Whale Watch Weekend

Gray Whale surfacing.\Photo by Era Horton.

The Sixth Annual Summer Whale Watch Weekend is being held July 29 and 30 at Boiler Bay State Park near Depoe Bay, hosted by the Oregon Chapter of the American Cetacean Society. 

ACS volunteer members and Certified Naturalists will be on hand from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day to help visitors watch for whales and other wildlife as well as provide information on whales, dolphins, porpoises, and their habitats.

This event is free, open to the public, and for all ages, providing an opportunity to observe the whales in their natural habitat without causing disturbance. Naturalists on hand can answer questions such as what is the difference between a porpoise and a dolphin, what is the difference between baleen and toothed whales, what whales are found off the Oregon coast (hint, gray whales are most common), what do whales eat, what threatens them, and how can I help? 

The American Cetacean Society is the oldest whale conservation organization in the world, founded in 1967. The mission of this all-volunteer non-profit is to protect whales, dolphins, porpoises, and their habitats through public education, research grants, and conservation actions. Information on the ACS can be found on the website: www.acsonline.org. 

For information about the Whale Watch Weekend,  contact Joy Primrose, ACS Oregon Chapter President, at marine_lover4ever@yahoo.com or (541) 517-8754.