February Newsletter

Whale Watching form the Pier

WHALE WATCHING

Have you ever seen the largest animals in the world in their natural habitat? Well today, you just might! Numerous whales have been spotted off of the Southern California coast these past few months. So, dust off your binoculars and keep an eye out for spouts from blue whales, gray whales, humpback whales, fin whales, and maybe even orca whales! The black and white silhouettes of orca whales were spotted in Long Beach in December 2007. Numerous blue whales have been seen in the Santa Barbara Channel. Fin whales have recently been spotted off of the Southern California coastline and gray whales have been seen right off of Manhattan Beach Pier! December through April is the prime time to view gray whales during their long migration from Baja California to Alaska. Whales are not the only animals you might come across. Bottlenose dolphins are often seen from the pier jumping out of the Pacific Ocean. Harbor seals and sea lions can be spotted swimming under the pier and you are bound to view a brown pelican diving into the ocean. So, next time you visit the aquarium, be sure to take a few extra moments to look over the horizon for marine life. You never know what you might discover!