habitat for the whales.
Marine zoologist and Science Advisor to the Pacific Whale Watch Association (PWWA), Anna Hall, PhD is optimistic that the whales will continue to seek the Sound out year after year.
Image Credit: © Brandon Cole
“The mothers seem to feel this is a safe place to take the calves,” said Dr. Hall. “There appears to be plenty of food for her to sustain herself, while also weaning her baby, teaching it how to feed. This is great news.”
An estimated 1,600 humpback whales feed off the west coast of North America between the spring and the fall before making their long migration south to the warmer waters of Mexico, Central America, and Hawaii.
Researchers estimate that around 18,000 humpbacks now live in the North Pacific, a dramatic increase from the 1,500 or so that existed back in 1966 when whale hunting was banned.
The Puget Sound has long been a popular destination due to its breathtaking beauty and remarkable wildlife. Now, with the return of these humpback whales, we have one more reason to visit this beautiful corner of the world!
Read more about the humpback’s recovery and the Puget Sound here and here.