Over the past 2o years the return of humpback whales to the northern coast of British Columbia has been dramatic! In 2004, 42 individual humpback whales were identified in the Caamano Sound to Douglas Channel region, in 2019 that number jumped to 426, and by the end of 2025, 542 individual humpback whales have been identified. Many of these whales return year after year and are referred to as seasonal resident humpback whales. We now sight humpbacks on a daily basis during the field season. Thanks to this high abundance we have been able to gain great insight into the social behaviour and habitat use of this robust cetacean.
Overview
Historically, humpback whales were commercially hunted from the late 1800s to 1965. During this time an estimated 28,000 humpback whales were caught in the North Pacific. The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) proposed that the population be listed as “Threatened”, based on low observed densities of humpback whales in British Columbia. This threatened status has recently been re-assessed by COSEWIC and humpbacks have been downlisted to a species of “Special Concern” due to the increase in the population. This re-assessment is being challenged by a number of researchers.
The Northeast Pacific humpback whale is a migratory species feeding from spring through fall in high-latitude nutrient rich waters. In early winter they migrate to sub-tropical and tropical waters for calving and breeding. For BC humpbacks, the breeding grounds largely encompass either Mexico or Hawaii – with whales that feed further north more likely to migrate to Hawaii and whales feeding further south more likely to migrate to Mexico. They do not feed during this winter migration. Every fall we know that one by one they will slowly begin their annual migration south.
The first to leave are mother and calves, then sub-adults, then adult males. The last whales to leave the feeding grounds are the pregnant females. They will need every ounce of nutrition to sustain them during the rigors of the long migration, birthing, and then nursing their calves. There is no food available for these mothers in the calving grounds and they will not forage their next meal until travelling northwards again, with a dependent calf by their side.
The social relationships humpbacks have developed with each other are through direct experience and by choice, and not necessarily due to family bonds.
These social relationships shape how humpbacks live, feed, and move through their habitat. Over time, our research has shown that some humpbacks regularly associate with the same individuals year after year, forming long-term partnerships and social groups. These relationships influence where whales spend time and how they use different parts of the coast, revealing that humpback society plays an important role in how whales share space and resources.
One of the strongest examples of these social connections are among whales who bubble net feed. Bubble net feeding is a cooperative foraging strategy that whales learn from one another. Whales that use this technique tend to associate more closely with each other and use habitat differently than those that don’t. As the population and environment change, these social networks also shift — highlighting that humpback whales are not only highly social, but adaptable. Understanding these social lives is essential for protecting the habitats and behaviours that support humpback recovery all along the BC coast.
Humpback whales in BC are still recovering from the impacts of commercial whaling, but they continue to face serious threats from human activity. Collisions with vessels are one of the greatest risks, especially as shipping, tanker traffic, and recreational boating increase in coastal waters that overlap with key habitat. Ship strikes can cause severe injury or death, and place still recovering populations at great risk.
Entanglement in fishing gear is another major concern, with many humpbacks showing scars from past entanglements that can reduce their ability to feed, swim, or reproduce. Noise pollution from vessels, underwater construction, or industrial activity can also disrupt communication, feeding, and social behaviours for humpback whales, making key habitats less effective or suitable. Together, these threats highlight the importance of protecting habitat and reducing human impacts to support the continued recovery of humpback whales along the BC coast.
Humpback Social Calls
Humpback Social Calls
Humpback Social Calls
Bubble Net Feeding
Clearly, the humpback whales are returning for a reason and it is evident that the geographic region from Caamano Sound to Douglas Channel is a vital feeding ground. In early spring, after the 3000-mile migration from the tropics, humpback whales have lost a large portion of their body weight. There is no food available in the warmer waters of Mexico and Hawaii so when they arrive up north they are in dire need of food. The feeding frenzy begins immediately and will last from dawn to dusk.
