Gray Whale
Migration Update: February 9, 2005
Welcome
to the Whale Trail
Track the Whales: Latest Data In each migration update, we'll share sightings and live data from two American Cetacean Society (ACS) Gray Whale Census sites. (See About This Study.) Whales are first counted along the coastal route as they pass the ACS-LA post near Los Angeles (click #5 on map above). Farther north, they're counted from a mainland post near Goleta, CA--10 miles west of Santa Barbara. (See #6 on map). Right now, no one is taking a census of animals going through the islands, but ACS-CI hopes that their data will help in determining the percentage of whales on both routes: along the coast and through the Channel Islands. How many will choose the shorter route? How long will it take for the first cow/calf pair (mother/baby pair) to swim from Los Angeles to the Channel Islands? When will the first cow/calf pair reach Kodiak on the Gulf of Alaska? Look for some answers in this seasons' data, collected from 1 February through mid May. This lesson explains how to lay the groundwork for our study, and how to collect, graph, and analyze the ACS data in each migration update: 1. COLLECT DATA. Here are your links to the latest data (Feb. 1-7, 2005), and a blank data sheet for recording data for the full month of February:
2. GRAPH DATA. Create your own graphs for each month's data, or use ours:
3.
ANALZYE DATA.
New data and guiding questions in each report will provide an opportunity to revisit and revise predictions. Many seasons of previous data exist for the ACS-Los Angeles study, but the ACS-Channel Islands census is in its very first year. That means many surprises and questions for the scientists and YOU! For example, here's something that the Channel Islands scientists think about: North? South? East? West? Challenge Question #1
Our first Challenge Question requires that you pull out a California map. Look at the coast and locate Goleta (34.40 N, -119.69 W). Here the ACS-CI is conducting a Gray Whale census of the northbound migration (whales en route from Mexico to Alaska). Then look at this photo and caption for another important clue. The question comes from Michael H. Smith, Research Chair of The American Cetacean Society-Channel Islands (ACS-CI). After you study the map and photo/caption, send us your answer to Michael's question:
(To respond to this question, please follow the instructions below.) Kiss for a Baby Whale Do you wonder what it would be like to look over the side of a small motorboat and have a huge gray whale mother and her curious baby glide up to you? Some lucky teens from Knoxville, Iowa show what it?s like. They went on a whale watching tour to Mexico last winter. Here?s tour leader Keith Jones?s video clip of a student kissing a baby whale!
Southbound Babies: Journaling Question Each year, a few gray whale calves are born before their mothers reach the warm, safe lagoons of Baja California Mexico where most of the births take place. Between Dec. 1 and 7 February, 26 southbound calves had been counted by the ACS-Los Angeles observers. How does being born in the open ocean during their mother's migration affect the calves? So far, scientists can only wonder. After all, it's tough to study what you can't see and keep track of. Read what two scientists think about southbound babies: Try
This! Journaling Question Teacher Tips: Assessment Strategies Journey North’s new Assessment section gives you a wide range of specific strategies and tools for weaving in continuous assessment, in alignment with the approach called for by The National Science Education Standards and other subject area standards. It’s there to help you! See: Try
This! Easy-to-Make Project Portfolios How to Respond to Today's Challenge Questions:
1. Address
an email message to: jn-challenge-gwhale@learner.org Copyright
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