Southern Right Whales’ Coastal Circuit
Southern right whales turn whale watching into performance art. These bus-sized acrobats swim thousands of miles from Antarctic feeding grounds to coastal nurseries off three continents. Mothers and calves hang out in shallow bays, doing backflips that splash down like liquid thunder. The whales seem to enjoy an audience, often swimming right up to boats for a closer look. Researchers identify individuals by the unique white patches on their heads.