Aug 30 2010
Be a Whale Sighter
As sailors in the Santa Barbara Channel we all have a good opportunity to spot whales when out on our sailing adventures here in Southern California. In the Winter the Gray Whales migrate first South and then North. In the Summer you will find the Blue Whales as well as Humpbacks. Not as common to see but still in our waters you might see Minke, Sperm, and Pilot Whales. The legendary Orcas are here as well with the increased populations of seals and sea lions.
It seems that much more shipping traffic is going outside the islands these days instead of inside the channel in the traditional shipping lanes. I have heard that this is so but have not been able to verify it. Less traffic should mean more whales! A five year federal study of whales in the Santa Barbara Channel began this month. Researchers from NOAA are leading the study which includes acoustic studies and whale tagging.
You, too, can join in the effort to learn more about our neighborhood whales by reporting sighting locations. Its easy! When you spot a whale that you can identify, make note of its approximate latitude and longitude in relation to your boat position. When you get back home you can visit these web sites to record your information:
