California gray whales leave their summer feeding grounds in the Bering and Chukchi seas in December, swimming some 5,000 miles south to the protected warm water lagoons of Baja. This 10,000 mile round trip is the longest migration of any mammal, and rivals the spectacular annual Monarch butterfly migration to Mexico.
The California Gray Whale
The California gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) is an air-breathing, warm blooded mammal that came close to extinction before whaling was banned in 1946. Eliminated in the Atlantic ocean, gray whales have recovered in the Pacific ocean. Although removed from endangered species designation in 1994, they are still protected and still at risk, primarily from habitat impairment in the Arctic.
Gray whales grow to 40-50 feet in length and weigh as much as 70,000 pounds. Typical life expectancy is 30 to 50 years. Mating, which requires a second male to help support the female, takes place in and near the same Mexican lagoons where the calves are born the following year. Newborn calves are about 15 feet in length and weigh close to a ton.
The shallow lagoons along Baja's western shore are perfect nurturing grounds for the baby whales. Orcas and other predators stay out of the lagoons, giving the young gray whales time to add weight and master swimming skills before embarking on their 5,000 mile trip north. During this time (January into April), tourists are able to observe the whales, who sometimes approach close enough to touch.
The Whale Nursery Lagoons of Baja, Mexico
There are three Pacific coast lagoons in Baja where whales congregate to mate, give birth and nurture their young: Laguna Ojo de Liebre, Laguna San Ignacio and Magdalena Bay. Tours originating in the United States visit all three locations, and boat tours are available locally for tourists who drive into Mexico. The largest lagoon, which attracts the most whales, is Laguna Ojo de Liebre, once known as Scammon's Lagoon. Recent February whale counts in this lagoon have exceeded 2,000 whales, with nearly half of them newborn calves.
Laguna San Ignacio is the second most populated lagoon, but with a much smaller whale count than Ojo de Liebre. Magdalena Bay is further south, and has the fewest whales. All three of the nursery lagoons are located in the southern part of Baja, in the state of Baja California Sur. Ojo de Liebre is the most northern lagoon, and lies about 450 miles south of the California border, next to the town of Guerrero Negro. By road, Laguna San Ignacio is 125 miles south of Ojo de Liebre, and Magdalena Bay is about 350 miles from Ojo de Liebre. Magdalena Bay also can be reached as a day trip from Loreto, which has an international airport and is only 127 miles east of the bay.
Viewing California Gray Whales in the Baja, Mexico Lagoons
Although whales can be seen from shore, the only way to observe them closely is from a boat. Tour boats are available locally in all three locations, with both morning and afternoon departures. The boat rides are easy on the shallow lagoons, and give tourists excellent opportunites to photograph and even touch the whales.
The whales are protected, and boats are prohibited from approaching them closer than 100 meters. However, nothing prevents the whales from approaching the boats, and paired mother whales and their calves often swim up to the tour boats, allowing passengers to reach out and pet the soft, whiskered calves.
While there are many reasons to visit Baja, the annual spectacular 10,000 mile migration of California gray whales is one of the best. The birth and raising of hundreds of whale calves takes place in three Pacific coast lagoons in Mexico's southern Baja California, and tourists to these areas from January through March enjoy an unforgettable experience.
For more information about other activities and destinations in Mexico, see the following articles:
- The Panama Restaurant in Mazatlan, Mexico
- The Xantus' Hummingbird, Baja California's Only Endemic Hummer
- The Shrimp Ladies of Mazatlan, Mexico's Old Town
- How to Pay for Goods and Services in Mexico
- The Birds of Las Barras de Piaxtla near Mazatlan, Mexico
- Hand-carved, Hand-painted Alebrijes from Oaxaca
- A Guide to Birds & Birding Sites in and Around Mazatlan, Mexico
- Using a Garmin GPS in Mexico
- Vacation in San Carlos and Guaymas, Mexico
- San Sebastian del Oeste near Puerto Vallarta
Bob Bowers - A lifelong naturalist and amateur ornithologist, Bob's avocation is studying, photographing and writing about birds.
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