The 37th Annual Whale of a Day Festival co-sponsored by the City of Rancho Palos Verdes and the Los Serenos de Point Vincente (LSPV) celebrating the annual migration of the Pacific Gray Whales returned to the grounds of the Point Vincente Interpretive Center after a two-year interruption due to COVID-19 restrictions.

In late September, as summer turns to fall and the cooler temperatures begin reaching the waters of the Bering and Chukchi Seas between Alaska and the Russian peninsula, the eastern Pacific Gray Whale population begins their migration along North America’s Pacific coastline to the warm waters of the lagoons of Baja California.

The migration of these gentle giants is an amazing feat considering they can travel 12,000 miles or more during their entire migration. Additionally, after leaving the nutrient rich feeding grounds of the Arctic waters, it is believed that adult Pacific Gray Whales consume little to no food during the migration cycle, including their time in the lagoons of Baja.

For the adult males and some of the females, upon reaching the warm shallow waters of the Baja’s lagoons is the ideal location for their breeding activities. For other females, their arrival in the lagoons’ warmer waters is the end to a twelve-month gestation period, and the new mothers give birth to their calves who, at birth, are almost fifteen feet in length and can weigh up to 1,500 pounds. For the next seven to eight months, the mothers feed their calves a milk with a 53% fat content and quickly the calves grow and increase strength and stamina before starting their journey to the northern waters with their mothers.

The Whale of a Day Festival features games and crafts booths along with activities for children young and old. In addition there were food vendors, a beer and wine garden, silent auction, exhibits and activities sponsored by a variety non-profit and community-based organizations. Rounding out the exhibits were the baby goats from the Mariposa County based Fire Grazers Inc., who with their herd are performing fire and invasive plant clearance in the canyons and hills in RPV. Lastly, agencies representing some of the Peninsula’s first responders featured informational materials and equipment exhibits.

Live entertainment included the LSPV Puppet Show, a selections of sea shanties by Jordan Bush, the Ted Atkatz Percussion Seminar (TAPS), surf and rock music by the Aviators, and bluegrass music by Smokey Hollow.

Completing the experience, Festival visitors were able to interact with members of the San Pedro Chapter of the American Cetacean Society (Society) who were the midst of conducting their annual Pacific Gray Whale Migration Census. As luck would have it, Society members spotted of some the giants of the sea just north of the lighthouse heading back to the nutrient rich waters of Bering and Chukchi Seas where they will spend their summer months feeding and preparing once again for their southern migration.

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Steve Tabor Bio

This South Bay native’s photographic journey began after receiving his first 35 mm film camera upon earning his Bachelor of Arts degree. Steve began with photographing coastal landscapes and marine life. As a classroom teacher he used photography to share the world and his experiences with his students. Steve has expanded his photographic talents to include portraits and group photography, special event photography as well as live performance and athletics. Steve serves as a volunteer ranger for the Catalina Island Conservancy and uses this opportunity to document the flora and fauna of the island’s interior as well as photograph special events and activities.

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