Whale Watching at Newfoundland
Visitors to Newfoundland and Labrador always have a "whale of a time." Part of the unforgettable Newfoundland experience will be spectacular sightings of magnificent whales. Although 17 species of sea mammals (including saddleback dolphins and harbour porpoises - seen in late summer) can be found in Newfoundland waters, whales are the most impressive creatures that make their home just off the island. Twenty-two species of whales can be seen in Newfoundland waters.
The northwest Atlantic is home to 4,000-5,000 humpbacks. Newfoundland and Labrador has the largest population of feeding humpbacks in the world. Many humpbacks pass close to Newfoundland shores in summer months as they pursue tiny fish (caplin or capelin). These small fish come to shore to lay eggs in shallow waters.
The whales are returning from their winter in Caribbean breeding grounds. They have not feasted since they left Newfoundland the previous fall so they have a huge appetite. Squid and caplin are the whale's favorite food but they will not turn down a snack of herring, mackerel, sand lance, or krill.
The caplin keep moving and the whales follow them. Early to mid-summer is the best time to see whales at the Witless Bay Ecological Reserve. The whales keep moving towards Trinity Bay, Notre Dame Bay (Twillingate area), and then to the Northern Peninsula.
After they have their share of fresh caplin, whales like to play – or so it seems to the whale watcher. When a 40-ton animal breaches or rolls over and deep dives with its magnificent tail above water, a good show is guaranteed for all. The whales always delight everyone with their natural antics.
Throughout Newfoundland, whales (including humpback, fin, orca, minke) can be seen easily – even from land. Various places across the province have been identified as perfect spots to view whales. In fact, the community of St. Vincent's has placed a telescope at its Lookout for even easier viewing.
If tourists want to get up close and personal with whales, they can choose from numerous boat tours or go on sea kayaking adventures. Boat tours offer an ideal platform to get close to the whales. Yet the tour operators respect that the area is the whale's home, habitat, and space.
Sea kayaking allows tourists to share the whale's space. While kayaking, viewing whales should be done under the supervision of a qualified tour operator. Whales are massive creatures. Humpbacks are usually 53 feet in length but they can be over 70 feet long and weigh 65 tons. If people do not have safety as their first priority, whales can present a danger.
Whale watching in Newfoundland and Labrador is the ultimate vacation experience. Tourists get to enjoy spectacular scenery and view magnificent whales – and puffins and icebergs – maybe even all three at the same time. Bring your camera to capture the magic as the whales swim through the rich feeding grounds off Newfoundland shores.
The locals and tour guides will provide you with the friendliest interpretive presentations you've ever experienced in your life. Maybe with a steaming cup of tea, homemade molasses bun, and a tune or two thrown in for good measure!
Types of Whales
- Baleen Whales
Baleen whales, such as the humpback, minke, and fin, are common sights during summer in Newfoundland. These whales have no teeth but that does not stop them from enjoying island seafood. They filter fish through plates of fibrous baleen (consisting of keratin) hanging from their upper jaw.
- Humpback
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Humpbacks, a well-known type of baleen whale, arrive off Eastern Newfoundland in late spring. Females tend to weigh more than males and have more length. Every two or three years, the females give birth with a gestation period of 12 months.
The calf will weigh about one ton at birth and be 3-5 meters in length. Generally, they feed from their mother for the first year. Every day, adult humpbacks can eat two tons of fish and plank tonic crustaceans. Humpback tails are as distinctive as human fingerprints. These impressive whales are quite acrobatic and are seen usually between mid-June and August.
- Fin
The fin whale is the second-largest whale in the world. They have distinctive lower jaw coloring - the right side being white or creamy yellow, and the left, mottled black. The colors are reversed on its tongue. These mammals can be 75 feet in length (and more) and weigh 50-70 tons. Females give birth every three or four years and the calf nurses for 6-8 months.
The fin whale is less acrobatic but they can swim very fast and send a 20-foot spout into the air with each breath. They can travel alone or in groups. Fin whales are a common sight during August and September off Newfoundland but they usually stay further off shore. The best way to see fin whales is to take a boat tour.
- Minke
The minke comes to Newfoundland in early June but leave before the other whales. They spend much of their time underwater so they can be difficult to spot from land. Minke whales are curious creatures, however, so they will often swim alongside boats.
Minkes are smaller whales but a full-grown minke can be 20 foot in length (although the average length is 16 feet). Females are slightly longer than males but both weigh about ten tons. Females give birth once every two years. Calves measure around 3 meters and weight 450 kg at birth. The calves nurse for almost six months.
- Toothed Whales
Toothed whales can be found in small numbers from May-October in Newfoundland waters. Toothed whales include sperm, killer, and pothead whales.
- Pilot (pothead)
The pilot (or pothead) whale, the only whale to travel in a pod, is Newfoundland's only resident toothed whale. The pilot whale, a very intelligent creature, is a member of the dolphin family. They are toothed whales but have only 40-48 teeth compared to the usual 120 (on the average) in other dolphin species. They feed mainly on squid but also eat octopus, cuttlefish, and other small fish.
Pilot whales have a distinctive, round head and a long, stocky body. Usually pothead whales are 20 feet in length. The male pilot is longer than the female and weighs almost three tons. The female is about five meters in length and weighs 1.5 tons.
Females give birth only every 3-5 years and calves are about 1.8 meters in length and weigh 100 kg at birth. The calves nurse for almost two years. Newfoundland's south and southeastern coast are perfect places to sight a pothead whale as they feed on squid in local waters.
- Sperm Whale
Male sperm whales are 50 feet (or more) long and females reach 38 feet. Sperm whales are the big-toothed whales made famous by the 1851 novel - Moby Dick. An occasional beluga or sperm whale will show up off Newfoundland shores.
- Killer Whale
Killer whales reach a length of 30 feet. These whales use a complex communication system with clicks, squeaks, and wails. It is possible to spot an orca (killer whale) as it hunts for salmon and other large fish. Orcas have distinctive markings that allow individual identification. As well, its dorsal fin has a unique look.
The dorsal fin can reach 1.8 meters in length. It is a standard triangle shape on males and a more curved triangle on females and young males. Orcas in captivity seem to loose the rigidity of their dorsal fin.
Orcas can be seen at any time of year but they make rare appearances. They are probably not welcomed by the whale community as orcas will attack other whales such as minke – and even humpbacks. Orcas will eat smaller whales, as well as seals, sharks, and penguins.
Females give birth every 3-5 years and the calf will be about two meters in length. Of course, you could see an orca at Sea World. Yet it is much more amazing to see an orca in its natural habitat. That adds up to one unforgettable experience!
- Blue Whale
The blue whale is the largest mammal ever to have lived on earth. Adults can reach lengths of over 30 meters. The largest blue whale had a recorded length of over 33 meters. Females are larger than males and they can weigh up to 150 tons compared to around 100 tons for males.
Even though blue whales are massive creatures, they feed on small fish but they have to eat four tons of food daily such as a diet of 40 million krill per day. Females give birth every two or three years to a calf weighing tons and measuring 8 meters in length. Calves are weaned at around 8 months. By then, the calves weigh 23 tons. The best time to catch a glimpse of a blue whale in Newfoundland and Labrador is during the fall and winter months.
Where To Find Whales
- Avalon Peninsula
Witless Bay Ecological Reserve
The Witless Bay Ecological Reserve is one of the best places in the world for whale watching. In addition to daily boat tours, customized, whale watching, 'learning' vacations are organized by tour operators in this area. These unique vacation packages give individuals a chance to study and learn about whales and take photographs of individual whales for scientific identification purposes.
- Kittiwake Coast
Twillingate
The Lookout at Long Point in Twillingate is a favorite with whale watchers. Visitors can check out the Long Point Lighthouse in the same excursion. Twillingate is the home of North America’s largest population of humpbacks and seabirds.
Various tour operators are available to bring people closer to the whales – and icebergs and sea birds. As well, the coves and islands in Notre Dame Bay have some of the best conditions anywhere for sea kayaking. Always make safety the number one priority!
- Northern Peninsula
St. Anthony
Whales are found consistently in the biologically, rich waters off St. Anthony harbour. During a boat tour in this area, it is not unusual to see five or more humpback whales.
- Labrador
Red Bay
Red Bay is a National Historic Site. During the last half of the sixteenth century, Saddle Island, an island in the middle of Red Bay, was a whaling capital. Archaeologists have discovered the outlines of buildings from this era and a cemetery where 140 Basques whalers were laid to rest. In 1978, a Spanish galleon, believed to be the San Juan, was found lying at the bottom of Red Bay. The ship is one of only two in the world that serves as an example of the naval architecture of the period.
Today the community is home to an interpretive centre about sixteenth century Basque whaling. In the early 1500s, the Strait of Belle Isle was teaming with 'right' whales (a type of baleen whale) and bowhead whales (a 'right' whale with a huge, bow-shaped head). Red Bay still remains a popular spot for whale watching.
Williamsport also had a whaling station. Other great places to watch whales are Bay Bulls, Trinity, Cape St. Mary's, Bear Cove Lookout on the Irish Loop, and Bonne Bay (site of world-class marine station - Gros Morne Park area). Whale watching can even be fantastic in and near St. John's. Whales can be spotted from Signal Hill or nearby Cape Spear. Whales can also be spotted at Rosewater Bay in Labrador and at Cape Bonavista and Cape St. Francis in Conception Bay.
As well, tourists can check out the Cape Francis Lighthouse. The tower is closed but the area around the lighthouse is open to the public as a picnic and hiking area. There is a rough road going to the lighthouse so visitors must travel by foot or four-wheel drive.
22 Whale Species – You Can Expect To See These Species In Newfoundland and Labrador!
Newfoundland and Labrador Whales
