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Gray whales are on the return leg of their annual migration, heading from Baja California’s breeding lagoons to the Bering and Chukchi seas in the Arctic. Map source: Wikipedia, Creative Commons A whimsical welcome letter to gray whale calves from the imagined “Bering & Chukchi Seas Dining Services.” May 2013 Dear Gray Whale Calf, [...] Study abroad student Phil Shu (right) and two other eager learners investigate gray whale specimens with volunteer naturalist Courtney Ocheltree (left). By Kate Jirik, Birch Aquarium naturalist A blanket of coastal fog is clearing as whale watching boat Marietta edges out of San Diego Bay. Higher-than-expected waves catch many passengers off guard, but the [...] Whale watcher Meredith Maddox caught this photo of a gray whale breaching on a recent cruise with Birch Aquarium at Scripps. Courtesy photo. By Elizabeth Argyle, Birch Aquarium naturalist Whale watching is a very tricky business because we’re at the mercy of what nature has to offer us. However, occasional high winds, rolling seas, [...] By Elizabeth Argyle, Birch Aquarium naturalist It’s nearing the end of January and San Diego is back in its rhythm after a long holiday break. While locals may have returned to their respective jobs and schools, something exciting is happening in the waters not too far from the city center. Gray whales are making their [...] By Audrey Evans, whale watching coordinator Once again, it’s time to bid farewell to the gray whales; Birch Aquarium at Scripps’ 2011-12 whale watching season has drawn to a close. We are pleased with the season’s success; more than 500 baleen whales were spotted in the past three-and-a-half months. Our passengers – along with aquarium [...] The fin whale is the second largest animal on earth, behind the blue whale. In the past few weeks, we’ve seen a few whale species other than grays off San Diego. A favorite is the fin whale. The second largest animal on our planet today (averaging 79 feet long), these whales are quite a [...] Gray whale tail. Photo: Audrey Evans By Bekah Logan, naturalist We’re halfway through the season, and the whales are starting to head back north! The migration seemed to slow for a few weeks, and stormy weather kept us out of the water for a few days. However, the whales are back off our coast [...] By Kate Jirik, aquarium naturalist A strange, mirror-like haze hangs over the horizon. Shimmering patterns of reflected light remind me of the images that filmmakers use to depict distant landscapes in the desert. Except, this is no desert. For an hour, the Marietta has been sailing southwest and, with the exception of a chain of [...] Onboard the Marietta. Courtesy: San Diego Shooter, via Flickr By Bekah Logan, naturalist This year’s whale-watching season aboard the Marietta is off to a great start! Great weather and, for the most part, calm seas have been prevalent, and so have the whales. This time of month is perfect for spotting gray whales along [...] Amanda Cummings is a staff researcher at Scripps Oceanography. On the third Saturday of each month, a scientist from Scripps Institution of Oceanography or elsewhere in the community joins our special SEA Days program to share their exciting research with aquarium visitors. Amanda Cummins is a staff research associate in the Marine Physical [...] |
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