Laguna Ojo de Liebre

Welcome, adventurous scholars, to the remarkable Laguna Ojo de Liebre, located on the Pacific coast of the Baja California Peninsula. Translated literally as the Eye of the Jackrabbit, this massive, shallow lagoon is a…

We begin our detailed exploration at the shoreside camp, the temporary home for researchers and eco tourists alike during the peak whale season. Situated right on the edge of the lagoon, the camp is an exercise in off grid…

Walking approximately a mile from the camp, we arrive at the wooden docks, the gateway to the lagoon's deeper waters. As you step onto the long, weathered wooden pier, take a moment to look up. …

Leaving the docks, the panga cuts through the choppy surface of the lagoon. We are heading towards Zone Two, a highly protected and regulated area within Ojo de Liebre. …

Suddenly, the water beside the boat swirls, and a massive, barnacle encrusted head emerges. We are experiencing the extraordinary phenomenon unique to the lagoons of Baja: the friendly gray whales. …

Focusing on the social dynamics playing out before us, the relationship between the mother gray whale and her calf is central to the Ojo de Liebre ecosystem. A newborn calf is roughly fifteen feet long and weighs about two…

While the whales are the undisputed stars of Ojo de Liebre, the lagoon itself is a complex, dynamic ecosystem dictated by the profound pull of the tides. As we sit idly in the water, you can observe the strong tidal currents…

As the captain turns the panga back toward the docks, the enormity of the experience settles in. The wind, which felt biting on the journey out, now feels refreshing. …