We can recall Kirk Douglas strumming a ukulele and singing in a Disney movie, “I’ve got a whale of a tale to tell you.” Well, this time of year curious San Diegans will board all sorts of boats to get close glimpses of the mass migrating pods of whales passing by, not far from our shores. And maybe they’ll have tales, too. Although we can get within spouting range, scientists are still trying to learn more about them. “We don’t know about their life-span in the water or their specific methods of communication,” said Kristin Evans, director of education at Birch Aquarium. “There’s still a lot of mystery about these animals.”  Regarding ship-whale collision reports, Evans said, “I can speak to the migration but not the complications they might encounter.” A few weeks ago, the carcass of a fin whale was found on the Point Loma shore, an obvious victim of a collision with a ship. “These spectacular animals travel between 12,000 and 14,000 miles from the Bering Sea, leaving in October to eventually reach Mexico’s lagoons,” she said. “It’s a time for humans and these huge animals to meet … hopefully it’s positive. Although they begin passing here in December and early January, the largest number goes by in February. “Their return to the north in late March or April is swifter and usually farther out at sea, possibly because of a different current.” The whales aren’t in a hurry, usually moving about three to five miles an hour, occasionally diving to the bottom for food. The aquarium charters Flagships Cruises’ tour boats for sightseers. Passengers are likely to spot frolicking dolphins and porpoises along the way. Evans said the whales, numbering about 20,000, have been at the brink of extinction twice, but have been able to bounce back.  Name change — The La Jolla Motor Car Classic at the Cove will now be known as the La Jolla Concours d’Elegance and is scheduled for April 1. After all, that’s really what it’s been for the past seven years anyway. The sponsoring La Jolla Historical Society has scheduled a book signing March 30. UCSD additions — The La Jolla Playhouse has commissioned a group of current and former students from UCSD’s Graduate Playwriting Program to create new pieces specifically for the production of Moving Arts’ “The Car Plays: San Diego,” running Feb. 23 – March 4. Students creating new pieces specifically for the show include Jennifer Barclay, Lila Rose Kaplan, Alex Lewin and David Myers. Additionally, seven plays will be helmed by local directors: University of San Diego theater faculty member Lisa Berger, UCSD theater professor Robert Castro, Ion Theatre executive artistic director Claudio Raygoza, Mo’olelo artistic director Seema Sueko, North Coast Rep artistic associate Matt Thompson, Moxie Theatre artistic director Delicia Turner-Sonnenberg and San Diego Repertory Theatre artistic director Sam Woodhouse. Performance times for “The Car Plays: San Diego” are Thursdays and Fridays at 5:30 p.m., 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays at 3 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 and can be ordered by calling (858) 550-1010 or online at LaJollaPlayhouse.org. — Johnny McDonald is a longtime writer and columnist for the San Diego Community Newspaper Group. He can be reached at [email protected].