Jan 17, 2023

Whale Watching on the Outer Banks

Blog / Just for Fun
Share

Imagine you’re enjoying a vacation on the Outer Banks, soaking up the sun and taking in the ocean view. Off in the distance, you see something incredible. — A massive figure gliding through the water that could only be a whale. That’s right! Whale sightings, while rare, do happen on the OBX.

humpback whale
A humpback whale traveling with dolphins off the coast of the Outer Banks.

An Experience of a Lifetime

Just last month, a family staying at Les Dunes experienced the most awe-inspiring events. Over the course of their vacation, they spotted two different species of whale. Right outside their back door were a humpback and a rare North Atlantic right whale. While humpbacks are the species most commonly sighted off of the Outer Banks, the North Atlantic right whale is another story. With only 356 individuals remaining in the wild, right whales are critically endangered.

Meet Salem, the North Atlantic Right Whale

Understanding the immense significance of seeing these amazing creatures, the family reported the sightings using the Whale Alert app, which then prompted a few calls and emails with a North Atlantic Right Whale Project coordinator in Florida. The researcher on this individual animal shared some incredible information with the family:

north atlantic right whale
Salem, a North Atlantic Right Whale

“The whale’s name is Salem.  He’s an adult male born in 2006. He was born in the water off of Florida’s east coast in November 2006 (first sighting as a calf). His mother’s name is “Silt”, she’s about 40yrs old, and is believed to still be living (last seen in 2021 with a new calf). Salem is believed to have 4 siblings. He spends his summers in the Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia (Canada) and winters off of Florida. His last recorded sighting was in April 2021 in Cape Cod Bay. Right whales are currently experiencing an Unusual Mortality Event (UME), which means they are dying, mostly from ship strikes and fishing net entanglement, faster than they are being born (57 births and 92 deaths since 2017). If this trend can’t be reversed the Right whale could be extinct in the next 30-40 years.”

Helping Whales One Sighting at a Time

The alert from this family, as well as the new imagery, are helping researchers track and learn more about these whales. When asked if we could share the incredible photos taken by this family, they only hoped that it could bring awareness to this serious situation.

They encourage all those that are willing and able to “Adopt a Right Whale” through the Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life.

Salem, a North Atlantic Right Whale
Salem, a North Atlantic Right Whale
humpback whale off the other banks
A humpback whale traveling with dolphins off the coast of the Outer Banks.

OBX Whale Crossing

Every year around this time, three species cross our coast along the Outer Banks. Humpback, fin, and North Atlantic right whales all enjoy a summer in the north Atlantic and head south to warmer waters in the early days of winter. While sightings are infrequent, it is possible to spot them twice in one year. In the spring, they migrate northward once again. As conservation efforts continue to increase their numbers, we look forward to the day that these remarkable sightings are no longer once-in-a-lifetime experiences. But rather, we hope they become a beautiful tradition on the Outer Banks.

Laurel Burgam

Laurel Burgam

Jan 17, 2023

Send this to a friend