2022 02-25 Auau Channel - Maui
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IT'S ALL ABOUT THOSE TAIL-THROWS!
Our February 25, 945a-1145a whale watch was on board Captain Steve’s RIB “Canefire II” from the Mala boat launch ramp in Lahaina. The boat was fast and we were quickly on the whales. Captain Steve was in radio contact with other boats and we soon changed course for an active location a few miles west of the southern end of Lanai. Here we found 7 or 8 males courting 1 female. During our time with this group we saw all sorts of tail-throwing, chin-lifting, racing, and interactions between the competitive males. There was one instance where 2 males were photographed rising up with over half their bodies exposed in a body-slam. In another instance (not photographed) one large male leaped forward, landed on top of another whale, and rode on top of it for a few seconds. There were many shots of forward and upside-down lob-tailing. One of the most active tail-lobbers was HW-MN0440511, which has been reported only 5 times from Maui and Kaua’i.
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Read MoreIT'S ALL ABOUT THOSE TAIL-THROWS!
Our February 25, 945a-1145a whale watch was on board Captain Steve’s RIB “Canefire II” from the Mala boat launch ramp in Lahaina. The boat was fast and we were quickly on the whales. Captain Steve was in radio contact with other boats and we soon changed course for an active location a few miles west of the southern end of Lanai. Here we found 7 or 8 males courting 1 female. During our time with this group we saw all sorts of tail-throwing, chin-lifting, racing, and interactions between the competitive males. There was one instance where 2 males were photographed rising up with over half their bodies exposed in a body-slam. In another instance (not photographed) one large male leaped forward, landed on top of another whale, and rode on top of it for a few seconds. There were many shots of forward and upside-down lob-tailing. One of the most active tail-lobbers was HW-MN0440511, which has been reported only 5 times from Maui and Kaua’i.
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