See it: Juvenile humpback whale spotted swimming through murky waters of the New York Harbor
The whale reported on Wednesday near St. George's ferry terminal in New York Harbor, is very likely the same one reported Thursday in the Hudson River from Lower Manhattan all the way into Chelsea off Pier 45.
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NEW YORK– A humpback whale was reported in the New York Harbor and Hudson River multiple times by people in New York City on Wednesday and Thursday.
Video from Gotham Whale on Wednesday shows the whale spewing water from its blowhole as a large container ship and smaller tug boat pass very closely to the whale.
The whale reported on Wednesday near St. George's ferry terminal in New York Harbor, is very likely the same one reported Thursday in the Hudson River from Lower Manhattan all the way into Chelsea off Pier 45.
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However, confirmation of the whale's individual ID is needed through clear pictures of the whale's dorsal fin or underside of its tail flukes to compare against Gotham Whale's NYC Humpback Whale Catalog, which has identifying data for more than 500 individual Humpbacks seen in and around the city since 2012.
"When you hear about Humpbacks in New York Harbor, they are almost always in the Lower Bay, the area south of the Verrazzano Narrows," Gotham Whale said in a statement.
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They said juvenile humpback whales, however, are often spotted swimming into the Upper Bay and the city's inner waterways looking for prey.
The whale spouts water near a cargo ship and tug boat in New York Harbor. (Carl Wagner / Gotham Whale / FOX Weather)
The whales that enter the Hudson are typically looking for Atlantic Menhaden, a coastal species of forage fish that often draws many younger whales close to shore during their fall run, Gotham Whale said.
"We have recently identified dozens of Humpback Whales across NY/NJ as they come close to shore to feed on Atlantic Menhaden migrating south down Long Island and Jersey Shore beaches," Gotham Whale said. "Many fish may enter the harbor as they navigate south, and whales can follow."
Young humpbacks in search of these fish will often ignore boat traffic while hunting, as shown in the video, putting them at risk for vessel strikes.
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Gotham Whale said the area of New York Harbor where the video was taken has a lot of fish and the whale was actively lunge-feeding as the cargo ship passed it.
Vessel interactions are one of the biggest threats to animals in local and national waterways.
The humpback surfaces a little while feeding on fish in New York Harbor. (Carl Wagner / Gotham Whale / FOX Weather)
Boats should slow down, keep an eye out for whale spouts and stay at least 100 feet away from any sighted animals like whales, Gotham Whale said.
"It can be exciting to see whales in this part of the city, but it is important to remember that these are busy waterways: boaters and vessel operators MUST maintain caution and reduce speeds," Gotham Whale said.
Gotham Whale is a Staten Island-based nonprofit that studies, advocates for and educates about the whales and marine mammals around the New York City area.
In late July, Gotham Whale recorded its 500th whale in its catalog, spotted in New York City waters.