Page 20 - Sonoma County Gazette April 2018

Spring on the Sonoma Coast, Gray Whales off Bodega Head,
and Harbor Seals at Goat Rock Beach
Harbor Seals at the mouth of the Russian River at Jenner.
By Norma Jellison Spring on the Sonoma
from Orcas, the largest dolphin, who uses eco- location to nd its prey. Mother Gray Whales (45-55 foot/30-40 tons) “hide” the calf. If the Orca ecolocates o her and misses the calf, it likely won’t attack.
Coast o ers many
amazing visual delights— wild owers, migrating Paci c Gray Whales,
Paci c Harbor Seal pups, especially at the Goat Rock Beach colony, and birds
in breeding plumage and sitting on nests on the rocks o the coast that are part
of the California Coastal National Monument.
Gray Whales are slow swimmers (3-5 mph), hence they are covered with barnacles
Bodega Head, jutting out into the ocean, is an
especially good vantage point to take in great views of Pt. Reyes to the south, the Bay itself and the Doran Beach sand spit, Bodega Rock with its gregarious, noisy Sea Lions and the passing marine mammals and pelagic birds.
that give them a mottled look. Because Gray Whales
Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods (Stewards) Whale Watch volunteers are at Bodega Head Saturdays and Sundays Noon to 4PM (weather permitting, save Fisherman’s Festival weekend April
14/15 this year) from January to May to share
information and help visitors search for whales.
without needing to go out on a boat. Local captains do take whale watch trips out of the Porto Bodega Marina at Eastshore/Bay at Road.
the calves seem especially prone to breach. Check out the nesting cormorants, gulls, and
don’t need deep water, they migrate fairly close to shore, especially on the northbound migration. This allows visitors to see them
When Mom and calf swim past the Head, they are especially close, easy to see and take their time swimming by. This allows us land lubbers great views. And
Started over 30 years ago, both Whale
Watch and Seal Watch at Goat Rock State
Beach in Jenner were the rst Stewards volunteer programs. Today, there are many
more programs, along with classes, hikes and volunteer opportunities o ered via their website: stewardsofthecoastandredwoods.org/ or .stewardscr.org/
oystercatchers, taking an easy hike looking for the wild owers in bloom (iris, CA poppy, seaside daisy, and lupine among others). At the overlook look and listen to the Sea Lions on Bodega Rock. Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy at several benches and picnic tables scattered around the Head.
Whale Watch volunteers share Gray
Whale exhibits (whale bones, barnacles, whale
lice, krill) and help visitors search for the Paci c
Gray Whales migrating past the Head. The tell tale heart shaped, bushy blow rising up from the ocean surface announces a whale.
Head north along Route One past 17 miles of spectacular coast line. Surfers may be visible in the water at Salmon Creek. The Kortum Trail beckons at Wrights Beach or Shell Beach where you can
Gray Whales that were swimming by the Head going south in February and into March were juveniles. They don’t go to the mating and calving lagoons in Baja California, as they are not sexually mature. They will turn around and head north as lagoons empty and the adults northbound migration gets into full swing.
continue on to Jenner. The shops, cafe and Jenner Visitors Center are worth a stop. Sundays features live music at Café Aquatica on the deck, and now they even have wine-tasting! You can rent a kayak and explore the estuary with or without a guide!
The rst whales to pass by going north are the newly pregnant females. They are headed for the Alaskan feeding grounds (Bering, Chukchi and Beaufort Seas).
Harbor Seals: At the top of the hill just above Jenner,
dirt pull outs overlook where the Russian River empties into the ocean. The Paci c Harbor Seal colony on Goat Rock Beach is visible from this vantage point. April and May are prime times to see Harbor Seal pups on the beach resting or nursing. Seals may also be swimming in the river or inch worming across the sand to haul out - rest and sleep after emerging from a swim.
Gray Whales depend on blubber stored from the summer feeding frenzy to sustain them on their 5-6,000 mile migration south, the time they spend in the lagoons, as well as on the 5-6,000 mile return trip north back to the feeding grounds. When they pass by the Head, they have not eaten since the previous summer.
Harbor Seals are nocturnal - they sleep in the day; head out to sea to feed around sunset and throughout the night; return to haul out in the daytime. They are colonial and have a strong a nity for the beach where they were born.
Thus, the newly pregnant females are intent to reach the
Arctic seas, where they will eat tons of amphipods (tiny benthic
crustaceans) daily until the seas ice over. Then they will head back south to have their calves—13 months later. Most of the calves are born in the warm, high saline content (buoyant) waters of the lagoons on the Paci c side of Baja Sur in Mexico.
Stewards Seal Watch volunteers are on the beach at Goat Rock from 10A-6 P during pupping season to maintain a safe distance
At birth, calves weigh 1500-2000 lbs and are 15-20 feet. Mom will fed the calf 50 gallons of milk a day (!) and teach it to swim. The calves double in size and weight intil Mom decides the calf is ready, she will lead it north to Alaska.
The entrance to Blind Beach and Goat Rock Beach is o Route One south of the bridge across the Russian River. Goat Rock Beach access is through some sand dunes. Dogs are permitted at Blind Beach, but not at Goat Rock Beach. A State Park Lifeguard is generally on duty at Goat Rock Beach during daylight hours, particularly in summer and fall months. This is one of the Sonoma Coast’s most dangerous beaches due to sleeper waves and a steep drop o . The ocean is cold and currents strong.
Goat Rock Beach is often covered with hundreds of birds (gulls, terns, Brown Pelicans) enjoying the warm sand and sun. Water birds may be swimming in the river as well. A treat is seeing the Bald Eagles that have been nesting inland for several years. This Russian River overlook is a magical place, but then so is all of the Sonoma Coast. And there is no better time to enjoy its many splendors than in the April and May, when everything seems to spring to life.
Mid April through May is prime time to see the northbound mothers and calves from Bodega Head. Swimming close to shore allows the calves to rest in coves along the way and Mom to easily nurse. Gray This continues into August and September on the Arctic feeding grounds, by which time the calves learn to feed on the bottom dwelling amphipods.
Never turn your back to the ocean or play tag with the waves!
Keeping the calf between her and the coastal hills is a tactic to protect the calf
20 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 4/18
Whale breaching off the Coast.
explore tide pools at low tide.
Cross the Russian River at Bridgehaven and
from the seals and especially the pups, interpret their life history and assist closer views with scopes.