Feeding Pod Something To Dine Out On

Monday, August 27, 2007
WHANGAREI HARBOUR, NEW ZEALAND - A pod of orca feasted on rays in Whangarei Harbour for seven hours over the weekend, delighting boaties and whale experts.

Keen whale-watchers at Little Munroe Bay first noticed the pod about 7am on Saturday and rang Northland orca expert Ingrid Visser.

Boaties heading to the Hen and Chicken Islands to go diving also reported the mass of black-and-white whales to Dr Visser.

"It was excellent members of the public along the harbour kept ringing and giving me updates as to where they were ... it was fantastic to get all the information," Dr Visser said.

The pod stopped near Parua Bay and spent seven hours munching on eagle rays.

Dr Visser said the pod included a whale named Nobby and a female Miracle and her baby Magic, who was born in Whangarei Harbour. The pod was spotted near the Poor Knight Islands on Friday.

Auckland teacher Kate Norton, who was out on the orca research boat with Dr Visser, was buzzing over the spectacle and said it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see orca feeding at close range.

"I have never seen them feeding like that so close up. Just to see them right next to the boat is amazing."

Miss Norton, is on a one-year New Zealand Sciences, Mathematics and Technology Teacher Fellowship.

The pod headed out of the harbour about 5pm. Dr Visser said this was the time of year the orca hunted rays.

Source: The Northern Advocate