Magdalena Bay, Baja California Sur, Mexico
We are, at this moment, headed southward along the Pacific Coast of Baja California after three wonderful days in Magdalena Bay with the California Gray Whales. Fourteen hours ago we were transiting southward inside the upper Magdalena lagoon as the sun rose majestically across the Magdalena Plain to silhouette a mother Gray whale and her calf.
These whales swim 5,000 to 7,000 miles from their summer feeding grounds in the Bering, Chuckchi and Beaufort seas to the peaceful lagoons of Baja California. Here each year some breed and some give birth. Two days ago we were lucky enough to see three pairs of mothers with their young. Yesterday we watched single whales swimming to and fro about the upper Magdalena lagoon. Today we watched courting groups at La Entrada, the opening to Magdalena Bay between Isla Santa Margarita and Isla Magdalena.
What a thrill to see three to 12 adult whales rushing through the water, throwing their massive flukes high into the air and sinking into the clear waters of La Entrada—one after another until all sank out of sight. Soon another group would appear out of the blue depths chasing after what? Probably these are groups of males chasing after a female that is trailing pheromones behind her and just driving the boys crazy. Weighing 30 to 40 tons each and rolling over each other as they do, it is hard to imagine how someone doesn’t get hurt…and that includes us. But these animals are completely aware of where they are in the three-dimensional world of the sea and avoid us and also avoid doing any damage to each other. However, you do feel a bit small and vulnerable in a tiny Zodiac in the big ocean with those big whales!
By mid-afternoon we had finished our time in the lagoons and headed out into the Pacific Ocean. With a following sea and a light breeze, many of us were out on the deck in shirtsleeves to enjoy the late afternoon where we were joined by more Gray whales, bottlenose dolphins, long-beaked common dolphins and a lot of sea birds.
Now, gently rolling along the coast in the early evening gives us time to pause and reflect on how lucky we have been today, how lucky we are to be alive on this diverse and bountiful planet, and how important it is to treat well both the human and the non-human beings with whom we share this place.
We are, at this moment, headed southward along the Pacific Coast of Baja California after three wonderful days in Magdalena Bay with the California Gray Whales. Fourteen hours ago we were transiting southward inside the upper Magdalena lagoon as the sun rose majestically across the Magdalena Plain to silhouette a mother Gray whale and her calf.
These whales swim 5,000 to 7,000 miles from their summer feeding grounds in the Bering, Chuckchi and Beaufort seas to the peaceful lagoons of Baja California. Here each year some breed and some give birth. Two days ago we were lucky enough to see three pairs of mothers with their young. Yesterday we watched single whales swimming to and fro about the upper Magdalena lagoon. Today we watched courting groups at La Entrada, the opening to Magdalena Bay between Isla Santa Margarita and Isla Magdalena.
What a thrill to see three to 12 adult whales rushing through the water, throwing their massive flukes high into the air and sinking into the clear waters of La Entrada—one after another until all sank out of sight. Soon another group would appear out of the blue depths chasing after what? Probably these are groups of males chasing after a female that is trailing pheromones behind her and just driving the boys crazy. Weighing 30 to 40 tons each and rolling over each other as they do, it is hard to imagine how someone doesn’t get hurt…and that includes us. But these animals are completely aware of where they are in the three-dimensional world of the sea and avoid us and also avoid doing any damage to each other. However, you do feel a bit small and vulnerable in a tiny Zodiac in the big ocean with those big whales!
By mid-afternoon we had finished our time in the lagoons and headed out into the Pacific Ocean. With a following sea and a light breeze, many of us were out on the deck in shirtsleeves to enjoy the late afternoon where we were joined by more Gray whales, bottlenose dolphins, long-beaked common dolphins and a lot of sea birds.
Now, gently rolling along the coast in the early evening gives us time to pause and reflect on how lucky we have been today, how lucky we are to be alive on this diverse and bountiful planet, and how important it is to treat well both the human and the non-human beings with whom we share this place.
