Mama, The Klamath River Whale, Featured in National Geographic

Mama, the Klamath River Whale, is still making headlines and her memory is being kept alive.   The image of Mama and Seth, the paddle boarder hoping to lead her back to the ocean, that has made its way all around the net was featured on National Geographic’s “Pictures We Love – Best of August.”  Over 7,100 people have “liked” it as of this posting.   See link below to view it:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/08/pictures/110831-best-news-pictures-national-geographic-we-love-august-2011-whale-libya-hurricane-irene-somalia/#/pictures-we-love-august-2011-whale-paddle-boarder_39846_600x450.jpg

_MG_0163A - Paddle Boarder Serenading Mama, the Klamath River Whale

For use or purchase of this image and many other images, please visit http://www.ashalaTylor.com

 

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Mama, the Klamath River Whale, Marks 50th Day in River Today 08/12/11

The Klamath River Where Mama, the Klamath River Whale, Resides

 

View of the Klamath River looking downstream where the Klamath River RV Park is on the left, a place Mama called home for a month.  She can still be seen from the RV Park, to the campers’ delight.  There is a nominal day fee charged for those who just want to sit and watch Mama spouting.  They also have tent camping right on the river.  707 482-2091.

Today was rather uneventful.  Mama was not moving too fast today, unlike yesterday.  Maybe she was tired from the show she put on for everyone with her rolling and spouting yesterday.  The crowds were still there.  The Highway Patrol reported a boat getting too close to the whale.  Anyone can help by calling the Hotline at NOAA.  800 853-1964 if you see any form of harassment while viewing Mama.  Remember, there is a 100 yard distance regulation from marine mammals.  This applies to everyone, including kayakers and tour boats.

Mama's, the Klamath River Whale, Blow Holes Open

 

 

Mama's, the Klamath River Whale, Blow Holes Closed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Following excerpt from:  http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/whales/anatomy/Blowhole.shtml

Whales are mammals who breathe air into their lungs. Blowholes are a whale’s nostrils and are located on the top or back of the whale’s head. Blowholes are covered by muscular flaps that keep water from entering them when the whale is under water. In the relaxed state, the flap covers the blowhole. A blowhole leads to the whale’s trachea and then to its lungs. Unlike us, whales cannot breathe through their mouth; they only breathe throught their blowholes.

Baleen whales (like humpbacks, blue whales, gray whales, bowhead whales, etc.) have two blowholes, located side by side. Toothed whales (like sperm whales, beluga whales, dolphins, etc.) have one blowhole.

“At the surface of the water, whales open their blowhole(s) and exhale air explosively through their blowhole. This exhaled air from the blowhole is called the blow and usually forms a gusher or a bushy stream of misty air and vapor. This is immediately followed by inhalation of fresh air, and the blowhole(s) close again. (Blowholes are in a closed position when the whale relaxes.) This breathing pattern takes only a fraction of a second for small cetaceans (dolphins and porpoises), but it may take a few seconds for larger whales.

Just before a whale dives underwater, strong muscles surrounding the blowhole relax and the protective flap covers the blowhole.
Whales cannot breathe through through their mouths (like people can). Their trachea (the tube to the lungs) and esophagus (the tube to the stomach) are not connected.”

Many more images of these beautiful mammals can be seen at http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashala.
For purchase or use of any photos:  ashala7@gmail.com

Mama, the Klamath River Whale, Swimming in River 48 Days, 8/10/11

Mama, the Klamath River Whale, Spouting Rainbows

Friday will mark 50 days in the river.   This beautiful gray whale is still swimming circles beneath the bridge, cars are still stopping and asking,  “What is down there?”   “A whale?  You are kidding.”  Highway Patrol is parked at both ends of the bridge and  miles before the bridge in either direction highway warning signs are flashing a warning of bridge pedestrians.    The river is getting lower.   In the image below, kayakers were standing in chest high water next to their kayak.

All in all, it was a rather uneventful day in the life of the cetacean who seems to call the bridge area home.   She swims in circles continually, sometimes moving to the other side of the bridge to roll.  No one is sure what she is doing – scratching?  feeding?      Nothing is known for sure except there is a 45- foot gray whale in the river who does not appear to have any intention of leaving any time soon.  No clanging of pipes, powerful water blasts, orca whale sounds,  Yurok singing and drumming, music from a violin, a flute, a ukelele, or prayers from a paddle boarder can convince her the ocean is where she should be at the present time.

Maybe, just maybe, she knows more than we know about why and where she wants to be.

Mama, the Klamath River Whale, Spouting Beneath The Klamath River Bridge

Onlookers watching Mama, the Klamath River Whale, in the Klamath River Below

Kayakers Near Mama, the Klamath River Whale, in the Klamath River

 

 

Many images of these beautiful mammals can be seen at http://www.flickr.com/photos/ashala.

For purchase or use of any photos:  ashala7@gmail.com