Dana Point whale watchers are viewing migrating gray whales in record breaking numbers. Crew and passengers of Captain Dave’s Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari in Dana Point have never seen this many gray whales in December before. During just one trip a whopping ten grays whales were recorded!
Gray whales average 40 to 50 feet in length and make one of the longest migrations of any mammal. Every year the whales migrate 10,000 to 12,000 miles from their feeding grounds in the Chukchi and Bering Seas to the warm lagoons of Baja, California, to mate and have their calves.
Gray whales began the season early with rare November appearances and sightings have steadily increased throughout December. This month Captain Dave’s Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari has had 75 gray whale encounters. In comparison, last December Captain Dave’s safaris recorded 21 sightings of gray whales and in December, 2011, saw 44 whales. Captain Dave has seen more than three times the number of whales from last December! The American Cetacean Society’s Gray Whale Census and Behavior Project have noted a tremendous increase in gray whales from last year and this season is remarkably higher than the ten year average.
Scientists are not clear on the reasons why the gray whale migration has begun earlier than normal but whale watchers are excited and happy to have them here. One possible explanation is that there is an environmental cue giving the whales a signal to begin early. Another possibility could be that the gray whales had enough to eat and they’re ready to go.
“We have never seen this many whales in December. Whale watching is incredible right now. We’ve had a perfect storm of great weather, gray whales, and dolphins. If people are thinking about waiting for January to go whale watching, don’t wait,” says Captain Dave. Fin whales, minke whales, and five different species of dolphins, in addition to gray whales, are being seen on a regular basis. Dana Point whale watchers also received a special visit from humpback whales.
Gray whales are often seen within just a mile or two of the shoreline, where they often use the Dana Point headlands as a landmark on their annual journey. It’s not uncommon to find these 30 to 40 ton animals breaching or spy-hopping just outside of Dana Point Harbor in their effort to take a look around and get their bearings.
During their migration gray whales face numerous challenges and hazards. One of the gray whales in this video clip has lost part of its tail fluke very likely to a killer whale attack. According to N.O.A.A. up to 35% of gray whale calves may be eaten by killer whales. Another threat is one that takes the lives of nearly 1,000 whales and dolphins every day. Scientists estimate that every year 308,000 dolphins and whales worldwide die because of fishing gear entanglement. Captain Dave organized Orange County’s first whale disentanglement group in 2008 and has successfully disentangled several gray whales, including Lily, whose disentanglement in Dana Point Harbor made national headlines. Capt. Dave recently launched his new catamaran, “Lily Whale Research/Rescue Safari”, a 62-foot luxury whale watching vessel that has also been specially equipped to rescue entangled whales and dolphins as well as conduct photographic recapture research.
Captain Dave’s Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari offers daily, year-round, dolphin and whale watching trips from Dana Point, California, aboard a hi-tech catamaran sailboat with Eye-to-Eye Underwater Viewing Pods. More information and reservations: 949-488-2828 or www.dolphinsafari.com