In a surprising discovery, researchers from the University of Manitoba captured the first documented sighting of bowhead whales in the Churchill River Estuary in the summer of 2020. The whales, typically found in Arctic waters, were observed via time-lapse camera during a beluga whale monitoring study.
The sighting is particularly noteworthy because the Churchill River Estuary is shallow and primarily frequented by beluga whales. Bowhead whales are also typically solitary creatures when outside their usual range. Researchers reviewed historical data and found only ten documented sightings of single bowhead whales in the area since 1900.
Possible explanations for the whales' presence include habitat shifts due to climate change, expansion of the East Canada-Western Greenland population, refuge from increased orca predation due to declining sea ice, or scouting for food in the estuary's abundant tidal zones. Researchers also speculate the whales may have been a cow and calf pair.
The increased sightings of bowhead whales in the estuary since 2000 may necessitate additional management strategies, such as limits on vessel traffic, given the species' "Special Concern" status. The discovery highlights the importance of monitoring marine ecosystems and understanding the impacts of environmental changes.