 |
Long Beach Blue Whale Watching |
 |
|
 The Southern California Blue WhaleWhen you choose to go whale watching in Long Beach, you are choosing a one-of-a-kind sight-seeing experience. Along with enjoying the tranquility of the Pacific Ocean, it is likely that you may also have a rare, breath-taking encounter with the Southern California Blue Whale.
The Southern California Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculous) is recognized as the world’s largest mammal. Weighing in at more than 150 tons and measuring over 100 feet long, a typical Southern California Blue Whale is said to be even larger than a prehistoric dinosaur! Aptly named for the distinctive hue that the Blue Whale has in the water, this bluish-gray skin color is especially dark around the whale’s dorsal area and lightens around its underbelly. Given the Blue Whale’s colossal size, its dorsal fins are relatively small and are only spotted by the human eye when the whale is diving in and out of the water. However, a feature that is hard to miss with the Blue Whale is the nearly 40-foot high water spout that it exerts from its two blowholes. This amazing water spectacle is actually a part of the Blue Whale’s breathing process. That is, when the whale comes up for air, it will take in about four or five breaths; unleash the water spout through its two blowholes; then finally dive back into the water with a graceful raise of its tail. When in the water, the whale’s two blow holes are protected by a special splash guard.
Southern California Blue Whale Population
Prior to the 20th century, the Blue Whale population thrived in great numbers. However, as a result of the popular sport of “whaling” in the early half of the 20th century, Blue Whales were hunted to the point of near extinction. Then in 1966, these whales were saved from of permanently disappearing from the planet when they were added to the world’s endangered species list. Because of this legal protection, approximately 5,000 to12,000 blue whales exist around the world today. But despite growing in numbers with each passing year, the Blue Whale population is nowhere near as abundant as it was before the start of “whaling”, so it remains an endangered species. As the world’s largest mammal, the Blue Whale does not have any natural predators. Sadly, injury or death of the Blue Whale is most commonly the result of collisions with massive ships or getting tangled in fishing nets. Growing research has also shown that the effects of global warming are diminishing the food supply for these whales.
Southern California Blue Whale Feeding Habits
The Blue Whale’s diet is mainly comprised of krill. To even call it a diet would be wrong when you consider the following numbers, where in 1 day, a blue whale can feast on nearly 40 million, or 8,000 pounds of these tiny, shrimp-like creatures, just to fulfill its daily intake 1.5-million calories. But finding krill to eat is not an easy feat. The Blue Whale often has to swim as far as 300 feet deep into the ocean to find its favorite food. In fact, a single feeding can require the whale to remain at these dark depths of the ocean for up to 20 minutes. When krill is found, the blue whale slowly swims toward the krill with a wide-open mouth; and once it catches a heaping mouthful of krill it will quickly shut it. Then using its baleen plates, the whale will expel a large amount of water from its mouth, while simultaneously holding onto the krill. Although krill is a food staple for the Blue Whale, they also eat squid, small fish, crustaceans or other marine life that are haphazardly caught along with the krill. As a calf, a baby Blue Whale consumes its mother’s milk until the age of six months. Because they can consume nearly150 gallons of milk a day, a young calf can double from the size of 20 feet to 40 feet in these first six months!
Southern California Blue Whale Migratory Patterns
Blue Whales can be seen swimming along the Southern California coast between June and October, and occasionally in December. During normal migration, Blue Whales travel at approximately 12 mph, and at an even slower pace of 3 mph during feeding. Amazingly, despite their large size, Blue Whales will sometimes swim as fast as 30mph for a very short distance. Unlike other Baleen Whales, Blue Whales, by nature, choose to travel alone or with one additional companion rather than in larger groups. If ever there is a large population of Blue Whales in a given area, a plentiful food supply is likely to be the reason.
Long Beach Whale Watching
Of all the whales sightings around the world, Blue Whales are the rarest seen because of their small, endangered population size. We are lucky that these extraordinary Blue Whales make their way through Southern California, especially through Long Beach during the seasonal months of June through October. To catch a sighting up close is priceless experience. Let Harbor Breeze Cruises show you Blue Whale Watching in Long Beach. Give us a call at 562-432-4900 to find out more information or to reserve a spot on one of our tours.
Tours for whale watching and sea excursions are conducted seven days a week with tours at 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. Althought there are never any bad seats, it is a good idea to arrive a little early. You can expect to enjoy a 2 to 2 1/2 hour tour. Ticket prices are as follows:
Individual Ticket Prices – Two Hour to 2 ½ Hour Cruise
Adults $30
Seniors (62 and over) $25
Children (11 and under) $18
Children (2 and under) FREE!
Ticket Prices for groups of 25 or more.
Adults $22
Seniors (62 and over) $18
Children (11 and under) $12
Children (2 and under) FREE!
Order your tickets today. Just Click the Button!, or call 562-432-4900 for reservations. Walk-ups are always welcome as well. If you have a discount coupon, please present it at the ticket booth.
We look forward to seeing you and continuing to make Long Beach Whale Watching your choice for whale watching in Long Beach. We offer convenient parking and are located near many area attractions such as The Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach Lighthouse and Queen Mary as well as excellent shopping and restaurant so you can make a day of it. Whale watching is a wonderful experience regardless of age. We can’t wait to provide the best whale watching in southern California experience possible.
For more information on other Southern California Whales, please click on the link below or click here for a detailed history of whale watching:
|
|
| |
|
