Whale watching might not be the first activity that comes to mind for New Yorkers, but on Monday, an unexpected visitor in the East River had onlookers reaching for their phones and binoculars. Near the iconic Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges, a whale surfaced, flashing its tail and delighting those lucky enough to catch a glimpse from the Brooklyn shore.
The U.S. Coast Guard received multiple reports of the marine mammal and quickly issued a marine advisory, urging boaters to steer clear of the creature. While some social media users speculated it was a humpback whale, Coast Guard spokesperson Logan Kaczmarek noted that it could also have been a North Atlantic right whale, an endangered species with fewer than 350 individuals left in the world.
Regardless of the species, its presence in the bustling East River was extraordinary. “Spotting a whale here is special,” Kaczmarek said. “The amount of boat traffic in the area usually makes it challenging for marine wildlife to appear, let alone linger.”
Though surprising, whale sightings in and around New York Harbor aren’t unheard of. According to the Coast Guard, anywhere from 40 to 80 whales are reported in the area annually, primarily during the migratory seasons of spring and fall. The sightings have become more frequent in recent years, thanks in part to cleaner waters and conservation efforts that have improved the health of local ecosystems.
“This time of year marks the end of the fall migration, so it’s hard to pinpoint what exactly brought this whale here,” Kaczmarek said. “It’s clearly on a mission, but what kind of mission is anyone’s guess.”
While the Coast Guard’s warnings aim to prevent collisions, the heavy traffic of ferries, cargo ships, and recreational boats poses ongoing risks for marine mammals navigating New York’s waters.
Humpback whales, which are among the more commonly spotted species in the region, have made a notable comeback along the Atlantic coast in recent decades. However, the North Atlantic right whale—if the East River visitor indeed belonged to this group—faces dire threats from ship strikes and fishing gear entanglements.
