For decades, the appearance of humpback whales in the waters of Chubut was considered an exceptional event, almost an illusion.
They were fleeting visitors, giant shadows that crossed the coasts without stopping, leaving behind only a trace of fleeting wonder.
However, something remarkable has changed in recent years: the humpback whales have not only started to linger, but they return with astonishing consistency, turning the waters of Chubut into a favorite meeting point.
After meticulous observation of their behavior, it has been confirmed that these magnificent creatures return every summer, solidifying their presence in the region.
Ignacio “Nacho” Gutiérrez Galván, conservation coordinator of the Blue Patagonia Project, highlights the uniqueness of this phenomenon: “Blue Patagonia, in the northern part of Golfo San Jorge, is one of the only coastal areas in the Argentine Sea, along with the Beagle Channel, where they can be regularly seen”.
This data highlights the increasing importance of Chubut as a sanctuary and a strategic point for the species.
The secret in each tail: identification and revealing behaviors
The phenomenon, rigorously documented since 2019, has already allowed the identification of over 140 different individuals.
Each humpback whale tail is, in itself, a work of natural art, an irrepeatable “signature”, comparable to a fingerprint, which researchers use to track trajectories and unravel habits.
Some of these whales return year after year, establishing an almost personal connection with the research team. MN-4, for example, is recognized as an “old friend” who, with her arrival, renews the dedication of the scientists.
“When she arrives, we feel that everything is worth it,” Nacho expresses with emotion.
And these whales not only return; they stay. The waters of Chubut have become a temporary home where they feed abundantly, socialize, rest, and choose this corner of Patagonia as one of their favorite settings to fulfill crucial life cycles.
The humpback whale: a spectacle of nature in motion
If there is a cetacean capable of evoking instant sympathy and profound admiration, it is undoubtedly the humpback whale.
Its innate curiosity, its proximity to boats, and a repertoire of acrobatics and vocalizations that distinguish it, make it a true artist of the ocean.
Humpback Whale in Blue Patagonia. Photo by Horacio Barbieri
It is not uncommon to see it emerging next to boats, showing its inquisitive eye and staying there, as if it also wanted to study the human being.
“Once one came so close that it looked at us, stopped, as if sharing that moment with us. It was a moment of great peace and beauty,” recalls Nacho, evoking the magic of these encounters.
Between October and March, the waters of Chubut become a privileged stage to observe these majestic creatures.
With bodies that can reach up to 16 meters in length, humpback whales offer an unparalleled spectacle: they leap gracefully, spin in the air, slap the surface with their long wing-like flippers, and dive, leaving their unmistakable tail in the wind.
Their agility defies the logic of their colossal size. “Watching them jump is a magical moment, an exciting spectacle,” says Gutiérrez, conveying admiration for these giants of the sea.
The harmonious mystery of the whale’s song
Humpback whales not only perform visual acrobatics; they are also masters of sound.
Their songs are deep, vibrant, hypnotic, capable of traveling kilometers under the sea. Each population, fascinatingly, has its own melody, a kind of aquatic dialect.
“What we can register here are the calls, which are shorter sounds, of little duration and fairly high frequencies, audible to the human ear,” explains Nacho.
And he adds an even more intriguing fact: “but during the reproductive season, males, especially, produce songs that are much longer vocalizations, with repeated structures that, at times, have similarities between populations.”
Whales in Blue Patagonia. Photo by Maike Friedrich
This phenomenon suggests a complex communication network and, possibly, cultural exchanges between different whale communities.
To capture and analyze these sounds and unravel how humpback whales use them, researchers use hydrophones, sophisticated underwater microphones that record all kinds of marine resonances.
“The instrument records all the sounds under the sea. Then we configure it to determine what type of frequencies we want to hear.
This way, we can listen to all the sounds that any cetacean makes underwater,” explains the young man, revealing the technology behind understanding the underwater orchestra.
From Brazil to Antarctica, with a crucial stopover in Chubut: a new migratory route
Until recently, science only recognized a major migratory “highway” for humpback whales in the Southwestern Atlantic: a linear
