LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Whales (Ecotourism): Beluga Whales
built 803 days ago
Often called “canaries of the sea,” beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) broadcast squeals, trills, chirps and other sounds through their blowholes. Shedd Aquarium’s whales can even mimic the raspy, Darth Vader-like breathing sounds of the scuba divers who clean their habitat. These vocalizations can be communications between animals. They might ... be used to echolocate, or interpret the sound waves that bounce back to discern what food or obstacles are ahead. Echolocation is especially useful for navigating dark waters and finding breathing holes in ice.
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Beluga whales are not born white. It takes about 6 years until they gradually turn white. Belugas are one of the three whales that spend all their lives in arctic waters. Beluga are special among all whales because they can turn their heads. Maybe this is so that they can communicate with each other better! Beluga are very social and make a wide variety of sounds.
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In the summertime in Churchill, Manitoba, after the spring's warmer weather has broken the winter ice, the Hudson Bay and Churchill River come alive with thousands of fascinating and friendly Beluga whales. During this time of year an estimated 3,500 Beluga whales reside in the wide estuary where the Churchill River flows into the Hudson Bay. After the thaw, Beluga whales migrate to this area in pods and remain throughout the summer feeding, molting, mating, and giving birth to calves before returning to the Arctic Ocean in the fall. People from around the world travel to Churchill in the summer to observe these amazing cetaceans.
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Naturally sociable, belugas often chase or rub against one another. They travel in pods of three to 10 whales. Calves imitate adults to learn life skills. One trait that raises the bar in their survival is a flexible neck. A beluga can turn and nod its head to find prey, including herring, octopus, squid, clams and crabs—up to 80 pounds of food a day. It will ... spit a stream of water to uncover food on the sandy sea floor—or to surprise an aquarium guest!
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"The tusked narwhal, white beluga whales and elusive bowhead whale all live off the northern part of this island. Participants search for them during this 11-day trip (five nights camping, five in hotels) to the Arctic region. Trips offered in June from Ottawa." 800-373-5678; eagle-eye.com.
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This is a small family consisting of 2 medium-sized gregarious whales the Narwhal and the Beluga. They are locally common and sometimes travel or feed together. Many taxonomists include the Irrawaddy Dolphin in this family and in some ways it is the tropical equal to the Beluga.
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Beluga Whales