Glacier Bay is where whale experts first studied humpback whales "bubble-netting" or
blowing bubbles to herd fish into a tight ball before swallowing them. "Many visitors
to the area are treated to sightings of pods of humpback whales engaged in this extraordinary
hunting technique.
Best time to see whales in Glacier Bay: June to early September.
Glacier Bay Alaska
Whale Watching in Glacier Bay National Park.
To truly explore the great land of Alaska, one must include the region of the southeast
panhandle known as Glacier Bay. This marine wilderness consists of many massive tidewater
glaciers, miles of intriguing coastline, magnificent fjords and wilderness streams seen
cascading down from the massive snowcapped mountains of Glacier Bay National Park in Southeast
Alaska.
Throughout the spring and summer months, the whales you will encounter throughout this
area frequently move in and out of Glacier Bay and the area known as Icy
Strait. Sightings of whales here are very common and rate high amongst Alaska
cruise ship passengers and visitors alike.
Prepare to focus your shutters upon humpback and gray whales, as well as the Orca or
(killer whales) commonly seen in these waters.
Humpback whales migrate to these waters each year from their winter grounds off the coast
of Hawaii. These whales, and those believed to live in the local waters year round, spend
their time feeding in the various fjords and inlets. Humpback whales feed primarily on
krill, shrimp, and various fish, including capelin. Humpbacks feed heavily in Glacier
Bay because they do not feed year round. Humpbacks must store enough fat in summer to
last the rest of the year. Adult whales average in length from 40 to 50 feet long, females
being the larger. Adult humpbacks weigh on average about three quarter ton per foot in
length.
The gray whales migration routes generally limit sightings to the nearshore waters of
the outer coast during their northern journey in the spring and again on the southern
migration in late fall.
Dall porpoise are mainly inhabitants of the open waters, while the harbor porpoise tend
to favor more sheltered waters like inlets and fjords. Orca (killer whales) commonly journey
into and around the waters of Glacier Bay all through of the year.
Remember: There are no roads to Glacier Bay so you find yourself limited to air or water
for all access to this great marine destination. Most people that visit Glacier Bay arrive
on one of the large cruise ships that arrive in Southeast Alaska each year.
Glacier Bay Whale Watching Tours
Alaska Whale Watching offers independent travel tour listings
and general information on Alaska’s whale population. Listed tours include vacation
trips and travel options featuring gray whale, orcas, humpback whale, killer whale, beluga
and whale pod tours.
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