Monterey Bay Whale Watch Map of Marine Mammal
Sightings in the Monterey Bay Region
February 26 - March 25, 1998
compiled by Richard Ternullo
Note: Gray Whales were present throughout the area during this reporting period, and are not plotted on the chart. Numerous California Sea Lions, Harbor Seals, and Southern Sea Otters are seen on all trips, and also are not plotted.
Gray Whales continue to be the only baleen whale observed in Monterey Bay. The bulk of the adult and non-breeding whales will decline until about mid-April. Mother/calf pairs will be seen skirting the coast in and around kelpbeds and headlands until mid-May. Look for an increased probability of Killer Whale/Gray Whale interactions occurring in late April to about the third week of May coinciding with the passage of the mother/calf pairs. There are already two such recordings.
Humpback Whales will become the most frequently sighted large cetacean for the next several months as the first of the Humpback Whales arrive from their wintering grounds off Mexico and Central America.
Among the small cetaceans, Pacific White-sided Dolphin and Dall’s Porpoise were each reported once this month, after an absence from the previous two recording periods. Recordings of all species seem low and may not be related to decreased effort from weather conditions.
The sightings plotted above were compiled by Richard Ternullo for the period 2/26/98 to 3/25/98.
Sightings reported by J. Aliotti, N. Black, D. Davi, Elderhostel,
N. Lemon, Monterey Bay Whale Watch, L. Oliver, R. Ternullo, J. Williamson.
