The Northbound Migration has commenced!
On our afternoon trip aboard the Privateer we headed as far as our range would allow for winter trips to the Nine Mile Bank.
Our long journey paid off as we caught up with the first gray whales on the northbound leg of their migration!
We all enjoyed this pair of Grays making their quintessential heart-shaped spouts but no flukes on any dives today.
There were a couple scattered pods of common dolphins in the area too but none wanted to come bow ride today and were being a little shy.
When these gray whales are heading south, they tend to be found closer to the coast (1-3 miles from shore).
But after their long trip to Mexico and hanging out in the warm lagoons and fasting the entire time, they’re HUNGRY and want to get back to Alaska to feed.
So while heading North, they make more direct corridors further west that than their southbound migration.
It’s always cool to watch the changes in migration behaviour as the seasons change.
Come join in the fun before the next batch of storms arrived this coming week.
-Naturalist Ruth
