PROVINCETOWN – Scientists have spotted the first two North Atlantic whales of the 2024-2025 field season in Cape Cod Bay on Monday, and one of the critically endangered mammals did something unusual.
A four-year-old male was seen during an aerial survey seven miles west of Wellfleet, and a three-year-old male who visits the bay every year was found less than a mile east of Pilgrim Beach in Plymouth.
The 3-year-old was considered “lean feeding,” meaning he was eating zooplankton near the water’s surface. The Center for Coastal Studies says behavior is not typically observed this early in the season.
Center for Coastal Studies/NOAA Permit 25740-02
“It’s normal to see whales jumping in and out of the bay year-round, but it’s surprising to see skinny whales feeding in the fall,” researcher Christy Hudak said in a statement.
Why was the three-year-old whale eating meager food so early? The center said this may be because plankton samples in the area currently contain some of the whales’ favorite microscopic crustaceans, including the oil-rich Calanus finmarchicus.
“While Calanus was not the dominant species in the sample, its presence in higher numbers is unusual for this time of year and it will be exciting to see if the food source will prove to be a peak season for whales in Cape Cod Bay this year, Hudak said.
Whale population
According to the latest estimate from October, there are 372 North Atlantic right whales left in the world. That’s a slight increase from previous years, but the species is still considered critically endangered.
Center for Coastal Studies/NOAA Permit 25740-02
Nearly half of the entire whale population was sighted Cape Cod Bay last year the Center for Coastal Studies said. The center is warning boaters in the area to be careful, as there are no seasonal protections for the whales yet and boat strikes are a leading cause of whale deaths.
Dolphins seen in Cape Cod Bay
Researchers on Monday also recorded an unusual sighting of seven Risso’s dolphins. This dolphin species is more commonly found in the deep ocean and not in the relatively shallow waters of Cape Cod Bay.
Center for Coastal Studies / NOAA Permit 25740-02
“We were happy to see all those animals swimming freely, as they are known to strand when found in Cape Cod Bay,” said researcher Ryan Scholsberg.
