After completing a 10-year observation project on the northern coast of British Columbia, researchers have discovered a never-seen-before pattern in the whales's behavior.
Humpback whales typically spend their summer in this region, hunting and feeding in the cold waters of the Kitimat fjord, following their winter migration to the South.
Their arrival in the fjord — located in the vicinity of Hartley Bay — occurs every year, since this area offers an abundance of prey, but scientists now uncovered there's a method to it.
In the span of a decade, marine biologists from Gitga'at First Nation and the North Coast Cetacean Society were able to observe the humpbacks follow a distinct pattern in their voyage to Kitimat.
At first, the whales spend some time in the outer waters of the fjord, after which they start moving closer to the inlet and the Douglas Channel — and they do this each year, without exception.
The researchers who studied this behavior call it a "whale wave" and published their observations in the journal Marine Ecology Progress Series.
"The peak of the wave moves progressively inland," said study author Chris Picard, a science director at Gitga'at First Nation.
Scientists Call For Conservation Efforts In The Area
The seasonal pattern identified in the humpbacks's annual journey to Kitimat has prompted discussions for new conservation strategies in the area.
Canadian scientists are concerned that the prospective development of an oil pipeline through Douglas Channel would deeply affect the whales's migratory habits, and believe all efforts must be made to preserve their habitat.
Although it's not yet clear why the humpbacks choose to move so close to the inlet, Picard is hopeful his research will persuade authorities to leave the area intact.
"Understanding these details, we think, can lead to better conservation, and lead to better management of any activities that could potentially disrupt any part of that habitat," he explains.
According to Picard, "habitats are not interchangeable," therefore humpback whales wouldn't have anywhere else to go if their Gitga'at territory was damaged or taken over for the purpose of technological exploits.
In the interest of conservation, Picard's team tried to determine what draws the humpbacks so close to Douglas Channel. His study indicated that, although the creatures clearly come to this area to feed, the mysterious "whale wave" may be more connected with their social behavior.
Observations revealed that, upon reaching the inlet, the whales primarily engage in social interactions, calling and singing to each other, and focus less on hunting. Picard suggests they could be practicing their mating calls for the winter.
