BajaNomad - Nomad Guided Whale Adventures in Ojo de Liebre

Nomad Guided Whale Adventures in Ojo de Liebre

shari - 1-9-2013 at 09:39 AM

It's that time of the year again to celebrate the annual return of the Gray Whale to the birthing lagoons of baja.

I had the honour to live in Ojo de Liebre lagoon before whale watching became popular and am very proud to have helped the ejido develop a wonderful whale watching program at the lagoon. Whales are my passion and I have studied their behavior for over 25 years both in Canada and Baja.
My daughter Sirena was conceived there and they even named a panga after her!

Each year I put groups together and guide trips to the lagoon where we not only spend time with the whales but also birdwatch, tour the salt works and learn about the animals and the lagoon itself. Here is one of our Nomad groups

We meet in Guerrero Negro at our hotel....usually Cowboy Motel and have a nice dinner at a local restaurant where I give an orientation talk about GN and the whales and what to expect the next day.

We are up early for a quick breakfast and drive out to the lagoon to meet our reserved panga. We spend a couple hours in the company of these gentle giants and I narrate the trip so you learn about what you are seeing the whales do and answer questions. It is an unforgettable experience seeing the mothers teach their calves about the world.

We then have lunch on the patio of the Interpretive Center and digest what we have experienced. We often go out a second time in the afternoon if the group wants to or we do a bird watching tour of the lagoon or tour the salt works.

Each tour is unique and the activities are based on the group's interests. The guided whale watch is $55 a person and hotel rooms are $50 and rooms have 2 queen size beds. Food is extra.

I have had the pleasure of sharing my knowlege and love for whales with many Nomads and experienced some profound moments...like this one with Bernie the whale whisperer.

So if you want to experience the lagoon in a unique way, join us on one of my guided trips. I have some openings on the following dates or we can add another trip based on the dates people are interested in. Here are some dates I will be at the lagoon where you can join us.

You can also camp there instead of staying in a hotel and we just meet in the morning.

Our Valentine special is on Feb 13-14th
Nomad trip Feb.19-21
My Birthday Extravaganza is March 2-4
Favorite trip March 9-11

Let me know via U2U or email sharibondy@gmail.com if you want to be part of the fun.

[Edited on 1-9-2013 by shari]

BajaDixon - 1-9-2013 at 12:11 PM

I can remember going out into the lagoons with you about 25 years ago. Back when we waded out to the boats. WOW. That's a long time ago. How old is your daughter now?

shari - 1-9-2013 at 12:17 PM

Oh wow....that's pretty cool...Sirena is now 23 and has a son of her own. She also guides whale trips with me too and Izaak....now 2 is in training! Do you have any photos of that trip way back when? A nomad sent me some neat shots of Sirena when she was 2 that I cherish.

luv2fish - 1-9-2013 at 12:57 PM

Quote:

My daughter Sirena was conceived there and they even named a panga after her!

Shari, as always beautiful stories, love to read your posts. T.M.I. :lol:

T.M.I = Too Much Info.. :lol:

[Edited on 1-10-2013 by luv2fish]

shari - 1-9-2013 at 01:07 PM

luv2fish...wait till you hear the long version of the conception story.....it's a doozy! Her papa was the first fisherman on the lagoon who wasnt afraid to take people to see whales...all his compadres thought he was muy loco to try to get close to whales as they always went well around them as whales were much more aggressive back then. The only English he knew was "ten dollars"!..he sure was handsome though.....sigh.

shari - 1-11-2013 at 03:17 PM

The first census was just taken at Ojo de Liebre and it looks good for so early in the season....as of January 6th, there were 236 adults and 106 babies for a total of 342. Most of those adults will have their babies in the next couple of weeks!

shari - 1-16-2013 at 12:37 PM

I just got the results from the first gray whale census from San Ignacio Lagoon
January 12, 2013
Mother & Calf pairs...15
lone whales ..............16
TOTAL 46 whales in that lagoon

desertcpl - 1-16-2013 at 02:49 PM

Shari

have you ever watched the movie " Big Miracle "

we watched it last night

about a true story, that 3 gray whales were caught in the ice in Alaska, good movie

http://www.ouramazingplanet.com/2394-real-big-miracle-story....

Frank - 1-16-2013 at 03:13 PM

Shari do you have any trips happening over a weekend? or even part of a weekend? Our scheduling is tough this year.

shari - 1-16-2013 at 03:41 PM

Hi Frank...my birthday trip is on a weekend...we are planning pangas on both Saturday March 2nd & sunday the 3rd too if you want to join us...bring a party hat though!

WE also will have another panga on Feb.13th as well as Feb.14.

I haven't seen the movie yet but I will check it out for sure...thanks for the link.

Frank - 1-16-2013 at 04:09 PM

Thanks Shari, I will see if we can make those dates.

rts551 - 1-16-2013 at 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by shari
I just got the results from the first gray whale census from San Ignacio Lagoon
January 12, 2013
Mother & Calf pairs...15
lone whales ..............16
TOTAL 46 whales in that lagoon

There will be more there soon. It is early.

Ateo - 1-16-2013 at 05:44 PM

I'm interested. Let me see what BajaLucy has to say and I'll get back to you. If we don't make it this year - we will next year.

shari - 1-16-2013 at 10:17 PM

it would be a pleasure to have you along Ateo! If someone wants to do a trip on another date, it's pretty easy to do...just let me know the dates you would like to go and we'll get a boat together!

BajaLucy - 1-19-2013 at 08:50 AM

Hi Shari we would love to joing party crew of whale watchig
The whole experience sounds like fun' we would check our calendars an get back to you. Ateo would make final decision. :bounce:

Can't wait to hear all great info. About whales and how you guys started and all gret stories. Take care,

shari - 1-19-2013 at 08:54 AM

ahoy Lucy...nice to see you here in the Nomad sandbox!..welcome...it would be an honour to share some whale's tales with you...and maybe name a whale after you....I love the name LUCY!

vgabndo - 1-19-2013 at 01:52 PM

Ateo, We're booked for Valentines day! Would love to meet you then. I'm going to miss church to be there! :lol:

Skipjack Joe - 1-19-2013 at 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by desertcpl

about a true story, that 3 gray whales were caught in the ice in Alaska, good movie

http://www.ouramazingplanet.com/2394-real-big-miracle-story....

Gorbachev spent too much time trying to influence world opinion and not enough time on his own internal affairs. He tried so hard to make the West like him.

Ateo - 1-19-2013 at 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by vgabndo
Ateo, We're booked for Valentines day! Would love to meet you then. I'm going to miss church to be there! :lol:

Shoot.......Don't think we can make the Valentines Day trip.

Totally would be cool to meet you!!! Someday......

I think we're gonna do the March dates.

You won't be missing church! You'll be in the church of whale.

Skipjack Joe - 1-19-2013 at 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by shari

Send this one to National Geographic, shari, and they'll publish it.

And many other magazines as well. This one's a money-maker.

shari - 1-19-2013 at 03:36 PM

thank you Igor...I dont consider this one of my best shots either!

I have had some people want a trip at the end of January so I have seats available for my guided excursions on Jan.30th if anyone is interested.

Ateo - 2-4-2013 at 07:25 PM

Can't wait to pet these giants!! Coming soon..................

shari - 2-4-2013 at 08:50 PM

this is gonna be a magnificent trip Ateo!

I have 2 places left on March 2nd and also on March 8th in case anyone else wants to tag along.

[Edited on 2-5-2013 by shari]