By NewsLine staff
Members of the Amelia Island Whale Ambassadors gathered atop the Seaside Amelia Inn on Tuesday to raise a glass—fittingly filled with champagne—to celebrate the arrival of the first North Atlantic right whale calf of the 2025-2026 season.
The toast was dedicated to “Champagne,” a 17-year-old whale identified by researchers as the mother of the season’s first calf.
Aerial observers from the Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute confirmed the sighting of Champagne (Catalog #3904) and her newborn on Nov. 28, east of Litchfield by the Sea, S.C. This is Champagne’s second documented calf; her first, named Wall-E, was born in 2021.
Local enthusiasm is high as the endangered whales migrate south to the warmer waters off the coasts of Georgia and Florida to give birth. Champagne has a strong lineage; she is the daughter of “Spindle” (#1204), who is considered the most prolific right whale in the known population with 10 calves recorded.
Clad in black “Whale Sighting Team” jackets, the Ambassadors scanned the horizon with binoculars and spotting scopes Tuesday morning. While the celebration was festive, the group’s mission remains serious: protecting the critically endangered species through public awareness.
The group advises boaters to keep a sharp lookout, as right whales often hover at or just below the surface, making them difficult to see and vulnerable to vessel strikes. Beachgoers are also encouraged to scan the water for activity.
To report a right whale sighting, call 1-888-979-4253 (1-888-97-WHALE).
