Whale Migration Oregon Coast

During their 6000 mile journey they swim right along the oregon coast. On each trip approximately 18000 gray whales pass close to the oregon coast.

Depoe Bay S Resident Gray Whales Whale S Tail Charters Oregon

Gray whale migration study.

Whale migration oregon coast. The whale watching center in depoe bay operates year round receiving thousands of visitors. They are still migratory animals but this group makes a shorter migration route as long as they find adequate food sources. During the two annual gray whale migration seasons up to 20000 whales pass by the coast close enough to the shore to be visible from the mainland.

Oregons depoe bay is the top whale watching destination in the state often called whale watching capital of the oregon coast. The central coast in particular is a hot spot for whales from june to mid november. These gray whales move about and feed off the oregon coast during the summer and fall months.

To celebrate this migration and teach folks more about whales and the ocean oregon parks and recreation hosts biannual whale watching weeks stationing volunteers at more than 20 sites along the coast during peak migration times. Its easily one of the greatest wildlife spectacles in oregon. The whale watch center in depoe bay.

Moreover each year there are about 200 to 400 resident gray whales in oregon. On the trip down these giant mammals head south on a direct course move quickly and mostly stay about 5 miles offshore. Then from late march to june the whales migrate north back to alaska.

Gray whales have returned to the oregon coast for their annual spring migration but it will be empty shores they pass going north. Summer and fall bring oregons resident gray whales close to shore to feed. Gray whales begin the southbound trip late in fall arriving in baja between december and february.

Eastern gray whales migrate more than 6000 kilometers 3600 miles along the pacific coast of north america from their feeding grounds in alaska to their breeding grounds in baja california. During migration season boats regularly head west from the harbour. These are the approximately 200 whales that remain in oregons coastal waters during the summer migration.

As the yearly mass migration of gray whales along the oregon coast toward baja mexico begins again the oregon state parks department has kicked off their whale watch week with a livestream of the proceedings from depoe bay. Every year around 20000 gray whales migrate from the waters off the alaska coast down to the warmer climate of baja mexico. During the spring migration is when the whales move closer to shore and will stop to feed.

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