THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, December 25, 1995 TAG: 9512250021
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DEBBIE MESSINA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines
After last winter's spectacular showing of humpback whales off our coast, the Virginia Marine Science Museum is starting its whale-watching boat trips early this year.
Whale-watching excursions will begin Tuesday and will run daily through the holiday week until Sunday. They will resume Jan. 5 and end when the whales migrate from the area, around March 30.
The museum is hoping for a repeat of last year, in which whales were spotted on an unprecedented 90 percent of trips, and extended their stay into the spring. The museum took more than 23,000 people (more than the previous three years combined) on boat trips to catch a close-up look.
Or the whales of winter could be a no-show, like the winter of 1994 when colder than normal temperatures drove the whales south to North Carolina in search of food. Whales were seen on only 10 percent of the excursions.
The early signals are mixed, and museum officials cannot predict whether the endangered marine creatures will be returning in great numbers or for any great length of time.
While some whales could be seen from the beach in November, there have been no sightings reported yet in December.
``We're hoping this cold snap will bring them down,'' said Lynn Clements, a spokesperson for the museum, adding that whale sightings are not guaranteed on any of the boat trips.
Marine biologists at the museum know that the whales that winter off our coast are young, under 5 years old.
Before their first local sightings in 1991, it was believed that humpbacks, one of the world's largest mammals, spent their winters in Caribbean breeding grounds.
Now museum researchers think these sexually immature whales do not need to travel to breeding grounds - where food is scarce - when they can mature in the food-rich waters around the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay.
But the reason for their sudden detour is still unknown. One possible explanation is that the population is recovering in the wake of whale-protection laws, forcing some whales to seek new food sources.
Last year, whale-watching in Virginia Beach was designated one of the top 20 events in the Southeast for January by the Southeast Tourist Society.
Boat trips, which depart Rudee Inlet, will run several times daily from Tuesday through Saturday . Trips are also scheduled at 3:30 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and several times on Saturdays and Sundays from Jan. 5 through March.
Each trip is narrated by a trained interpreter and experienced volunteers will show whale artifacts and answer questions. Whale watchers also will see a variety of sea birds and local landmarks like the historic Cape Henry Lighthouse.
Fees are $12 for adults and $10 for children, 11 and under. Call 437-4949 for information and reservations. Trips are subject to cancellation due to weather conditions. ILLUSTRATION: Whale watch facts
Where and when: Trips depart several times daily from Tuesday
through Saturday (Dec. 26 to 30). Trips are also scheduled at 3:30
p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and several times on Saturdays
and Sundays Jan. 5 through March. Trips are subject to cancellation
due to weather conditions.
Where: Trips depart Rudee Inlet.
How much: $12 adults, $10 children 11 and under.
For information and reservations: Call 437-4949.
by CNB