California Gray Whales

Eschrichtius robustus

The gray whale, Eschrichtius robustus, is a baleen whale that migrates between feeding and breeding grounds yearly. It reaches a length of about 16 m (52 ft), a weight of 36 tonnes (35 long tons; 40 short tons), and lives 50–70 years. 

The common name of the whale comes from the gray patches and white mottling on its dark skin. Gray whales were once called devil fish because of their fighting behavior when hunted.

The gray whale is the sole living species in the genus Eschrichtius, which in turn is the sole living genus in the family Eschrichtiidae.

The gray whale is distributed in an eastern North Pacific (North American) population and a critically endangered western North Pacific (Asian) population.North Atlantic populations were extirpated (perhaps by whaling) on the European coast before 500 AD and on the American coast around the late 17th to early 18th centuries. However, on May 8, 2010, a sighting of a gray whale was confirmed off the coast of Israel in the Mediterranean Sea, leading some scientists to think they might be repopulating old breeding grounds that have not been used for centuries.

Each October, as the northern ice pushes southward, small groups of eastern gray whales in the eastern Pacific start a two- to three-month, 8,000–11,000 kilometers (5,000–6,800 mi) trip south. Beginning in the Bering and Chukchi seas and ending in the warm-water lagoons of Mexico’s Baja peninsula and the southern Gulf of California, they travel along the west coast of Canada, the United States and Mexico.

Whale Watch trips

December 26 – April 30

Departure Time:

Weekdays:  9:00 AM
Weekends:  9:00 AM and 1:00 PM

Type of Wildlife in the Channel Islands Region

There are several different species of whales that could be encountered on one of your trips. California Gray Whales, Humpback Whales, Blue Whales, Finback Whales and Orca Whales (Killer Whales) are common sightings in the waters surrounding the Channel Islands. Additional wildlife includes seals, sea lions, dolphins and a rich variety of bird life; some of which are endangered and protected.

Orca Whales

The killer whale (Orcinus orca), commonly referred to as the orca whale or orca

Humpack Whales

The humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) is a species of baleen whale.

California Gray Whales

The gray whale, Eschrichtius robustus, is a baleen whale that migrates between feeding.

Finback Whales

The fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus), also called the finback whale, azorback, or common rorqual

Common Dolphins

The common dolphin is the name given to two species (and possibly a third) of dolphin .

Blue Whales

The blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) is a marine mammal belonging to the suborder

Harbor Seals

The harbor(or harbour) seal(Phoca vitulina), also known as the common seal

California Sea Lions

The California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) is a coastal sea lion of western North America.

Elephant Seals

Elephant seals (sea elephants) are large, oceangoing seals in the genus Mirounga.