Two humpback whales and a calf were spotted on Monday, Feb. 13, in Brewers Bay, near the University of the Virgin Islands in the early morning hours. Bystanders suspect that one of the whales gave birth to the calf last night in the bay, but this is unconfirmed. However, it was a very small calf and there is speculation that it must have been recently born.
Photos were taken by UVI marine biology student Jarvon Stout using a telephoto lens on his camera after the whales had left the bay. Care was taken to stay outside the required 300 yard buffer zone for marine mammals.
“While this is the season for the Humpbacks to migrate through this area, it is the first time that I have heard of them being inside of Brewers, much less having a calf in the bay,” said Dr. Paul Jobsis, director of the UVI Center for Marine and Environmental Studies. “The number of whales spotted in the waters around the Virgin Islands appears to fluctuate from year to year. They come down from the north Atlantic waters to give birth and breed each year in the late winter and early spring.”
More information is available in a news release on the UVI website – http://www.uvi.edu/ - and from this direct link.