Coastal Life

With the changing of seasons, the Alaskan coast moves from icy stillness to layers of vibrant life. Where fall once signaled the beginning of southern migrations, the spring welcomes in new life and returning residents as the ice melts. The days lengthen, and animals start to rouse just as others are making their annual trip back. Many coastal species follow the warming waters into northern regions in search of abundant food. (Malibran et al., 2024) These organic incentives to the Alaska whale migration create the thriving and growing ecosystems we love to observe and explore.

Mass migrations of whales typically occur for breeding and for access to food resources. (Environmental Variability, Bowhead Whale Distributions, and Inupiat Subsistence Whaling: Whaling Linkages and Resilience of an Alaskan Coastal System, n.d.) That is why Alaska offers a great window of opportunity to whale-watch from April to September. (Myers et al., 2021) You may catch these gentle giants floating through the ocean from your boat deck or even on the shorelines of bays. Many companies even offer whale-watching tours along primary migration routes.
Alaska Whales

Whales of Alaska

The most common migrant to Alaska’s beaches is the endangered Humpback whale. As many as 10,000 humpbacks will migrate to Alaska each year. (Gabriele et al., 2017) They enjoy the abundance of food provided by the seasonally warm waters of the Arctic. Many species also migrate to Alaska for similar reasons, such as the Orca, Beluga, and Grey Whales. (Gray Whale Migration, n.d.)

Many of these whales depend mainly on the food supply they enjoy in Alaska to supplement them throughout the year. During spring and summer, Arctic waters begin to warm, providing ample feeding grounds. These supply bountiful food networks made up of plankton, krill, and small fish for the whales. The warm water is an invitation to start migrating thousands of miles to the gorge. Once the water starts to cool in the fall, the food supply does as well. (NOAA)
After the food supply declines, the whales will migrate thousands of miles towards more tropical waters. The food supply can be low in tropical regions as well, so whales take advantage of this opportunity to breed and reproduce. With a low supply of nutrients, the whales survive on the fat reserves they had stored during summer feasting. And then, every spring, the whales start the migration all over again.

First Hand Experiences

An encounter with whales, whether from the beach or from the bow of your boat, has a deep impact. These experiences give you an immersive encounter with the coast and showcase the symbiotic relationship between wildlife and the ecosystem. (Schuler & Pearson, 2020)  If you are looking to observe the natural migration patterns of whales, the Alaskan shorelines will be one of your best opportunities. (Baker, 1985, pp. 304-323)
ocean whale Alaska

References

Malibran, M. C., Kaplan, C. M. & Lorenzo, E. D. (2024). Marine heatwaves suppress ocean circulation and large vortices in the Gulf of Alaska. Communications Earth & Environment 5. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-024-01785-x

(n.d.). Environmental Variability, Bowhead Whale Distributions, and Inupiat Subsistence Whaling: Whaling Linkages and Resilience of an Alaskan Coastal System. https://www.arcus.org/arcss/snacs/bowhead-whales

Myers, H. J., Olsen, D. W., Matkin, C. O., Horstmann, L. A. & Konar, B. (2021). Passive acoustic monitoring of killer whales (Orcinus orca) reveals year-round distribution and residency patterns in the Gulf of Alaska. Scientific Reports 11. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-99668-0

Gabriele, C. M., Neilson, J. L., Straley, J. M., Baker, C. S., Cedarleaf, J. A. & Saracco, J. F. (2017). Natural history, population dynamics, and habitat use of humpback whales over 30 years on an Alaska feeding ground. Ecosphere 8(1): e01641. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.1641

(n.d.). Gray Whale Migration. NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service. https://oceantoday.noaa.gov/graywhalemigration/

Schuler, A. R. & Pearson, H. C. (2020). Conservation Benefits of Whale Watching in Juneau, Alaska. Tourism in Marine Environments 14. https://doi.org/10.3727/154427319X15719404264632

Baker, C. S. (1985). Population Characteristics and Migration of Summer And Late‐Season Humpback Whales (Megapetra Novaeangliae) In Southeastern Alaska. Marine Mammal Science 1(4), pp. 304-323. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-7692.1985.tb00018.x