We believe that the whales like to be splashed. In this picture you can see my friend Leah and I splashing. Also, if you look closely, you can see the barnacles that have formed on this whale.
Spy hopping is a common behavior among the Gray Whales. Spy hopping is when the gray whale raises its head vertically out of the water to have a look around. Some researchers believe that the Gray whales can see equally as good above the surface as well as below. These whales can be pretty curious. Gray whales frequently are attracted to boats, approaching alongside some of the zodiacs you see here in the picture. The calves will approach with mom not far behind. While watching these whales, you get to enjoy seeing the relationship with mother and calve. The baby will roll over and over the top of mom. The baby feeds on milk the mother produces. The consistency of the milk is over 80% fats. The baby needs these nutrients to gain weight for the long journey north.
Gray Whale
The Gray whales makes one if the longest annual migrations of any marine mammal. They travel 5,000 miles from their northern food source, south to their breeding grounds in the shallow waters of the Northern Pacific. Here they give birth to one calve a season. They remain in these waters for a few months raising their calves, nursing them to help them grow strong for their long journey north. The moms stay with the young for 7 to 9 months before leaving the calve to fend for itself. The gray Whales do not form lasting associations.
The Gray whale has a molted gray body and is covered in barnacles and lice. When the babies, the calves, are born they are mostly dark in color. The young start their life at about 16` long and grow to about 49`. The average lifespan of the Gray Whale is more than 40 years.
The whales’ skin feels like a sopping wet sponge!
