The Center for Coastal Studies has documented the first North Atlantic right whale mothers and calves of the season in Cape Cod Bay.
During the aerial survey, observers recorded more than 40 right whales feeding in the southwest corner of the bay, along with two mother-calf pairs traveling toward them.
The mothers were identified as Millipede, a 21-year-old female with her third calf, and Mantis, who has now given birth to eight calves.
This season, CCS researchers have documented more than 100 individual right whales in Cape Cod Bay, and calf counts across the population are the highest seen in 15 years.
(Photo Credit: The Center for Coastal Studies)