Beluga Whale and Fort Tour
Beluga Whale and Boat Education
Everyone met at Sea North Tours office. Because the group was large, we were shuttled to the port in two vehicles. Once there, our guides informed us of bathrooms if we so needed. Guess what? We have kids, so yes, bathrooms were needed. After a short bathroom break, we gathered around a table to see some beluga whale bones. Our guide had a fascinating talk about beluga whales.
Fun Facts about Beluga Whales:
Belugas are toothed whales
They use echolocation- which means belugas emit a call and listen for the echo to find things
They are known as the canaries of the sea- they chirp, whistle and click
Beluga whales have bulbous, flexible foreheads called “melons” that help them produce sound and make facial expressions.
Some of the vertebrae of a beluga whale are not fused, as they are in most whales and dolphins. As a result, a beluga has greater mobility and flexibility in its neck. Belugas can move their heads up and down and from side to side.
To learn more about what tour company to choose, when is the best time to see beluga whales, best ways to see belugas, check out this blog post for all the answers.
First the Fort
After the talk about beluga whales and boat safety, we eagerly hopped in the boat and set our sights for Prince of Wales Fort. As we clambered off the boat, a Parks Canada guide took us on our guided walk along the boardwalk and into the fort itself. It was a warm summer day and walking along the boardwalk with flowers in late bloom, the stories of surviving cold winters more than a 100 years ago, gave me the chills.
From far off the fort looks small and unimpressive. It’s not a beautiful fort that is tall and ornate. It’s just flat and long. We approached the large wooden doors to the fort and stopped. It was closed. Seeing our group had many a children, our guide with a sly grin informed us that to get into the fort, we would have to figure out how to unlock the puzzle piece door. Our wide-eyed kids squealed with excitement and off they went- challenge accepted. With a few turns, some deadends and troubleshooting they did indeed open the fort and raced inside. They were victorious.
A few stories were shared about the fort and the soldiers and then it was time for exploring. Up and down, in and out and lots of sitting on old canons, we explored and pretended we were watchful soldiers protecting our fort.
Next Stop Beluga Boating
Back to the boat and off we slowly sped in search of pods of beluga whales. In beluga season- it’s not hard to find them. They really are everywhere. Look to the left- there were belugas. Look to the right- there were belugas.
So many belugas in the water!
Sometimes the pods would follow alongside or playfully swim behind and enjoy the wake from the boat.
Enjoying the wake
Our guides put a hydrophone in the water. It was fun to have the opportunity to hear their chirps, whistles, clicks and some farting sounds. There were lots of giggles from the kids (and adults)!
I loved seeing the baby belugas (babies are grey) swim right beside their mama. It looks like they are swimming cheek to cheek. When mama comes up to the surface, so does the baby. It was an elegant dance that captured the love of family and nurturing relationships.
Mama and Baby Beluga
Family-friendly Wildlife Experience
Once again we will say, we loved going with Sea North Tours. They respect wildlife and care for their guests (and our children). Boating with beluga whales is a family-friendly wildlife experience you don’t want to miss!
You know what was also amazing? Our sunset kayak with beluga whales. Check out the blog post for all the details!
