Humpback Whale Aerial Collision, Maui


   There is trouble brewing around the shores of Maui. Female humpback whales are going into heat and it is driving the male whales to compete for her attention. We call these fighting groups 'competition pods' and it is something we only see in the warm, tropical breeding areas of humpback whales. Maui is one such epicenter of activity and this year seems to be off to a great start for whale watching.


Aerial Collision caught on film
   Drawn in by multiple whale blows all together we slowed down as we neared the commotion. Three whales surfaced almost simultaneously, one out in front and the other two right on top of each other. We continued to watch the battle unfold as the two male humpback whales lunged on top of one another, looking like they were trying to push the other underwater. Several slap of the tail ensued as the two males used all of their competitive arsenal to deter the other from continuing.

   The fighting continued for well over an hour and culminated in a rarely seen aerial collision before we could follow no longer. During the fight I noticed bloody tubercles and a pinkish bloody hue to the blow of one of the whales. It seems this female must have been worth fighting over.

 Even though the whale watching epicenter is located around Maui, you can also see them off Oahu's North Shore. Buy tickets for those trips here.

See my Humpback Whale pictures in large format for sale here.


Location: United States

Comments

Post a Comment

Leaving a comment is a great way to provide feedback, ask further questions, and inspire more answers...so go for it.

Popular posts from this blog

Secret Maui Waterfall

Image
  No matter how quick a trip to Maui might be there will be hidden gems found and great times had. After a little snafu with my flight I made it standby to Maui, picked up my rental car, and rushed off to meet my friends on the road to Hana. We met at Frog Pond, one of our favorite swimming holes near the beginning of the road to Hana. After some rock hopping and cliff jumping here we decided to check out the hidden waterfalls at mile 11. I'm not sure what the name of these falls are but there are two of them, each with their own swimming holes. It is just off the highway but separated by lush jungle. A rope swing beckons the adventurous and rocks warmed by the sun give you more than enough reason to while away the afternoon.
Read more

Search for Chameleons, Maui

Image
  You never know what might be hiding in your backyard. Here on Maui there have always been tales of people finding Jackson's chameleons in their bushes. The trick is to travel a few thousand feet up Haleakala volcano to Makawao, Pukalani and Kula towns where the temperature is a little cooler and it is a bit wetter, perfect conditions for chameleons.   There are no native reptiles on Hawaii. These beautiful chameleons were released or escaped from the pet trade. Luckily they have not become invasive like many other introduced species, however they have increased in population and seem to be doing quite well in the higher elevation areas. Heidi and I went on a search the other day at our friend's house in Kula and were shocked to find a dozen different chameleons in her side yard hedge. They were mostly at eye level, and were curled up asleep for the night. We found them easily enough with flashlights since they seem to sleep near the outer edge of the hedge at night.   W
Read more

Vermont Summer and Stave Island

Image
The launch for Stave Island Stave Island Barn  This August marked the fifth time I visited Heidi and her family up in beautiful Vermont. There are always so many beautiful things to see, tasty foods to eat, and fun times to be had. I will always think of delicious corn on the cob rolled in butter, starting off the day with a hot cup of coffee, and walking the Miller family dog around the pond when I think of Vermont.  During my summer visits we try and spend a lot of time out at Stave Island. This privately owned island is mostly wooded  wilderness out in the middle of Lake Champlain. It is a great place for colorful sunsets and I always try to circumnavigate the island by stand-up paddleboard. Deedee, Don, and Susie are always incredible hosts. It is pretty impresive to watch them work all day and then whip up a huge meal for a dozen of Heidi's friends. They are quite the team. Happy baby swingin' with Dad Noah, Anna, Charlotte, Heidi, Skye, Erin  Heidi
Read more