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ACS/LA GRAY WHALE CENSUS AND BEHAVIOR PROJECT: 2012-2013
Census Project Director/Coordinator: Alisa Schulman-Janiger
Email: janiger@cox.net
For more information about daily sightings, visit: www.acs-la.org

Gray whale counts were up again this season - including a record megapod of 23+ gray whales - and we also enjoyed record numbers of fin whale and common dolphin sightings during the 2012/2013 ACS/LA Gray Whale Census and Behavior Project. This is the 33rd year (30th consecutive season) that the American Cetacean Society's Los Angeles Chapter has sponsored a gray whale census project from the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Our cliffside post is on the patio of the Point Vicente Interpretive Center (PVIC), 125 feet above kelp beds and rocky shoreline, with a seafloor that drops off abruptly nearshore. Trained volunteers collect data on gray whales and other cetaceans (identifications, counts, and behaviors). All participants use binoculars; several use spotting scopes to confirm and detail sightings. Weather data (visibility and sea conditions) is recorded at least twice hourly.

COVERAGE: Our census station operated for 2,033 hours over the 171 days between 1 December 2012 and 20 May 2013 (averaging nearly 12 hours/day); we continued our extended season (to May 20) to cover the tail end of the migration. The 86 volunteers contributed 9,950 effort hours. The 10 core volunteers that donated over 200 hours each, totaling over 36% of our effort hours (and the number of volunteered days) include: Joyce Daniels (151), Sheila Parker (146), Greg Gentry (131), Bob Jensen (87), Carol Fritts (85), Natalie Massey (80), Gerrie Teague (78), Libby Helms (70), Cynthia Woo (43), and Kris De-Roo (27). Twenty-eight additional volunteers donated at least 100 hours each (totaling over 36% of our effort hours). Experienced observers anchor all shifts.

GRAY WHALE COUNTS ROSE: We spotted 771 southbound and 1,152 northbound gray whales (672 southbound and 1,133 northbound gray whales last season). This was our eighth highest southbound count (highest in 16 years), and our tenth highest northbound count (highest in 12 years). Whale counts have fluctuated hugely over 29 previous seasons: southbound numbers varied from 301-1291, and northbound counts varied from 521-3412.  Although most of the estimated 20,000 gray whales migrate past California, we spot only a small proportion. Gray whales – especially adults – off Palos Verdes tend to travel further offshore, notably during the southbound migration. Northbound whales – particularly cow/calf pairs – tend to hug the coastline. These trends, combined with extended springtime observation hours, produce higher northbound counts. Shifting migratory corridors and weather conditions result in annually fluctuating shore-based counts. The number of whales that complete the migration varies, and feeding ground conditions (especially ice coverage) affect migratory timing and corridors. Poor visibility drastically affects counts; fog compromised our visibility during portions of nearly the same number of days this season (60) as last season (62).              

PEAKS AND TURN-AROUND DATES: The southbound migration started early again with more whales - resulting in near-record high December counts of 182 southbound grays (*record last season: 191 southbound, 3 northbound). The peak southbound count was 38 whales on 20 January  – including a megapod record of at least 23 gray whales!  Our previous peak counts ranged from 15-98. We spotted 122 southbound whales during the peak southbound week of 22-28 January (117 last season). This was a more typical season, with an extended gap between migration phases: we saw few gray whales during the last 3 weeks of February. The official turn-around date (when daily northbound whales exceed southbound whales) was on 20 February. We spotted 34 northbound whales during the “southbound migration”, and 39 southbound whales during the “northbound migration”. Our peak northbound count of 74 occurred on 27 March – our highest daily gray whale count in 15 years! Previous peaks counts have ranged from 20-152. We recorded 260 gray whales during the peak northbound (main migration pulse) week of 23-29 March (152 last season). We recorded- 155 gray whales (66 cow/calf pairs) during the peak northbound (cow/calf migration pulse) week of 22-28 April (171 last year). The northbound cow/calf pulse generally peaks 5-6 weeks later that the main pulse; calves can nurse longer and strengthen swimming skills in Baja lagoons before initiating their perilous migration northward.

CALF COUNTS: MANY NORTHBOUND CALVES! We spotted 21 newborn southbound calves (2.7% of southbound migrants), from 3 January-5 February, the thirteenth lowest newborn calf percentage – and the lowest since 2.6% in 2000-2001. (Last season we saw 21 newborn calves: 3.1% of the southbound migrants). Our record high count occurred during the 1997-98 season (106 calves, 8.6% of southbound migrants). Previous southbound calf counts ranged from 3-60 (0.5%-8.9% of southbound migrants). We tallied 138 northbound calves (12.0% of northbound migrants) from 22 March - 16 May, our seventh highest northbound calf count, peaking with 15 calves on 24 April. Besides our two highest calf counts (last season’s 260 northbound calves, 22.9% of northbound migrants; 1996-97: 222 calves, 13.8% of northbound migrants), previous calf counts ranged from 11-196 (0.9%-18.5% of northbound migrants). Additionally, we logged probable cow/calf sightings of one southbound pair and nine northbound pairs.

