Grey Whale Migration
Huge amounts of grey whales have made their way to the Central Coast.
Grey whales in themselves have a huge success story… being almost extinct at one time. Now they are more than 20 thousand of them and they were taken off the endangered list back in 1997.
It’s no strange sight to see large whales off in the Monterey Bay. But depending what time of the year it is, we will see different types of whales emerging.
Nancy Black, Marine Biologist and owner, Monterey Bay Whale Watch, says, “We have gone from seeing about 6 to 10 a day about a week ago. Now we are seeing about 15 to 50 a day.”
Owner of the Monterey Bay whale watching center, Nancy Black, tells us, this is rather common during this time of year.
“Well right now it’s close to the peak of the grey whale migration. They are traveling from Alaska to Mexico” – NANCY BLACK.
And because of our unique underwater canyon… we get to enjoy a front row seat to see these whales.
Nancy Black, “It’s really unique the Monterey Submarine Canyon. The grey whales actually prefer the shallow water. So we a just a narrow area of shallow water where we watch the grey whales. So that means they are more concentrated, and bunched up closer to shore here, than they are anywhere else on their migration.”
For whale enthusiast and biologist, Joseph Aesir, this is as much of an enjoyable experience as it is a learning one.
Joseph Aesir, Naturalist Biologist, Monterey Bay Whale Watching, says, “It’s a whole world that we don’t get to really see every day. Right, so mysteries are always fun, stories are always fun, and we don’t get to see these animals all the time, so we are always learning more. And the longer we live, the longer they live, the more the story changes the more we learn.
If you come down to the wharf, there is another animal that also seems to be taking the spotlight… and it’s not the whales.
Nancy Black // Marine Biologist and owner, Monterey Bay Whale Watch “I always take along my dog, Hannah. And actually people love her and sometimes they will take more pictures of the dog than they do of the whales.
Hannah says, “Woof”
If you haven’t made it out to see the grey whales yet, in February you’ll get the chance to see them in full glory… swimming both ways from Alaska and Mexico.
