Marine Mammal Sightings (January 19 - February 28, 2002) By Volunteers from NOAA's Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary Submitted by: NOAA's Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary Reporting Vessel: CISCO'S Port: Sea Landing, Santa Barbara Harbor Period: January 19 - February 28, 2002 Summary: CISCO'S boat, the Ranger 85, reported gray whale sightings from the Ventura coastline to the east end of Anacapa Island. Generally, the gray whales migrated north in pairs or alone. The one instance (February 17 2002) when it was not clear if the whales were travelling north, the pair was accompanied by a pod of about 100 common dolphins. (A megapod of common dolphins was spotted in the same place the two days prior.) CISCO's followed the whale pair for a couple of miles, but their other gray whale sightings were brief, as if the animals did not want to be encountered. Notably, there were two apparent cow/calf pairs, the first recorded this season. Coordinates Reported: Date Location Qty Species Description 02/15/02 34 01 N 119 20 W [east of Anacapa] 2 Gray Whale Travelling West 02/16/02 34 11.65 N 119 25.71 W 1 Gray Whale Heading 270 degrees at 4 knots 02/17/02 34 07 N 119 W [off platform Gina] 2 Gray Whale Heading 2 degrees at 3 knots; 100+ Common Dolphin present 02/18/02 34 04.081 N 119 09.897 W 2 Gray Whale Cow and calf 02/24/02 34 52 N 119 29 W 2 Gray Whale Apparently one adult with calf; travelling west at 4 knots Submitted by: NOAA's Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary Reporting Vessel: DOUBLE DOLPHIN Port: Sea Landing, Santa Barbara Harbor Period: January 19 - February 28, 2002 Summary: The DOUBLE DOLPHIN's sightings occurred within 5 miles of the Santa Barbara coastline. All were adults or young adults and were migrating north, either alone or in pairs. Additionally, there were sightings of humpbacks whales in our gray whale migration corridor; the humpback usually appear from late spring to early fall. Dolphins and various sea birds were also sighted in the area, which is usual. Coordinates Reported: Date Location Qty Species Description 02/16/02 34 20.675 N 119 45.251 W 1 Humpback Whale Feeding and travelling at about 4 knots; dolphins present 02/20/02 Directly off Santa Barbara Harbor 1 Gray Whale Juvenile travelling west at about 3-1/2 knots 02/24/02 34 21.587 N 119 45.544 W 2 Humpback Whale Travelling north at 3 knots 02/24/02 34 21.896 N 119 48.502 W 2 Gray Whale Adults travelling north at 3 knots 02/24/02 34 22.818 N 119 48.509 W 1 Humpback Whale Adult, about 30' long, heading 210 degrees, at 3 knots; pelicans & dophins present/ feeding 02/25/02 34 24.05 N 119 21.47 W 1 Gray Whale Adults heading 265 degrees at 3.3 knots 02/27/02 34 23.9 N 119 48.14 W 2 Gray Whale Adults heading 265 degrees at 3.3 knots Submitted by: NOAA's Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary Reporting Vessel: CONDOR Port: Sea Landing, Santa Barbara Harbor Period: January 19 - February 28, 2002 Summary: The CONDOR has taken from one to three trips per day within the Santa Barbara Channel, either along the greater Santa Barbara coastline or between there and the north coast of Santa Cruz Island. All of the gray whales were migrating north, with the possible exception of the trio on February 13 2002, which travelled east along Santa Cruz Island. The sightings ranged from 1 to 3 gray whales at a time, and there were separate encounters with humpbacks and perhaps even a a minke whale; usually we encounter humpback whales in this area from late spring through early fall. Additionally, there were sightings of Dall's porpoises, Pacific white-sided dolphins, common dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, California sea lions, and an elephant seal, as well as various birds. Coordinates Reported: Date Location Qty Species Description 01/19/02 32 21.022 N 119 44 W 2 Gray Whale One adult & one yearling, travelling north at 3 knots 02/09/02 34 22.916 N 119 51.559 W 1 Gray Whale Heading west at 4 knots; 1 Elephant Seal present 02/13/02 34 03.576 N 110 48.077 W 3 Gray Whale Adults; heading 080 at 4 knots; California Sea Lions present 02/13/02 34 21.269 N 119 43.460 W 2 Humpback Whale Feeding; heading 270; circling 02/15/02 34 21.690 N 119 37.868 W 2 Gray Whale Heading 1250 at 3.5 knots 02/16/02 34 20.688 N 119 45.336 W 1 Humpback Whale   02/20/02 34 22.825 N 119 51.001 W 3 Gray Whale One whale breached; megapod of Common Dolphins nearby 02/21/02 34 22.776 N 119 49.115 W 1 Minke Whale Likely species identification, not confirmed 02/23/02 34 22.100 N 119 45.068 W 1 Gray Whale Headed west at 2-3 knots 02/24/02 1 mi. offshore near UCSB 1 Gray Whale Juvenile headed northwest at 3-4 knots; diving Brown Pelicans present 02/24/02 2.5 mi. off Coal Oil Point 1 Gray Whale Juvenile 02/24/02 2.5 mi. off Coal Oil Point 3 Gray Whale Adults on northward migration 02/28/02 34 22.242 N 119 51.111 5 Gray Whale Two separate pods; heading 250 degrees at 3 knots Submitted by: NOAA's Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary Reporting Vessel: SUNSET KIDD Port: Sea Landing, Santa Barbara Harbor Period: January 19 - February 28, 2002 Summary: The SUNSET KIDD has just begun its gray whale trips for this migration season. Sightings on the sailboat occurred within 4 to 5 miles of the Santa Barbara coastline. It was not apparent which part of the migration--either north or south--they were undertaking. A separate sighting of 10 Pacific white-sided dolphins was also recorded in the same area. Coordinates Reported: Date Location Qty Species Description 02/15/02 5 mi. off Summerland 3 Gray Whale Adults travelling at 3 knots 02/16/02 4 mi. S. of Coal Oil Point 3 Gray Whale   Submitted by: NOAA's Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary Reporting Vessel: RACHEL G Port: Stearns Wharf, Santa Barbara Harbor Period: January 19 - February 28, 2002 Summary: The RACHEL G has gone on at least one trip per day, and often two or three trips, within 1 to 7 miles of the greater Santa Barbara coastline. On February 27 2002, five gray whales were encountered during the morning, but the data was not collected. The recorded sightings show the gray whales migrating north, alone or in pairs. Within our migragion corridor, but aside from gray whale sightings, the RACHEL G also reported separate encounters with common dolphins, which fed with California sea lions and various birds such as commorants and pelicans. Coordinates Reported: Date Location Qty Species Description 02/24/02 34 23.75 N 119 50.29 W 2 Gray Whale One juvenile & one adult, headed west at 3 to 3.5 knots 02/24/02 34 22.035 N 119 46.544 W 3 Gray Whale Headed west at 4 knots 02/24/02 2 mi. off Hope Ranch 1 Gray Whale Headed west. Copyright 2002 Journey North. All Rights Reserved. Please send all questions, comments, and suggestions to our feedback form