Monterey Bay Whale Watch Map of Marine Mammal
Sightings in the Monterey Bay Region
April 1 - April 30, 2000
compiled by Richard Ternullo
Note: Gray Whales 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.
Humpback Whales have arrived and become the most numerous baleen whale sighted in Monterey Bay. They are feeding on schools of Northern Anchovy and Pacific Sardine. Gray Whales have declined with only the mother/calf phase of the northern migration yet to pass our shores. This appears to be the second consecutive low reproductive year. By the end of May we should have recorded our first Blue Whale sighting.
Among the toothed whales, Risso's Dolphin, Pacific White-sided Dolphin and Northern Right Whale Dolphin have been particularly abundant. The Killer Whale/Gray Whale interactions and predation events on calves have not been recorded this season.