Dolphin Tales: The blue whale
The blue whale is the largest animal to have ever lived on our planet. It weighs up to 400,000 pounds. They dwarf even the largest dinosaur that weighed 180,000 pounds. They can be up to 100 feet in length and can live to be 80-90 years old. Their diet consists almost exclusively of krill.
Actually, the blue whale is mostly gray with a slight bluish tint. But on a sunny day, when viewed underwater, they glow a bright vibrant sapphire blue. They have long, slender bodies.
The blue whale’s two blowholes create a tall, columnar spray, which can be seen 30-40 feet above the water’s surface. When the whale exhales, the “spout” or mist can travel 300 miles per hour. The greatest dive depth reported from tagged blue whales was over 1,000 feet. They can hold their breath for 30 minutes.
They are generally solitary or gather in small groups and have no well-defined social structure other than mother-calf bonds. The female gives birth to a calf every two to three years. As a traveling pair, a male blue whale typically trails a female, and is generally successful at repelling an intruder male after a short and vigorous battle.
The blue whale is highly endangered but the population is increasing due to the 1986 ban on commercial whaling worldwide. They are found in all oceans except the Arctic Ocean. Blue whale watching in Southern California is typically May through October. At one time there were 300,000 blue whales off the coast of California. Now, only a few thousand are left.
Capt. Cathy Eagle has spent over 40 years boating in our local waters. As a professional charter captain she specializes in dolphin and nature tours. Visit CaptainCathy.com or call 239 994-2572.