Whales – The Friendly Giants are Making Their Annual Migration By Brenda Cash
Whales – The Friendly Giants are Making Their Annual Migration
By Brenda Cash
Can you imagine travelling 5,000 miles for a date? A chance ‘hook-up?’
Luckily for we humans, that’s not the norm. It is for the Gray whale.
It’s migration season. Every year from mid-December thru late April, Gray whales make a 10,000-mile round trip from their Artic feeding grounds south to the lagoons of Baja Mexico. It is one of the longest migrations of any mammal. And we get to see it right in our backyard! Sometimes calves are born along the way and are carefully guided by their very protective moms to the waters of Baja.
Gray whales are a curious animal. Many happy whale watchers have had a juvenile whale swim to their boat and check them out, usually rolling onto their side to get a better view but sometimes spy-hopping, going vertical and pushing part of their massive 80,000+ pound, 40+ foot body out of the water.
A unique feature of the Gray whale, and one that makes it easy to identify, is they have no dorsal fin. Instead, they have 9-13 ‘knuckles’ from the mid-point of the back to the tail fluke. Grays also have two blowholes and if it’s not windy out, their blow can create a heart-shaped mist!
There are many excellent whale watching companies from San Diego to Monterey Bay where you can get on a boat and see these amazing creatures. Many times, these whales have dolphin escorts. The two have a very friendly relationship.
So…get on a boat! Chances are excellent you will see more than just Gray whales. The waters of California are teaming with life. It is so important to treat our ocean with respect so we can continue to enjoy the life it sustains.
Bio
Brenda Cash was born in Palos Verdes, making her local creative edge razor sharp at an early stage in her photography.
As Brenda grew up, her understanding of the beauty that Palos Verdes holds grew. Her wishes to capture it and the many forms of wildlife came at a steady pace, leading her to dedicate her professional career to photography. Brenda is currently a Palos Verdes resident.