The Humpbacks are Coming! The Humpbacks are Coming!

In recent weeks, Humpback whales are being spotted up and down the US Pacific coastline in great numbers.  Why?

Because there's plenty to eat close to shore.  Robert Pitman, a marine biologist with the National Marine Fisheries Service in La Jolla, said humpbacks typically feed offshore but will occasionally come close to shore in search of small schooling fish such as anchovies and sardines.

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What's more, the humpback population is rebounding.  Biologists estimate the population of humpback whales in the northern Pacific Ocean to be 20,000, according to Pitman. That is close to the number of whales before they were systematically hunted in the 1800s.

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Humpback whales have been on the federal endangered species list but, due to the recent surge. However, they have rebounded to the point the federal government is in the process of de-listing them.

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Apparently there is currently an abundance of fish in the offshore waters.  In addition to the humpbacks, dozens of dolphins and seals as well as hundreds of brown pelicans have been feeding on the bait fish.

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Blue whales, the largest of all existing creatures,apparently, are also on the rebound,  Big as they are, blue whales feed on itty bitty krill... which also appears to be in abundance this year.

(I'm not a humpback whale.  I'm a killer whale.)

Whales charms to celebrate

on etsy and eBay

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