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Journey North News will be posted on Wednesdays: Feb. 5, 19, Mar. 5, 19, Apr.2, 16, 30, May 14 Journey North News Gray Whale Migration Update: February 5, 2003 California gray whales are swimming both directions along the Pacific coast. The southbound migration is past its peak, and the first northbound whales were sighted Dec. 29. When will these whales reach Alaska? But more whales are still headed south than north, including at least 35 new calves. What?s the outlook for calves born in the open ocean before Mothers reach the sheltered lagoons of Mexico? If you can?t imagine kissing a baby whale, check out our video clip. And have fun with our newest photos, questions, and lessons. A fascinating new season of reports, photos, and lessons starts today! Gray Whale Migration Update: February 19, 2003 Gray whales are still plowing south in bigger numbers than the few whales heading north. Visit whales in the Baja lagoons yourself with a lovely field report from guide Ellie. (This nonfiction selection comes with one of our great new Reading and Writing Connections.) A new video clip lets you see and hear the blowholes on a whale baby?s head open and close. We tell you what last week?s mystery photo was, and take a close look at a gray whale?s mammoth head with the start of our study on whale adaptations. Gray Whale Migration Update: March 5, 2003 What an exciting week for whale watchers! There was bubble blasting and breaching for happy whale watchers from Mexico to Canada. In California they saw the first northbound cow/calf pair. And the migration turned around, with more northbound whales than southbound. This report takes you on a photo tour of Laguna Ojo de Liebre and offers another another plunge into whale adaptations. See this week?s mystery photo and face 3 new challenge questions too! Gray Whale Migration Update: March 19, 2003 Eschrichtius robustus is parading north all along the Pacific coast, but no reports in Alaska yet. Wait till you hear about the unusual baby whale born in the lagoons, where moms and calves wait to start their migration. This week?s great lessons and activities will keep you busy till the next report. Go whales! Gray Whale Migration Update: April 2, 2003 A few moms and babies have been reported heading north, and Wayne Perryman predicts an early migration. The first grays arrived in Seward, Alaskaon April 1! See first-hand field reports from the lagoons, where moms and babies are spring training and numbers will be dwindling. There?s a lot to learn from your answers and Dr. Dave Rugh?s comments about this season?s albino baby whale, plus a peek through Mike?s binoculars to calculate how far offshore. Gray Whale Migration Update: April 16, 2003 Whales have now arrived in Kodiak, Alaska, and so have the "Kodiak Killers." Many more moms and babies have started the journey north. At his census location near San Diego, Wayne Perryman has this exciting news: "Last week was steady, with a big day on the 8th of 14 c/c pairs. So far we are up to 45 pairs, which is the third- highest count for the 10 years of survey effort. So they are early, there are lots, or maybe both." Gray Whale Migration Update: April 30, 2003 The first gray whale baby has arrived in Seward, Alaska! At the other end of the migration trail, Wayne Perryman is excited about the high mom/baby counts, and "the party is not over yet." As the cow/calf migration peaks, it looks like one of the best years in a long time! Migrating is hard work. How many kilocalories does a 40-ton whale burn per day? FINAL Gray Whale Migration Update: May 14, 2003 The migration is almost over, but stragglers still reward whale watchers. At his cow/calf census station, Wayne Perryman has counted 251 calves--more than the total counts of four recent years. After they get to ice-free feeding grounds, how much food does it take to fill a gray whale's stomach? Could you eat sea ice, or is it too salty? Discover some eye-opening issues that face gray whales and explore our lessons in developing informed opinions and debating values and viewpoints. Here's to a feasting summer for the whales!                               Copyright 2003 Journey North. All Rights Reserved. Please send all questions, comments, and suggestions to jn-help@learner.org