Life has a way of handing us great moments when we least expect them. And so it was with my summer as an on board naturalist on the Whale Watcher out of Barnstable Harbor, Cape Cod, MA.
I would like to thank the owners, captains, crew, staff, naturalists and passengers of Hyannis Whale Watcher Cruises and the dedicated researchers and scientists from the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society for inviting me to share a summer of, what I can only call, magic.
Within those moments, I can still hear the excitment of voices, the resounding slaps of whale tails, flippers and splashing breaches, the exhalations of the whales, their trumpeting, the sounds of the seabirds joining the feast and sandlance fleeing for their lives as they skipped in droves across the water.
One thing, for sure, I will never look out over a body of water again without thinking of the incredible universe, life and beauty below and, of course, above.
And, the best part? The experience is available to everyone. All you have to do is to show up and the magic takes place.
If you would like to
Adopt a Whale
go to:
Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society
This what all my grand babies are getting for Christmas!
And once again, thank you to Hyannis Whale Watcher Cruises, Sue and Regina from the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society for the experience of a life time and, of course, the Whales. I love you guys.
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Comments: 26
10 years ago my family took a terrific whale watch tour off of Gloucester. We saw several babies with their mom and had the experience of a lifetime with one big guy, who was so friendly he kept swimming under the boat, so much so we tilted.
Then, Sockeye - his name - put on a fabulous show for us, spraying all of us for a good 30 minutes.
The guides did not let on how scared they were when Sockeye swam under the boat, but a whale could have tipped the boat over with no problem. He was a very friendly guy, however.
My sisters and mother were visiting and we all had a fabulous time.
I have seen them from a distance, but I was working on a fishing boat at the time and the fishermen weren't interested in a closer look as they see them all the time, and I was too busy measuring fish at the time.
I'll have to be happy with the gray whales on this coast for awhile yet. Oh there are humpbacks here. Just not in anywhere near such numbers.
Wonderful pictures.
Good to see your prosperity.
No one actually knows why the whales breach but there are some theories some of the spiritual nature and some down right practical. On the practical side it might be to knock barnacles off. Some whales have more than their fair share of these hitch-hikers and while they do no damage they might itch! I have a great shot of a breaching whale that shows the barnacle creatures actually out of their housing... it is amazing. I will look for it and add it to the article if I can locate the shot.
Breaching might also be to aid in their digestion. These are big animals with little fiber in their diet ;)
They might also breach to let others know where they are, establish territory or simply to get a better view. They might also do it just because they can!
But they might also do it out of play and sheer joy. And/or perhaps all of the above.
Terri
FCR-Dark Obsession