CA Whale Watching Solar Power Energy Generation Guide
CA Whale Watching For Friendly Giants
By Genevieve Thomson
The Monterey Bay Aquarium in California is arguably
one of the best marine sanctuaries in the world, with
over 200 award-winning exhibits and galleries. While
you will undoubtedly see brilliantly colored jellyfish,
a number of cephalopods and possibly even a great white
shark if you time your trip just right, whale lovers
may be disappointed to learn that these creatures are
much too big to house in any kind of aquarium setting.
Luckily, they won’t miss out on these behemoth creatures,
since the bay is alive with pods all year round. At
Monterey Fisherman’s Wharf, you’ll take a 3-5 hour tour
with marine biologists to see grays, blues and humpbacks.
The best time to see the gray population migration is
during the winter and the spring.
Blues, which are the largest animals on the earth (reaching
over 90 feet and 200 tons), can be seen in late spring,
summer and fall, whereas killer whales may be occasionally
spotted year-round. CA whale watching has much to offer
the adventurous tourist.
Conflict Between Killer And Gray Whales
There are many factors that make whale watching in
California a cut above the rest, particularly the Monterey
Bay harbor cruise whale watching. For instance, Monterey
Bay is one of the few places you can witness killers
hunting grays.
Normally, the grays will stick to shallow waters during
their mid-December to April migration. However, the
grays must venture much deeper into killer whale territory
to cross the Monterey Canyon, which often results in
bloody conflict.
Humpbacks And Blues Hunting Anchovies And Krill
During the rest of the year, visitors will see humpbacks
and blues hunting smaller prey like anchovies and krill.
"This year there’s been so much krill it looks
like the sea is stained with red," explains Keith
Stemler of Princess Monterey Whale Watching. More krill
means more whales, he adds.
CA whale watching is also an interesting experience
because there are deep trenches dug down into the ocean
beds for submarine passage, which gives the whales the
depth they enjoy, but also lets them surface close to
the shore where they can feed.
The Friendly Giants Swimming Alongside The Boat
Visitors can sometimes catch a glimpse at them! The
whale watching cruise is another way to see and review
these friendly giants. It’s not unusual for a
humpback to swim alongside the boat, roll on its side
and look up at the passengers who can’t get their
cameras out fast enough. As Princess Monterey’s
Benji Shake says, "If you make eye contact with
a whale, you are never the same again -- ever."
Over the last three decades, CA whale watching has
made a major comeback. Once an endangered species, the
gray whale variety have found a safe haven to raise
their young and feed here, free from the dwindling whale
hunting industry in other parts of the world. Today,
California whale watchers spot something 98% of the
time.
Whales Bumping Into Each Other
"There was a week this summer where we were seeing
100 humpbacks in a quarter mile," explains Nancy
Black, who is no stranger to whale encounters. "They
were bumping into each other." There is something
magical about seeing whales in their natural environment.
Whale watching boats can go out every day of the week
and see something completely different, which is all
part of the allure.
For more information, check out Monterey Bay Whale
Watching Cruises, Randy’s Fishing and Whale Trips
or Princess Monterey Whale Watching.
Please note: Prices and
packages may change without notice. Please contact travel
agents, service providers, airlines and or websites
for the most current prices and packages.
About the Author:
Genevieve Thomson has written a number of articles on
Our Living Planet, Solar Power and Renewable Energy including
Endangered Animals,
Save The Earth,
Water Conservation,
Whale Watching Trips,
Solar Power System,
Solar Thermal Systems,
Alternative Power Systems,
Hybrid Car,
Recycling Programs.
Look out for new articles as they become available on this site.
Little Known Whale Watching Cruise Facts.....
What types of whales can you see on a whale watching
cruise?
Some whales are more commonly seen
during certain months. That is when they come closer
to shore and it is easier to see them. If you want to
see California Gray Whales then you need to take a whale
watching cruise during the months of December through
April.
The whales are traveling south
at this time and it is a great time to visit Monterey,
California to check out this "Gray Whale Migration Highway).
During the summer months you get the opportunity to
see quite a lot of whales. You can see: fin whales,
minke whales, orcas, blue whales and even the huge humpback
whales.
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