During a recent cruise, we spotted two blue whales, a mother and her calf. While the calf was no where near the size of mom, it was still very large. I was reminded of some facts that I had forgotten. When a blue whale calf is born, they are usually about 25 feet long and weigh anywhere from three to four tons. They also grow at a phenomenal rate. On average, a blue whale calf will gain eight to nine pounds per hour. They on about 105 gallons of milk per day. After a few months, the calf will continue to nurse but will also begin to start eating krill. Once they are weaned at about seven months, they have usually doubled in length and gained about 60,000 lbs.
I was reminded of these facts by one of the biologists from The Aquarium of the Pacific who are onboard each of the whale watching cruises. It is really helpful to have these experts aboard to answer questions and really explain more about the magnificent creatures we get to see. It makes the experience that much more enjoyable.
Tags: Blue Whales, Huntington Beach Whale Watching, Long Beach Whale Watching, Los Angeles Whale Watching, Newport Beach Whale Watching, San Pedro Whale Watching, Seal Beach Whale Watching, Southern California Whale Watching, Whale Watching Long Beach
