Today's Report Includes:
Photo: Jean Louis
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The
whales have reached Puget Sound! The parade of northbound Eschrichtius
robustus appears to be in full swing. With 53 northbound whales
counted so far in March, observers for Oregon’s Whale
Watching Center are starting to see the first whales headed
north to the Arctic. But folks still
are awaiting the first returning whales in the waters of Kodiak,
Alaska. |
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Next week, whale numbers
past Oregon should increase and observers are ready!
Oregon’s coast-wide "Whale Watch Week” is
March 24-31, with volunteers counting whales passing 28 locations
along the Oregon coast. Read the news! >> |
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In stormy seas, high winds, fog, clouds, rain or clear weather — the whales are heading north! What’s it like for the volunteers who spend long hours, watching and waiting to count passing whales? Would you be able to do it? Sure! Just take a few tips from ACS volunteer Mike Hawe. Learn the whale watchers’ lingo:
- Whale Watchers' Lingo: How Far Offshore?>>
Photo Mike Hawe
After you take Mike’s lesson (above), test your skills!
- Pretend
you're a whale watcher and fill in these blanks to call out the
whale spout you see viewed in the binoculars:
"BLOW! ____ degrees at ___ mil. The whale is ___ miles (____ kilometers) offshore."
Write your answer in your Gray Whale Journal. >>
After the turnaround, we look for pulses, or surges in sightings as the newly-pregnant females, the males and the juveniles of previous years head north. Then we look for the peak in those numbers (before the new moms and babies begin heading north). In California the peak week, on average, occurs anywhere from the end of February to the end of March. The average peak day over all years has been on March 18.
- Do you think there's been a peak at LA? At Gray Whales Count near Santa Barbara, CA?
- Graphing gray whale data through the whole season? Add the latest data. >>
The Next Gray Whale Migration Update Will Be Posted on April 4, 2007.
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