Natural History Wanderings

Join Bay Nature Magazine and ecologist Sarah Mesnick for a virtual talk about the historic Richmond whaling site on Wednesday, June 18, from 2 – 3pm. Sperm whales, among the world’s largest animals, are long-lived, highly social, speak in dialects, and have the largest brain – and largest noses – on earth.

Dr. Sarah Mesnick will share her latest research on sperm whales of the North Pacific Ocean and what is known of their population structure and trends, sociality, foraging habits, communication, and conservation. Her talk will also cover the fascinating history of sperm whales in San Francisco Bay and our changing interactions with them, from the heyday of San Francisco’s Barbary Coast to the last whale taken by commercial whaling in the U.S. at the shore whaling station in Richmon in 1971, to today’s burgeoning whale watching opportunities. We will provide ample time for questions about how and why scientists are pursuing the mysteries of this iconic species of the deep, and what it tells us about ourselves and our evolving relationship with nature. This Richmond whaling site is featured in “A New Story For Sperm Whales” published by Tanvi Dutta Gupta. This talk is free for Bay Nature Members and $5 for nonmembers.

*Please note this event is at 2pm, a previous event email said it was at 12pm, but it is from 2-3pm *