The
annual migration of thousands of gray whales (up to 50 long and 45 tons each)
is now underway. It begins in Alaskan and moves south along California's
coastline to birthing and breeding waters in Baja California.
From December through March, visitors have the
opportunity to view the return of the gray whale, the state's official marine mammal,
in a number of prime locations in California State Parks. We have included a
listing to make your selection easier.
"Whale watching along our coast is a wonderful
and exciting family adventure," said Ruth Coleman, director of California
State Parks. "I would suggest a little research on whales along our
coast to get the kids primed, and then find a safe spot where crashing waves
won't interrupt your adventure. And, bring the binoculars!"
On their journey, the whales move past Point Reyes,
the Farallon Islands,
through Half Moon
Bay and Monterey
Bay, and follow the coastline along
Southern California before reaching Mexico. The whales travel in small
groups and stay close to the shoreline for protection from predators, such as
killer whales.
Traveling 70 to 80 miles per day, the whales' spouts
of vaporized water (at times reaching 12 feet high) can be seen as the whales
surface every three to five minutes to breathe. Their 12,000-mile round-trip
trek is the longest known distance any mammal migrates on an annual basis. The
whales' migration pattern reverses when they lead their new-born calves back to
Alaska.
State park whale watching sites include:
HUMBOLDT COUNTY
Humboldt Lagoons State Park (Dry Lagoon),
phone: (707) 677-3121
Patrick's Point State Park (Palmer's Point and
Wedding Rock) in Trinidad phone: (707)
677-3570
Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
(Gold Bluffs Beach),
phone: (707) 464-6101, extension 5300
MENDOCINO COUNTY
MacKerricher State Park
(Laguna Point) on the Mendocino Coast three miles north of Fort Bragg,
phone: (707) 964-9112 or (707) 937-5804
MONTEREY COUNTY
Julia Pfeiffer Burns
State park (Vista
Point, Highway 1), phone (831) 667-2315
ORANGE COUNTY
Crystal Cove State Park (949) 494-3539
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY
Montaña de Oro State Park, phone: (805)
528-0513
San Simeon State Beach, phone: (805)
927-2035
SANTA
BARBARA COUNTY
El Capitan State Beach (805) 585-1850
SAN LUIS OBISPO
OUNTY
Estero Bluffs State Park (805)
772-7434
California
State beaches also offer
a number of programs and locations for viewing migrating whales. For details on
what programs are offered, contact the state park listed below or call (800)
777-0369 for general information on all state parks or go on line to www.parks.ca.gov
MENDOCINO
COUNTY
Manchester
State Beach
(707) 937-5804
MacKerricher
State Park (707) 937-5804
Mendocino
Headlands State
Park (707) 937-5804
MONTEREY
COUNTY
Garrapata
State Park (831) 624-4909
Patrick's
Point State Park (707) 677-3570
Point
Lobos State Reserve (831) 624-4909
Point
Sur State Historic Park (831) 625-4419
SAN DIEGO
COUNTY
Silver
Strand State
Beach (619) 435-5184
SANTA BARBARA
COUNTY
Point
Sal State
Park (805) 733-3713
SONOMA
COUNTY
Fort
Ross State Historic Park (707) 847-3286
Salt Point State Park
(707) 847-3221
Sonoma
Coast State
Beach (707) 875-3483
CALIFORNIA WHALE FESTIVALS
Dana Point Festival of Whales
http://www.dpfestivalofwhales.com/home.html
Fort Bragg Whale Festival
Mendocino Whale Festival
http://www.mendowhale.com/events.htm
Point Mugu to Point Dume
Whale Festival (Leo
Carrillo State
Park)
http://www.parks.ca.gov/events/event_detail.asp?id=2184
Redwood Coast
Whale and Jazz Festival
http://gualalaarts.org/Festivals/2009WhaleJazz.html
Visit California State Parks on line at www.parks.ca.gov
Interesting! I have learned something interesting that I just shared with my niece. I will have to do this sometime. Thank you for sharing this.