It's becoming a bit of an annual event for us to see large pods of humpback whales off our north and west coastline at this time of year, generally from December through to April. It is estimated that there are about 11,000 humpbacks in the Western North Atlantic and we often joke, that they take a holiday in Barbados when it gets too cold and simply live off their blubber for a few months, until heading back North. It is here in our warmer waters, that breeding and calving occur and escort males, competing to breed, can often be seen following females, while mothers are frequently seen with calves. These huge creatures which can be as much as 50 feet long and weigh up to almost 80,000 pounds, simply frolic and play, diving in and out of the waves to the total delight of all who are lucky enough to witness it. It's hard to explain, but no matter how many times you have seen it before, it is a humbling experience that leaves you feeling extremely priviledged to have witness such gentle majesty.
