By Mike Flunker, Editor-in-Chief

Have you ever seen a whale down by the bay? You’ll usually hear them before you see them. Listen for the deep exhale that accompanies a surfacing whale.

Humpback whales are a charismatic species with populations all over the globe. In Southeast Alaska, these whales return every summer to feed in the nutrient-rich waters of the North Pacific, bringing their calves with them. Humpback whales feed on herring, salmon fry, and other forage fish like myctophids.

We may still see a few whales hanging out in the coming weeks before they head south again. For the last few years, a few individuals have been seen in Statter Harbor before winter break.