Earlier this week off the coast of Monterey Bay, California, whale watchers skilled a “as soon as in a lifetime bucket listing sighting”—a pod of 10 Baird’s beaked whales. Baird’s beaked whales are the most important beaked whales within the ocean, however NOAA calls them “elusive and shy,” so this can be a uncommon whale sighting certainly.
Baird’s beaked whales stay all through the North Pacific Ocean, together with the waters off the U.S. West Coast from California to Alaska. NOAA says they like deep, oceanic waters beneath 3,300 toes versus continental cabinets nearer to shore.
Monterey Bay Whale Watch wrote in a social media submit saying the uncommon whale sighting: “These extremely mysterious cetaceans are solely seen a pair occasions in a yr right here in Monterey, generally going a yr or two between sightings!”
Monday, Could 13 was a kind of uncommon, particular days.
“Whereas we had been hanging out with Humpback whales, our wonderful intern Deborah, and lead deckhand Cindy noticed a cluster of quick puffy blows, and noticed flukes and dorsal fins that had been positively not belonging to Humpbacks,” the submit says. “We sat within the space for about 20 minutes ready to re-spot them when just a few crew members and passengers noticed one of many thriller whales breach far within the distance! As soon as we arrived to the realm the place we noticed the breach, we rapidly confirmed our guess and ID’d them because the uncommon Baird’s beaked whales.”
The identical day, along with Baird’s beaked whales, Monterey Bay Whale Watch boats additionally noticed humpback whales and Risso’s dolphins.
Baird’s Beaked Whales
Scientists know comparatively little about this whale species, however they do know that these animals are unbelievable divers. Monterey Bay Whale Watch says these marine mammals can maintain their breath for over an hour and a half. Baird’s beaked whales dive to the depths to hunt squid and deep-sea pelagic fish.
