Gray Whale Migration Update: February 7, 2001 Today's Report Includes: On the Whale Trail A Whale of a Baby Ideal Nurseries: Challenge Question #1 Teacher Tip Got Milk? Challenge Question #2 The Journey North Begins! On the Whale Trail Gray Whale Nurseries (Click on face of map) This time of year, gray whales are still plowing south by the hundreds. Their 5,000-6,000 mile swim takes them from their frigid Arctic feeding grounds to warm, sheltered lagoons that offer the ideal place for them to mate and give birth. Thousands of whale watchers from the West Coast of North America and other places far and wide will come out onto the open Pacific waters to see the migrating whales. Since December, gray whales have been arriving in the four calving and mating lagoons of Mexico's Baja California coast. In Mexico, photographer and whale-watching tour operator Keith Jones saw his first gray whale of the 2001 season on December 30. "From her actions and from her awkward rolling progress I believe she was very close to giving birth. It seemed as if the weight of the unborn baby was pulling her aft section down as she porpoised through the water." A Whale of a Baby! At the southern end of the migration trail, the lagoons are lively places with arriving whales, newborn calves, and tourists who come for an up-close view of these magnificent marine mammals. From Laguna Ojo de Liebre this week, Keith describes some sights, including a young whale calf. Picture this: "The baby still shows the deep facial folds that are common on babies a week and less in age--sort of like a rumpled shirt that's been stuck in the laundry basket, then finally taken out and placed on a hanger. We also saw another, younger female and baby who seemed to be swimming along. We think the slightly smaller female was acting as nursemaid or helper. We saw breeching whales, head-standing whales, hundreds of mother-and-baby pairs, and a very friendly and curious older female who approached our boat numerous times. She came so close we could count her facial hairs." Ideal Nurseries Gray whale nursery lagoon. Photo courtesy Keith Jones. Take a look at this photo of one of the four main lagoons where gray whales come to mate and give birth. What do you think the area is like? You might guess that the lagoon entrance is shallow. In fact, it must be entered at high tide in a boat driven by a captain with years of experience in weaving between the sandbars and breaking waves. The shallow water and narrow entrance are not conditions that orcas care for. This gives gray whales and their babies the advantage over the predator orcas when in the lagoon. For gray whales, these lagoons have many qualities that make them worth swimming five or six thousand miles to reach. You'll see why when you read the following account about gray whale mothers and babies. Then come back to answer our first challenge question. Holy Cow! What a Calf Challenge Question #1 "What are at least three reasons why Mexico's lagoons make such good whale nurseries? Why is each reason important to gray whales during their breeding and calving season?" (To respond to this question, please follow the instructions below.) Teacher Tip As a class, identify key words in the text above and in "Holy Cow! What a Calf." List words, or make a concept map or word web for nursery lagoons. Discuss why each key word might be important to gray whale adults or newborn calves. Then send us your response to Challenge Question #1. Got Milk? By our next report, some of the whales will be gone from the lagoons and headed on the journey north. For the babies, the race to build blubber has begun. How long did it take you to double your weight after you were born? You did all your growing on a diet of milk. So do baby whales--but they may gain more than 60 pounds a day! Look for clues in "Holy Cow! What a Calf" and you'll be able to answer our next challenge question. Challenge Question #2 "About how much will a calf weigh by the time it is two months old and begins the long migration north? Why is this weigh gain important?" (To respond to this question, please follow the instructions below.) The Journey North Begins! Whales are still streaming south, but the American Cetacean Society's (ACS) observation post on Palos Verde Peninsula (33.44N,-118.24W) has just reported three northbound whales! You can see the daily counts for yourself from Web sites of the ACS as well as Monterey Bay Whale Watch (36.37N,-121.54W). As the whales move northward up the coast, we'll be hearing first sightings and news from a network of observers along the way. Stay tuned! American Cetacean Society--Gray Whale Census and Behavior Project Monterey Bay Whale Watch--Marine Mammal Sightings How to Respond to Today's Challenge Questions: IMPORTANT: Answer only ONE question in each e-mail message. 1. Address an e-mail message to: jn-challenge-gwhale@learner.org 2. In the Subject Line of your message write: Challenge Question #1 (or #2). 3. In the body of EACH message, give your answer to ONE of the questions above. The Next Gray Whale Migration Update Will Be Posted on February 21, 2001 Copyright 2001 Journey North. All Rights Reserved. Please send all questions, comments, and suggestions to our feedback form