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Humpback Whales
Introduction

NATURE’s Humpback Whales follows these migrating marine mammals and presents their unique singing and hunting habits.

Graceful and magnificent, humpback whales inspire awe in young and old alike. These marine mammals travel great distances to take advantage of the best breeding grounds and feeding spots. North Pacific humpbacks, for example, mate and give birth in Hawaii and then travel to Alaska each summer to feed.

These gentle giants are famous for their singing abilities — belting out seductive ballads to attract mates or to challenge other would-be suitors. But they also have other talents. Their unique hunting skill, called bubblenet feeding, involves a group of humpbacks working together to capture schools of herring. Each whale has a particular role in the process: One whale swims in a circle while blowing bubbles under a school of herring. When the bubbles rise, the school of herring can not escape and form into a tight ball in the center. Other whales vocalize — grunting or screaming — to scare the herring to the surface. The whales then rise with their mouths wide open to capture large amounts of fish.

Trek across the oceans with these astounding creatures and discover more revealing details about their wonder-filled, watery ways.

Online content for Humpback Whales was originally posted January 2000.

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64 responses
Heather Isenberger -- November 7th, 2008 at 11:00 am

I think it is great that PBS or what ever website this is ,will put cool pictures for children to see. It is pretty awesome the animal God sent us on this earth.

Keith May -- November 12th, 2008 at 12:18 pm

This is a great presentation. We are here in Puerto Vallarta, Mexcio and we are awaiting the return of the Humpback whales for the 2008/2009 breeding and birthing season. If you’re going to be in Puerto Vallarta between December 8, 2008 and March 23, 2009 be sure to go out to see the Humpbacks. You can learn more about responsible whale watching at our NON-PROFIT educational website: http://www.PuertoVallartaWhaleWatching.org

Breeana -- November 13th, 2008 at 1:05 pm

WOW!

lucie -- November 21st, 2008 at 4:45 pm

wow this is pretty gool

KAJAL -- December 2nd, 2008 at 12:35 pm

IT IS SO COOL

lisa -- December 2nd, 2008 at 4:25 pm

wow my kids will love this, they all love fish and stuf like dat (that)

Jaleel eison -- December 3rd, 2008 at 2:41 pm

this really really cool stuff.

pavel -- December 5th, 2008 at 3:02 am

this is so cool

david -- December 5th, 2008 at 3:05 am

that is some cool stuff!!!

Pinecone -- December 8th, 2008 at 11:10 pm

Sorry Heather, but although these whales have to be my favorite of almost any species, they did not come from a christian supernatural being but from millions or years of evolution. Do your homework…

Kelli -- December 10th, 2008 at 10:16 pm

I love Humpback Whales and I am doing a school project on Humpback Whales and they are soooooo cute and really big.I love learning about them hope you do to!

Tyra -- December 12th, 2008 at 3:21 pm

thats cool

student -- December 15th, 2008 at 12:07 pm

is there anything about why scientists thing the first song of the whales was to attract a mate?

A Learner -- December 17th, 2008 at 8:27 pm

How did it get its name?

non-o-yo-beeswax -- December 18th, 2008 at 5:48 pm

how do the whales communicate with each other?

Maria -- December 18th, 2008 at 6:29 pm

how did they get there name

I am the best -- December 18th, 2008 at 6:38 pm

hihi, i just luv humpback whales i want one as a pet wait that is crule i hope we can all luv the humpback as much as i do I LUUUUUUUUUV the humpbck whale did u no i want to kiss one one day and i bet it would smile ack at me !!!!! GOOOOOOOOO HUMPBACK!!!!!!!!

Caroline is coolieo -- December 21st, 2008 at 8:01 pm

how di they get their name????? :-)

Susan Sykes -- December 27th, 2008 at 10:55 am

Pinecone, your need to attack Heather and her note of appreciation for the site is uncool and unnecessary.
Please go evolve further before choosing to further poison happy chats.

Becky -- January 23rd, 2009 at 4:01 pm

My husband and I are on vacation on Oahu. A couple of nights ago we were sitting out on our balcony and looking out to the ocean when we saw this huge spout. We were just trying to decide what it was when out came the fluke of one of these creatures. It brought tears to my eyes. Now every morning we get up and sit out there and watch. We see a few every day and they’re still bringing tears to my eyes. What magnificient creatures!

i am so cool -- January 26th, 2009 at 9:39 pm

the humpback whale is the best whale i have ever seen i am doing a project on it to so this is like so cool.
i want to ride on 1 today but i don’t think that will happen. I just love humpback whale i find them cute

Bruce -- February 8th, 2009 at 1:29 pm

I am going to the Sea of Cortez to go out and witness the calving stage and would like to view this wonderful show again. It does not seem to be available on these sites. Can you direct me?

Warriorjd -- February 9th, 2009 at 12:46 pm

Pinecone, if you are saying that Heather needs to do her homework because she says that God created a wonderful creature for us in the humpback whale, I think that you need to do your homework. The media is full of lies. Find out for yourself.

Blubber Boy -- February 14th, 2009 at 12:36 am

Currently in Cabo San Lucas, enjoying many humpbacks from the balcony all day.
Male, female, and their babies. Wow. I am so glad that we are able to see them and enjoy them. Bible- Chapter 1 vs 20-23 tells me where they came from.

