Oregon Officials Tout Current Whale Activity, Offer Tips
Published
02/03/2013

(Oregon Coast) – Whale activity is definitely starting to slow down, but there's probably at least another week of nice whale spotting action on the Oregon coast before it takes a break for about three weeks or so. (Above: Whale photo of a mom and calf by Seaside Aquarium)
At the Whale Watch Center in Depoe Bay, they've started to see the slowdown, but still some days filled with whales being seen, sometimes between ten and 20, depending on weather conditions.
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) offered up some tips on spotting the cetacean giants.
ODFW said recent tagging studies by Oregon State University scientists show that most gray whales only stay about three weeks in the warm waters off Baja, Mexico. Then they head back to the cold, but plankton-rich waters of the north Pacific. The exception is mothers and calves, which stay on the breeding grounds between two and three months.
“Big Pacific storms can make whale watching difficult with wind and waves obscuring signs of the grey whale migration,” ODFW said in a release. “To watch the migration, it is best to pick a calm day and find a view point that is high enough to spot the spouts.”
Learning good binocular technique will also help considerably, Look out onto the ocean, focusing on medium distances until you see a puff of white. Then raise your binoculars while continuing to look at the place you saw the puff. This technique may take some practice, but it will work better than moving your optics around constantly in search of the spouts.
ODFW said a gray whale's blow is up to 15 feet high, and each blow is visible for about five seconds. This comes from the warm, moist air exhaled from the animals' lungs meeting the colder air around it.
“Anticipate that the whale will dive for three to six minutes, then surface for three to five blows in row, 30 to 50 seconds apart, before diving deep for three to six minutes again,” ODFW said.
Grays are often found within a few miles of shore as they migrate from Alaska to Baja. The only other place on earth gray whales live is off the coast of Korea.
See more at the Oregon Coast Whale Watching Guide and blog.
Whale photos below courtesy Seaside Aquarium.


More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging.....
More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining.....
LATEST OREGON COAST NEWS STORIES
Lincoln City's Spring Break About 200 Glass Floats, Magic, More Oregon Coast ...
Festival of Illusions, whale week, glass floats, beachcombing guides. Lincoln City events
Central Oregon Coast's Heceta Head Light Celebrates 128 Years, March 30
A party with food, music, whale watching and a whole lot of outdoor fun
2022's Oregon Coast Whale Watch Season Begins Now With Babies in Tow, Orcas
Get ready for lots of whales along the entire length and live streams of them. Sciences, travel tips, kids
Oregon Coast Crews Attend to Giant, Beached Whale on Washington Side
The gray whale was 39 feet long, had orca battle scars and was killed by a ship. Marine sciences
Dead Whale Moving in Mysterious Ways on N. Oregon Coast And No, It's Not a Zo...
The deceased cetacean is acting like a zombie: it's moving southward. Marine sciences
Deceased and Decayed Humpback Whale Washes Up on North Oregon Coast
A deceased whale in a serious state of decay has quite the bad aroma. Marine sciences
No Volunteers But Oregon Coast Whale Watch Show Goes On
Late December is an optimal time to look for gray whales. Events, Sciences
Whale Numbers Should Soon Pick Up on Oregon Coast, Into Washington Coast
Gray whales will soon be making their migration south from Alaska to Mexico. Marine Sciences
Exploding Whale Day: More Each Year Behind the Oregon Coast Legend
Never fails to get chuckles, wacky footage seems to echo down the ages. Sciences, history
New Song, Animation Pokes Fun at Oregon Coast's Exploding Whale
A riotous new entry into the lore released by a cartoon band. Weather
Humpback Whale Washes Up on South Washington Coast, Oregon Crew Responds
A deceased Humpback washed up at Ocean Park and it's got quite an odor. Sciences
Run of Recent Oregon Coast Strandings: Whale, Sea Snails, Fishing Boat
Rush of dead sea snails stranding at Fogarty Beach, fishing boat at Garibaldi, baby octopuses and a gray whale at Yachats. Marine sciences
Officials Working on Decreasing Whale Entanglement Off Oregon Coast
Looking to decrease the frequency of whale and sea turtle entanglement in crab fishing gear. Marine sciences
Warrenton Had an 'Exploding Whale' 30 Years Before Central Oregon Coast
Was it as bad as the Florence Exploding Whale we all know and love? Quite likely. History
Oregon Coast's Tillie the Whale History a Kooky and Dramatic One
The origin story of the old Waldport attraction is dramatic - and hints at another 'exploding whale'
Orca and Gray Whale Sightings Still Strong on Oregon Coast - Where to Look, V...
Where are the whales being seen? And where are your best chances to spot them? Sciences
Orca Sightings Through the Roof on Oregon Coast
Whale sightings are skyrocketing along the coastline, but more reports of Orcas are being made. Sciences, Travel tips
No Actual Whale Watch Week But Plenty Whales on Oregon, Washington Coast
Around 25,000 whales are expected in the next three months. Weather
Special Presentation Mar. 10 on Oregon / Washington Coast Whale Entanglements
How whales get entangled off the Oregon and Washington coast and what might be done to prevent it. Cannon Beach events
Brits on Telly Get Silly with Oregon Coast Exploding Whale Song | Video
British comedian Jimmy Carr at the helm, one comedy / game show in Britain featured the new tune. Sciences, history
Cue Micheal Jackson: 'Zombie' Whales of Oregon Coast History
A rather amusing newspaper article about a whale stranding decades ago. Lincoln City, Depoe Bay, Newport
Whales Still Abound on Oregon Coast, Even If No One Watches
ODFW says whale watching continues at the moment, it's just a 'DIY adventure'. Sciences, weather, south coast
|
Back to Oregon Coast
Contact Advertise on BeachConnection.net
All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright BeachConnection.net Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted |
|
OREGON
COAST VIRTUAL TOURS
Explore Every Beach Spot |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|