Comments on: Marco! Polo! (or, Where Are You, Whales?)

By: Amy

Amy — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 22:00:19 +0000

Priscilla, what a great summation of the day! And I agree about the calf being a great ambassador!

Jackie, thanks to you and all for taking a chance on our little adventure :-)

Anne, if I could I would go tomorrow! Whale Center is now on Twitter and between their updates and those from the Aquarium, hearing about all of the other activity they are seeing is just torture! I have to finish a website this week, but if all goes as hoped, I may reward myself next week. I so wish I was closer to the coast!

By: Anne

Anne — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:10:57 +0000

Have to say, that sound of whale breath in fog is one of the spookiest but also most beautiful sounds I’ve ever heard!

And I love what Priscilla says above about watching the little guy play. I had that experience once, too — back in 2001 on a morning whale watch, Owl’s calf was breaching and breaching and then he’d roll around & flipper slap for a while, and it was so clear that he was just playing like any baby mammal would. I mean, I knew they were mammals, but it had never really hit me until that day how much I had in common with them! Nice moment.

When’s your next trip?? :)

By: Jackie Goss

Jackie Goss — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 22:35:32 +0000

I think your last line said it best Amy: “Still, any day with whales is a good day, indeed.” It was a beautiful day by that measure, and seeing the whales was inspiring and fun. Thanks again!

By: Priscilla Ballou

Priscilla Ballou — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:21:45 +0000

It was a great day. So what it was cold and damp and grey? We were among friends, Amy was a great guide, and we did finally get to see some whales.

Fulcrum’s calf was a total cutie and proved to me that kids of *all* species play. His mom was toodling along, and he’d move along at her side for a while until he just had to break away and mug for the wierd little creatures on the funny piece of self-propelled flotsam. He’d roll over and show us his tummy, then tuck his head under and flop his tail at us. Next he’d go under and come up with only eyes and mouth showing in a spy hop. Finally he’d lean back and wave his long white pectoral fin at us. We couldn’t help it — we waved back! “Bye bye!” we cried as we finally had to head back to Gloucester. What a happy little boy.

At church on Sunday, at the time for intercessory prayers, I asked for protection for all the species who are endangered by our selfishness and greed. I asked for special protection for humpback whales and for Fulcrum and her calf.

We shouldn’t have to have personal encounters with darling little male animals in order to take responsibility for our bad behavior, but if it would help I’d take the leaders of national governments out with Captain Bill to meet the young son of Fulcrum. Maybe then they’d get it and start responding as if other species had some value. That whale kid would make a great ambassador.