An exciting winter sport for nature lovers has begun – whale watching! Endangered North Atlantic right whales (Eubalaena glacialis) are sighted each year close to the shore of Florida from December through March. Most sightings are mother/calf pairs. Females travel from the coast of New England to give birth and nurse their calves in the warm waters off southern Georgia and from Jacksonville to Cape Canaveral.
Right whales are spotted off the Florida coast in December - a pair of mothers and their calves and several potentially pregnant females. A network of scientists and volunteers monitor the population along the coastline from St. Augustine to Ponce Inlet during calving season at specific lookout points. The Marineland Right Whale Project (MRWP) coordinates volunteer teams with scientists in right whale conservation efforts including data collection, whale identification and photo documentation.
The whales are individually identifiable, based on the unique pattern of white markings or callosities on their heads. Callosites are caused by small crustaceans that feed on the skin of whales. Each right whale is cataloged and given a name and/or number. The monitoring program was established to mitigate human impacts like vessel strikes and gear entanglement and to study the distribution, abundance, reproduction and behavior of whales to enhance conservation and recovery of the species.
You can experience the thrill of observing these beautiful creatures. Bring your binoculars and camera to scan the ocean from Gamble Rogers or North Peninsula state parks. If you see a pod of dolphins and sea birds, take a closer look for right whales. Only a small portion of the head and body will be above the water surface so search for white spots on the head, no dorsal fin, and a V-shaped blow. If you see a right whale, call the Right Whale Hotline at 877- WHALE-HELP (942-5343).
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