Fall Dolphins

Year after year, Jacques Gélineau notes the presence of the same blue whales during the month of September off Port-Cartierand Sept-Îles. “In my view, they have a good memory,” he says in reference to the seven blue whales he photographed this week. He is not the only one to have noticed this phenomenon. One study published last year sheds light on the fact that Pacific blue whales rely on their memory when migrating in order to optimize their krill intake. They thus favour those places where the presence of krill is most stable. Although the methodology has not yet been repeated on North Atlantic blue whales, it is quite possible that the results would be similar if the study were to be replicated in our waters. During his most recent outings, Jacques also noted the presence of fin whales and minke whales. Harbour porpoises, on the other hand, are fewer and fewer, as they are probably beginning to migrate, slowly but surely.

On September 11, Laure Marandet distributes the publication “Portrait de baleines” to captains and naturalists working within the Marine Park. She takes advantage of her visit to Les Escoumins to take a look out to sea. She spots a herd of belugas. “There must have been a hundred of them,” she exclaims, “and there was a great deal of action. We saw sprays of water, tails, lots of movement.” In fall, belugas temporarily congregate in herds of hundreds of individuals of all ages. The role of these large gatherings in which the belugas seem to be practically on top of one other is not well understood. Nevertheless, they put on one heck of a show!

On September 16, a group of kayakers crossed paths with a herd of some fifty belugas not far from L’Anse-de-Roche. The kayakers feel tiny in their craft compared to the belugas. An adult male can measure over 4 metres long! And if it decides to interact with the watercraft, a beluga could misjudge its strength and accidentally capsize it. All the more reason to comply with the regulation and maintain a distance of 400 metres with them, even if this is not always easy in the Saguenay!

While 2019 was the year of magical observations in Gaspé Bay, local residents are joking that whales are sulking them in 2020. Spouts are on the upswing on the St. Lawrence side of the tip of the Gaspé, whereas the inner bay is playing host to seals, but no whales. Sometimes, viewing seasons can be very different from one week, month or year to the next, and it is difficult to pinpoint the cause(s) of these variations. Very often though, it’s got something to do with fish…

This map gives an idea of the presence of whales and does not at all represent the actual distribution of whales in the St. Lawrence. Use it for fun!