Feb. 7, 2009 — Hark! It's time for the humpback whales. Sightings of the massive mammals as they migrate through the local waters in February and March are at hand.
Carla Joseph has a hunch this just might be a good year for a glimpse of the majestic creatures. Enormous they are, but they can also be elusive., Joseph says, "Everything is by chance," said Joseph, president of the Environmental Association of St. Thomas-St. John (EAST). After all, she said, "This is the wild."
We have it all over SeaWorld in one sense — we see the humpbacks in their own habitat, and there's always the element of chance. That's part of the fun, Joseph said. "We had a great sighting last year on the northwestern end of St. Thomas."
Joseph has led the outings for years, and her enthusiasm is contagious. "Nothing is more exciting than seeing an animal this size," she said. "It's something I wish everyone could experience."
The first whale watch is Feb. 15, the day after Valentines Day, which may signal good luck. The humpbacks come to these waters to mate and calve. Not at the same time, of course; the males come here to mate, and the females come to have their babies and nurse them through the first months of life.
Eco-guide Paul Jobsis, University of the Virgin Islands marine biologist will be on board to talk about whales, sea birds and all other manner of sea life. On the less educational side, Joseph says the crew knows a bit about entertainment. "They'll do something like 'Pirates of the Caribbean,'" she says. "And we'll always be in contact with other vessels for their sightings."
There are three more opportunities to see the creatures cavort — all Sundays, Feb. 22, March 8 and March 22, where the 50-foot catamaran Jolly Mon will depart at 8:30 a.m. from the National Park Dock in Red Hook.
Tickets are $55 for EAST members and $65 for non-members. The same rates apply for children, and tickets must be paid for in advance of the trip. Tickets will be available at Dockside Bookstore in Havensight or at East End Secretarial in Red Hook. On St. John, tickets can be purchased from Connections of St. John in Cruz Bay.
Watchers should bring lunch, sunscreen, bathing suits and binoculars. For more information, call Joseph at 77401837 or 344-9075. She urges folks to call for tickets now as the watches usually sell out well in advance.
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