Winter Whale Watch Week

Monday, December 21, 2009

The Winter migration of gray whales heading south to their breeding grounds in Baja California is going on now. Marine mammal experts estimate that 18,000 Gray whales and about 1,100 humpback whales pass the Oregon coast at the peak of their winter migration south. Some whales may come as close as a half mile from shore. Winter Whale Watch week is scheduled for December 26-January 1.

The Whale Watch Spoken Here program will have trained volunteers at 26 sites along the Oregon coast during whale watch week to help people spot whales. Most of the locations are outdoors, but indoor viewing is available at the Whale Watching Center in Depoe Bay on Highway 101. The Whale Watch Center keeps records of whale sightings on their website at www.whalespoken.org. The site also has tips on how to spot whales and a list of the Whale Watch locations along the coast.