Grey Whale Spotted

My evening walk lead me in a different direction. Rain had washed out the dirt path of Ocean Front and so undeterred, I turned back and headed towards the lighthouse. As I neared the Point Vicente Interpetive Center, I saw a group of onlookers standing outside the building looking out towards the ocean. There is a little outdoor amphitheater and trekked up the steps and noticed the onlookers were of varying age, size, ethnicity, dress and I thought it was wonderful how admiring nature is universal. "See any whales today" I asked? The middle-aged Japanese couple next to me said "Yes...look over there" and almost on cue, a plume of water was spotted and you could hear everyone ooh and ah. What joy it brought. It had been 8 minutes since the grey whale had popped up before. A young Indian father lifted his beautiful little girl on the stone wall so she could see better. She looked through her binoculars made of two empty roles of toilet paper tied together with string. She was so cute as she earnestly pointed to the waters exclaiming, "Pappa, I see something!" A volunteer who helps track grey whale activity stated that there were 8 grey whale sitings today and one finn whale. What a great way to enjoy the sunset on beautiful Palos Verdes peninsula

Here's info on the
Point Vicente Interpretive Center:
This beautiful park, located adjacent to the Pt. Vicente Lighthouse, offers recreational and educational opportunities to the public..The Interpretive Center opened in 1984 with a mission to present and interpret the unique features and history of the Palos Verdes Peninsula. The almost 10, 000 square foot newly expanded Interpretive Center, re-opened on July 15, 2006, features exhibits on the natural and cultural history of the Peninsula, with a special emphasis on the Pacific gray whale. This premier whale watch site provides spectacular opportunities to view the annual migration of the Pacific gray whale, from December through April.

Bottlenose Dolphins off of Palos Verdes

This week after reading "Dolphin birth a magical reward for volunteer spotters off Palos Verdes", and watching the dolphins cavort off Redondo Beach shores while walking the Esplanade, I thought it was a great time to volunteer and help these wonderful creatures.

At 9 am this morning, I showed up at the Point Vicente Interpretive Center, borrowed a powerful pair of bincolulars and met 2 women who have volunteered in the ACS-LA Gray Whale Census and Behavior Project for 20 years. Although I did not spot whales, for a good 10 minutes I followed a large pod of bottlenose dolphins headed south along the coastline, near the kelp beds. And I did see one sea lion jump out of the water and plop back in.

The rain came at 10:30 and cut the visabilty down..and it was cold! So I headed home, with feeling that somehow, I had contributed even in a small way to my neighborhood under the sea.

Here's a blurb from the LA Times Outpost: The volunteers see things both mundane and miraculous as they monitor goings-on in the San Pedro Channel daily from sunup to sunset. If you'd like to volunteer, call Alisa Schulman-Janiger at (310) 519-8963 or e-mail janiger@bcf.usc.edu. Or simply show up and ask how you can become involved.