DL0370

The summer of 2016 – our 32nd season at sea with the belugas – was once again rich in encounters and surprises. Amongst other sightings, we saw DL0370 on August 30 in a herd of males with his faithful companions, DL0269 and Jetstream. Ever since our first encounter back in 1991, we have been closely following DL0370’s associations. DL0269 is his most regular companion. In more than one out of every three encounters, they are together.

August 30, 2016: We take advantage of the gorgeous weather to visit the downstream sector, where we regularly come into contact with herds of males. We cross paths with DL0370 off Îles aux Basques. He’s in a herd of some sixty individuals, including adults and a few gray individuals. The herd is split into about ten groups of six at fifteen belugas. We also recognize males JP, Douxi and DL0269.

The animals are scattered and highly active. Some belugas poke their heads above the surface as if to spy on us, others are spitting out water. They’re swimming dynamically and in one distinct direction when they suddenly stop, dive and resurface several times at the same spot. They’re probably feeding. The encounter with DL0370 is also very rich in terms of acoustics. We hear all kinds of vocalizations: door squeaks, whistles and much more. Belugas are aptly nicknamed “canaries of the sea”.

This summer, we crossed paths with DL0370 on at least two occasions. On these occasions, he was accompanied by DL0269, DL0248 and Jetstream, his most loyal acolytes. One of these encounters took place on August 4. We were sailing in the mouth of the Saguenay, near Pointe Rouge, just off Tadoussac Bay. DL0370 is in a group of 15 individuals swimming side by side. From their large size, they all appear to be adult males. They are following a few groups of females and juveniles up the Saguenay Fjord. The mouth of the Saguenay is a place where bands of males and females frequently cross paths. Large herds form here, only to divide into smaller units : females accompanied by young and adult males among themselves. It is estimated that adult males like DL0370 spend only 20-25% of their time in the company of females during the summer.

At the mouth of the Saguenay Fjord, we observe a herd of 40 belugas from the Bleuvet. Some are white-skinned, others still gray. We also see two calves and a newborn.

The animals are heading upstream. Once they’ve passed Cap à la Boule, they start to circle. Are they hunting? From our point of view, it’s hard to say. However, their behavior allows us to photograph them well. We recognize DL0370, swimming in the company of seven adults and two juveniles.

We sail along the north side of the Saguenay. We follow a herd of young belugas, nicknamed “the teens”. By early morning, there are around twenty of them. They are joined by females accompanied by calves, and later by a dozen or so individuals, mainly adults and most likely males, among whom we recognize DL0370. By late morning, the herd numbers around forty.

During the encounter, several sequences of vocalizations are heard. Hearing beluga vocalizations is not a rare occurrence, but it’s always impressive. The beluga’s vocal repertoire is extensive, including whistles, clicks, squeaks and grunts, earning it the nickname “canary of the seas”.