A humpback whale visiting the waters near Seattle put on a show for those on shore Thursday morning
By means ofMANUEL VALDES Associated Press
November 30, 2023, 8:03 PM
In this image taken from a video, a humpback whale breaches the waters near Seattle on Thursday, November 30, 2023. The whale has been spotted swimming in Elliott Bay for three days. Humpback whales frequent the waters of the Seattle area as they migrate along the west coast. (AP Photo/Manuel Valdes)
The Associated Press
SEATTLE — A humpback whale visiting the waters near Seattle dazzled onlookers Thursday morning with several breaches in the bay just outside the city center.
The whale has been spotted swimming around Elliott Bay over the past three days. But on Thursday the whale breached for about 40 minutes, also performing several pectoral fin strikes and dives.
Local whale watching groups have identified the young humpback whale as the calf of an adult female with the identification BCY0995, commonly known as 'Smiley'.
It is not uncommon for humpback whales to visit the waters around Seattle as they migrate along the west coast.
Smiley's last calf, Chip, was fatally struck by a Washington state ferry in 2020, according to the Canadian group Vancouver Island Whale Watch. On Thursday, staff from the Soundwatch Boater Education Program followed the whale for most of its time in the bay to warn other vessels of it.
Jeff Hogan, co-coordinator of the Seattle branch, said he had counted about 30 violations. And then the young whale slept.
He said the whale looked healthy.
“It was a joyful day,” said Hogan. “Everyone worked together to make an effort to make room for that animal to do its thing. If we want these guys to be here and come back, we have to do that.