Herring (Larus argentatus) and Bonaparte's (Larus philadelphia) Gull feeding frenzy on a "Herring Bait Ball" in the marine waters off Dundas Island along the west coast and northwest of Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada.
No. 4 Explore August 8.
15 July, 2018.
Slide # GWB_20180715_0856.CR2
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© Gerard W. Beyersbergen - All Rights Reserved Worldwide In Perpetuity - No Unauthorized Use.
Tags: Bait Ball British Columbia Feeding Frenzy Pacific Ocean Prince Rupert west coast Birds herring marine Herring Gull Bonaparte's Gull Laridae Larus philadelphia Larus argentatus
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During a fishing trip off the west coast near Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada we had a pod of Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) swim by the boat under the surface of the water and circled in front of out boat and blowing bubbles. This is referred to as "Bubble Net" feeding where the whales swim in a circle around a mass of bait fish, "Herring" in this case, and cause them to bunch together in a tight mass. The whales then swim up to the surface through this mass of fish with their mouths wide open and break the surface of the water in a group with their mouths full of bait fish.
It was my first experience in viewing this behaviour and was incredible to view. There were at least four whales in this feeding activity.
23 July, 2019.
Slide # GWB_20190723_9327.CR2
Explore # 39 - July 27, 2019.
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© Gerard W. Beyersbergen - All Rights Reserved Worldwide In Perpetuity - No Unauthorized Use.
Tags: British Columbia Bubble Net Feeding Cetaceans Humpback Whale Pacific Ocean Prince Rupert Mammals behaviour herring summer
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Steller's Sea Lion (Eumetopias jubatus) hauled out on a small uncharted rocky island along the coast northwest of Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada.
The single animal on the lower left was observed over a period of time climbing the steep rock face and eventually joined the four sea lions the upper right of the image.
it was amazing to see the dexterity it displayed in climbing up the slippery rock face.
16 July, 2018.
Slide # GWB_20180716_1543.CR2
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© Gerard W. Beyersbergen - All Rights Reserved Worldwide In Perpetuity - No Unauthorized Use.
Tags: British Columbia Eared Seals Eumetopias jubatus Prince Rupert Steller's Sea Lion west coast Mammals Otariidae colony island marine
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This Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) was the male initially courting the female at the time before the bear fight. Although a large, dominant bear we had encountered for several days in the area, he was beaten by the black coloured grizzly and left the area and the female to the victor.
As I indicated in the previous image, serious wounds are inflicted during these territorial scraps but in this case the bear was able to hobble away and was observed a number of days later alive and apparently doing okay.
This bear suffered a number of small punctures in the skin along with a cut, probably from the other bear's teeth along the neck (see saliva area) and several long gashes from the claws of the black coloured male grizzly on its back leg. Although quite dramatic in view, none of them appeared to be crippling to the loser.
Thus we see survival of the fittest in the natural world.
28 May, 2015.
Slide # GWB_20150528_6106.CR2
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Tags: British Columbia Coastal Rain Forest Great Rainforest Grizzly Bear K'tzim-a-deen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Reserve Maritime Coast Ursus arctos horribilis breeding season Bears Mammals Ursidae
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A large group of American Robins (Turdus migratorius) spent the winter of 2015/2016 in an urban park in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Because they did not migrate, they were forced to develop some interesting habits and food gathering means in order to survive that winter.
This is the first of several images of that particular group of Robins. Nature definitely forces its inhabitants to adapt in order to survive.
16 January, 2016.
Slide # GWB_20160116_3160.CR2
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© Gerard W. Beyersbergen - All Rights Reserved Worldwide In Perpetuity - No Unauthorized Use.
Tags: American Robin Perching Bird Turdus migratorius Unusual winter resident AMRO Alberta Birds Edmonton Turdidae Urban Winter
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