While watching whales from a vessel, you may often wonder if the whales know that you are there. If so, does it bother them? The short answer: It would be great if we could ask the whales themselves! But, until then, we have to interpret their behavior in the presence of vessels and physiology to … Continue reading Do whale watching boats bother the whales?
Ask the Naturalist: How long can a whale hold its breath?
As mammals, all whale species have to breathe air. This is good for whale watchers, because otherwise we’d hardly ever get to see these animals who spend the majority of their life underwater! It's these short moments at the surface of the water that we get to watch them! But, sometimes as quickly as they … Continue reading Ask the Naturalist: How long can a whale hold its breath?
Ask the Naturalist: Why do whales breach?
Seeing the body of a whale launch itself out of the water is one of the most awe-inspiring behaviors you can see on a whale watch! You see it on all the TV shows, you see it on all the brochures that advertise whale watching, but what’s the likelihood that you’ll actually see it on … Continue reading Ask the Naturalist: Why do whales breach?
How do you find whales on a whale watch?
Feature image: Naturalist Jon Brink, searching for whales (Photo: Jenna Schwerzmann) The whole purpose of a whale watch is to see whales, right? But, how do you find them? The short answer: The best way to find whales is: To look for them! It might sound obvious, but since whales are highly mobile and can … Continue reading How do you find whales on a whale watch?