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Long Beach Gray Whale Watching |
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 Southern California Gray Whale Description
On any particular day, Gray whales can be seen swimming in the offshore waters of Southern California. Characterized by a dark slate and gray color, Gray Whales also have unique body scars that are the result of parasites who eat away at the bacteria found on the skin of these whales. In fact, comparing the skin of the Gray Whale’s dorsal fin with the scabs and scars left by these host parasites is the most common way of distinguishing Gray Whales from other kinds of whales
While not the biggest whale of its species, Gray Whales are still massive in size. When they are born, Gray Whales are on average about 16 ft (4.9 m) long. As they grow older, they grow larger. At their peak, these Gray Whales can be as much as 45 ft (14 m) in length and reach a weight of 40 tons. Male Gray Whales are commonly smaller than females Gray Whales. If you do happen to catch a sighting of a Gray Whale on a clear day, keep an eye out for a V-shaped shot of water that it may blow out from two nostrils found at the top of the its head.
To the untrained eye, all whales may appear to look the same. And being a part of the Baleen Whale Family, the Gray Whales do share traits with many other whales. However, there are a number of external traits that is unique to only the Gray Whale. For one, Gray Whales have a cream-colored baleen that its relatives do not have. This baleen is also smaller in the Gray Whale than it is in other Baleen whales. Another exclusive feature of Gray Whales is the rigid hair fibers that are embedded into the tiny crevasses of their located on their upper jaws. Something else that is peculiar about Gray Whales is that they do not have a dorsal fin as other whales do. Gray Whales specifically have what is known as “dorsal knuckles”, which can be best described as permanent bumps. Found in the middle rear of its body, an individual Gray Whale can have between 6 to 12 dorsal knuckles. Finally, there is the tail. Often the most noticeable part of any whale, the tail of adult Gray Whale is also very remarkable. Measuring to about 10–12 ft (3.7 m) in diameter, the center of the tail is rough and jagged and also deeply notched toward the center while tapered at the edges to a point. While sightings of the Gray Whale are dependent on the season, the waters of Long Beach, California enjoy the luxury of having many other whales calling it home all year round. So come share an unforgettable experience with Long Beach’s whale experts!
Southern California Gray Whale Population
Today, there are two known living species of Gray Whales in the world. Approximately, 160 individual whales are believed to reside in the between the Sea of Okhotsk and Southern Korea. The larger population of Gray Whales is found to live and travel between the Eastern Pacific and Alaska and Baja California coasts. Recent statistics show that the number of Gray Whales has dropped dramatically over the years. According to one study in 2007 by S. Elisabeth Alter, who used a genetic approach, the population of Gray Whales used to be approximately 76,000 to 118,000 in the not too distant past. This is very significant as it is a decrease of about 80%.
Southern California Gray Whale Feeding Habits
The Gray Whale as sited off the Coast of California feeds mainly off benthic crustaceans. The Gray whale eats these tasty crustaceans by turning onto its side, usually on the right side, and scooping them up off the sea floor. As mentioned above, the Gray whale is classified as a baleen whale, which means it has a baleen. The baleen acts kind of like a sieve which helps it to capture small sea animals. The Gray Whale primarily feeds in the northern waters during the summer and rides the winter through depending on its fat reserves.
Southern California Gray Whale Migratory Patterns
The route the Gray Whale takes during migration is known to be one of the largest migrations of any mammal. The migration begins in the Bering and Chukchi seas and ends in the Baja, Mexico regions where there are warmer waters. In total, the Gray Whales migrate an incredible 12,500 miles roundtrip! This migration occurs mainly off the coastline.
The gray Whale begins its migration journey around October and travels about 120 miles per day. During this time, the Gray Whale pushed south as the ice sheets from the north extend south. By the middle of December, many of the Gray Whales can be found between Monterey and San Diego. By the late part of December, the Gray Whales begin to arrive in Baja, Mexico, just off the coast. Then, by late march, the Gray Whales are back north again, generally from Washington into Canada. To see live Gray whales, contact the Los Angeles Whale Watching experts in Long Beach, California.
Long Beach Whale Watching conducts whale and dolphin watching cruises seven days a week with tours at 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. It is a good idea to arrive early as these cruises do fill up quickly. Tours usually last from two to two and a half hours. 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!
You can order your tickets online by clicking the button, or calling 562-432-4900. 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 southern California. 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:
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