Whale research ecoexcursions where learning meets the sea. Whale watching on the oregon coast our ordinary life. Oregon parks and recreation department 725 summer st. In any event, the exploding whale with the help of syndicated humor columnist dave barry, who had great fun with it has become part of our entire nations pop culture and has been mistaken for an urban legend. In fact, oregon parks and recreation hosts two whale watching weeks each year during the gray whale migration seasons. Spring whale watching week is coming up here are six spectacular spots to see the migrating gray whales in oregon. Boaters can help with this study by downloading the whale alert mobile app. The whaleplanner september a whale watching infographic. T he oregon coast has an incredible reputation for stunning beaches, quaint communities, breathtaking vistas and endless outdoor recreation opportunities. For purposes of this executive order, colleges and universities include public universities listed in ors 352. September 3 to september 9 dolphin fleet whale watch.
On november 9, 1970, a 45foot 14 m long, 8shortton 7,300 kg sperm whale washed ashore at florence on the central oregon coast. This gives visitors the unique opportunity to study and interact with these majestic creatures on a daily basis all summer long, until they migrate south. This is when our resident whales have returned and. Many florence residents were not pleased they felt this was the wrong way to get ones hometown on the map. Humpback whales spotted in columbia river, likely due to. A new coastal playground license plate featuring a gray whale and her calf likely could be available to oregon drivers as soon as summer 2017. Any location with an ocean view may yield whale sightings, and morning light with the sun at your back is best. Whale watching is a yearround activity on the oregon coast with gray whales by far the most commonly seen. This whale makes the longest migration of any mammal on the planet.
The twoway highway engineer george thornton, who led a 1970 operation to blow up the dead whale on a beach, died this week at age 84. In the fall pacific humpbacks are readying for their winter migration to hawaii. This gives visitors the unique opportunity to study and interact with these majestic creatures on. While many of us have our favorite activities, one that is growing in popularity up and down the coast is whale watching. During the winter months of december through february and the spring months of march through may, our vessels head offshore west from the harbor to find the migrating pods of gray whales. From december to february, visitors to the blms yaquina head interpretive center can witness these. Ocean crab, whale watch and private bay crab yaquina bay. Whale watching is not difficult, but a few tips make it easier. September 6th was another great day for whale watching. Oregon parks whale watching center in depoe bay will be open from 10 a. Twice patrick and i have headed to the oregon coast attempting to see migrating gray whales. It has got to be one of the most bizarre things that has ever happened in oregon.
Depoe bay has some yearround resident whales and a great whale watching center. Quebec, british columbia, new england, washington and oregon are among the best places in the world for whale watching. Port townsend and san juan island whalewatching tour from puget sound express up to 51% off. Due to the increasing concerns regarding covid19, beginning march 22 nd, tradewinds charters of depoe bay has made the difficult decision to temporarily suspend fishing and whale watching trips until april 1 st. Whale research ecoexcursions whale watching, cafe, and museum will be closed for the duration of quarantine. In late september and early october they pass by the azores. Contrary to that popular belief, the best time to see whales here in depoe bay is june through september. Portland whale watching deals in portland, or groupon. Mar 28, 2012 twice patrick and i have headed to the oregon coast attempting to see migrating gray whales. Whale watching season begins cannon beach history center. Whale sightings continue to be excellent and the marine conditions are nothing short of perfect. From december to february, visitors to the blms yaquina head interpretive center can witness these majestic mammals traveling the oregon coast en route. Besides hiking and camping, whale watching is one of the most popular activities.
Whale watch week begins today oregoncoastdailynews. Whale strandings off washingtonoregon coast highest in. On september 3rd we headed westward a welcome change of scenery after having spent the last few weeks off of highland light to the east. Hosted by marine mammal naturalist with 37 years experience. Remember that everyday is an excellent day to go whale watching with dockside charters. Whale strandings off washingtonoregon coast highest in nearly 2 decades. Whale watch week oregon state parks celebrates the migration twice per year during whale watch weeks in late december and late march.
Humpback whales the world over are known for their epic migrations, complex songs, and the acrobatic jumps that earn them their name. Download our whale watching brochure to learn out about whale swimming patterns and habits, such as breaching, spyhopping and diving. The depoe bay whale watching center, also known as the depoe bay ocean wayside, is an. Each year, two huge migration events of gray whales occur along the oregon coast, giving those who head west a chance. December to early february is the time to find gray whales migrating south along the oregon coastline.
Most of the whale watching trips involve the california gray whales. Theyre usually in a hurry to get to their calving grounds in baja, mexico, but you can find them five miles. The whale watching center is dedicated to sharing information about whales. The central oregon coast is the perfect spot for visitors to locate and watch whales as they blow, dive, spyhop and breach. Po box 552, depoe bay, oregon 97341 541 7652545 or 800 7338915 oregons premier charter fishing service. We stayed there for a few months and then we swam thousands of miles to alaska for the winter. Migration of the gray whale begins in baja california and ends in the bering sea of alaska. In 1970, an 8ton whale carcass washed ashore on a beach near florence. Depoe bay is your destination for all gray whales on the oregon coast. Dead sperm whale washes ashore on oregon coast oregon city, or the 36foot whale had been dead for quite some time, according to the seaside aquarium. As whale watch week unfolds along the coast, volunteers are circulating interest forms which allow vehicle owners to commit to a future plate purchase. Condensation, banyon, jabiru, midnight, kmodo, pogo, and putter could be identified by the distinct markings on their. There are more than 1,100 humpback whales and 1,800 grey whales that cruise past this spot during the winter, spring and summer, said morris grover.
