The Herring Feast: Bubble Net Feeding
In The Herring Feast: Bubble Net Feeding, narrator Sir David Attenborough showcases a massive gathering of fish that provides a vital food source for both seabirds and whales, featuring an extraordinary humpback whale hunting technique. This video is an excerpt from BBC’s Nature's Great Events, a documentary series that showcases some of the most dramatic wildlife spectacles on Earth, exploring how life adapts to natural events that can transform entire landscapes.
Lesson Express
Q: How do the fish become vulnerable to seabird attacks?
A: The herring are pushed to the surface by tidal currents, making them prey for the seabirds.
Q: How do the whales use teamwork to hunt?
A: The humpback whales use bubble net feeding, where a dozen whales come together to harvest the herring.
Q: How does bubble net feeding work?
A: The lead whale dives first to find the fish. The rest of the whales follow in formation. Once the lead whale locates the fish, it blows a net of bubbles that encircles the fish. Another whale will call to synchronize the group. The fish are panicked by the whale sounds and blinded by the fizzing bubbles, making it easy for the whales to harvest a large batch of fish.
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