A few Gray days ahead

There’s no threat of seasickness during the ninth annual Summer Whale Watch Weekend, being held on land in Depoe Bay on Saturday, July 31, and Sunday, Aug. 1.

Hosted by the Oregon Chapter of the American Cetacean Society, volunteer members and certified naturalists will be on hand from 10 am to 1 pm each day at Boiler Bay State Park to help you watch for whales and other wildlife and provide information on whales, dolphins, porpoises and their habitats.

The most frequently observed cetaceans along the Oregon Coast are Gray whales. Learn about the Pacific Coast feeding group of Gray whales and the myth of resident whales. Whales are facing many threats and some species and populations are on the verge of extinction. Learn how you can make a difference wherever you live in the world.

Watching from shore means you can observe the whales in their natural habitat without disturbing them, but feel free to pepper the volunteers with questions, such as the big one: what exactly is a cetacean? Other questions they are prepared to answer include: what are the differences between a dolphin and porpoise? What is baleen? What whales, dolphins and porpoises are found off the Oregon Coast? What do they eat and what eats them? What are the threats affecting them? And most importantly, what can I do to help?

The American Cetacean Society was founded in 1967 to protect whales, dolphins, porpoises and their habitats through public education, research grants and conservation actions.

For more information, go to www.acsonline.org or call 541-517-8754.