---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sun, 23 Jan 2005 22:07:05 -0800 (PST)
From: Pieter Folkens <onporpoise@sbcglobal.net>
To: Beth Curtis <necurtis@planttel.net>
Cc: pita@whale.wheelock.edu
Subject: Right Whale migration
> I was wondering if the hurricanes & Tsaunami would
> effect the normal migration patterns of whales. A
> friend & I are planning on doing some coastal whale
> watching & are trying to decide when the best time
> would be to sit on the beach.
Hurricanes and Tsunamis do not affect the normal
migration patterns, but a single hurricane or tsunami
event may affect the migration of individual whales in
that vicinity. Whale migrations developed over many
tens of thousands of years. One hurricane, or even a
string of them would not significantly alter the
larger, inclusive migration pattern of a particular
species.
A tsunami can happen at any time, but they are
relativley rare (a big one about every 40 to 100
years). Hurricances are seasonal and relatively common
(several occur annually). However, they generally
occur at a time of year (summer/autumn) when the
migratory whales (right whales, humpbacks, etc.) are
not present in areas where the typical hurricane
occurs (tropics, subtropics). The migrators head to
warmer waters during winter for calving and mating.
As for whale watching . . .
I am less familiar with the Atlantic Seaboard than
with the West Coast, but the timing should be the
same. We get gray whales out here. They can be seen
from late December through June from quite a few
promitories along the coast from Vancouver Island to
Baja Mexico. Seeing right whales from the shore is a
bit more of a challenge. Where as we have upwards of
27,000 gray whales, there are only around 300 right
whales in the North Atlantic. Right whales go to
predictable places along the Georgia/Northern Florida
shore, a bit like gray whales and the lagoons. Still,
seeing one on any given day during the breeding season
(January – March) is unpredictable due to the few
number of rights remaining.
I hope you do see a whale or more, but keep your eyes
out for dolphins as well.
Cheers,
Pieter Folkens
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