Boca De Soledad
The Sea Bird made its way north through a narrow straight known as Hull Canal this morning. This shallow waterway is home to California gray whale mother and calves during the winter months. The mothers’ long journey from the rich food laden waters off of Alaska begins in the fall. As she moves south towards the warmer waters off the California coast she knows something will happen soon. She is becoming larger and larger by the day even though she has stopped eating during this migration. Once she makes it to the safety of the shallow lagoons of Baja California she finds a nice spot near the mangroves and after rolling around, perhaps for hours, gives birth to a 12 foot long nearly one ton baby! She will spend the next 8 to 10 weeks protecting and caring for her offspring. This includes nursing when necessary with her 50% butter fat milk. Sheltering the calf against her sides during the ebb and flood of the tide so as to make sure it stays in the protected areas of Magdalena Bay. Also watching wearily as bottlenose dolphins come over to inspect the new arrival to the world of marine mammals. She may also wonder about the strange noises emanating from the strange contraptions that just pierce the ceiling of her world. There is the constant chug-chug-chug of the larger creatures along with the intermittent humming of the smaller ones that seem to come from the rear part of the large low sounding beast . These creatures from another world seem to be curious about her and her newborn. They respect her work and keep their distance as well they can. Sometimes the calf is curious and attempts to see what all the commotion is about. The little one then may take a peek by jumping out of the water and chin slapping on the way down. This behavior may get mother a little curious as well. Her form of looking around is much more elegant. She will turn over on her back and then arch forward so her head comes out of the water like a strangely shaped battleship gray periscope. Just high enough for her to look around at the strange beasties with their bright colors, clicking noises, and other sounds that she can’t quite understand. It is all part of the child rearing process for her. A responsibility that lasts until she has escorted her calf back to Alaska’s’ frigid but bountiful waters for the next summers feast, only to begin the journey once again the next fall.
The Sea Bird made its way north through a narrow straight known as Hull Canal this morning. This shallow waterway is home to California gray whale mother and calves during the winter months. The mothers’ long journey from the rich food laden waters off of Alaska begins in the fall. As she moves south towards the warmer waters off the California coast she knows something will happen soon. She is becoming larger and larger by the day even though she has stopped eating during this migration. Once she makes it to the safety of the shallow lagoons of Baja California she finds a nice spot near the mangroves and after rolling around, perhaps for hours, gives birth to a 12 foot long nearly one ton baby! She will spend the next 8 to 10 weeks protecting and caring for her offspring. This includes nursing when necessary with her 50% butter fat milk. Sheltering the calf against her sides during the ebb and flood of the tide so as to make sure it stays in the protected areas of Magdalena Bay. Also watching wearily as bottlenose dolphins come over to inspect the new arrival to the world of marine mammals. She may also wonder about the strange noises emanating from the strange contraptions that just pierce the ceiling of her world. There is the constant chug-chug-chug of the larger creatures along with the intermittent humming of the smaller ones that seem to come from the rear part of the large low sounding beast . These creatures from another world seem to be curious about her and her newborn. They respect her work and keep their distance as well they can. Sometimes the calf is curious and attempts to see what all the commotion is about. The little one then may take a peek by jumping out of the water and chin slapping on the way down. This behavior may get mother a little curious as well. Her form of looking around is much more elegant. She will turn over on her back and then arch forward so her head comes out of the water like a strangely shaped battleship gray periscope. Just high enough for her to look around at the strange beasties with their bright colors, clicking noises, and other sounds that she can’t quite understand. It is all part of the child rearing process for her. A responsibility that lasts until she has escorted her calf back to Alaska’s’ frigid but bountiful waters for the next summers feast, only to begin the journey once again the next fall.
