Farallon Islands Whale Watching: San Francisco

California's Galapagos: 

Farallon Islands Whale Watching Cruises

San Francisco, CA - April 14, 2009. Oceanic Society announces its 25th season of educational whale watching cruises to the Farallon Islands National Wildlife Refuge and the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, located just 27 miles west of San Francisco. "The Farallon Islands are so rich in wildlife, they are rightly called California's Galapagos," says Point Reyes Bird Observatory (PRBO) biologist Russell Bradley who works on the Islands. As an official partner of the Refuge, the non-profit Oceanic Society provides non-invasive public access to this exceptional wilderness area through day-long educational boat trips to the Islands annually from May through November.

The Refuge is the largest seabird rookery in the eastern Pacific, attracting more than 300,000 birds including nesting Tufted Puffins, Pigeon Guillemots, Rhinoceros Auklets, murres, oystercatchers, and cormorants. It is also a breeding haven and home to California sea lions, northern elephant seals, Steller sea lions, harbor seals, and fur seals.

The surrounding waters are part of the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, a bountiful marine ecosystem attracting as many as eighteen species of whales and dolphins. Few places in the world offer the opportunity to observe blue whales, at 85-feet the largest animal to have ever lived on earth. The area is a known seasonal feeding ground for not only blue whales, but also for hundreds of endangered humpback whales.

White sharks patrol the Gulf in search of a seal meal, while Pacific white-sided dolphins, harbor porpoise, Risso's dolphins and northern right whale dolphins thrive in the nutrient rich waters.

Although the Refuge is off-limits to all but a handful of scientists, wildlife can be closely observed, studied and photographed aboard the Society's 56-foot Coast Guard certified vessel Salty Lady. Past whale watchers have enjoyed special humpback whale events such as lunge-feeding, double breaching and flipper slaps. Naturalists on board assist with identifying seabirds, locating whales and other marine wildlife, and providing informative presentations on their biology and ecology.

In 2009, whale watching participants will receive a complimentary copy of the new film, The Farallon Islands, Past, Present, and Future, a 42-minute film produced by the Oceanic Society in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that offers an intimate, behind-the-scenes glimpse of the Islands' natural and human history and highlights the ongoing conservation, research and restoration efforts of the PRBO and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The film production enhances the educational experience and provides boat-based whale watchers a virtual land tour of the islands.

Whale watchers will also benefit by the presence of whale researchers from Cascadia Research Collective, the group recently featured in the National Geographic Society's television and magazine special regarding their work with blue whales. Oceanic and Cascadia have collaborated since the early 1990s to further the science of blue and humpback whales.

Oceanic Society boat trips to the Farallon Islands, Gulf of the Farallones and nearby Continental Shelf depart Saturdays, Sundays and select Fridays, May 24 through November 30, 2009, from the Marina Green in San Francisco starting at 8:00 am and lasting approximately eight hours. The $120 per person cost includes a free copy of the Farallon Islands film production (retails for $15). Special group rates are available. Participants supply their own food and beverage. Minimum age is 10 years and children must be accompanied by an adult.

Farallon Islands Trip Reservations are on a first-come basis and can be made by calling 415-474-3385 or going to Oceanic Society's web site www.oceanicsociety.org to register on-line or obtain information about the Farallon Islands and film production screenings. Call our special hotline for current wildlife sightings: 415-474-0488.

Founded in 1969, the mission of the nonprofit Oceanic Society is to protect marine wildlife and oceanic biodiversity through an integrated program of scientific research and environmental education.