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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2026

Brookings, Oregon

What Whale Watching Week in Oregon can tell us about climate change

As gray whales make 10,000-mile round-trip migration, scientists warn less Arctic food is impacting reproduction

From Astoria to Brookings, volunteers and state park rangers this week from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. are stationed at 15 locations to help visitors spot whales and answer questions during Whale Watching Week. north to their Arctic feeding grounds. Each winter, gray whales travel to the warm tropical waters of Baja California, Mexico where they reproduce and raise their calves. In the spring, they migrate north to

BY: MIA MALDONADO

Oregon Capital Chronicle

It’s Whale Watching Week in Oregon, which means coastal visitors will get the chance to spot gray whales as they swim

Alaskan waters where they spend the next ﬁve to six months eating enough crustaceans along the ocean ﬂoor to energize them for the remainder of the year. “It’s the longest migration of any mammal on the planet,” said

Josh Stewart, an assistant professor at Oregon State University’s Marine Mammal Institute. But as much as tourists come from worldwide to gather along Oregon’s cliffs and shores to whale watch, these beloved ma-

rine mammals aren’t immune to the impacts of climate change. Scientists say fewer whales may swim by compared to prior years. In 2025, scientists estimated the eastern North Pacific gray whale population was at about 13,000. That’s the lowest number since the 1970s — the decade when they were listed as an endangered species. Gray whales have since been delisted, but reproduction among the species remains low, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. While gray whale populations have historically fluctuated with natural cycles in food availability, the ongoing decline is lasting longer than normal and scientists have seen fewer calves since 2019, Stewart said. That’s because the Arctic sea ice, which helps store nutrients that sustain the crustaceans whales eat, is melting earlier in the year — disrupting the food chain whales depend on. “These feeding areas that they migrate such long distances to are warming four times as quickly as the rest of the planet on average, and that’s having a major impact on their prey availability,” Stewart said. Other impacts, including ship strikes and entanglement in fishing gear, pose threats to whale populations. Please see WHALES Page 4

New Live Stream Webcam at Chetco Point Showcases One of the Southern Oregon Coast’s Most Spectacular Views

The City of Brookings is thrilled to announce a new live stream webcam at Chetco Point Park, made possible through sponsorship by EarthCam. The new camera delivers stunning real-time views of Chetco Point, the Paciﬁc Ocean, and part of Zwagg Island, offering locals, visitors, and news outlets an incredible new way to experience one of Brookings’ most treasured places.

Perched above the coastline, Chetco Point Park is one of the community’s most scenic and beloved destinations. From the moment visitors enter the park and follow the trail south, they are immersed in the natural beauty of the area, with access to Chetco Cove Beach on one side and views of Mill Beach on the other. Along the way, visitors can enjoy views of the sandy shoreline, marine life, and lush coastal

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foliage before crossing the park’s wooden bridge and continuing to the bluff at the south end of Chetco Point. There, visitors are rewarded with one of the most extraordinary views on the Southern Oregon Coast. At the point, they stand on a dramatic bluff high above the ocean, surrounded on three sides by the Paciﬁc. From this striking vantage point, the views stretch across the

horizon to the St. George Reef Lighthouse near Crescent City, while the waters below are often dotted with ﬁshing boats. During migration seasons, visitors may spot gray whales — the most commonly seen whales off the Oregon coast — and, with a little luck, even humpback or other passing whales offshore. With sweeping views of the Paciﬁc Ocean, the Port of Brookings-Harbor, Macklyn Cove, and

beyond, Chetco Point Park offers an unforgettable coastal experience. The livestream captures the spirit of the park and the beauty that makes Brookings so special. Viewers may catch dramatic surf, changing weather and glowing sunsets. Native seals can often be spotted resting on the rocky outcroppings, adding to the Please see LIVE STREAM Page 4

Phone Number: 707-460-8655 • Email: Circulation@CountryMedia.net

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