The Bay of Fundy is primarily known for having the highest tides in the world, but it is also a critical habitat for many species of whales and dolphins. Repeatedly sighted whales within the Bay of Fundy are the Humpback Whale, Minke Whale, and Finback Whale. The endangered North Atlantic Right Whale, White-beaked Dolphins, Sei Whales and Pilot Whales are observed on occasion as well. With a whale population that can exceed 300 at any one time, Bay of Fundy whale watching is an experience you won't forget!
1. Humpback Whale
The Humpback Whale is easily identified by how it arches its back out of the water ahead of diving. Its a playful whale that enjoys breaching (jumping up out of the water), spy-hopping (snout and eyes vertically out of the water), flipping and tail lobbing (slapping their fin or fluke at the water) and rolling on the surface.
Humpback whales can grow up to 18 meters (60 ft) and weigh around 30 to 50 tons, the females being larger than the males. Their spouting reaches 10 feet and is bushy. The lengthy white flippers, 1/3 in their body length, allow for body heat to distribute while in the warmer southern waters. The humpback whale can be recognized by the distinctive white pattern at the bottom of the tail fluke.
Humpbacks have big appetites, consuming between 4,400 and 5,500 kilos of plankton and krill daily. The stay in the Bay of Fundy for the feeding half of their migratory pattern. The other half is spend in the southern hemisphere to breed.
2. Minke Whale
Minke whales grow up to 9 meters (30 ft) and weigh up to 10 tons. They swim around in pods of about 2 to 3 whales, usually feeding on plankton, krill, and small fish. This baleen whale has a V-shaped pointed snout, sharply curved dorsal fin and a distinctive white strip on their pectoral fin flipper and ventrally at the belly.
The Minke Whale can dive up to twenty-five minutes without surfacing, however most dives are only 10 to fifteen minutes. They usually reside just underneath the water surface, making it a perfect whale for whale watching. It is estimated that there are approximately 800,000 Minke Whales world-wide.
3. North Atlantic Right Whale
The Bay of Fundy serves as the summer time home to many Northern Atlantic Right whales. This slow whale was once abundant within the Atlantic ocean, however due to over-hunting in the nineteenth century it is now the most endangered whale in the world. It got its name because hunters considered it to be the “right” whale to kill. They are slow swimmers, easy to approach, wealthy in blubber, and feature long baleen plates (used in the past for umbrellas, combs, corsets, etc.). Once captured, it was also simply towed in because it floats when killed. It is estimated that fewer than 400 Right Whales are left within the Atlantic Ocean.
The Bay of Fundy is the perfect “nursery” for the calves to be raised. Right whales grow as much as 15 meters (50 ft) in length and weigh as much as 45 tons. Its a dark colored whale that does not have a dorsal fin. They often rest on the surface and could easily be mistaken for a log in the water from a distance. Right whales have white callosity markings on their snout by which they can be identified, named and cataloged. At times the Right Whales form SAG (surface active groups) averaging 6-15 whales rolling and courting each other. This impressive sight can be seen in the video below.
4. Finback Whale
This is the second largest whale on the planet after the Blue Whale. Although they normally have a length of about 19 meters, Finback whales can develop up to lengths of 25 meters (82 ft). They live to be 75 or even 100 years old. A unique white patch on the right side of the jaw may be noticed as they come up for air.
Finback whales are normally seen in small groups of approximately 2 to 7 whales. They spout as much as four meters (13 ft) above the water and can be seen from a mile away. Numbers are at the decline but populations still hover round 80,000 world-wide.
