Description
Gray whales can be seen off the Oregon coast almost every month of the year. Migrating whales can be seen on their southbound migration from December-January en route to three lagoons in Baja California - San Ignacio, Magdalena Bay and Scammons Lagoon - where they mate and give birth to their calves. In San Ignacio lagoon, we hear of the friendlies. These gray whales purposefully and willingly come up to boats to interact with humans. Many times mothers will push their newborn calves up to a boat for a human encounter. It is unclear as to the true purpose of these actions on the part of the whale. The northbound migration of gray whales is from February through June as they head to their Arctic feeding grounds in the Bering and Chukchi seas. Late in the spring (April -June) many mother/calf pairs are seen heading north. Females with their calves need to travel slower.