The whales have returned to their table.
Bay Olga in the north Kronotsky Bay This fall, for gray whales, it became what a good meal is for people after a long journey. All of September here fed Young whales and calves who have already separated from their mothers and are now learning to live independently. For animals forced to cross the ocean every year, this is no small matter. Finding food at the right time determines whether a whale will survive the winter.
How the gray whale forages for food on the seabed
The gray whale obtains food in an unusual way. It lies on its side, sucks up silt from the bottom, and filters it through its baleen, leaving behind small crustaceans and other benthic inhabitants. Therefore, throughout the year, the whale feeds not from the water column, but from the bottom. Scientists Kronotsky Nature Reserve It is believed that these benthic communities are most productive in the northern part of the bay. Laboratory studies of collected benthos samples will confirm this hypothesis. If confirmed, Olga Bay will prove to be a key feeding ground for the rare Okhotsk population of gray whales, making it a site that requires special care.
Shore-based observations and wintering whales
Autumn storms closed the sea to boats, and now observations are conducted from shore. The work continues: many whales remain in the bay until December and even January. "Some whales are still skinny. I hope they'll still have time to accumulate enough fat reserves to survive the winter.", says the marine biologist. Evgeniya VolkovaIt's possible that some animals won't migrate at all and will spend the winter here, saving their energy on the long journey.
Kronotsky Nature Reserve and Olga Bay
The reserve itself is one of the most famous natural sites in Russia. It was established in 1934 on the east coast. Kamchatka, where active volcanoes, the only valley of geysers in Russia and the coastline are located Pacific OceanKronotsky is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is home to more brown bears than any other protected area in Eurasia. And now the reserve also protects those who come here from the ocean.
