Get outside today! This fool's spring is not sticking around. The forecast shows us dropping back below freezing by Friday. Let's get to it: Spouting for joy: Marine researchers say the North Atlantic right whale season is off to a busy start, with 33 whales spotted off the southwestern part of Cape Cod Bay over the weekend. That's good news for the critically endangered species; there are only about 380 left in the world. " It's exceptional to see so many this early in the season," Center for Coastal Studies marine education director Jesse Mechling told WBUR's Bianca Garcia. Whales — especially moms and their calves — come to Cape Cod Bay for the good eating and relative safety. "At least for a few months of the year, if they're hanging out in Cape Cod Bay, they're protected from most of the threats they face," Mechling said. Also encouraging: there are more whales being born — 18 so far this calving season, compared to 11 all of last year. The population in general has been rising, too, which has researchers cautiously optimistic. - Early risers: The whales are here earlier than usual. Typically, the population around the Cape peaks in March or April.
- Harsh history: Hunting decimated the population in the 1800s. In fact, the whales got their name because they were the "right" whale to hunt, Mechling said. The whales were given protection from whaling in the 1930s when their numbers dwindled to around 100.
- Dangers ahoy: Though the population is ticking up, they're far from safe. The number of whales entangled in fishing gear increased in 2024, and boat strikes pose a risk to these swimmers. Federal authorities are asking ship operators in the area to slow down.
- Catch a glimpse: The whales are readily visible from shore. Mechling said if you want to get a lookie-loo try Scusset, Sagamore, Sandy Neck or Manomet beaches. He said it's "magical" to see this incredibly endangered species just off the shore.
Never mind: The MBTA is abandoning an ambitious plan to redevelop 30 acres of land around the Red Line's Alewife station, citing a less-than-ideal real estate market and increased construction costs. A year ago, the T put out a request for developers to transform the site, which includes a massive, crumbling five-story parking garage. Now, it's back to the drawing board as it rescinds that request. - In its official statement, the T said it’s not giving up on these kinds of potential public-private redevelopment projects. "We remain interested in models like joint development and recognize its value, as it offers innovative ways to support the communities we serve. We will continue to explore and evaluate opportunities that align with our long-term goals." They say they'll work with the city of Cambridge to figure out how to improve the station (and the aging garage).
Arty, eh?: Keep your eyes peeled for a new art project in Boston — though they might be hard to miss. The installations, dubbed "Winteractive," include eight light-up seesaws, giant flowers that perform a New Orleans-style brass band show, and inflatable tentacles emerging from an office building. (Normal Downtown Boston stuff.) Downtown Boston Alliance president Michael Nichols told WBUR's Amy Sokolow that it's supposed to emulate Canadian festivals that bring art — and foot traffic — to the downtown in the colder months. "People kind of get stuck in their habits in the wintertime," Nichols told Amy. "And so we conceived of this three years ago as something to fill the gap between New Year's and the Boston Marathon in April — something to bring people downtown, to have a reason to gather, to have a reason to walk through the neighborhood." - You may remember last year's installations, which included naked inflatable figures peeking into office tower windows and a Nissan sedan smushed by a fallen satellite.
- There's a free kickoff event downtown tonight at 4 p.m. You can register here. The installations will stay up through the end of March.
P.S. — Did you miss our conversation at WBUR CitySpace last week all about Dry January and going alcohol-free? Lucky you, it's now online to view. Catch me in conversation with author and The Luckiest Club founder Laura McKowen, Mountainside Treatment Center's Jana Wu, and CJ Mutti, owner and founder of NA bottle shop Dry Humor. We talked everything from Dr. Oz's odd recommendations on drinking, to the golden age of NA beers. And for those of you partaking in Dry January — you're almost halfway through. Cheers! |
