Gray whale sightings are increasing off Southern California and some of the moms aren’t waiting until they reach Mexico to have their babies.
The accompanying footage, captured Tuesday off Dana Point in Orange County, shows a cow-calf pair swimming slowly southward and beautifully illustrates the special bond that forms between a whale mom and her offspring.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_J4InJW0TE]
At times the newborn – perhaps only a day old – is resting on mom’s back near her fluke, and mom is seen gently hoisting the calf just high enough for it to take breaths.
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The drone footage was captured Tuesday by Captain Dave’s Dolphin and Whale Watching Safari, and Dana Wharf Whale Watching.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CMcVx62CQE]
Both videos show the same cow-calf pair, and while the top video shows the whales in more detail, the bottom video shows interaction between sea lions and Pacific white-sided dolphins, and the newborn whale.
The footage helps to illustrate that, contrary to popular belief, not all gray whale calves are born in lagoons on Mexico’s Baja California peninsula.
The whales are migrating from Arctic feeding areas to the lagoons, where nursing and breeding occurs.
Schulman-Janiger said the peak period to watch northbound cow-calf pairs off Southern California is late April and early May.
–Videos courtesy of Captain Dave’s Dolphin and Whale Watching Safari and Dana Wharf Whale Watching. Photos courtesy of Captain Dave’s Dolphin and Whale Watching Safari