Michael Wahl -- February 21st, 2009 at 12:13 pm

My e-mail address changed. Please take note of this and change your records. Thanks

kyle loughrin -- February 23rd, 2009 at 1:49 pm

Oh my goodness!!! I just absolutely love humpback whales!! They are huge!!! I used to own one when I was a kid, but i lost it one day when we were swimming in the ocean. It was a sad day for all of us. I was distraught!! But now I own about three of them!!!

josh -- February 25th, 2009 at 1:52 pm

they are so so ugly

qwerty -- February 26th, 2009 at 9:59 pm

Wow! they are sooooooo cute

camron -- February 26th, 2009 at 10:03 pm

ewww the look like my great aunt sally!

ciara -- March 2nd, 2009 at 12:45 pm

It says nuthing about this animal???

Talla -- March 3rd, 2009 at 6:03 pm

I love whales

sucker 4 animals -- March 3rd, 2009 at 6:38 pm

Wow! I luv whales! I just can’t wait tdo to my public speaking project on them!! Tell me more!!

judy beckham -- March 7th, 2009 at 1:01 pm

Susan, My sentiment too!

jessica -- March 9th, 2009 at 11:55 am

they are really cool

kyle -- March 9th, 2009 at 3:25 pm

How do they… you know… I mean they are so big how does “nature” work??? JW…

kathy cristian -- March 9th, 2009 at 11:28 pm

humpbacks…..they is so be-A-YOU-ti-FULs

katherine kelly -- March 9th, 2009 at 11:30 pm

hmmm hmmm. all is well at whales’ ville

ASIJ -- March 11th, 2009 at 11:30 pm

This never works to help my homework!!!!! (sigh)

bob -- March 12th, 2009 at 4:34 pm

omg im going to do a school project on humpback whales with my friend

joey coveny -- March 15th, 2009 at 9:02 pm

whales r awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwsome

luke -- March 23rd, 2009 at 3:36 pm

this is amazing,awsome, and cool

brittany -- March 29th, 2009 at 1:04 am

hi i love to study about marine life and i wish to be a marine boilogist and i want to help save any marine life

unknown -- March 30th, 2009 at 5:55 pm

my bro loves hunpback whales

jay -- March 30th, 2009 at 7:14 pm

It does not tell me what i need to know

halo -- March 30th, 2009 at 9:09 pm

you need more info…
hehe :(
i want to know how long do the mothers stay with thier child after birth…

yomamma -- April 3rd, 2009 at 2:14 pm

god? ha! and people call people that beleive in aleins crazy

Miriam Godet -- April 13th, 2009 at 8:29 pm

Everything that has of beauty to be in the esplendor of the whales and the dolphins!

The brilliant and charmer secret of the deepenings of waters…

LET US FIGHT FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE WHALES AND THE DOLPHINS.

Samantha -- April 18th, 2009 at 5:41 pm

i think its totally to short,when was the tv show about the humpback-whale?
i am doing a project on them

chris -- April 20th, 2009 at 11:20 am

I like it so much:-)

MRH -- April 22nd, 2009 at 2:15 pm

this is verry edicational for me and my class mates ,family too:-)

juan -- April 23rd, 2009 at 2:05 pm

humpback whale are cool

Walter -- May 7th, 2009 at 12:04 pm

im doing reserch on humpback whales people

cj -- May 8th, 2009 at 9:24 am

i am to but this web stie didn’t gave me noting

Tabatha -- May 29th, 2009 at 2:39 pm

humpback whales. they are okay but they are just like anyother animal.the only reason i am on here is cause my teacher is making me do this booring page.humpback whales.humpback whales.humpback whales. they are okay but they are just like anyother animal.the only reason i am on here is cause my teacher is making me do this booring page.humpback whales.they are okay but they are just like anyother animal.the only reason i am on here is cause my teacher is making me do this booring page. THEY ARE ANIMALS NOT ALIENS SO MOVE ON TO A COOLER ANIMAL LIKE A LIGER OR MONKEY.:]]

daniel -- June 10th, 2009 at 10:19 am

humpback whales are my favorite! i think that the picture is so cute. my teacher is making us reasearch them and im so excited!

Amy Nora -- June 14th, 2009 at 2:20 am

Wow… What beautiful creatures. I plan on going to Cobo San Lucas just too see them. I can’t wait!!! And by the way, all of you arguing about where they came from, need to just chill out. Let people believe what they choose to believe. Remember, its their life. Not yours

dalton -- July 31st, 2009 at 5:19 pm

my little brother likes hump back whales.

Bob Zani -- August 8th, 2009 at 7:26 pm

Your site is fantastic! I just wish I was still teaching. What I could’ve done with it!

Lola-licous313 -- August 28th, 2009 at 11:08 am

Your right Heather, humpbacks are awsome! i luv em’!
my fav movie is Whale Rider. i luv all the animals God
created. And pinecone, two things. one, God IS real,and two, why is your name pincone?

Ellen Authement -- September 4th, 2009 at 10:00 am

this website is no help!

Ellie -- September 21st, 2009 at 9:55 pm

This is sooo kewl!

bear -- October 15th, 2009 at 11:19 am

i realy like looking at all these awsome pictures and i am ten yeah. double digits

Duffman -- October 25th, 2009 at 8:23 pm

humpbacks are so cool i really enjoy them all those pictures are awsoume exept when they are washed up on the beach i am ten as well how cool is that 10 lol rofl soz

edna -- November 7th, 2009 at 1:45 am

i looooove whales you should to

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