Whale Tales

Whale Tales
Every year, there is some written record from me on the whales and their return to Southern Baja. It’s an incredible sight to behold, and it always brings a smile to my face.

I curled up in the hammock the other day with our friends’ little girl, and we watched no fewer than 4 adults breach in the distance, and soon thereafter, the baby was joining right in. (After enough observation, it’s pretty clear that whales are much like humans in their interactions with their young. They lead by example, and by repetition.) One can only watch in awe---the sheer magnitude of the energy level that it takes for a whale to propel most of it’s body vertically into the air can only be imagined. Completely awesome to witness, and we’re so lucky to be a part of it every year.

This afternoon, I sat on the sand berm by myself in between swims, and watched a juvenile humpback (I think) peek its head out of the water at me (no more than 30 meters offshore), and occasionally raise a fin from the depths. My human propensity to associate all animal behavior with my own encourages me to believe that the whale is raising a fin in a friendly gesture of “hello”, that it is peeking it’s head out of the water to see who is watching. Of course, I know that this is not truly the case, but it makes the whole experience of being a bystander more meaningful, I suppose.