We are very fortunate in our research area as the most common form of foraging is bubble net feeding. During this feeding display they will cooperate in groups from 2 to 15 individuals. The technique they use to ensure each whale has the opportunity to feed is inspirational and spectacular to witness. Once every whale has taken a dive the true work begins, hundreds of feet below the surface. The whales will dive below a school of prey, and then slowly they begin a spiral dance upwards towards the surface, blowing bubbles in a circular motion forming a net.
On the surface you will actually see a circle of bubbles form as the whales move in this spiral formation. The purpose of the bubbles is to congregate the school of herring and force them towards the surface near the centre of this circle.Then the feeding calls begin, long hollow calls, followed by higher pitched squeals.
The whales use these specific calls when they are feeding and the calls play a huge role in this feeding technique as they further congregate the fish. What we witness next at the surface is an explosion of air as these whales surface in the centre of this bubble circle, their mouths gaping wide open, full of small fish jumping for their lives.
Humpback whales have 14 to 35 throat groves that run from chin to navel. These grooves facilitate the expansion of the throat. This expansion allows for large volumes of water and food into the mouth. As the mouth closes the whale will press down with its tongue forcing all water out through baleen plates. These baleen plates hang in rows from each side of the upper jaw and act as a filter, keeping all the small fish from escaping. Baleen is made of a protein, referred to as keratin, which is both strong and flexible. With this innovative evolutionary adaptation the humpbacks feed on krill, and various species of small shoaling fish such as herring, pilchards and mackerel.
On the sidelines are a variety of humpback companions, such as seals, sea lions, Dall’s porpoise and an assortment of sea birds taking fish from the whales have been injured or left behind. We imagine, just like us, all these species are waiting for the arrival of this food frenzy so they may participate in one of the planet’s most outstanding display of cooperative feeding.
Clearly, the humpback whales are returning for a reason and it is evident that the geographic region from Caamano Sound to Douglas Channel is a vital feeding ground. In early spring, after the 3000-mile migration from the tropics, humpback whales have lost a large portion of their body weight. There is no food available in the warmer waters of Mexico and Hawaii so when they arrive up north they are in dire need of food. The feeding frenzy begins immediately and will last from dawn to dusk.
We are very fortunate in our research area as the most common form of foraging is bubble net feeding. During this feeding display they will cooperate in groups from 2 to 15 individuals. The technique they use to ensure each whale has the opportunity to feed is inspirational and spectacular to witness. Once every whale has taken a dive the true work begins, hundreds of feet below the surface. The whales will dive below a school of prey, and then slowly they begin a spiral dance upwards towards the surface, blowing bubbles in a circular motion forming a net.
On the surface you will actually see a circle of bubbles form as the whales move in this spiral formation. The purpose of the bubbles is to congregate the school of herring and force them towards the surface near the centre of this circle.Then the feeding calls begin, long hollow calls, followed by higher pitched squeals.
The whales use these specific calls when they are feeding and the calls play a huge role in this feeding technique as they further congregate the fish. What we witness next at the surface is an explosion of air as these whales surface in the centre of this bubble circle, their mouths gaping wide open, full of small fish jumping for their lives.
Humpback whales have 14 to 35 throat groves that run from chin to navel. These grooves facilitate the expansion of the throat. This expansion allows for large volumes of water and food into the mouth. As the mouth closes the whale will press down with its tongue forcing all water out through baleen plates. These baleen plates hang in rows from each side of the upper jaw and act as a filter, keeping all the small fish from escaping. Baleen is made of a protein, referred to as keratin, which is both strong and flexible. With this innovative evolutionary adaptation the humpbacks feed on krill, and various species of small shoaling fish such as herring, pilchards and mackerel.
On the sidelines are a variety of humpback companions, such as seals, sea lions, Dall’s porpoise and an assortment of sea birds taking fish from the whales have been injured or left behind. We imagine, just like us, all these species are waiting for the arrival of this food frenzy so they may participate in one of the planet’s most outstanding display of cooperative feeding.
Bubble Net Feeding Calls
Audio Title
Audio Title
The Humpback Song
Humpback Song 2008
Humpback Song 2010
Humpback Song 2023
