Whales lost in California river making progress

[Barrett808]

Source: Associated Press

VALLEJO, Calif. (AP) - Three bridges down, two to go for the two whales lost in the Sacramento River.

The two have made their way under the third of 5 bridges standing between them and the Pacific Ocean and now have less than 35 miles to go.

The whales were spotted in the river back on May 13th and they made it some 90 miles inland before turning around.

Biologists say the saltier water where the mother humpback whale and her calf have been circling has helped reverse some of the health problems caused by long exposure to fresh water.

Antibiotics had been injected into the whales on Saturday to try to slow the damage from wounds likely caused earlier by a boat.

Despite the pair's health problems, officials say they do not plan to take any more action to prod them toward the Golden Gate Bridge.

Whales move under bridge and into bay
By Rowena Coetsee and Judith Prieve
CONTRA COSTA TIMES
Article Launched: 05/29/2007 08:53:09 AM PDT

VALLEJO -- After dawdling near the Benicia-Martinez Bridge for much of the holiday, the two humpback whales are now swimming in San Pablo Bay.

Bernadette Fees, deputy director of the California Department of Fish and Game, said the whales were first sighted just east of the Carquinez Bridge at 7 a.m. today traveling west in the strait.

Their progress comes after they moved about 24 miles down the Sacramento River, having started their journey again on a Sunday afternoon.

Here's the latest from the scene:

12:30 p.m. Whales swim under Carquinez Bridge

(more)

http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_6012493?source=most_emailed

Read more: http://www.wmcstations.com/Global/story.asp?S=6582239

[Gormy Cuss]

1. Passing the Carquinez bridge is great.

That means they're now in San Pablo Bay. The last two bridges are the Richmond/San Rafael and the Golden Gate. I hope that the mother is sensing the increase in salinity and heading for it.

[mitchtv]

2. I have a theory

Delta knew they had both been injured , and chose to hit the Sacto. river to avoid the Farallons, a known hangout of the Great Whites, who can smell blood at a good distance, maybe they were even being harassed. LOST? I'm not so sure

[Barrett808]

4. If they make it back to their pod, they'll sure have a story to tell.

And maybe a new tactic for avoiding the Great Whites.

Very interesting idea, Mitch!

[Judi Lynn]

3. Wonderful news, Great article. Sure hope they make it. Thank you. n/t

[trashcanistanista]

5. This has been the only local news for days here,

Smooth sailing ladies, I hope they make it to San Francisco by tomorrow!

[Judi Lynn]

6. All whales all the time? I've been afraid to look for more news, really worried they were screwn!

When I saw that headline in the original post, I took a chance and had to read it, and was so glad to see there's a chance, at least.

It was wonderful seeing there's an improvement in their health. I hope the diagnosis is accurate.

Hope the fact that so many in your area are watching will help protect them while they try to make it back to their home.

Nice screen name, by the way. Somewhat unusual! It actual requires the reader slow down considerably in order to pronounce it mentally.

[Barrett808]

7. Now if we can just keep Japan from slaughtering humpbacks this winter...

Delta and Dawn deserve better than to be made into pet food.

[leftchick]

13. yes

if only

:(

[trashcanistanista]

11. Thank you!

My name was taken from a WORD monologue by Colbert, I have to credit Steven for creating the word. As for the whales, the are surrounded by a protection of flotillas and the general public can only see them from the shoreline. The only danger is from the ships on the SF BAY, but hopefully our govt. officials can organize something to let the whales through and hold the ships. That can only happen in San Francisco, and I'm confident it will. :)

[StarryNite]

8. I sure hope they make it.

We need some good news.

[EFerrari]

9. Good news! Thank you!

:kick:

[Barrett808]

10. Update 3:35 PM - Officials are "very happy"

Here's the latest from the scene:

3:35 p.m. Ferry schedules might be affected

Officials said today that they are "very happy" with the progress the whales have made in the last day.

Since 3 p.m. Monday the whales have swum 15 miles and are currently dawdling in the Point Pinole area, some 20 miles from the Golden Gate Bridge.

"It was a very good day for the whales and those of us escorting them back to their habitat," said Fees of the state Department of Fish and Game during an afternoon news briefing at the California Maritime Academy in Vallejo.

Although officials have worried about the whales' injuries and skin lesions for some time now, Rod McInnis of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association said "their health continues to look good."

The rescuers administered antibiotics on Saturday and will try to administer additional doses on Wednesday, according to Lt. Jon Copley of U.S. Coast Guard.

Copley also said rescuers employed a few blocking techniques to stop the whales from swimming up the Petaluma and Napa rivers.

The Coast Guard also has urged commuter ferries to watch out for the large mammals.

"Ferries have been very cooperative in slowing their speed and passing to the north of the whales," Copley said.

He also noted that, depending on how things develop, there's a slight chance ferry schedules might be affected minimally on Wednesday.

"Obviously, the whales are not completely safe yet," McInnis said. "There are a lot of places to get into trouble before they get to the (San Francisco) bay."

Officials said they will continue to monitor the situation throughout the night and maintain 500-yard safety zone around the large mammals.

http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_6012493

[trashcanistanista]

12. Wow!

The whales are in Tiburon now as I write this according to KCRA 5PM News!!!!

[Gormy Cuss]

16. Woo Hoo! One bridge down, one to go.

I think the mother has finally decided that this is the right direction to travel.

