By Carrie PackThe North Atlantic Right whales are back in
Flagler County. This week they were spotted near Marineland and the Flagler Beach Pier.
Right whales are a type of Baleen whale, and folks have been spotting these giant creatures off the coast of Flagler County for years now. The locals will tell you this is one of the major perks of living in this pristine coastal community. The lack of development and warm waters make an ideal spot for these whales to come during the colder months. The females come to the coasts of Georgia and Florida to give birth to their calves.
These beautiful animals can grow to about 50 feet in length — and they can weigh about 120,000 pounds, but for all of their sizes, they’re really quite agile. A check of
Marineland’s Facebook page shows you how even those most familiar with aquatic life still marvel at their acrobatics.
“A pair of Northern right whales surprised us this morning with a fantastic display of breaches and tail lobs! What a show!” the page says.
If you’re looking for a place to check out the whales, just about any location along the coast will do, and many people will tell you that you just have to “get lucky” if you want to see them. But in my observations, they tend to make appearances most frequently in the morning.
You’ll find the Flagler Beach Pier is probably the most popular spot for whale watching, but many people have seen them at one of Flagler County’s beachfront restaurants, or even while lounging on the beach.
Just remember to bring your camera!