Gray Whale Watching July 5, 2011

Gray Whales

Gray whales can be viewed as they migrate up and down the Pacific coast from Mexico to Alaska. Some of the information in this article was partially derived from Journey North’s website at learner.org/jnorth.

Gray whale in Oregon

It is a great organization that conducts migration research and educates children about wildlife migration. For a more detailed explanation about each point along the route go here.

The journey for gray whales begins in January in Baja, Mexico where a number of large coves and bays act as nurseries for young gray whale calves and their nursing mothers. The whales return here from feeding in the north as early as December to give birth or find a mate. The mothers and their young stay the longest to give the newborn calves enough time to feed and grow before the long journey ahead. Check out their weekly updates here to see how the population is doing. They reach the furthest point of their 5000 mile voyage around June and July in Alaska’s Chukchi Sea where they feed for several months. Not all gray whales go this far but those that do must start their return to Mexico by October when the ice begins to form.

The map below shows the observation posts along their migration route and are generally areas where self guided (coastal viewing) whale watching or tour boat operators may be found. They are ordered from south to north.

1. Magdalena Bay, Baja California Sur, Mexico
2. Laguna San Ignacio, Baja California Sur, Mexico
3. Laguna Ojo de Liebre, Baja California Sur, Mexico
4. Laguna Guerrero Negro, Baja California, Mexico
5. San Diego, California, United States (March)
6. Los Angeles, California, United States (March)
7. Coal Oil Point (“Counter Point”), Goleta, California, United States
8. Point Piedras Blancas, California, United States
9. Monterey Bay, California, United States
10. Half Moon Bay, California, United States
11. Newport, Oregon, United States
12. Depoe Bay, Oregon, United States
13. Seattle, Washington, United States
14. Richmond, British Columbia, Canada
15. Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada
16. Kodiak Island, Alaska, United States
17. Nelson Lagoon, Alaska, United States
18. Unimak Pass, Alaska, USA
19. The Bering Sea
    
20. The Chukchi Sea

Oregon Whale Watching

Many people don’t realize that you can find a year-round population of 200-400 gray whales off the coast of Oregon near the town of Depoe Bay. If you go to the center of town you can find a kiosk selling tickets for whale-watching tours that leave periodically throughout the day.While you are waiting for your boat, go across the street to the Whale Watching Center. There are some educational displays along with large viewing windows with binoculars for whale spotting.

If you are the more independent type you could also go it alone. Only about 2 miles south of Depoe Bay is Rocky Creek Scenic Viewpoint overlooking Whale Cove. It is an amazing spot to have a picnic lunch and some wine and just relax for a few hours. Just make sure to take some blankets because even in the middle of summer it is cold. When my wife and I went in 2009 we spent an entire afternoon there and pretty much had the entire place to ourselves. While we there we saw several whales glide by along with some frolicking sea lions in the surf just below.

Rocky Creek Viewpoint

Leafcutter bees June 16, 2011

I am constantly learning new things about nature – even in my own backyard. Today I saw a strange looking mass of leaves sitting near my plumeria that looked like no inflorescence or leaf structure that I have ever seen before. I searched all around the plumeria thinking maybe the mass came from it, but I was pretty sure it did not. A pair of Anna’s hummingbirds whizzed by my head and that was enough to distract me from further inquiry into the suspicious leaf mass.

Austin Bats June 12, 2011

If you’ve never seen the bats that emerge from under the Congress Avenue bridge in Austin, you are missing out. Every evening at dusk, between 750,000 to 1.5 million mexican free-tailed bats emerge from grooves that run the length of the bridge to feast on 10,000 to 30,000 pounds of insects. And if you’ve ever experienced a summer in Texas, this fact alone is enough to warrant bat conservation.

The Arizona Strip & Vermilion Cliffs June 4, 2011

We took a trip to the most northern part of Arizona at the end of May 2011. The area – called the Arizona Strip – encompasses the Vermilion Cliffs and is near to the north rim part of the Grand Canyon. We hiked two days in two very beautiful, although different canyons.

Namibia Eco-Parks

This article by Alexandra Fuller in the June 2011 edition of National Geographic got me interested in visiting the eco-friendly nation of Namibia. As one who has studied the plants of the Sonoran Desert for the past decade, I am extra motivated to make it to Namibia to look at the plants there. It will be interesting to see how plants of a completely different origin have independently adapted to similar environmental conditions as those present here in the southwestern U.S. Visiting Namibia is now definitely a priority for me.

View endangered whales off the coast of Cape Cod this week – Budget Travel April 24, 2011

View endangered whales off the coast of Cape Cod this week – This Just In – Budget Travel.

• For more information go to the Right Whale Conservation Program