Chatham Strait and Lake Eva
Our search for wildlife started early in the morning under flat calm, classic Southeast Alaska conditions. In the distance a fog bank steadily rolled out of Tenakee Inlet into Chatham Strait. With binoculars scanning the horizon a set of black triangles pierced the still gray water. “Killer whales, killer whales, killer whales!” A slow, steady course was set to shadow the ocean’s apex predator as we skirted the shifting fog bank into Tenakee Inlet. The call for breakfast fell on deaf ears as our shutters fired away upon our distant male killer whales. With memory cards full and our bellies calling for food the killer whales slipped into the thick sea smoke like two phantoms.
As the afternoon sun rose higher the skies became increasingly clear. With the added visibility our chances of striking gold grew stronger. In the far distance, across Chatham Strait a few whale blows were spotted. The die was cast and bets were placed, we would gamble on these whales hoping for greatness. As we steamed across the wide fjord it became increasingly clear, the risk had paid off: this was a group of bubblenetting humpback whales! Getting closer and closer, the group gained more and more whales. How many? We couldn’t be sure. Was it 10? 15? More? There were so many whales exhaling that it looked like a firework show grand finale. Luck was on our side as the whales began approaching the National Geographic Sea Lion. Using the hydrophone, the banshee-like call of the bubble warriors was cast over the PA system cueing us into their underwater activity. With a sudden burst all whales burst to the surface, engulfing their piscine prey. All whales now with mouths full of food kept their quarry within their site and passed directly under the bow. Curses were spouted from our telephoto friends as we demanded a wider angle lens. “Zoom out, Zoom out!” “They’re too close!” “I could have taken that with my iPhone!”
