First Salish Sea Humpback Calf of 2022 Spotted, Just in Time for Mother’s Day
Big Mama (left) and her 7th calf (right). Photo: Bethany Shimasaki, Western Prince Whale Watching
First Salish Sea Humpback Calf of 2022 Spotted, Just in Time for Mother’s Day
Iconic Humpback “Big Mama” Swims 3,000 Miles Back from Hawaii with 7th Calf in Tow
SEATTLE, WA & VICTORIA, BC - May 4, 2022 - The Pacific Whale Watch Association (PWWA) today announced that the first humpback whale calf of the 2022 season has arrived in the Salish Sea, just in time for the upcoming Mother’s Day weekend. Fittingly, the calf belongs to the most famous Salish Sea humpback mother of all, BCY0324, known as “Big Mama.”
On Monday afternoon, naturalist Bethany Shimasaki of Western Prince Whale Watching reported a humpback whale and calf in Boundary Pass near the US/Canadian border. The mother humpback did not immediately show her tail, the feature typically used for identifying humpback whale individuals, but images revealed Big Mama’s signature – a small bump on the right side of her dorsal fin. The match has since been confirmed by BC-based researcher Tasli Shaw of the Humpback Whales of the Salish Sea project.
“When the news traveled over the radio, there was instant celebration,” said PWWA’s executive director, Erin Gless. “Big Mama was one of the first humpback whales to repopulate the Salish Sea after the whaling era and has been feeding here regularly since 1997. We always look forward to her return, but even more so when she brings a calf with her.”
3,000 MILE SWIM FOR MOM AND CALF
Big Mama’s latest calf was not entirely a surprise, according to Gless. In February, Captain Steve’s Rafting Adventures of Lahaina, Hawaii reported seeing Big Mama with a newborn. The crew shared their sighting to Happywhale.com, a site that connects researchers, whale watching naturalists, and citizen scientists around the world, and alerted the PWWA of the news.
Crossing the Pacific with a calf can be fraught with threats in the form of fishing gear, commercial shipping traffic, and killer whales, but Big Mama is a seasoned pro. She has given birth to at least six prior calves in her lifetime. Her last calf, “Pop-Tart” was born in 2016 and named for his or her fondness of playfully popping up out of the water. Big Mama’s seventh calf seems to share that energetic spirit. The little one was seen breaching, cartwheeling, and splashing throughout the day.
In the coming weeks, more and more humpbacks will return to the Salish Sea from their breeding grounds in Hawaii, Mexico, and Central America. Humpback whales typically remain in the region throughout the spring, summer, and fall while they feed on krill and small fish. Last year, a record 21 humpback whale calves were sighted throughout the Salish Sea.
Big Mama’s 7th calf playing on its back. Photo: Val Shore, Eagle Wing Tours
Big Mama’s 7th calf playing on its side. Photo: April Ryan, Maya’s Legacy Whale Watching
Big Mama and her tiny calf. Photo: Mark Malleson, Prince of Whales