Whale watching on the oregon coast, natural resources. First established as a wayside parking area on the oregon coast highway in 1930, the wayside building was built in. Gray whales are on the move south again this winter, and the oregon parks and recreation department oprd is celebrating the annual event with whale watching week, dec. Theres no lack of things to see and do on the oregon coast. Humpbacks have been spotted between 50 and 1,000 meters.
View two screens at once, freely switch back and forth, and omnitask without the need to open several new tabs. Whales, dolphins and porpoises oregon department of fish. We plan to be along the oregon coast from cape meares down to bandon in midtolate september. The twoway highway engineer george thornton, who led a 1970 operation to blow up the dead whale on. As summer approaches we see more of our resident gray whales arrive. A major focus of the oregon whale entanglement working group is to identify when and where whales are being seen off the coast of oregon. Dubbed as the whale watching capital of the oregon coast, depoe bay has whale watching almost year around. Visitors to the oregon coast will have the opportunity to glimpse some of the estimated 20,000 gray whales traveling south from alaska to their final destination off the. Best places to view migrating whales on oregon coast this spring statesman journal, 3232017 whale watch week count serial oregon state parks and recreation department read all about it, oregon. The whale watching center depoe bay 2020 all you need. Despite the overcast, gray skies, the seas were flat calm and our visibility was superb. Best whale watching depoe bay oregon tradewinds charters. The center, which sits out from the sea wall at depoe bay, is a staterun facility that is designed to teach people about the many different types of whales that pass by the oregon coast. This time, on march 26, we got to see some in the form of their blows shooting up from the surface of the water and quickly turning into mist above the windy ocean 6 in all, through binoculars.
Port townsend and san juan island whale watching tour from puget sound express up to 51% off. September 6 to september 11 dolphin fleet whale watch. Tradewinds has been abiding by all recommendations from the state of oregon and the oregon. The best time of day are mornings before the wind starts to blow, during the afternoon it can get windy, which has a tendency to blow the spouts down making it hard for people to see them.
The summer whale watch locations are those along the central coast and focus on the parttime resident whales. Take a trip with us for an exciting time while we set some pots for crab and look for whales along the oregon coast. During the spring migration is when the whales move closer to shore and will stop to feed. Gray whales are the most commonly viewed species from the parks. Oregon winner paris myers, crescent valley high school. Best time to see oregon whales whales tail charters. Oct 04, 2006 the original footage of the exploding whale first appeared on katu channel 2 portland, or. She is a college prof and im not sure how late in the summer she personally conducts the tours. This is when our resident whales have returned and taken up residence. The great thing about the coastline, is the residential gray whales.
Depoe bay has some yearround resident whales and a great whalewatching center. The most common whale off the oregon coast is the gray whale. Where to watch thousands of migrating gray whales this weekend along the oregon coast. Do not try to free an entangled whale it is extremely dangerous. Very little wind and calm seas make a great combination for whale watching. I was born last spring in the warm waters near hawaii.
Carrie newell conducts the best, most personal and educational tours in her zodiac. Depoe bay is the whale watching capital on the oregon coast. Here, with a full view of plymouth across the bay, we had six humpbacks a single, a pair, and a triplet. In addition to the approximately 200 resident gray whales that live nearly yearround off oregon, a winter and spring migration brings about 18,000 more past our coast. Swim with dolphins in mexico, caribbean and jamaica at dolphin discovery up to 40% off. Apr 12, 2016 this is the single craziest thing you never knew happened in oregon. Po box 552, depoe bay, oregon 97341 541 7652545 or 800 7338915 oregon s premier charter fishing service.
We will spend time in the towns of depot bay, newport, and florence, while visiting some of the most beautiful spots and amazing attractions along the central oregon coast on this 2day1night oregon coastal tour. Afternoon halfday multnomah falls and columbia river gorge waterfalls tour from portland. If you haven seen the waves crash here, then youre really. The oregon coast provides ample opportunity to view members of the order cetacea whales, dolphins, and porpoises at any one of the twentynine whale viewing parks in the state. Whale watching in lincoln city, oregon, is one of the most spectacular things you will ever witness in your life. The original footage of the exploding whale first appeared on katu channel 2 portland, or. Spot gray whales on oregon coast during whale watching week. This is the single craziest thing you never knew happened in oregon. Since 2004, a third whale watching spoken here week has been added, and its scheduled during the last week of august through the first monday in september. At the time, oregon beaches were under the jurisdiction of the states highway division, which, after consulting with the united states navy, decided to remove the whale using dynamite assuming that the resulting pieces would be small enough for scavenger. New coastal playground license plate oregoncoastdailynews. Whale watching in lincoln city lincoln city oregon.
Get the monthly weather forecast for brookings, or, including daily highlow, historical averages, to help you plan ahead. Telegraph cove on vancouver island, the orca capital of the world. On march 19, 2020, governor kate brown issued executive order 2009 to immediately implement measures for significantly reducing inperson operations at oregon colleges and universities. Nov 26, 2010 the oregon coast provides ample opportunity to view members of the order cetacea whales, dolphins, and porpoises at any one of the twentynine whale viewing parks in the state. In preparation for the migration, oregon state parks.