Summer Whale Watch Week-2

Sorry, left most of the message off the original :-)

OREGON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT

Aug. 9, 2006

MEDIA CONTACT:

Morris Grover

Whale Watching Center

541-765-3304; morris.grover@state.or.us

Summer whale watch week offers chances for close-in sightings

Chances to see the Oregon coast%26#39;s largest ';summer residents'; during the third annual summer whale watch week Aug. 28-Sept. 4 look promising, according to Morris Grover of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department%26#39;s whale watching center at Depoe Bay.

';We%26#39;ve never seen as many whales in the bay as we%26#39;ve seen this month,'; said Grover. ';If the weather continues like it has, the chances to see whales as close to the shoreline as they get should be outstanding.';

Trained volunteers to help visitors experience close-up views will be at these ';Whale Watching Spoken Here'; sites: the Depoe Bay seawall; Boiler Bay State Scenic Viewpoint, one mile north of Depoe Bay; Rocky Creek State Scenic Viewpoint, two miles south of Depoe Bay, and the Bureau of Land Management%26#39;s Yaquina Head Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Resource Area, three miles north of Newport. Volunteers will be at the sites from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. each day.

Grover said the whales drop out of the annual spring migration to feed off the Oregon coast instead of in more northerly waters. ';These whales only have two things to do: eat and find something else to eat,'; he said. ';And they%26#39;ve been finding plenty to eat close to shore and all day long.';

The event is being coordinated from the Whale Watching Center, which is open from

9 a.m.- 5 p.m. at the south end of the Depoe Bay seawall. The center offers educational exhibits, free movies, knowledgeable interpreters and panoramic views of the ocean complete with whales and wildlife. ';We also supply binoculars for visitors to use while watching from the center,'; Grover said.

The center%26#39;s exhibits include new children%26#39;s ';touch, hear and see'; presentations and a new replica of a ship%26#39;s wheelhouse and displays on the history of whaling.

OPRD and the BLM Yaquina Head Natural Area coordinate the summer whale week. More information about the ';Whale Watching Spoken Here'; sites, exhibits and other related services, such as boat and air charter whale watching trips, is at www.whalespoken.org. ###

Summer Whale Watch Week-2

wow, that is week we are at Whale Pointe at Depoe Bay. with son%26#39;s family.

Will send message along to them.

They already want to kayak at Beaver Creek Ona SP

Keep up the good info Dennis

Phil