Hang With Humpback Whales During Their Annual Migration In Alaska This Autumn
By Megan McDonald|Published September 25, 2019
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Megan McDonald
Author
Megan McDonald is a writer, photographer, and owner of humu media, an Alaska-based digital media agency. She spends her free time traveling with her husband and daughter around the US and the world.
If you’ve been dying to go whale watching, this humpback whale migration in Sitka allows you to get up close and personal with some of the most majestic whales on the planet! The fall season is the best time to spot these gentle giants in the waters around Sitka, Alaska.
Alaska has countless marine wildlife species for you to discover in the oceans around the state.
The whale populations here are some of the most fantastic, with large populations of whales migrating here for part of the year. The humpback whales are one of these migrating whale populations.
The whales migrate to Hawaii for part of the year to breed and calve.
You'll find the humpback whales tend to be spotted in Alaska from April through September, although sometimes all the way up to December. About 12,000 whales will migrate to Hawaii in September to October.
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That huge population swims right through Sitka Sound!
There are other humpback whales, about 200-300, that don't migrate through and instead settle down in this area year round. Sometimes they head up other waterways in the southeast area.
Because of the abundance of fish in Sitka Sound, those whales tend to come back and stay in this area instead.
During the fall months of late July through November, you can expect to see up to 20 humpback whales a day! These humpbacks are filling up on delicious krill.
In fact, these whales need to eat almost 5,500 pounds of fish each and every day of the season!
It takes the whales a little longer than a month to swim to Hawaii, so they need all the food they can fill up on. That means plenty of viewing opportunities for you to see them in the autumn season!
Humpback whales are some of the most fun to watch, as they breach more than any other baleen whale. They jump straight out of the water, and you'll see their tail as they dive deep looking for more fish.
There are some great whale watching companies out of Sitka to show you the best spots to see whales. Sitka Sounds Tours out of Sitka can bring you to where the wildlife action is! At $135.00 per person, you can enjoy a 2.5 hour tour with Captain Brian, who is also a biologist!
Have you ever gone on a whale watch to experience the humpback whale migration outside of Sitka? What did you think? What do you do it again? Let us know in the comments below!
If you’re in Sitka exploring, don’t forget to check out Baranof Castle In Sitka, The Historic Place Where Russia Signed Alaska Over To The US!
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