Why do Whales Breach?
This behavior is seen in many species of cetaceans. It takes place at the feeding areas and at the warmer calving areas. One theory is that whales breach when they hear a boat in the vicinity; breaching lets them visually scan the surface for boats they hear but cannot visually or acoustically localize underwater. Recent research indicates that breaching is more likely to occur when a male humpback approaches another singing male humpback or joins a surface active group. The aerial act of breaching could be a display of dominance and aggression in this circumstance.
