Right Whales

The Barrier Island Center is having a Migration Celebration on Saturday, December 6, from 11:00 to 3:00 to celebrate the end of hurricane season, the beginning of the right whale and shorebird migrations, and the beautiful fall weather! There will be presentations in the theater, shorebird viewing and oyster mat making on the observation deck, a guided hike on the sanctuary trail, live animals, eco-arts, storytelling, and live music. Although the event is FREE, Center folks are requesting that you bring donations of dried black and pinto beans to help hurricane victims in Haiti. All donations will be sent directly to Haiti to those in need. (Photo by Wayne Matchett)

This got me to thinking how little I know about the right whale, so I asked Cindy Dolaway for help. Cindy forwarded a hot-off-the-press release from the Marine Resource Council (MRC) that is just jam-packed with good information and a list of free classes one can attend to become a whale spotter.

We'll have more information and, with luck, some photos in future blogs, but I wanted to alert you to this week's classes (see link above for more details):

Tues, Dec 2, 12:00 - 1:00 (brown bag lunch), Lagoon House, Palm Bay
Thurs, Dec 4, 6:30 - 7:30, Wild Treasures of Brevard County, Mims
Fri, Dec 5, 12:00 - 1:00, Fisherman's Landing Park, Grant-Valkaria
Sat, Dec 6, 10:00 - 12:00, Ormond Beach Public Library
Sat, Dec 6, 1:30 - 2:30, Barrier Island Center, Melbourne Beach

A piece of trivia for you - according to Wikipedia, Right whales were so named because early whalers considered them the "right" whale to hunt.