Can you whale watch in florida

It is not associated with the Marineland oceanarium. Before and during the season, phone cards with right whale sighting information are distributed to residents, visitors, lifeguards and others who spend time at the beach.

Each sighting triggers a follow-up visit by a response team of experienced individuals with cameras and GPS units who document whale movements and behavior. Teams track the whales as long as possible, sometimes for an entire day.

Right whales are slow-moving and difficult to see even close to the surface because their profile features a broad, flat back and no dorsal fin. North Atlantic right whale calving season begins in mid-November and runs through mid-April. This family-fun event raises awareness of the threats to right whales and how we can help in their recovery.

The festival highlights local efforts to protect these whales from extinction, as well as ocean-themed activities and exhibits that emphasize education and environmentally responsible adventures and products. Family fun, live music, arts and crafts, kids activities, beach clean-up, educational exhibits, athletic events, food, and more.

For more information:. The information in this article was accurate when published but can change without notice. Please confirm details when planning your trip by following the links in this article.

This article is the property of FloridaRambler. Copyright Law. Re-publication without written permission is against the law. Tigertail Beach, a Marco Island adventure, where you wade to wild beach. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Notify me of new posts by email. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Concerned about the mining plans in the Atlantic Ocean whereby they will be using an air hammer like device on ships for tapping making huge sound vibrations, worried it will destroy our whale populations and whale families besides other marine destruction.

Note that dolphins and sea birds often travel near whales, so be diligent when you spot these creatures. Augustine rental, you can try your luck at one of the nearby piers. The St. Augustine Pier might be a good location, or take a short trip to Daytona Beach and visit the Sunglow Pier or the Main Street Pier for a chance to see a whale. You can take an eco-tour to get up close and personal with the native fish and bird species around all year long, or visit destinations like Fort Matanzas State Park or The Alligator Farm!

Though sightings are rare, the chance to spot whales passing by St. Augustine is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. These beautiful creatures are luckily rising in number, so hopefully it will become easier to find them year after year. Whether or not you spot one, there are tons of phenomenal creatures to observe in St. Augustine, and your whole family will have a blast, no matter what you see! To book your St. Augustine rental , contact us today to speak with one of our knowledgeable and friendly staff members.

Calves are born at about 2, pounds and 15 feet long. They can't hold their breath long, so they and their mothers must spend more time at the surface while in Florida, Hampp said.

Hence, the spectator opportunities. Unless you live near the beach in northeastern Florida , consider yourself blessed if you experience even one right whale sighting, experts say. They don't happen every day. There are no Florida whale watching excursions: The whales are too hard to predict and spot, plus scientists are concerned that boats getting close could cause stress to the mothers and calves.

Sally Wieczorek of Buffalo, who vacations in Flagler Beach each winter with her husband, has seen whales several times. We could make out its markings, which was the mother and which the calf. It was really quite wonderful. Several times, Wieczorek said, she has heard about a whale sighting or had seen a group of people pointing out to sea. Once, she was at the beach "and all of sudden, the whale was there.

The whale wasn't close, "but you could tell it was a whale. If you decide to go whale watching in Florida along the Atlantic Coast between Cape Canaveral and Jacksonville in the winter, you can improve your chances of spotting whales with this advice, according to Hampp. Even if you don't get lucky and spot a right whale, the northeast coast of Florida offers excellent opportunities for observing wildlife.

Just ask Wieczorek: On her visits to Flagler Beach she has seen more dolphins than she can count, manatees , sharks, sting rays, alligators and loggerhead turtles.

With a patchwork of federal, state and private funding, the Marineland Right Whale Project coordinates volunteer teams with scientists in right whale conservation efforts. It is not associated with the Marineland oceanarium. Last winter there were about Right Whale Project volunteers organized into teams, each with specific lookout points. Several area communities also organized whale-monitoring teams. Before and during the season, phone cards with right whale sighting information are distributed to residents, visitors, lifeguards and others who spend time at the beach.