Same humpback photographed in N.L., Puerto Rico
Whale named Snowdrift could spark connection between biologists from both islands
A friendly humpback that delighted whale watchers in Mobile Bay years ago has been tracked to Puerto Rico.
Biologist Jeannine Winkel of Molly Bawn Whale and Puffin Tours said she first saw the whale — named Snowdrift — when it spent some time swimming in Mobile Bay in 2011.
“He had a friend with him there. We saw these two whales every day, and they were really nice. They came right up and looked at people and were really friendly,” she said.
“And then, as whales do, every fall they move away from Newfoundland toward the Caribbean, and we did not see them again after.”
Winkel submitted a photo to the Allied Whale institute in Maine to be catalogued.
“They collect pictures of the underside of the tails, which can be used to identify individ- ual humpback whales, and everybody with an interest sends them in and then they try to match them,” Winkel explained.
When a match was found, the two women who had taken the photos were notified.
“It’s great news to hear back from a whale that we spent so much time with,” Winkel said.
Snowdrift’s friend, Fogbank, hasn’t been identified yet through the database.
“I got in touch with the lady who took the other picture,” Winkel said. “She said there was one whale that could have been him but the pictures were not good enough to say for sure.”
The match could be the beginning of a bigger connection between biologists here and in Puerto Rico. Mike Shortall of Molly Bawn said it has sparked discussion about bringing students from Puerto Rico to Newfoundland in the summer to study humpack whales.