PORTLAND, Ore. — Spring Whale Watch Week is back from March 23-31. Through late winter to June, an estimated 14,500 gray whales are expected to swim past Oregon’s shores during their annual migration back to Alaska, according to Oregon State Parks.
Volunteers will be at 15 whale watching sites along the Oregon Coast between 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day to help people spot whales and to share information and answer questions.
The Whale Watching Center in Depoe Bay will also be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. throughout the whole week. The center features interactive whale exhibits and panoramic ocean views with binoculars provided to visitors.
“Spring is a great time for whale watching because the gray whales are usually closer to shore on their return trip, typically around a mile or so out, and the weather can be better for viewing, but don’t forget your rain gear just in case,” advised Oregon State Park Ranger Peter McBride in a press release.
In the winter, the gray whales travel from Alaska, swim past the Oregon coastline and down south to warm lagoons near Baja, Mexico.
What makes this year's Spring Whale Watch Week different are the better odds of spotting more whales, as the spring event is three days longer than in 2023.
And it signals good news for the whales themselves: the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced the end of an Unusual Mortality Event, a significant die-off of the eastern North Pacific gray whales' population, which have affected them since 2019.
“The latest counts indicate that the gray whale population has likely turned the corner and is beginning to recover. It’s a perfect time for people to see them as they swim north with new calves to feed,” said Michael Milstein, public affairs officer with NOAA Fisheries.