Whale Watching Spoken Here

Every day I get an email from OSU highlighting news stories and interesting things happening at the University.  This is how I discovered the Whale Watching Spoken Here program.  after reading about the unique opportunity to be a volunteer, I signed up to assist tourists with spotting whales off the Oregon Coast.  You can't do this in Ohio and I've always wanted to go Whale Watching.

Yaquina Bay leading to the Pacific Ocean.

I spent an entire Saturday at OSU's Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport, Oregon to learn all about Grey Whales.  These particular whales will be migrating down the Oregon Coast during certain times and the program is focused on this migration.  Although the time was focused on grey whales, we did also learn about other baleen whales and toothed whales like the Killer Whale.  There was some time left over to talk about pinnipeds, Seals and Sea Lions.  I am such an expert now.

OSU Hatfield Marine Science Center

The class was originally set to be taught by Dr. Bruce Mate, Director of the Marine Mammal Institute at the Marine Science Center.  Unfortunately he could not join us due to a surgery he was undergoing on his neck, but his colleague and Oregon State Alumni, Dr. James Sumich was able to fill in.  Dr. Sumich's presentation on gray whales was very helpful and I am sure we could have had a day-long course on each aspect of the gray whale.

It was too fun learning about these humongous mammals and I can't wait for the opportunity to go whale watching.  I am lucky to have access to such experts in the field of marine ecology and look to more hands on experiences.  As an

Nothing to do with whale watching.  I just think starfish are neato and I got to see and touch these guys at the Marine Science Center.