At the heart of this website is a simple belief when people learn about the world’s incredible creatures and have the chance to see and connect with them in person they’re more likely to care and take action to protect them.

What began as a personal project to share my knowledge and photography of California gray whales has grown into a comprehensive resource, once spanning over 150 pages. Unfortunately, like many early websites, mine faced setbacks in this case, a major hack that wiped out nearly everything. With the help of a partial backup, I was able to restore much of it and took the opportunity to give the site a fresh start.

While the original design and color palette dated back to the mid-1990s, it became clear that both design standards and the way people use the internet had changed. Search engines now prioritize mobile-friendly sites, and without optimization, the important stories I was sharing weren’t reaching new audiences. That realization led me to rebuild and modernize the site bringing it up to today’s standards while staying true to its original mission.

My hope is that returning visitors will enjoy the cleaner, more accessible design, and that new visitors will discover a deeper appreciation for gray whales and all the remarkable wildlife I’ve come to love over the years. And maybe, if you’re inspired, you’ll feel compelled to learn more, share with others, or even take action in your own way.