Whale & Wildlife Report | January 15-21, 2023
Highlights
Humpback whales
Humpback vocalizations
Reef manta rays
Whale shark
Whale & Wildlife Report | January 15-21, 2023
This week the male humpbacks took the spotlight! We encountered large social groups and multiple singers during our whale-watching trips. When in Hawaii, male humpbacks will breed, socialize, compete for females, and sing! When we spotted a group of males, we used our onboard hydrophone to capture their songs beneath the surface! Check out the recording below from Captain Andrew to hear their beautiful and haunting melody!
We were thrilled to share this experience with our guests as it’s not every day that we get to listen to an underwater symphony. Recordings like this are especially momentous, and we are able to get a glimpse into the complex and beautiful communications of these ocean giants. We hope to share more of these special moments with our guests on upcoming tours!
We had a BIG surprise this week, courtesy of the Kona Coast and Mother Nature…. a whale shark! We were watching a group of humpbacks off Makalawena Beach when our crew noticed a large dark shape beneath the surface. As the shape approached we excitedly realized that it was a whale shark! Whale sharks can be found year-round in the waters of Hawaii, and they are one of our favorite species to encounter. This whale shark was gracefully grazing beneath the waves and filter-feeding along the ocean’s surface. For many ocean enthusiasts, whale sharks are a bucket list encounter!
Naturalist Kelsi captured this amazing underwater image of the whale shark using her GoPro. Similar to other animals with distinct markings, whale sharks have unique spotting and patterns. Similar to our research contribution with humpbacks, we submitted our photos to Hawaii Uncharted to see if this individual has been identified! This was a beautiful and memorable encounter for everyone onboard. The waters surrounding the Big Island are home to lots of exciting species, many of which cannot be found anywhere else in Hawaii! While encounters like these are unique, they are not uncommon. The Big Island’s marine life is unrivaled, and every tour has the opportunity for exciting sightings like this one!
Humpback whale song captured with our hydrophone! Recording by: Captain Andrew Aggergaard
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