Gray whales will once again migrate past the Pacific Northwest this spring, bringing some 25,000 whales to the Oregon coast. And while the migration is expected to go on as usual this year, things will be a little different onshore.

The coronavirus outbreak in Oregon has forced the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department to scale back its annual Spring Whale Watch Week, running March 21-29. This year, no volunteers will staff whale watching sites along the coast, and the Whale Watching Center in Depoe Bay will be closed to the public.

READ MORE: Coronavirus means no volunteers for Whale Watch Week in Oregon

But the gray whales will still be passing by, and as Oregon state park sites remain open to the public, it’s still an opportunity to experience some do-it-yourself whale watching on the coast.

For those who haven’t gone whale watching, or those who just want a little help, here are a few pointers for spotting gray whales from shore.

While you’re out there, remember to follow public health guidelines around the coronavirus outbreak. Don’t travel if you feel sick, wash your hands frequently, and be sure to stay at least six feet from other people.

Visitors peer out at the ocean from the stone shelter atop Cape Perpetua on the central Oregon coast. On a clear day, it's possible to see 70 miles of coast and 37 miles out to sea. Jamie Francis/The Oregonian

Go during migration season

Gray whales are known to haunt the waters of the central Oregon coast for much of the year, but if you want to reliably see one, you should go during either the spring migration at the end of March, or the winter migration at the end of December. The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department recognizes the seasonal migrations as Spring Whale Watch Week and Winter Whale Watch Week respectively.

Find a good spot

Good whale watching spots are generally viewpoints high up and around deeper waters, with a good view of the ocean. The parks department has designated 24 park sites as good whale watching spots. We’ve also put together a list of six good spots along the coast, including Boiler Bay, Cape Perpetua and Cape Ferrelo. You can find the whole list online at oregonlive.com.

Bring binoculars

Gray whales are often visible with the naked eye from shore, but it’s always smart to bring a pair of binoculars anyway. Photographers should also bring along any telephoto lenses they have on hand.

Scan the ocean slowly

The typical method for spotting gray whales is to scan the ocean slowly, going side to side and back again. Get yourself comfortable and keep your eyes open for a spout, which is the first sign that a gray whale is coming to the surface.

A gray whale spouts off Depoe Bay, seen on a whale watching tour with Carrie Newell's Whale Research EcoExcursions.Terry Richard/The Oregonian

Look for the spout

A spout is essentially a gray whale’s breath – a puff of vapor that shoots vertically into the air from its blowhole when it comes to the surface. It’s a pretty distinctive sight, and once you’ve seen one it’s a lot easier to spot another. Whales traveling together will often spout around the same time, especially mothers and calves.

Look for a fluke, pray for a breach

After spouting, a gray whale then dives back beneath the water. This is when you can see the arching back of the whale, and if you’re lucky, the tail as it comes out of the water. The tail is called the fluke, and it usually comes out of the water when a gray whale is diving deep. If you’re really lucky, you might see the whale jump out of the water – a behavior known as breaching – though gray whales do so less frequently than some other species, like humpbacks.

Track the whales

Gray whales are slow swimmers, so you can generally track them as they move along the coast. Whales usually make three to five shallow dives, followed by one longer deep dive. While they’re making their shallow dives, they spout at the surface about once every 30 to 50 seconds, making it easy to track their progress. In spring, you can reliably watch for them to move north, while they usually swim south in the winter.

Look for whale watching boats

One way to find gray whales a little bit easier is to look for whale watching boats. On the water, whale watching tours can track the whales easier, and they usually know where a whale might surface. As of Tuesday, all whale watching tours operating out of Depoe Bay appeared to be running as usual.

Be patient

Patience is key. While it’s certainly possible to see a whole pod of whales the second you look out at the ocean, it might take several minutes, half an hour or a whole afternoon before you see one. In fact, there’s no guarantee that you’ll spot any whales at all. It’s important to go in with no expectations, and simply enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Oregon coast.

--Jamie Hale; jhale@oregonian.com; 503-294-4077; @HaleJamesB

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