[Barrett808]

18. Whales are nowhere to be seen

Whales are nowhere to be seen
By Rowena Coetsee and Scott Marshall
CONTRA COSTA TIMES
Article Launched: 05/30/2007 06:44:19 AM PDT

SAN FRANCISCO -- The long, worrisome sojourn of two humpback whales that swam all the way up the Delta to Sacramento had would-be rescuers expressing relief early today as the end of the pair's dalliances appeared to be in sight.
As of 7:30 a.m., the whales had not been spotted since late Tuesday.

"We haven't seen 'em yet," said Carol Singleton, a whale rescue operations spokeswoman with the state's Office of Emergency Services in Sacramento. "We're waiting for a report from the CHP's helicopter, which will do a flyover."

Singleton said officials plan to hold their morning briefing at 9:15 a.m. at Vallejo's California Maritime Academy. "If they cross over, get through the Golden Gate, then we'll have a larger press conference there," she said.

[Barrett808]

19. Whales eluding search

Whales eluding search
By Rowena Coetsee, Cassandra Braun and Judith Prieve
CONTRA COSTA TIMES
Article Launched: 05/30/2007 06:44:19 AM PDT

SAN FRANCISCO -- The long, worrisome sojourn of two humpback whales that swam all the way to Sacramento finally might be over.

Other than an unconfirmed sighting at Baker Beach this morning, the whales are nowhere to be found, and rescuers hope they have quietly slipped back to their ocean home.

9:40 a.m. Air search soon under way

Marine experts plan to continue searching the San Francisco Bay and beyond the Golden Gate Bridge all day, but if that turns up nothing, they will assume the whales have safely made it back to the Pacific.

There has been no confirmed sighting of the whales since 8:40 p.m. Tuesday when officials saw the humpbacks at Paradise Cay near Tiburon.

At a news briefing this morning, officials said a helicopter and several boats will continue to search the area. Vessels have also been posted outside the Golden Gate to look for the large mammals.

"We would love to have seen them one last time to say good-bye, but if they made it home, that's what counts," said Bernadette Fees of the state Department of Fish and Game. "We'd be delighted, actually very delighted."

Fees said that they will continue rescue work today, operating out of new headquarters in the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary at San Francisco's Presidio. If nothing happens today, she said they will suspend the rescue tonight, but still keep the Farallones information center open for a day or two.

(more)

http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_6019873

[Nihil]

20. I hear Japan has offered a few boats to help ...

... for "research processes" only of course ... :evilgrin:

[Barrett808]

21. Lost whales return to noisy ocean

Marine creatures rattled by our undersea uproar
By CARRIE PEYTON DAHLBERG
THE SACRAMENTO BEE
Last Updated: May 31, 2007, 05:21:19 AM PDT

The story of the wayward whales drew to a happy conclusion Wednesday as Delta and Dawn slipped unseen through the Golden Gate into the Pacific.

...

They're leaving behind rescuers who banged on pipes and played a compilation of humpback hits, but the whales that lingered in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta are returning to an increasingly noisy ocean, where humans are the biggest noisemakers.

We pierce the depths with subseeking sonar. We rattle them with oil-exploration blasts. And and we churn out a constant din from shipping.

The sounds sometimes kill, leaving elusive beaked whales dead on shore after military exercises.

Far more often, our noise muffles the world for marine creatures that rely on sound for hunting, courting and finding their way around.

"We should all be concerned with increased ocean noise," said Paul Nachtigall, director of the University of Hawaii's marine mammal research program.

While some have wondered whether noise drove these two whales inland, experts say they consider it highly unlikely. Yet with sonar linked to beached whales from the Canary Islands to the Bahamas, questions linger about how much we're disrupting the seas.

Among those concerned is the California Coastal Commission, which sued the Navy in March, trying to force it to better protect whales during maneuvers off Southern California.

(more)

http://www.modbee.com/local/story/13638907p-14234045c.html

[caligirl]

14. There have been large packs of Orca's (killer whales) in the Monterey Bay

Fisherman have reported pods of 20 to 40 killer whales, Orca's.

[trashcanistanista]

15. The Orcas will probably stay in

Monterey for a while - tons of sea lions to feed on. That would give Delta and Dawn a good jump on them on the way to Canada.

[Judi Lynn]

17. Whales hover near Golden Gate Bridge

Whales hover near Golden Gate Bridge
Dozens flock to bluffs and shoreline to catch of glimpse of famed mammals
By Julia Prodis-Sulek and Rowena Coetsee
MediaNews staff writers
Article Launched: 05/29/2007 10:03:12 PM PDT

As night fell and the fog rolled in, two lost humpback whales made their way within two miles of the Golden Gate Bridge, moving closer to the end of a long, journey that's captivated the world.

There, crowds of watchers braved the cold and gusty winds hoping to catch a glimpse of the whales, which meandered up the Delta to Sacramento more than two weeks ago, return to the ocean. The gawkers came by bike, cab and even a limousine.

"Their first-class whales, how often do you get this?" said Sam Reid of Tennessee, in town for a forensic science convention, who came with others to toast the whales when they make it under the Golden Gate Bridge.

Would-be rescuers, meanwhile, expressed relief that the end of the pair's dalliances appeared to be in sight.

More:
http://www.mercurynews.com/localnewsheadlines/ci_6016721


http://extras.mnginteractive.com.nyud.net:8090/live/media/site568/2007/0529/20070529__webwhale30~1_Gallery.JPG

The two wayward humpback whales, Delta & Dawn, make their
way past the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge near Tiburon Calif.,
on Tuesday May 29, 2007. The Larkspur Ferry returns home
behind. (Herman Bustamante Jr./Contra Costa Times) ( HERMAN
BUSTAMANTE JR. )