Migrating gray whales, photographed
from above,
close to the Point Arena Lighthouse
photo by
Scott Simpson/WEST of
ONE
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Each year the
majestic California Gray Whales pass by the Point Arena Lighthouse as
they migrate to and from the warm lagoons of Mexico. Once almost extinct,
these whales are once again increasing their numbers, and can easily
be seen from vantage points along the California coastline. Point Arena
Lighthouse, on a point of land that juts out two miles into the Pacific,
is an excellent place to view these magnificent animals. Here whales are
commonly observed just off headland rocks, appearing almost to scrape the
rocks in passage. They are particularly close inshore on the return migration
from Baja when females may be seen loitering by the rocks nursing their
calves.
The Gray Whales are perhaps the
most rudimentary of all whales, not having developed much in the last
30 million years. They may reach 50 feet in length. Gray whales are Baleen
whales, which means that they have no teeth — only stiff bristle-like brushes
through which they strain food from seawater.
Gray whales may be viewed along
the northern California Coast from December through April in most years.
Weather, warm currents, food supplies, or other conditions may affect
their schedule. The whales spend the summer in the Bering Sea off of Alaska.
They feed on krill to build a supply of body fat, which must sustain them
through the winter months as they migrate. The whales often do not feed
during the entire migration, and their body weight can easily reduce by
a third.
Once they arrive in Baja they will
rest. Females impregnated during the previous year will give birth.
Mating takes place in the calm lagoons. Then they will begin their long
swim back to the summer feeding grounds of the north.
Gray whales are believed to use
landmarks for navigation, and often will lift their heads out of the
water and spin slowly to see better. This is called spy-hopping. When a
whale leaps out of the sea it is called breaching. Spy-hopping and breaching
are frequently observed from the Point Arena Lighthouse. One individual
was seen breaching fourteen times in succession, a truly awe-inspiring sight!
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