Question: Why did the whale go to New York City? Because that’s where he felt WHALE-come! Get it?

Okay, okay—that joke isn’t funny. But the amount of whales hanging out in New York City these days is funny—not in a way that makes you go “ha ha.” It’s funny in a way that makes you go, “That’s weird.” Whales are one of God’s most enormous and elegant creatures. But you wouldn’t usually come to New York to see them!

In 2012, there were 15 humpback whale sightings around New York Harbor. In 2013 there were 33. This year there were a whopping 87 sightings! People caught glimpses of 106 humpback whales. That included one they named Jerry, who leapt up in the water right in front of the Empire State Building.

So seriously—what brings the 40-ton beasts to New York? Scientists aren’t quite sure. Maybe it’s because New York water is cleaner than it once was. Maybe the whales are after New York’s little, silver fish called menhaden. Like so many other visitors to New York, they might just be going for the food.