Whale spotters needed on Palos Verdes Peninsula
Volunteering is rewarding on so many levels, but for those poised on a bluff atop the Palos Verdes Peninsula each winter, the payoff is blubber.
Pacific gray whales migrating to and from Baja California are the primary subjects of the American Cetacean Society's Gray Whale Census and Behavior Project, which begins Dec. 1 and runs through May 15.
But volunteer spotters, who are on vigil from morning to night seven days a week, jot down everything they see and that includes a dizzying array of whales, dolphins, seals and sea lions, and even sharks.
They make note of how many gray whales are traveling with calves and whether they're exhibiting peculiar behavior. They've seen killer whales frighten whales and other mammals into kelp.
They've seen humpback whales breeching dozens of times in succession. They've counted more green flashes than you'd believe -- and if you're a non-believer, then sign up for the afternoon sessions and you'll quickly become one.
The first orientation for prospective volunteers is Sunday, Nov. 23, from 9-11 a.m. at the Point Vicente Interpretive Center, site of the census. Those interested can call Alisa Schulman-Janiger, the director, at (310) 519-8963 or e-mail her at janiger@bcf.usc.edu.
She says all that's required are binoculars, a watch and warm clothing. And, of course, a deep appreciation of marine mammals.
-- Pete Thomas
Photo: Gray whale dives during a southbound migration from the Bering Sea to Baja California. Credit: Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times
