A drone pilot in Newport Beach stumbled onto an amazing bit of footage a few days ago. While he was trying to get a closer look at a humpback whale, it seems as the whale wanted a closer look at the drone.
“This humpback whale put on an amazing show today for Newport Coastal Adventure and the few lucky guests aboard,” wrote Mark Girardeau. “No other boats were around, just our boat, the ocean, and this majestic creature showing off his acrobatic skills.”
In the winters, humpbacks normally spend their time in tropical water, breeding and giving birth. Then, through spring, summer, and the fall, they make their way to much cooler waters in higher latitudes to feed. Their journeys are incredibly long, and humpbacks are not fast swimmers. According to studies, they have a top speed of about 5 mph, but on these long journeys, they average about 1 mph.
