Sightings Statistics of the year 2021 in São Miguel island

Now that we have reached the end of the year, we can look back at 2021 with the feeling of having accomplished our goals, being now ready to set our eyes on the future. Despite facing the current pandemic, we were fortunate enough to have been able to go out to sea multiple times and enjoy the sightings of multiple different cetaceous species that visit our archipelago.

2021 was a great year for sighting our resident species!

During our trips, common dolphins, sperm whales, and bottlenose dolphins had sighting rates of around 86%, 58% and 49%, respectively. Despite the lower frequency of observation compared with the previously mentioned species, we were also able to sight Risso’s dolphins in 21% of our adventures!

This last year we returned to the north coast. We had the opportunity and privilege of sighting the largest number of sperm whales, from multiple newborn, to older individuals jumping, and even the classic flukes that emerge moments before a deep feeding dive.

As previously mentioned, the year 2021 was a stuffed one! Besides being presented with a considerable number of baleen whales, including sightings of blue whales, fin whales, and humpback whales, the months of October and onwards brought us together with sei whales which, to our surprise, acquired a taste for our waters. This species is known to reside in our waters between the months of March and June, meaning that 2021 was an atypical year.

Regarding the dolphin families that can be sighted during the summer months, spotted dolphins were present in larger numbers. Furthermore, despite in lower numbers, species like the striped dolphin and the pilot whale were also sighted during this summer season. Unfortunately, no Bryde whale individuals were sighted this year.

This year was one filled with a large variety of species, showcasing how important and biodiverse the waters of our archipelago are. In 2022, Futurismo invites you to experience a potentially marvelous and fascinating experience in the company of these unique animals.