Baby gray whale 'putting on quite a show' off Malibu Pier
Sightseers are gathering on the Malibu Pier and TV helicopters are hovering overhead to catch a glimpse of a baby gray whale that's been swimming just off the coast for the last 24 hours.
The 20- to 30-foot-long whale showed up around 10 a.m. Tuesday, moving close to shore and within several feet of the beach near the Beachcomber restaurant. Although whales frequently travel through Malibu, they rarely make extended stopovers, said Joann Waugh, assistant manager at Malibu Outfitters on the pier.
"For Malibu pier specifically, it's a rare thing to see," Waugh said.
Onlookers say the baby gray has been playful, swimming under the pier and popping its head out of the water vertically and then sinking back down, a move called spyhopping.
"He's putting on quite a show, with all the helicopters flying around him," Waugh said.
She said mother whales may travel closer to shore so their babies do not have to hold their breath as long in the shallower waters. But the mother was nowhere to be seen, onlookers said.
-- Amina Khan
Photo: Baby gray whale cavorting near Malibu Pier. Credit: David Iino, Beachcomber chef
EDITOR'S PICKS:
What I meant to say is that the gray whales prefer shallow water. What I did not include is that the shallow waters are more safe for the baby whales from predators. These whales are bottom feeders but rarely eat during migration.
Yes it would be hard for a baby whale to feed from the bottom of the ocean in deep waters.
-Joann Waugh
Posted by: Joann Waugh | February 03, 2010 at 12:13 PM
the poor lost whale merely wants to watch 2 1/2 men on TV
Posted by: FRANK SALES | February 03, 2010 at 01:12 PM
In the past baby gray's have been seen frolicking near the Redondo pier.
Posted by: David_U | February 03, 2010 at 02:47 PM
The whale's name is Baby "Bu"
Posted by: cadad | February 03, 2010 at 05:24 PM
"BABY BU". What a perfect name!!.. Got my vote, anyone else agree?
Posted by: FLFIRE | February 04, 2010 at 10:58 AM