Well, it’s that time of year again. The time of year when we all start scanning the bays for whale sightings. I can officially report that the Great Lakes Whale Migration has begun for 2023.
As in previous years, the whales have been showing up right on time each year – April 1st – and this year is no exception. While I was down that way earlier today checking my box at the Old Mission Post Office, I swung into Haserot Beach and was thrilled to see not one, but TWO, whales frolicking around in Old Mission Harbor. I think they were both Humpbacks.
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They were having a blast out there. I’m guessing maybe the recent snow and rain and wind brought them in from Lake Michigan to shelter in the harbor as they make their way north. It’s been a few years since I’ve spotted my first whale in the harbor rather than West Bay, so I was especially giddy about the sighting.
It gets pretty deep in the harbor, but you can see that one of them is quite close to shore. He swam out around Old Mission Point and then swam back in to where the other whale was flopping his tale around.
And TWO whales! I think this is the first time I’ve seen two in the same location. I was just chatting with my pals, Dave and Pam Baumann, who have a place in Old Mission village, and we were remarking that none of us had seen two at the same time. There is a first for everything!
It was pretty quiet at the beach, but there was a white pickup in the parking lot when I drove in, so I hope they were were as thrilled as I was to see those whales out there splashing around.
As always, I have to give a shout-out to Merlin “Zeke” Dumbrille, who began tracking the Great Lakes Whale Migration years ago on WTCM Newstalk Radio. Merlin, a beloved radio announcer for decades (and host of the popular “Farm and Orchard Time”), has since passed away, but we are happy to continue his “Whale Watch” legacy here on Old Mission Gazette.
Along with reporting on the whale migration each year, I’ll never forget how Merlin would hook a long cord to his microphone and walk out on the ice to Power Island to see if he could officially announce that the bay was frozen over, giving up-to-the-minute reports back to Ron Jolly in the radio studio. I sure do miss Merlin.
To celebrate the Great Lakes Whale Migration, I’ve started a new group called the “Great Lakes Whale Watchers Club.” Last year, a few of us got together and hiked out at the north end, and we were delighted to see a Humpback in East Bay just off the Ridgewood Trail. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for them now.
Have you seen any whales around the Old Mission Peninsula or northern Michigan? Let us know in the comments below!
P.S. If you’re interested, I have a “Great Lakes Whale Watchers Club” t-shirt posted here in the OMP Store. I’ll add the logo to some other stuff soon, too. (Which, you know, for me means sometime in the next couple years.)
Also Read…
Is this an April Fool’s joke? Whales in the lake??
I was thinking the same thing too!!
Well, they always show up on the same day every year, April 1st, so… 😀
You must have a lot of time on your hands to write such an extensive bogus article. Will block your publication.
Please note the date the whales were sighted – April 1st. 🙂
Wow, you really must be a sensitive one? 🤣🤣
It’s true!
Haha!!!!
I think so April Fool’s – No way are there whales in fresh water.
Yep – they always show up on the same day every year – April 1st. 🙂
Exactly my thoughts
Note the day the sighting takes place every year – April 1st! 🙂
Sadly they’re salt water only. They would most likely die in fresh water. Of course April first might have a part in this story.
I think so! LOL
Seems like a desperate attempt to get readers!!!! So sad!!!
Dude. Have you forgotten what April Fool’s is?
Oddly, they show up on the same date year after year – always April 1st. 😀
Hey Jane, with the really warm water in the bay all winter, and no ice, I really thought they would migrate earlier this year. I have been watching the bay for at least two weeks now hoping to see one. But now I am thinking that the migration may be triggered by the length of the day rather than temperature, as they always seem to show at exactly the same date. Our friend John Jacobs has a web cam set up on the north shore of Old Mission Bay and he also had one broach just off the beach on April one which we were all excited to see.
Thanks for the report, this is always an exciting event for us!
Thanks for the note, Rudy! So exciting – love it when the whales return each year. I will check with John and see if he has any pics to send along from the web cam.
Does anyone troll for whales and if so can you use walleye gear or do you need to up to salmon rigs?
I’ve heard reports of people using both walleye gear and salmon rigs. Let me know if you have more info.
Yea, you can use walleye and pike, and the latest is makko granda trolling gear, but make sure you have your Hump back, primitt it only allows for two too be caught ,get selfies and release after weighing and measuring..watch the tail. It kill you if you get close during release,good luck,,
Whale,catch,release ,old FARTS CLUB..( the human way too harras the whales…;)¿?¿¿Ha,ha.
How can whales move through the great lakes? This has to be some kind of joke.
Note the date that they show up year after year – always April 1st. 😀
No whales in freshwater, so either it’s an April Fool’s joke or someone hit their head a little too hard.
Get to the wale tale bar for sighting,
April Fools..whales are not in the Great Lakes
🙂
Yep – note the day that they always show up every year – April 1st. 🙂
April Fools. Bigfoot swam across Lake Huron from Canada too.
Oh, I’d love to see pics of that! 🙂
It may be an April Fool’s joke, but, it would be awesome to have t-shirts printed up and see what kind of conversations come up when you’re wearing it. A lot of gullible people out there!
FYI… 🙂
https://ompstore.com/collections/great-lakes-whale-watchers-club
I heard Yeti seen Nessy out at the Sand Dunes yesterday on lake Michigan again. We are living in exciting times.
So exciting! I hope someone sends along some pics of those creatures. 🙂
Well, obviously, these pictures are “deep” fakes. But, very cool!!
I love whales and turtles and all that kind of stuff. I do my best to help out and donate, and when I read Great Lakes and like, wait a minute, there’s no whales in the Great Lakes, and as I kept reading – April Fools.
🙂
A Whale of a Story!!
🙂
Oh my. I was scratching my head and scanning the pictures. Until I read the Comments.. lol ALMOST had me, almost.
So close to shore!
Right?! The harbor gets deep farther out, but that one is pretty close to shore.
Nice local color jive, but I’m trying to get a picture of these critters negotiating the Welland Canal at St. Catherines, Canada. Then there is the food source, as they are filter feeders.
Let us know if you have any pics of the whales from Welland Canal! 🙂
I saw three humpbacks breeching in Stillhouse Lake in Texas two weekends ago. They are magnificent creatures!
Awesome!
The Vermilion Station on Lake Superior west of Whitefish Pt is the only remaining freshwater whaling station in the Great Lakes.The last of the freshwater whales disappeared after construction of the Soo Locks blocked migration to their spawning grounds.
Thank you for the info! 🙂
True on the Whale story but we have landed a 33 foot Great White Shark; true story: come to think of it, that also was on April 1st…..
🙂
They have also been seen in the Straits under the bridge.
I’ve had a few texts from folks who’ve seen them up there! They are definitely on the move. 🙂
I can’t stop laughing, freshwater Whales lol.
Okay,Whales in the Grreat Lakes?
How did they get there?
I thought whales only salt water.
Wow! Learn something new every day.
More pictures please.
Please note the date the whales were sighted – April 1st. 🙂
Sure hope those Great Snow Lawn Sharks in Madison Heights don’t migrate northward!
https://www.mlive.com/life/2023/01/snow-sharks-turn-heads-in-front-yard-of-michigan-womans-home.html
Oh dear! 🙂
This is great I go to Iron River often and have seen the whales often
😂
I’ve heard reports of sightings up there!
Belated “Happy April Fool’s Day”
I clicked because I thought at first it referred to some California place, but I recognized Michigan scenery.
You got me!