How Bay of Fundy whales breed despite cold weather
Digital Reporter
Friday, August 12, 2016, 5:22 PM - Known for being deep divers and kin to the largest creature to have ever lived on earth, whales are among the ocean's most majestic.
Many whales call Atlantic Canada's Bay of Fundy home -- up to 12 species, to be exact -- and the area thrives with their presence during the summer.
GREAT OUTDOORS TOOL KIT: Be prepared for spending time outdoors with The Weather Network's online essentials: WEATHER ALERTS | RADAR | HIGHWAY FORECAST | LATEST WEATHER NEWS | FOLLOW ON TWITTER
The Bay of Fundy is one of the seven wonders of North America, known for having the highest tides in the world. As the tide rolls in, it pushes nutrients at the bottom to the surface, bringing plankton along with it. Under sunlight, the plankton grows, attracting small fish and, inevitably, whales.
“When [the whales] leave the Caribbean, they bring their young with them and they feed all summer long and raise their young,” explains captain Roy Small of MV Island Link.
But in the winter, there isn't much room for breeding. As temperatures plunge, it becomes too cold for the whales, so they're forced to head south again, where they live off their body fat.
After giving birth to their young, the whales then head back north in March to feed again.
Some tour guides and naturalists operating in the region can identify each humpback whale with a distinct name, all by looking at the marks on their flukes.
“Sometimes there’s feeding frenzies out there that would astonish you how much life would congregate in one area,” Small says.
RELATED VIDEO: Fishermen mistook THIS for an 'alien pod'
SOURCE: Bay of Fundy
Based on report by The Weather Network's Nathan Coleman.
