Nearly 60,000 beluga whales are migrating in their annual journey to prepare for the breeding season.
Beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) swim from the Arctic Ocean to the Churchill River in Hudson Bay, Canada, to feed and give birth. More than 57,000 beluga whales undertake this migration, and the organization Polar Bears International will live-stream their journey, IFL Science reported on July 15.
Beluga whales on their migration. (Photo: Madison Stevens / Polar Bears International).
“Beluga whales are very curious, and many will swim right up to the underwater camera while playing near the boat,” said Alysa McCall, a scientist with Polar Bears International.
Two live-stream cameras are mounted on the research vessel Delphi: one camera captures the surface of the water, while the other films underwater. Researchers also use hydrophones to record the sounds of the beluga whales as they migrate. These animals are often nicknamed “canaries of the sea” due to their unique vocal range. In addition to sound, studies have shown that the bulge on their heads can also change shape, aiding visual communication.
Hudson Bay offers an abundance of food for the whales, but it becomes difficult to access during the winter months. However, in summer, the ice melts, making it an ideal location for the whales to congregate, as there are relatively few orcas, their natural predators, in the area.
One reason the whales migrate here is that adult belugas undergo a molting process. According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, their skin grows about 100 times faster than normal during this period. Research from the 1990s indicates that the lower salinity and warmer sea temperatures in Hudson Bay can stimulate quick skin development by enhancing blood circulation to the skin.
In autumn, the sea surface will freeze again, prompting the belugas to leave. They feed on salmon and various other fish, as well as shrimp, crab, and mollusks. Not only do beluga whales depend on sea ice, but other species such as polar bears and seals also use the ice as a platform for hunting, resting, and breeding.
