For a Good Cause -- Tony Nichols

When whales aren’t in season off the coast of Newport Beach, Tony

Nichols still finds ways to feed his interest in them.

Between Dec. 26 and April, Nichols gives whale-watching tours that

kick off from the Balboa Pier.

During the other months of the year, the Costa Mesa resident

volunteers his time giving speeches at the Orange County chapter of the

American Cetacean Society, a nonprofit group dedicated to the kings of

the sea.

His latest speech is set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the group’s monthly

meeting. It will be held at the Costa Mesa Neighborhood and Community

Center, 1845 Park Ave. It’s free and open to the public.

Since he began leading whale-watching tours nine years ago from Davy’s

Locker, at the base of the pier, Nichols has happily shared his knowledge

of his favorite subject whenever he gets a chance.

“They’re charismatic animals,” Nichols said, as he sat at a fiberglass

table across from Davy’s on a summer morning. “I’m really a nature

person.”

Nichols, 43, can rattle off a litany of details about whales. For his

interview, Nichols is armed with a notebook loaded with colored charts

and tables, as well as an overflow of statistics.

During the past whale season, Nichols says, about 40% of the whales

and dolphins glimpsed by onlookers were Risso’s dolphins.

This oddball species, which has a rounded forehead, pale skin and

primarily eats squid, is usually not as prevalent, Nichols says.

“This was a big year for the Risso,” Nichols says. “It was the

featured attraction.”

Usually, the gray whale captures the crown for most widely seen. The

common dolphin and bottlenose dolphin follow, with Risso and the Pacific

white dolphin rounding out the top five, Nichols said.

About 7% of the time, Nichols said, the whale-watching trip results in

no sightings. Other than the usual sea lion or two, that is.

Nichols heads the whale-watching trips, usually using the Western

Pride, an 80-foot boat owned by Davy’s.

Over his nine years, Nichols estimates he has volunteered more than

1,400 hours of his time.

“It’s good to give back to the community,” Nichols said. “Maybe I’ll

hit an environmental vein in someone.”

* Story by Paul Clinton