Another sign that winter has arrived is the migration of right whales, and the first right whale calves of the season have been spotted off the coasts of Southeast Georgia and Northeast Florida.
Chiminea, 13 years old, and her first-known calf were sighted near Cumberland Island, Ga., on Dec. 4.
Milliped, 16 years old, and her second calf were spotted off Vilano Beach on Dec. 6, according to the Florida Wildlife Commission's Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, which tracks the calves. A few bottlenose dolphins were also along for the ride in Vilano.
The two adult whales are also known as Catalog #4040 (Chiminea) and Catalog #3520 (Milliped).
Every winter, right whales travel more than 1,000 miles from their feeding grounds off Canada and New England to the warm coastal waters off the Southern U.S.
These waters are where right whales give birth and nurse their young, according to the institute.
Officials are reminding boaters to be aware of the whales' presence and their tendency to rest near the surface of the water. If you spot any, the institute warns, give them plenty of space.
