Elephant seal tours in San Simeon start Saturday

Free informational presentations about the birthing season of the elephant seals will be held at the Cavalier Plaza, 250 San Simeon Ave. in San Simeon, followed by guided tours of the seal rookery at Piedras Blancas starting Saturday.

Talks and photos will be presented, followed by a question-and-answer period with a panel of guides from Friends of the Elephant Seal.

The rookery tour, conducted in small groups, will begin at the viewing site 30 minutes after the presentation. Tour groups will be assembled by the kiosk south of the marked parking lot on Highway 1.

January is the peak of birthing for the northern elephant seals, and females and pups, as well as large alpha males, can be observed closely from a boardwalk above the beach.

Tours will also be given Jan. 19 and Jan. 26. Doors open for all sessions at 9:30 a.m. with presentations to begin at 10 a.m. Coffee will be served.

Reservations are welcome, but not required. For details, call the Friends of the Elephant Seal at 924-1628 or go to www.elephantseal.org.

This story was originally published January 10, 2013 at 3:08 PM with the headline "Elephant seal tours in San Simeon start Saturday."