Each fall, some North Atlantic right whales travel more than 1,000 miles from their Northeast feeding grounds to the shallow, coastal waters of their Southeast calving grounds. During this time, mid-November to mid-April, right whales can be seen off of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida where residents eagerly await their southern migration. Members of the public can play a vital role in conservation by reporting sightings to NOAA Fisheries and partner agencies. These public reports add to data researchers collect during aerial and vessel surveys which contribute to updated right whale population and calving season numbers.
2026 Right Whale Calving Season Numbers
The North Atlantic right whale is an endangered large whale species, making every female right whale and calf important to the species’ recovery. Twenty-three calves were born during the 2026 right whale calving season—the highest number since 2009. Of the 23 mom-calf pairs identified this season, 20 of these were returning moms. Thirteen of these returning moms last had calves in the 2021 or 2022 seasons, marking a shorter interval between births than the recent average of 7 to 10 years. This is closer to the normal or healthy interval of 3 to 4 years.
There were approximately 500 sightings of 129 right whales in the Southeast during the 2026 calving season. These sightings came from aerial and vessel surveys, members of the public, the volunteer sighting network, military vessels, and dredging operations. They included:
- 23 moms
- 23 new calves
- 20 adult females (without calves)
- 39 adult males
- 24 juveniles and yearlings
The individual whales that researchers preliminarily identified in the Southeast included more than a quarter of the right whale population (excluding new calves). This is a 29 percent increase compared to last year’s calving season. Seeing such a large portion of the population in the calving grounds suggests reproductive health is improving, potentially moving the species toward more positive recovery trends.
One mom-calf pair was sighted in the Gulf of America, away from their standard South Atlantic calving grounds. The mom, named “Millipede,” and her calf were seen in the Gulf during January and February 2026. The last confirmed sighting was just south of the Key West National Wildlife Refuge on February 4, 2026. This is only the sixth time right whales have been detected in the Gulf since 2000.
2026 Right Whale Calving Season Field Effort Stats
The NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office monitors the calving season each year with the help of our partners, both at sea and in the sky. Aerial and vessel surveys are critical for species recovery because they provide the primary scientific data needed to estimate population abundance, distribution, and health.
From four planes, researchers logged more than 1,400 flight hours:
- Looking for right whales
- Documenting injuries
- Assisting with efforts to minimize the risk of vessel interaction with mariners
From three vessels, researchers:
- Conducted visual health assessments
- Collected genetic samples and photogrammetry data
- Assisted with efforts to minimize vessel interaction risk to right whales in vulnerable locations like channels and inlet entrances
2026 Right Whale Monitoring Partners
Two state partners:
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
- Georgia Department of Natural Resources
Three federal partners:
- U.S. Coast Guard
- U.S. Navy
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Six additional research partners:
- Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute
- Marineland Right Whale Program
- Blue World Research Institute
- Southeast Large Whale Stranding Network
- Duke University
- HDR Inc.
More Information
North Atlantic Right Whale calving season archive page
How you can help and identify endangered North Atlantic right whales
