Noyo Center celebrates the return of the whales
COVID-friendly activities planned for bi-annual migration
FORT BRAGG >> March is here and we all know what that signifies for the North Coast — the Gray
Whales are coming! As regular as Robins, the advent of spring brings the majestic Grays back to the Mendocino Coast as they work their way north from their breeding and calving grounds in Mexico.
Singly or in small pods, a cavalcade of whales — many of them new mothers accompanied by young calves — pass through our neighborhood en route to their summer feeding grounds off Alaska and in the Bering Sea. The sight of these extraordinary cetaceans breaching just offshore as they undertake their 12,000-mile round-trip journey is one of nature’s grand visions, and one that is readily available to any coast watcher with a little time and patience.
Normally, the North Coast lays out the red carpet for the returning whales, with whale festivals in Little River, Mendocino and Fort Bragg. Unfortunately, concerns over COVID-19 this year have forced festival organizers to postpone most of the usual inperson events, from foot races to wine tasting and chowder competitions, until 2022.
It’s enough to excite a little intra-species envy — we bipedal primates are stuck at home practicing social distancing while the mighty Grays splash and cavort just beyond reach.
But don’t despair. The folks at the Noyo Center for Marine Science in Fort Bragg have devised a range of activities throughout the month of March that both celebrate the whales and provide the intellectually curious of all ages with new and fun ways to expand their knowledge about these mysterious creatures.
First up will be a reprise of last September’s first inaugural Scavenger Hunt which had participants scouring local beaches and tide pools in search of answers to a wide range of puzzlers about our coast and its creatures. Participants loved the challenge — and also the opportunity to get outside with friends and family in a COVID-safe manner.
Looking back on the event a few days ago, Sarah Schoeneman, a co-proprietor of the Brewery Gulch Inn in Mendocino and one of September’s grand prize winners, remarked that she had done the scavenger hunt with her daughter and some friends “on a lark”, as she wanted a “nature classroom” for her daughter, as a
break from distance learning, and ended up “learning and laughing along the way.”
This time, participants of all ages will be challenged with a whole new set of questions, appropriately focused on whale science, and will have March 6-21 to turn in their answers and compete for a range of fun prizes. Individuals can participate, but so can “pods” of friends or family, although everyone is expected to follow all the Mendocino County Covid health guidelines.
An entry fee of $25 for an individual or $100 for “pods” of up to six people will support the Noyo Center’s educational activities. Students can register for $10, and any new Noyo Center sustaining member can register at no cost as a thank you.
Register for the hunt on the Noyo Center’s website at noyocenter.org.
But that’s not all. For those who might prefer to expand their whale knowledge from the comfort of their own homes, the Noyo Center has arranged the following series of exciting events, each of which will provide opportunities for audience participation:
• March 9 at 6 p.m.: Whales Summering in the Alaskan Arctic by Janet Clarke. (Via Zoom);
• March 20, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Join folks from Mendoma Whale and Seal Study and the Noyo Center in tracking the Gray Whale migration. (Weather permitting there will be interviews via Facebook Live);
• March 24 at 2 p.m.: Investigating the fine-scale foraging ecology of a Pacific Coast Gray Whale feeding group by Lisa Hildebrande, via Zoom.
• March 26 at 11 a.m.: Join California Academy of Sciences curator Moe Flannery on a virtual tour of CAS’s marine mammal collection. (Via Zoom)
• March 31 at noon: The Gray Whale Cycle: 4,000 miles by bike and boat alongside the Gray Whale migration by Becci Jewell featuring her visit to the Noyo Center along the way, via Zoom.
Check the Noyo Center website (noyocenter.org) for updates and registration information on these programs.
For sure, on the North Coast, March is whale month. But for the folks at the Noyo Center, every month is the right time to celebrate and learn about whales and all the other denizens of the deep.
If you feel the same, why not consider registering for an sustaining membership? There’s no better time than now. Your support will make a big difference and will open the door to the wide world of marine science, with plenty of activities for you and your family to enjoy. Check the website to learn more.