When: Thursday, April 9, 2026 at 4pm

Where: The Sea Ranch Lodge

RSVP: Free  

Join us in the stunning setting of the Sea Ranch Lodge and learn more about the Pacific Gray Whales along our coast!

Grab a drink from the bar and settle in as Scott and Tree Mercer share their research on one of the ocean’s most magnificent travelers. After the talk, step outside to explore the bluffs and look for gray whales yourself.

Scott and Tree Mercer bring their experience with firsthand fieldwork along the Sonoma and Mendocino coastline, weaving together population data, behavioral observations, and compelling visuals. They provide an engaging look at why these ocean giants matter, what threats they face, and what monitoring efforts like theirs reveal about the health of our oceans.

Scott Mercer has been studying marine mammals since 1974, founding New England Whale Watch in 1978 and co-founding research stations on both coasts. A co-author of The Great Whale Book and a pioneer of whale-watching recognized by NOAA, he brings 50 years of ocean observation to this talk. In 2014, he and Tree founded the Mendonoma Whale and Seal Study, documenting marine mammals along our stretch of the Sonoma and Mendocino coast.

Tree Mercer holds a Master’s in Science Education and spent 35 years teaching biology and physics. She coordinates the Mercers’ field data and designs their conference presentations. Together, Scott and Tree were featured in the Los Angeles Times and a UC Berkeley documentary for their work on the gray whale Unusual Mortality Event.

After the talk, sit back and relax with a jazz performance at 6pm. The bar will be open for wine, beer, cocktails, and light bites.