Humpback whale ‘Poptart’ returns to Salish Sea with new baby
Delighted whale watchers have spotted a trio of newborn humpback whale calves in the Salish Sea.
The mothers and babies are the first to be reported in the 2023 whale-watching season, as humpback whales return to local waters from their winter breeding grounds near Hawaii or Mexico.
“There are three we can confirm, and we’ll likely hear more throughout the year,” said Erin Gless of the Pacific Whale Watch Association.
According to Gless, the popular humpback whale BCY1404 is the only new mother of the three. BCY1404 is also known by the nickname “Poptart”, given to her by whale watchers for the way she would break out of the water like a poptart popping out of a toaster.
“I first saw Poptart in 2016 when she was a newborn calf with her mother Big Momma. And now we finally see her come back with a calf of her own,” said Gless.
Poptart and fellow new mom BCY0523 were spotted with potential calves off Maui earlier this spring, according to community whale seekers. BCX1675, the third mother spotted with a calf, was reported off Isla Socorro, Mexico during the winter.
Baby humpback whales seen in the Salish Sea are usually born between late December and February, making the age of the three calves between four and six months old.
Whale watchers and boaters should maintain a distance of at least 200 meters when viewing baby humpback whales, twice the distance normally allowed.
“These babies are just discovering their aquatic world, which is why they may not be as aware of vessels or used to being around vessels as their mothers,” Gless said.
Humpback whales usually stay in local waters until late autumn, feeding on krill and small fish such as herring and candlefish.
Last year, a record 34 humpback calves were reported in the Salish Sea by researchers from the Canadian Pacific Humpback Collaboration.
The Salish Sea encompasses the waters off the southern coast of BC and covers an area from Desolation Sound in the north to Puget Sound in Washington State in the south.
