Interesting.

Perhaps there is less krill in the deeper water they usually feed in?

Or perhaps a younger generation of whales, with no memory of hunting, is boldly exploiting rich near-shore krill.

I dont think blue whales are comfortable in warm water. They are adapted for heat retention, not dissipation. So I doubt they would come inshore to feed if there was adequate krill in the deeperwater.

I hope they're not being driven in by low(or mid) frequency active sonar systems.

Are these sonar systems emiited from submarines? Would the Pentagon ever admit to an increase in sonar emmissions?

A quick google gives loads of info, some recent sources -
http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Ec...r_Use_999.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/5143698.stm

Thanks for the links.

It seems sonar could kill the whales. But are the blue whales sick or feeding?

I'm guessing feeding:

factory ships are harvesting crill to process into fertilizer and feed for farm fish, they already got most of the 'sand eel' shoals that support the Puffins around Scotland

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'The eye can only see what the mind is prepared to accept'

Amazingly short-sided sounding---like burning the axe-handlle! If that is being done there, the Pacific may be getting harvested, too.

Krill's particually rich in the Southern Ocean, I think its being harvested down there also. Yep, puffins have been doing badly recently, like the Northern Right whale, mainly due to ship collisions (there was a population in the eastern Atlantic centuries ago, wiped out nearly before historical records began). Basically our management of the seas is atrocious & not helped that it's out of sight. Awareness is increasing though & things are (slowly) improving. If its a case of too little too late remains to be seen.
However in the cause of staying OnTopic I don't think we yet know why the Blue whales are coming closer in, hopfully the investigating scientists will be able to get a better idea.