Bubble-Net Feeding
Humpback whales are known for a number of unique behaviors in the ocean, and one of the most interesting examples is bubble net feeding. Let’s take a closer look at what bubble net feeding is, how it works, and why it’s beneficial for the humpback whale population.
What is bubble-net feeding?
Bubble net feeding is one of the ways that humpback whales feed during the summertime. During the winter, humpback whales live off of the fat stores they have built up, but during the summer, they use two primary feeding methods: filter feeding and bubble net feeding.
Filter feeding is the concept used by all baleen whales. Baleen acts as little bristles in the whale’s mouth in place of teeth. When humpback whales feed using the filter feeding method, they open their mouths with the goal of taking in as much water as possible in an area where prey are gathering. When they’ve taken in enough water, they close their mouths and squeeze out the water through the baleen bristles. This expels all the water back into the ocean, leaving the small prey animals in the whale’s mouth to eat.
While the filter feeding concept works well for baleen whales, humpbacks whales have another option for mealtime: bubble net feeding. With bubble net feeding, humpback whales intentionally let out a few air bubbles when they’re swimming below their prey. The bubbles float up and cause prey animals to move towards the bubbles, which gives the humpback whale clear access to a small group of prey all at once. From below, the whale will then lunge upwards with its mouth open and capture as many prey animals as possible.
Bubble net feeding is almost always orchestrated by a small group of whales working in collaboration.
Why Does Bubble-net Feeding Work for Humpbacks?
There are a few reasons we might see bubble net feeding in humpback whales. The first is that it’s an efficient process when small groups of whales work together. Unlike other sea mammals like some orcas, humpback whales don’t spend all their time in pods. Instead, they’ll mostly travel solo throughout the ocean, only teaming up with a few other humpbacks at a time to feed.
Bubble net feeding allows the whales to take advantage of their combined effort to take in as many fish as possible in a short period of time. Because humpback whales only feed during the summer months, it’s in their best interest to eat as much as possible to build up fat stores for the winter. Scientists have found that humpback whales sometimes consume as many as 3,000 pounds of fish per day in the summertime!
How to see bubble net feeding.
Believe it or not, it’s possible to catch bubble net feeding in action right here in Alaska! On any whale watching tour, it’s effectively guaranteed that you’ll see humpback whales, but getting to see the bubble net feeding process is a privilege for the lucky tour groups that happen to be in the right place at the right time. June seems to be the best month for bubble net feeding, so align your tour with that timeline to try to see bubble net feeding for yourself!
