#WHALE SPOUT SERIES#

The dimples on the young calf’s are where you can see the baby’s facial hair. The gray whales have a double blow hole, most of the older grays have scars and tooth rake marks from encounters with Orca Whales (Killer of Whales). Just like people, once they reach middle age, they seem to get a little fatter. They can live up to 40-60 years, some 70 years.

Gray whales can reach a length of about 40 to 50 feet, and weight between 50,000 to 80,000 pounds. Young gray whales along the Oregon coast seem to breach more frequently. They speculate that they do it to remove parasites, communicate with each other, or just do it for fun. Scientists are not sure why whales breach. The ultimate in whale sightings is a breach, which occurs when a whale launches as much as ¾ of its body out of the water.

After the flukes disappear under the water, the turbulence of the dive will cause a circle of smooth water, known as a fluke-print. This action, called sounding or fluking, helps propel the whale downward to the bottom where they feed on small crustaceans. When a gray whale lifts its tail flukes out of the water, it is going into a deep dive. They like to rise and get a better look at their surroundings. They are curious and often seen “spy hopping” or lifting their heads above the surface of the water. Whales have the largest brain of any animal on earth. Sometimes they dive and reappear a quarter of a mile away. If they are frightened, they can hide on the bottom or travel great distances underwater. In a single breath, 80 to 90 percent of the air in their lungs is exchanged.įeeding dives may range from 3 minutes up to 15 minutes they can stay under water for 30 minutes. This repeated breathing pattern enables the whales to store up oxygen and get rid of carbon dioxide built up during a long dive. A general rule is one short dive and a blow for every minute spent in a deep dive. Normally they will make three to five short, shallow dives of less than a minute each and then a long, deep dive. Generally, gray whales are slow swimmers, averaging three to five mph during migration and have a rhythmic breathing pattern. The whale can expel 100 gallons of air in a single blast. The blow is not a fountain of water, but a mist of condensed air exhaled under high pressure from the lungs. When a gray whale comes to the surface, its blow or spout is a double-plumed, a misty jet of vapor, rising 6 to 12 feet. Now they are considered the “friendliest” of whales, often curiously approaching whale watching boats. They were once called “devil fish” by early whalers. Quick assessments along the way will verify what you’ve learned so far.Gray whales are noted for their protective behavior toward their calves.

#WHALE SPOUT SERIES#

It is divided into four lessons with a short series of topics covered in each lesson. It can be viewed on any device, including PCs, tablets, and mobile devices. This course should take you between 30-60 minutes to complete. Share what you’ve learned with other boaters.Know what to document and who to call if you encounter a whale in distress.

Keep a safe distance between your boat and whales.

Put safe whale watching guidelines to practice while at sea.

Identify common whale species along the US Atlantic coast and recognize many of their behaviors.

Access and use available resources to prepare for a trip at sea.

In this short, voluntary course, you’ll learn key steps to take before heading out on the water that will help you avoid dangerous situations, get yourself out of a dangerous situation if you are suddenly in one, and take an active role in supporting marine life conservation efforts.īy the end of the course you will be able to: Accidental collisions with whales can be dangerous for everyone involved and result in costly repairs to your boat. Thank you for taking this extra step to ensure the safety of yourself, your passengers, and whales while at sea. Welcome to Spout Spotters: Boater Safety Around Whales!

Whale spout