>This is my main subject of interest, and many of the paddling mags have >run some of my articles on the matter (August 1994 Canoe & Kayak). Gotta >say that the arguments that kayaks are more likely to scare whales is well >documented -- an analogy: you're walking down the sidewalk and cars >routinely pass you from behind. You don't usually flinch, but if a >bicyclist suddenly passes you from behind, you're more likely to jump. I don't know about all this, but I do know that a group of 8 orca changed their course to go right under our group. Three of the biggest ones chose to surface about 20 to 25 feet off the side of my kayak. They came at me at a high rate of speed and swam directly under my yak. (maybe it was my mind that made it all seem so fast - I was sure I was about to die after all) This happened in Johnstone Straight in an area that was roughly 3 miles across. They could have easily avoided us. Brian. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
> From: Michael Kundu <ProjectSeaWolf_at_seanet.com> > >Appropriate subject to discuss, since May is the pupping season for seals. > Regular approaches by kayaks or boats encourages skittish nursing mothers > to abndon a haulout site, and their pups on some occassions. A good point to remember. Also, stay very far away (forget the 100 yard rule... leave the area) when all seals are out of the water during pupping season. There could be a very good reason that none are in the water :-) (see http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/mchin.html) If the 100 yard rule doesn't convince paddlers to stay clear, this should :-) > >This is my main subject of interest, and many of the paddling mags have > run some of my articles on the matter (August 1994 Canoe & Kayak). Gotta > say that the arguments that kayaks are more likely to scare whales is well > documented -- an analogy: you're walking down the sidewalk and cars > routinely pass you from behind. You don't usually flinch, but if a > bicyclist suddenly passes you from behind, you're more likely to jump. hmmm... so the solution would be to crowd the coastal areas with kayaks and get the whales used to the kayaks? :-) I saw another report suggesting that grey whales have changed their migratory route along the California coast (the majority, anyhow) to travel west of Catalina island thereby avoiding the San Diego and LA coastal areas. This rerouting is suspected to be caused by the increased power boating and jet skiing traffic. Whales are as irritated by all the noise as we kayakers :-) > >Same thing about kayaks (bicycles) vs boats (cars) and whales. Motors > telegraph presence and location, kayaks tend to sneak up on them since they > have little acoustic or vibrating signal. While I believe kayaks are less > intrusive than powerboats, I do think paddlers need to understand the > potential impacts of their crafts on cetacea. I agree. I think Keith did, too. His statement was that powerboats were more intrusive and by rafting up and watching with Megan rather than chasing down the wildlife, I believe he showed respect and restraint. I think he followed the rules as well as being sensitive with regard to his impact. Cheers, Jackie \ / | \ / \ | / __ ___ / __( ( )_ _( )___ \ | / _( ( ) __ _( )__ _( _( ) ______ ( ) ( ( )_ ( ( )__ __( ( ) _________ _( ______( ) _( ( ) (___ _ ___) ( ) / | (_______ ( _ _ ) | \ (_____ __ _(_ _ _ ) / | \ _ _ / \O/ \ _ " ,,~'""""""""``v' \-'""""""""``~, / _, \_ \ / ,~~~~~~~~'"" ) \""`~~~~""') / | / '' ' ' / \ ~ ' ' `' `'' ' '' / \ '' ' ' ~ ~~~~ ~ ''' ~~ ~ '~~ ' / \ ' ~~ '' ~~~ ~~~~ ~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~ ~ %_at_~%_at_% ~%~ ' %%_at_%/ ` _at_% Y_at_ '' ' ~ ~~ ~ ~%%~~~%%_at_~_at_%%%~ ~%~ ~~)) )_at_%)~%(~%%jf_at_ (%~~%%_at__at_%%~~ ~~~~ ~~~ ~~~~ ~ ~ ~ ~~~_at_ ~%%~~ ~ ~~ %% %~ ~%~_at__at_%%_at__at__at_~ ~ ~~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~~~ ~~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~~ ~ ~~~~ ~~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~~ ~ ~~~ ~ ~ ~~ ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~ ~~~~~ ~~ ~~~ ~~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~~~ ~ ~ ~~~~~~ ~~ ~ ~ sss _n ~ ~~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~~ ~~ S( )S ( ) ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~ ___ /{|||}{|||}\ ___ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~~ (___>=====_at_V{____}{____}V_at_=====<___) ~~ ~~~ ~ ( ^ )( ^ ) ~~~~~~ ~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~ ~~ ~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~ ~~ ~ ~~~~~~ ~ ~ ~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~~~~~ ~~~~~ ~ ~~ ~ *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Thanks Jackie, Most of us paddle for the sheer beauty out there in the marine (and other water) environments. That beauty includes the wildlife. I don't want to make a blanket statement and say we kayakers are more in touch with and more sensitive to the marine environment than motor boaters, but the nature of our vessels certainly puts us in a more favorable position along those lines. We don't want the beauty to wane, so I think most of us will take efforts to preserve and respect our paddling haunts. Great ascii art! That looks just like us! Suitable for framing for sure. Keith Kaste Jackie Fenton wrote: > hmmm... so the solution would be to crowd the coastal areas with kayaks > and get the whales used to the kayaks? ... Whales are as irritated by all the > noise as we kayakers :-) *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Brian wrote: >...(snip) a group of 8 orca changed >their course to go right under our group. Three of the biggest ones chose >to surface about 20 to 25 feet off the side of my kayak. They came at me at >a high rate of speed and swam directly under my yak. (maybe it was my mind >that made it all seem so fast - I was sure I was about to die after all) > >This happened in Johnstone Straight in an area that was roughly 3 miles across. >They could have easily avoided us. > >Brian. They could have easily eaten you, too ;) Diane *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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