Gray Whale
Migration Update: March 9, 2005
Track the Whales: Latest Migration Data Make your own graphs using the data at the links below, or print and anayze our graphs. (For lesson background and new blank graphs/data sheets for March, see Tracking Gray Whale Migration from California Observation Posts)
Analyze the Data
Migration Math: Challenge Question #3
What’s the outlook for babies born during the southbound migration? If you’re curious, read more here: Field Notes and Video Clip from Laguna Ojo de Liebra, BCS Mexico
Keith Jones,
Baja Jones Adventures Race to Build Blubber: Challenge Question #4 Now you’ve seen a baby whale, or calf. Can you imagine it swimming 2,500 miles or more in just a few weeks? Right now the calves are doing serious spring training with their moms. They are nursing and gaining weight as fast as they can. How fast? Read more here, and then come back to answer our Challenge Question.
A spyhopping, gray-whale calf gave us a look as it swam by with mother, reported Michael H. Smith on March 1. Michael tells us about the weather when he reports the whale counts each day. Does this comment shed more light on last week’s Challenge Question #2? (Discussed below.) “ Our sighting range on a great day is maximum 5 to 6 miles with 3 to 4 the maximum on good days, and we know there are going to be days we can't see 1/4 mile. Throw on top of that that we are only on station most days from 10 AM to 4 PM. We are only seeing a sampling of whales that choose to go north through the Channel Islands region. Over time, our numbers may become meaningful when compared with the many census sites. “ I know a significant number of gray whales chose to go north through the Channel Islands, which is a more direct route north. How many? Don't know. But, those whales merge with our whales (and perhaps others) beyond Point Conception and swim by Wayne Perryman's site at Piedras Blancas. Since Wayne is particularly interested in calves, it will be very interesting to compare our data over time because we believe that many cow/calf pairs choose the coast route through the Channel. We'll see (maybe).”
Whale Watch Lingo: You’re the Observer! The gray whale migration isn't easy to track. Although most of the world's estimated 17,000 gray whales migrate past California, census takers spot only a small part. Sure, whales are big and they usually travel near shore; but some days the weather is bad and whales are hard to see. On other days they may travel farther offshore. And some folks might not be quite sure what they're looking at. This photo offers a clue that whales are out there. What is the clue? Whale watchers have their own lingo. If a whale watcher calls “BLOW, 300 degrees at 45 mil,” what does that mean? A great whale watcher named Mike gives you a fun lesson on whale watchers’ lingo below—-with a challenge to use what you learn. Check it out and decode the lingo: Why Still Heading South? Hear from the Experts Last time we asked you to write in your journal about reasons you think gray whales would still be traveling south so late. This week we share the thoughts of two gray whale experts, who wonder about this too! How do their thoughts compare with yours?
"Why is it valuable to record zeros in the migration data? What does that information tell you?" Iselin Middle School/7th graders answered in a nutshell: “The scientists record zeros in the migration data for grey whales so they can track what days they are seen and what days no whales are seen. (Danielle, Michael, Bassett, Rose) Their classmates Andrea, Joanne, Nastacia and Jewel tell us why: “It is valuable to record "zeros" for every day whales aren't seen because it helps scientists know on what days whales were not visible. It doesn't cause confusion in the data.”
Whales migrate 24/7. Some days, whales can be passing but no one can see them because of fog, drizzle, rain, or big waves. Whales might also be passing (like at night, or when they left due to bad visibility) when no census observers are there to see and record them. (Or you might not see the spout because you were watching a surfer.) When you see a zero in the data, you know the observers were watching for at least part of that day, but they saw no whales. If a zero had not been recorded, you might wonder if it meant nobody was watching. The challenge of counting whales makes us grateful to those dedicated observers at the observation posts, and to their zeros too!
Folks in Kodiak, Alaska are waiting eagerly for the whales. Each spring, they plan a big celebration when the whales begin to arrive from their winter lagoons in Mexico. Talks by experts, shark dissection, films, radio talk shows and children's activities are in the plans. You’ll find plenty of fun, right from your classroom. See: How to Respond to Today's Challenge Questions:
1. Address
an email message to: jn-challenge-gwhale@learner.org Copyright
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