Humpback lunge-feeding off British Columbia

This lunge-feeding humpback whale was filmed in Juan Perez Sound in the proposed Gwaii Haanas National Marine Conservation Area Reserve, Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia.
It's likely feeding on a soup of krill, Pacific herring and Pacific sardines (aka pilchards). After disappearing for almost 50 years, sardines reappeared in British Columbia's waters in 1992, and have been increasing in numbers ever since. They migrate here from California every summer to feed on plankton, including krill. Scientists think that warming waters is one of the reasons they're coming back to B.C. waters.
The humpbacks have come back too. Since the late 1990s, humpback whales have begun to rebound from the whaling moratorium set in 1967. In 2004, 387 individual humpback whales were confirmed to live in B.C.'s waters.
But as more humpbacks return to our waters, more entangled animals are being reported along our coast. Just recently, a young humpback, entangled in multiple crab trap lines, has been spotted numerous times in the waters around southern Vancouver Island. Find out more: http://wildwhales.org/?p=123

For information on humpbacks: http://wildwhales.org/?page_id=40

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• vancouver
• aquarium
• whale
• humpback
• feeding

[kirkygirl]

Did you guys happen to see the whales make any bubble nets on this trip?

Wait...do humpbacks even make bubble nets?

[VancouverAquarium]

Yes, humpbacks definitely make bubble nets to catch prey in B.C. We have information about this incredible foraging strategy, including a video, on our website. You can find the link to our web site in the "more info" section of this video.

[DaymRight]

wow!

[MetalHead4Jesus777]

Cool footage :)