From late October to February, orcas and other whale species such as fin and humpback whales migrate to the Norwegian coasts, following the herrings, their main food source. Carousel feeding is a sophisticated hunting technique used by Norwegian orcas (killer whales) to catch the herring. From observation, here's how it works:
Herding: A pod of orcas works together to locate a school of herring and corral them into a tight ball near the surface or against the ice.
Bubbling and flashing: The orcas blow bubbles and use their white bellies to confuse and frighten the fish, tightening the bait ball.
Tail-slapping (carousel moment): One orca then strikes the bait ball with a powerful tail slap, stunning or killing multiple fish at once.
Feeding: The orcas take turns swimming through the stunned fish to feed, often methodically and without competition among pod members.