What is that?! Gray whales are covered in barnacles and lice! These traveling companions ride along with the whales for a free meal. They do not harm the whale. Barnacles attach to gray whales during their stay in the warm Lagoons of Baja. As the whale travels through the ocean, the barnacles extend their filtering baskets and sea water passes through trapping microorganisms for them to eat. Sometimes gray whales scrape off the barnacles by rubbing on underwater rocks. This leaves a white scar which gives these whales a mottled gray color. Now you know! Image of whale lice taken by deckhand, Kristin. February 15, 2020 Read More
Happy World Whale Day! We are constantly in awe of these magnificent animals and so grateful for the time we get to spend with them! Enjoy this mesmerizing loop of a gray whale “rainblow” from @chelseamayerphotography •••••••••#roamtheoceans #oceanlife #oceanlovers #whales #whalewatching #dronestagram #ourplanetdaily #discoverocean #worldwhaleday #depthsofearth #fromwhereidrone #dronenature #droneheroes #dronepals February 15, 2020 Read More
#worldwhaleday celebrating World Whale Day wearing whale poop colored clothing! February 15, 2020 Read More
We aren't the only ones feeling the love this Valentine's Day! Gray whales are currently heading down to their breeding grounds in Baja California, Mexico where they will mate and give birth to next generation of baby grays! As the whales get further south, we have the opportunity to see more and more courtship behaviors. Photo taken by @slatermoorephotography February 14, 2020 Read More
EYE see you! A dolphin's eye is on the side of it's head and they can move each eye independently. This means they can look in two different directions at the same time (think chameleon!). Dolphins can also move their eyes so their field of vision overlaps, creating a panorama human-like image. This allows dolphins to have 3D vision in a way humans don't. The best viewing position for their eyes is looking downward. You might notice that dolphins swim upside down when chasing fish or tilt their heads back when they are trying to get a good look at something. It is interesting to think that even though they have echolocation, that allows them to see the world through sound, they are still visual predators! Amazing underwater photo by photographer Delaney @seataceans February 11, 2020 Read More
Did you know baleen was historically referred to as whale bone? But baleen isn't bone at all! Baleen is made of keratin, the same material that makes up your fingernails and hair. Baleen is arranged into plates that act to trap food inside the mouth and filter water out. Gray whales have short, ivory baleen plates. Can you see the individual plates? Photo by deckhand Kristin Campbell. February 10, 2020 Read More
Open wide! Young students of Bell Gardens Elementary School discover the powerful jaws of the California sea lion while enjoying a field trip at sea! We love that we can give students the opportunity to step out of the classroom and into the field to learn more about our oceans! Photos by @chelseamayerphotography with naturalist, Jessica Roame. February 9, 2020 Read More
We have had so many common dolphins in our waters lately! This beautiful video was shot aboard our ultimate whale watch today by deckhand, Kristin. Bring your gopro on our ultimate whale watch and discover what lies beneath the surface! February 8, 2020 Read More
Color patterns on the common dolphin are the most elaborate of any cetacean. Check out the clearly defined hourglass coloration on this dolphin's side. The dark gray fades into light gray and crosses into tan and cream. They are truly stunning! Amazing photo captured today by @chelseamayerphotography February 7, 2020 Read More
Journey to the Lagoons! Why do Pacific gray whales migrate over 5,000miles south to the Lagoons of Baja each year? Gray whale calves are born with only a small layer of insulating blubber. Imagine enduring a frigid Alaskan winter with a light jacket. Cold right? The warm, protected lagoons of Baja act as a nursery for growing calves. During their 12-13 week stay in the lagoon, the calf will nurse on their mother's high-fat milk to triple their birth weight. Not only will they be strong enough to make the journey north, they will have a nice blubber layer to keep them warm in the Arctic waters. Beautiful video taken by photographer, @chelseamayerphotography . February 5, 2020 Read More
