First humpback whale moms and calves of 2023 spotted in Salish Sea

SEATTLE — The Pacific Whale Watch Association (PWWA) announced Thursday the first humpback whale moms and calves of this year's whale-watching season have now arrived in the Salish Sea.

In recent days, whale watchers have documented at least three new humpback calves in the local waters of Seattle and Victoria, British Columbia. The PWWA said local humpback whales don’t give birth in the Salish Sea but travel with their calves from warmer breeding grounds in Hawaii, Mexico and Central America.

“We’ve been eagerly awaiting news of the season’s first humpback calves,” PWWA Executive Director Erin Gless said in a press release. “We celebrate every whale’s return, but it’s doubly special when they have a new calf in tow.

“Thanks to modern technology, we already expected a few of these whales to show up with calves this season, but it’s nice to get confirmation, and to know they’ve completed the journey safely. We’ve notified researchers of their arrival here on the feeding grounds.”

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