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Jones says she saw the whale feeding some distance away and was surprised when it surfaced right next to her.

She called the experience breathtaking. She also said the experience left her a little shaky.

A pod of whales had been feeding recently in the area, taking advantage of an abundance of anchovies.

Video courtesy of Amber Jones

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University of Georgia students are seen entering and leaving the main Library on the Athens campus on Monday, Sept. 8, 2025. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez