What’s Blitzen Up To?

You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen…
Comet and Cupid and Donner and… BLITZEN. 

So what has Blitzen been up to since wrapping up another lap around the globe with Santa and the rest of the crew?

Okay, not that Blitzen.

I’m talking about the Gulf of Maine’s own Humpback Whale “Blitzen,” named for the antler-like marking on her fluke.

This past March, I spent two and a half weeks on Grand Turk with Deep Blue Charters, immersing myself in the world of humpback whales on their breeding grounds. This marked my third year visiting these whales on the other end of their migration, and it never gets old seeing Gulf of Maine mothers with their brand new calves. After days of strong winds kept us off the water for many days, patience paid off. Over the course of two weeks, we had two in-water encounters with Blitzen and her calf, both unforgettable. Blitzen is quite the whale. She is calm, confident, and incredibly curious, often showing just as much interest in us as her calf. 

It’s hard to describe the feeling of making eye contact with a 40 foot whale and sensing the same curiosity reflected back. In the water, everything shifts. You’re no longer observing from above, you’re sharing space, and with that comes a deeper sense of their individuality and behavior. Moments like these offer a rare glimpse into the personalities of animals we usually only see from the surface.

It’s important to note that all in-water encounters happen on the whales terms and guided by experienced professionals. These interactions only happen when the whales choose to engage, and when they do, it’s something you never forget.

Wishing Blitzen and her calf a safe journey back north to the Gulf of Maine. Here’s hoping we cross paths again this season.