February 24, 2026 — The right whale calving season is ending on a positive note. As of this week, 22 right whales have been born in the warm waters off the Southeastern U.S. Coast.
It has been 15 years since 22 whales were born in a single calving season, which runs from November to April, says Julie Albert, director of the Right Whale Sighting Network at the Blue World Research Institute in Cocoa, Florida. Only about 370 right whales still exist. Right whales have been listed on the national Endangered Species list since 1970.
“With this species having such a small population, every single birth gets celebrated,” Albert says. “There are fewer than 70 breeding females, and they are getting older and older when they give birth for the first time. They are stretching out the intervals in which they have their calves.”
The Southeastern U.S. coast is a prime right whale birthing area, and the island has become central to efforts to save the creatures. The annual Right Whale Baby Shower, which marks the end of the calving season, will be held April 8 at the Tigre Island Room in Fernandina Beach. The event is hosted by the Amelia Island Whale Ambassadors, Inc., an all-volunteer nonprofit organization that seeks to educate the public about the plight of right whales. The entry fee is a suggested $20 donation.