Humpback Whales feeding
"Baleen whales(the humpback whale is a type of baleen whale) take their name from the fringed plates called baleen which hang downward on either side of the upper jaw. Humpback whales have a series of 270-400 baleen plates that are dark in color and measure about 30 in (76cm) long. During feeding, large volumes of water and food can be taken into the mouth because the pleated grooves in their throat allow for a substantial amount of expansion. As the mouth closes, water is forced through the baleen plates, which
act as a sieve, trapping the food inside the mouth. They are also known for utilization of bubble nets, created by releasing air bubbles while swimming in circles beneath their prey, then lunging, open mouthed, to the surface through the center of the concentrated prey. Humpback whales rarely feed while migrating or during the winters in the tropical waters. Feeding occurs almost exclusively during the summer months and animals live off of fat reserves while breeding. During feeding,
each humpback whale eats up to 1.5 tons of food per day that consists mainly of euphausiids (krill), and various small schooling fishes"... Alaska Department of Fish and Game
I was fortunate to witness their feeding behavior off Shelter Island, near Juneau, Alaska. The marine biologist aboard our boat counted 14 whales in this pod.
Humpback Whales feeding
"Baleen whales(the humpback whale is a type of baleen whale) take their name from the fringed plates called baleen which hang downward on either side of the upper jaw. Humpback whales have a series of 270-400 baleen plates that are dark in color and measure about 30 in (76cm) long. During feeding, large volumes of water and food can be taken into the mouth because the pleated grooves in their throat allow for a substantial amount of expansion. As the mouth closes, water is forced through the baleen plates, which
act as a sieve, trapping the food inside the mouth. They are also known for utilization of bubble nets, created by releasing air bubbles while swimming in circles beneath their prey, then lunging, open mouthed, to the surface through the center of the concentrated prey. Humpback whales rarely feed while migrating or during the winters in the tropical waters. Feeding occurs almost exclusively during the summer months and animals live off of fat reserves while breeding. During feeding,
each humpback whale eats up to 1.5 tons of food per day that consists mainly of euphausiids (krill), and various small schooling fishes"... Alaska Department of Fish and Game
I was fortunate to witness their feeding behavior off Shelter Island, near Juneau, Alaska. The marine biologist aboard our boat counted 14 whales in this pod.