The Center for Marine Conservation's groundbreaking whale watching work will be featured in the first of four upcoming television specials about the Quest's travels and discoveries. Adult humpback whales can grow to a length of 50 feet and weigh as much as 40- 45 tons. Similarly the fins, which are also approximately 15 feet long, have a bone structure that is very similar to the human hand. Male whales on the mating grounds use a mysterious and complex song. Whales, birds, and humans are the only species that create and sing songs and, since only male whales sing, scientists theorize that these are most likely mating calls or to show dominance.
Whales also communicate through low frequency creaks, moans, and groans.
Mother whales at Silver Bank Reef do not eat while they nurse their calves. Their next meal will not come until they return to the North Atlantic and during this time they will lose one-third of their body weight. Conversely, nursing calves drink up to 100 gallons of milk and gain nearly 200 pounds each day. This weight is vital for their survival in the frigid environment of the North Atlantic. All Rights Reserved.