Researchers spot humpback whale breaching off coast of Maine

In a recent sighting, researchers from the University of New England spotted a humpback whale breaching off the coast of Maine. This was an exciting event, as it is not often that these massive creatures are seen so close to shore.

The humpback whale is a species of baleen whale that can be found in oceans around the world. They are distinctive for their long, slender body and for their characteristic hump just before their dorsal fin. Humpback whales typically grow to be about 50 feet long and can weigh up to 45 tons.

These animals are known for their acrobatic behavior, which includes breaching (jumping completely out of the water), tail-slapping, and spyhopping (peeking out of the water). Humpback whales are also known for their vocalizations, which include singing and moaning.

Humpback whales typically feed on small fish and krill. They use their baleen plates to filter these creatures out of the water. Humpback whales migrate during different times of year in order to find food or warmer climates.

The sighting off the coast of Maine was exciting for researchers not only because it was rare, but also because it provided an opportunity to study the behavior of these animals up close. The researchers will be submitting a report on their findings to a journal soon.

Young humpback whale freed from fishing net in Maui

A team of rescuers helped free a juvenile humpback whale on Monday that had become entangled in a fishing net off the coast of Maui.

The whale was first spotted by a crew aboard a tour boat near Olowalu, about 10 miles south of Lahaina. The animal was struggling to free itself from the net, which was wrapped around its body and tail.

A group of rescuers, including staff from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Maui Ocean Center, responded to the scene and were eventually able to cut the whale free.

The whale swam away quickly after being freed and appeared to be unharmed.

This is the second time this year that a humpback whale has been freed from a fishing net in Maui. In April, crews freed a humpback whale that had become entangled in netting near Maalaea Harbor.

Whale watchers in awe as orcas surface off Washington coast

SEATTLE, Washington - Whale watchers in Puget Sound were treated to a rare display Tuesday morning when a pod of orcas surfaced near shore.

The orcas were seen breaching near Edmonds, about 20 miles north of Seattle, just before 10am.

"It was an amazing sight," said whale watcher Marianne Macdonald. "There were at least six or seven orcas, and they all came up at the same time. It was really exciting."

Whale watchers say the pod was most likely on its way south to wintering grounds near San Diego.

Humpback whale freed from net near Santa Barbara

A humpback whale was freed from a net near Santa Barbara on Thursday. The net had wrapped around the whale's body and its tail, preventing it from swimming.

Rescue teams were called in and used a boat to cut the net away from the whale. They then towed the whale to open water.

The whale was believed to be injured and was likely to have been in the net for some time. Rescue workers said they were glad to have been able to free it without causing any further injury.

Humpback whales are often caught in nets as they migrate along the coast. This is the first time a whale has been freed in this area, but there have been similar incidents elsewhere.

Humpback whales are listed as endangered species and catching them in nets can severely injure or kill them.

Drone footage captures playful hummingbird alongside humpback whale

Drones have been capturing amazing footage of marine life lately and the latest video to surface is no exception. This time, a hummingbird is captured alongside a humpback whale in what appears to be a playful interaction.

The footage was captured by drone operator Mark Girardeau off the coast of Dana Point, California. According to him, the whale seemed to be playing with the hummingbird, which hovered around it for several minutes.

"I've never seen anything like that before. It was pretty amazing," said Girardeau.

This is just the latest in a series of astonishing drone videos that have been capturing marine life in its natural habitat. Earlier this year, drones were used to capture footage of a giant great white shark swimming off the coast of Australia.

While some may fear that drones will disrupt the delicate balance of marine ecosystems, it is clear from these videos that they can also provide invaluable insights into the lives of these creatures. As technology continues to evolve, we can only hope for more amazing drone footage like this in the future.