Where Whales Become Friends

Everyone loves whales and we know their names!   (Move your cursor over pictures)

Home School and Whales

Introduce your children to whales with names, unique personalities and an interest in us!

The behaviors below are more fun to see when you know the name of the whale, perhaps its mother's name and if it is a male or female.  Meet whole families of whales.

Buy the DVD (Homeschool? Ask for free shipping!)

Play the Whale Name Game each week!

Whale Adoption Programs

Real Whale Watch Trip: See Salt and her calf Wasabi!

(Follow the link and scroll to bottom of page)

Breaching, Lobtail, Flippering, Spyhop, Headstand, Backup

Breaching is considered the most incredible behavior in the animal kingdom.  While all species of whales breach, humpback whales are the most likely to be observed.  There are several types of breaching: spinning head breach, chin breach, pull breach and tail breach.

A spinning breach is defined as a whale landing on its side, belly or back while using its flippers away from the body.  Body rotation up to 360 degrees can be observed.

A chin breach is observed as the whale with flippers close to body coming nearly straight up in air and slamming its chin on the surface.

A tail breach is usually preceded by a humpback whale holding both flippers straight out from the body and then hurling its tail out of the water, off to either side.

Lobtail

Lobtail or Lobtailing is defined as a whale slamming its fluke on the water over and over with its head down.  Humpbacks do this while on their bellies or backs.

Flippering

A humpback flipper is nearly 16 feet in length.  It can hit the water with its flipper while on its side or on its back.  Double flippering can only be seen when the whale is  on its back.

Spyhop

The whale rises straight up and back down, sometimes the eye becomes visible.  There is also a spinning spyhop when the whale rotates slowly while keeping the head out.

Headstand

The whale rises vertically tail first.  The tail reenters the water vertically or by falling on its side.

Backup

The whale surfaces tail first and the backing motion continues as the tail stock, dorsal fin, back and head reach the surface.

Back to the kids page

Back to the Landing Page

HOMEPAGE

We are very proud to announce our selection as a Google Oceans Contributor!