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Fair Wind II Photo Gallery
2007 Whale Photos - 12/27/07
Photos from the Hula Kai Whale Watch - Thursday
Photos by CJ Kale Photography | visit website |
12/27/07 (Thursday)
Aloha and welcome aboard!
Today was the first time this season that we saw Humpbacks (Megaptera novaeangliae) in Kailua Bay. We had just left our home port of Keauhou and within 10 minutes of cruising we spotted a mother, calf, and escort. While we watched them, I explained the dynamics of life in a three whale pod. The calf was not very active, just coming up to breathe and then diving. Even something as simplistic as this can be educational, for instance, I got an opportunity to explain echelon swimming and how the mom assists the calf to the surface to get it's breath. These are important developmental skills that must be learned in order for the calf to survive. Not wanting to disturb them we pushed on towards the 'lek'. Once there, we had to go quite a ways before we saw our next whales, but when we did, we were rewarded with 2 breaches right next to the boat. Once again we encountered a couple of Manta Rays (Manta birostris) just hanging out near the surface. We also saw 2 bottle-nose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Still no singers, but it's early in the season, they'll be here before you know it. Be sure to check out our site tomorrow to read about the ever changing adventures aboard the Hula Kai. Till then, Aloha.
Jonathan Opey
Director, Hawai'i Marine Research Center
| email Jonathan |
Reservations / Info:
808-345-0268
800-677-9461
------------------------------
Hula Kai Photo Gallery
