Expert on Whales Has Pet Tale

Biologist Michael Bursk has spent five winters bobbing around in a bathtub-size inflatable boat in Mexico’s San Ignacio Lagoon within petting distance of hundreds of California gray whales.

Today Bursk spends his winters sharing what he learned about the giant mammals by leading whale-watching tours out of Dana Point Harbor from January through March.

Bursk, who has worked with the National Marine Fisheries Service on various whale projects, is now year-round manager of Dana Wharf Sportfishing, and when whale-watching season rolls around, he serves as on-board lecturer and skipper on one of the excursion boats.

He even visits Orange County schools, where he stages a slide show based upon his San Ignacio research. His presentation features many of the close-up color photos he took of the California gray whales that travel 12,000 miles during their yearly migration from the Bering Sea off Siberia and Alaska to Mexico and back.

He tells the children about his firsthand view of “the friendly whale phenomenon” and shares personal insights that you won’t find in a textbook. “What we did in San Ignacio was a large-scale demographic study,” he says. “At that time, nothing was really known about the gray whales and about how they used the lagoon and how they went about having their calves. One of the things we learned was what is called the friendly whale phenomenon. Whales are innately curious about other things. And they are very gentle in investigating them. So, by our definition of the word, they are friendly, and they like to be petted and scratched.”

When Orange County schoolchildren see photos of Bursk and his colleagues petting a 45-ton whale, they come away with a completely different viewpoint of the giant mammals, Bursk says.

“Each year we take thousands of kids out whale-watching. And seeing the photos of us touching and petting the whales really affects them. Then, when you tell them that people harpoon whales, the kids get really mad. They want to protect them. You make conscientious adults out of them.”

As the California whale population has grown over the past few years, so has interest in whales and whale-watching. In the last century the California gray whale population was reduced to an estimated 600. But during this century, thanks in part to a recent moratorium on whaling, the whale population has staged a dramatic comeback. This year’s herd is estimated to be about 20,000, according to the National Marine Fisheries Service.

During the next few weeks, whale-watching from seashore cliffs, commercial boats or private boats will be the main attraction along the Orange County coast.

As a biologist, Bursk, who has completed an extensive study on how whale-watching affects the whales themselves, believes it is OK for humans to venture out in small boats to watch the great sea creatures. But he offers the following advice to private boat owners:

“Remember that the whales are migrating, which means the animal wants to go in one direction or the other. It doesn’t want to change direction. So stay out from in front of it. Fall behind it and never move up alongside or ahead of the whale.

“Match your speed to the whale (whales usually travel 4 to 5 m.p.h.). Never go faster than the whale. Avoid changing throttle speed.”

Most important, according to Bursk, is to keep your distance. “Stay at least 100 yards from the whale,” he says. “And if the animal shows any erratic behavior, take your engine out of gear, wait for the whale to get farther ahead and then cease following it.”

Whales are extremely sensitive to noise, Bursk says. “They will avoid loud and prolonged noise at any cost because the noise drowns out their ability to communicate with each other.”

In general, Bursk believes that commercial whale-watching boats “do not bother whales. The guys who do it professionally do it every day and they are extremely courteous and careful.”

Commercial whale-watching tours are offered at a number of locations in Orange County from January through March. Tour boats depart from Dana Wharf Sportfishing at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. weekdays; 8 and 10 a.m., noon, 2 and 4 p.m. weekends. Tickets are $9 for adults, $5 for children under 12 and senior citizens. Charter rates are available for large groups. (For information on Bursk’s school lecture programs or tour reservations, call (714) 496-5794.)

At the Orange County Marine Institute in Dana Point, whale-watching tours are available for individuals and groups of 12 or more. Each tour includes a pre-trip lecture by a biologist. Group tours are available Monday through Saturday at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. The weekday rate is $8 per person; Saturday rate is $9 per person.

For individuals, the institute offers only one tour each Saturday beginning with a lecture at 7 a.m. Cost is $10 for adults, $8 for children. For reservations, call (714) 831-3850.

In Newport Beach, Davey’s Locker offers tours at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. weekdays; 9 and 10 a.m., noon, 1 and 2:30 p.m. weekends. Tickets are $10 for adults, $6 for children 12 and under. Special rates are available for school groups. For reservations, call (714) 673-1434.

At Newport Landing, excursions are available at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. weekdays and at 9 a.m., noon and 2:30 p.m. weekends. Tickets are $12 for adults, $6 for children. For reservations, call (714) 675-0550.

Also in Newport Beach, the Catalina Flyer takes 300 passengers out whale-watching at 10 a.m. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Whale-watching tickets are $10 for adults, $6 for children. For information, call (714) 675-9881.

Hornblower Dining Yachts in Newport Beach offers weekend whale-watching brunch cruises from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Cruises are narrated by docents from the American Cetacean Society. Price, including cruise, brunch and gratuity, is $29 for adults and $14.50 for children under 12. Call (714) 646-0155 for reservations.