We were treated to an incredible display of humpback whales bubble-net feeding in Alaska's Inside Passage during one of our 2019 "Where Humpbacks Breach" photo tours.

Bubble-net feeding groups are one of the most amazing and spectacular examples of coordinated animal cooperation. The whales operate like a football team with upwards of 20, or more, animals working together as they corral and consume massive amounts of herring. The “quarterback” calls the shots and each member of the team has its own specific assignment to make their bubble-net attack on the herring “ball” successful.

The whales all disappear from the surface. Their sounding allows for numerous photos of their massive flukes with sheets of water photogenically flowing from the trailing edge. A hydrophone (underwater microphone) is placed over the side so we can listen to the whale activity below. The hydrophone allows us to hear the unseen quarterback call the play deep in the dark water. It instructs one or two of the whales to create the circular bubble net from the inky depths by expelling air out of their blow holes. This net is designed to surround the fish, frighten them into a compact school, and keep them from escaping. The net is easily 80 feet across with bubbles the size of dinner plates that rise to the surface.

Meanwhile, the other whales in the group surround the herring ball that contains as much as 100 tons of fish. Their massive white pectoral flippers flash as they wave them below the surface creating even more consternation within the fish school, forcing them into an ever-tightening mass. The lead whale gives a series of short, loud sonic blasts creating even more fish tension.

Then, following a vocal feeding call (recognizable to us that alerts us to the action to come), the lead whale signals to the group to swim to the surface With mouths wide open, the whales engulf the fish with each whale taking in as much as 15,000 gallons of seawater in their gaping maw. With their throat grooves expanded like bulging beer bellies, they push the water through their baleen plates with their tongue to strain the fish before swallowing. Each whale seems to know which direction it must go to avoid a collision during the final action.

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