 | |||
| Blue Whale in Monterey Bay- Photo by Erin Cummings |
This photo was taken on April 30th! There were around 4-5 giant blue whales in the bay that day which was a delightful surprise to all who got to see them. We set out on our whale watching cruise expecting to see the major contenders for early spring: humpbacks, grays, or killer whales. The tall blow of the blue whale was unmistakable, and we alerted our passengers on board that they were about to witness something they might never get the chance to see again.
Blue whales are most frequently sighted in our area in mid-summer through the fall when krill, a small shrimp-like crustacean, is found in huge swarms. Upwelling processes occur after strong winds push surface water offshore and bring nutrients from the deep to the surface-- this supplies a base for incredible krill numbers. Blues came to the bay in 2010 in numbers that hadn't been rivaled since 2003. Could this early sighting of blue whales in the bay be a sign that this year will be as incredible as the last? Or did the blues stop by for a quick snack and then move on? We'll all have to wait and see!
