The Moment
Written by : Rosie Hoban
Have you ever had a moment that completely grounded you? One of those Oh-Sweet-Lord-is-this-really-happening-to-me moments? Heart beating in your mouth, feeling simultaneously both alive and yet strangely removed? Seeing a Humpback Whale, mouth agape, burst through the ocean surface during a ‘bubble net feed’ some 50m from Fin Island cabin was one of those moments for Rob.
Humpback whale surfaces from bubble net feeding with mouth open wide.
Rob was happily on his 3rd coffee for the morning.
Janie was stationed at her desk working at the computer and I was drifting around tidying in the kitchen. Through the pair of ‘big eye’ binoculars Rob was in a concentrated daze shifting his gaze across Squally Channel where the surrounding shores of Pitt, Campania and Gill Islands came into view.
Researcher entering data during an hourly scan.
He had just finished an enjoyable conversation with Janie and a smile was held at the corner of his mouth as he considered his situation.
A devoted surfer and water-baby through and through, he was at complete peace in his surroundings. In our time here so far, he had braved the hypothermic temperatures to gaze into the 800m deep ocean depths below, moved our tent to be within meters of the ocean and its soothing gurgles and constantly planned when he could next get in the kayak or throw in a line. Any opportunity to get closer to that saltwater God to which he worships.
“Hey guys,’ Rob started lightly, his eyes peeling away from the binoculars to focus on something closer. “I think I’m seeing a lot of bubbles. Slowly his voice started to increase in pace and pitch. “That wouldn’t be a bubb… OH MY GOD YOU GUYS ITS A BUBBLE NET FEED! I JUST SAW 2 HUMPBACKS LAUNCH THROUGH THE WATER.’
Humpback whales break the surface during bubble net feeding.
I rushed to view where he was pointing within a stone’s throw of our cabin but sadly missed the whole affair.
His eyes were large and his limbs moved wildly about himself, unable to contain his unbridled joy. When our eyes met I knew he was having that moment and couldn’t stop a giggle escaping. He was still lost in the experience. Elevated by the proximity of a creature who spent its entire existence underwater yet miraculously demonstrated behavior and intellect not so different from our own. A creature that feeds milk to her offspring and sings songs. A creature that appears to watch, learn and then model habits. A creature who works with their counterparts in a bid to increase each others chances of a good feed. A mother of the ocean, a gentle giant, the magnificent, the humpback whale.
A humpback whale breaching.
Related Posts
The results were harrowing, even for our own scientists leading this investigation. Numbers were double checked, triple checked, and came back the same. By the year 2030, up to 2 fin whales and 18 humpback whales are predicted to be killed annually from being hit by large ships.
The humpback whales we have known for decades are beginning to arrive back to our region after the long migration from either Mexico or Hawaii, hopefully a few with new calves! Fin whales have rebounded in this region over the last decade, and we are now beginning to recognize familiar individuals from year to year.
Travelling over glassy waters along the Pitt Island shoreline, anticipation was building in my chest until, from a distance, I saw unmistakable sleek black dorsal fins pierce the water’s surface. As we slowly approached, I couldn’t help but continue to wonder who would be in the group. The ability to distinguish individual whales and get to know each of their personalities is what initially captivated me and inspired my dream to be able to study whales in the wild.