BEHAVIORS AND HUMAN INTERACTIONS: We saw gray whales mill, roll, lunge, breach, spyhop (more than ever), bubble blast, mate, and nurse calves.  Many calves played in the kelp, rolled on their moms, or rode on their moms’ backs. We saw probable feeding - juveniles that bobbed up/down or swam with open mouths at the surface. We also saw pods separate and merge. On five days we witnessed near-collisions: six private boats closely approached whales, one nearly running them over! The grays clearly reacted: a few changed direction and headed offshore, some dove longer, and others switched to low profile behavior.

HIGHER COUNTS: Our higher gray whale counts reflect trends reported by other coastal census stations such as that run by NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service), who conducts the official gray whale census (and Gray Whales Count in Goleta).  NMFS recently reanalyzed its gray whale abundance estimates from 1967-2007, lowering the 2006-2007 estimate to 19,126. Key indicators of a healthy population are higher adult and calf counts; these factored into the NMFS’s decision to recommend the removal of gray whales from the endangered species list in 1994. Fluctuations in wild populations, the number of whales that complete the migration, weather conditions, and observer experience affect whale counts. Feeding ground conditions affect migratory timing and paths. The gray whale population dropped with a major mortality event (1999 and 2000), followed by three seasons of low calf production. Over the past several years, Arctic warming has led to a northward shift in distribution of gray whale prey (mud-dwelling shrimp-like amphipods): they thrive in cooler water, feeding on algae that fall from ice sheets. Gray whales also shifted northward (following prey distribution); strandings decreased and calf production increased. However, this can delay migration: they might ignore the initial migration cue (shortened daylight hours) so that they can rebuild blubber that allows them to fast during migration and on Baja nursery grounds, and provides energy to withstand disease, storms, and killer whale attacks. Gray whale calf recruitment appears healthy; good numbers of observed calves continue to reverse the past trend of lower counts.

OTHER SPECIES SIGHTED: We spotted 13 other marine mammal species over 171 days. Comparing this season (to last season), we saw common dolphin on 162 days (156), bottlenose dolphin on 142 days (143), fin whales on 138 days (112),    
Pacific white-sided dolphin on 55 days (41), humpback whales on 17-19 days (5), blue whales on 15 days (8), Risso’s dolphin on 14 days (21), minke whales on 11-14 (24-27), KILLER WHALES* on 6 days (10), probable fin/blue whales on 11 days, other unidentified whales on 20 days (11), California sea lions on 163 days – including many huge groups of juveniles (165), harbor seals on 105 days (95), California sea otter on 1 days (6), and a VERY RARE Steller sea lion on 1 day (0).
* KILLER WHALES: Five sightings were of four members of the very well-known transient family known as the CA51s, who visited ten times last season! *Please help contribute to our California Killer Whale Project: send photos/sightings to: janiger@cox.net; I will match your images to our catalog, and notify you with the results and sighting histories.
OTHER SPECIES SIGHTED IN PREVIOUS YEARS: sperm whale, false killer whale, pilot whale, northern right whale dolphin, Dall’s porpoise, beaked whales, and northern elephant seal.
GRAY WHALE INTERACTIONS: gray whales often interacted with other marine mammals including sea lions, bottlenose dolphin, common dolphin, and Pacific white-sided dolphin. We also observed mixed species groupings: mixed dolphin species, dolphins with sea lions, and other whales with dolphins and/or sea lions.
MISCELLANEOUS: A peregrine falcon was spotted on two days, and an osprey on one day; these species are continuing to recover from DDT (pesticide) contamination that decimated their populations in our area.
   
OBSERVERS' HOURS: (*new observers): Greg Gentry* (584), afternoon anchor Joyce Daniels (573), Sheila Parker (535), Gerrie Cole Teague (361), Bob Jensen (334), Cynthia Woo (305), Libby Helms (302), Kris De-Roo (219), guest book summarizer Natalie Massey (211), Carol Fritts (209), Richard Scholtz (195), Tony Carrillo (193), Toni Thompson* (177), Bill Hatcher (167), Bette Williams (156), Carl Gadow (148), Corine Sutherland (139), Mike Malone (138), Dee Whitehurst (135), Joyce Jessoe (133), Betty Larson (125), Carol Tokushige (125), Wes Tokushige (125), Jo Bonds (120), Pam Ryono (119), Karin Campbell (118), Terry Hayes (117), Kim Watson (117), Ann Gardner (116), Barbara Stone (116), Amy Heintz (115), Pat Ashenfelter (112), Stephanie Brito (110),  Census Project Director/Coordinator Alisa Schulman-Janiger (109), Stephanie Bryan (109), Tina Hoff (107), Laurie Thomson* (106), Carla Mitroff* (102),  M’Liz Callender (99), Skip Eastman (97), Deborah Wuliger (96), Steve Gardner (96), Cathy Ragland (96), Gordon Gates (94), Larry Howe (88), JoLinda Garnier (85), John Norris (84),  Jean Rodgers (84), Robin Riggs (83), Suzan Carne (81),  Pat Harpole (80), Cathy Landrum (80), Andy Veek (79), Jan Malone (72), Nancy DeLong (69), Terry Bidle* (68),  Mario Moreno (66), Deborah Leon* (66), Irene Kurata* (65),  Denise Donegan (63), Richard Kawasaki (52), Robin Riggs from  Colorado (50), Barbara Eidel* (50),  Tricia Horn* (49), Dave Morse (48), Ken Ragland (45), Linda Jebo (44), Alan Koch (41), Gloria Koch (41), Erlinda Cortez (37), Brent Young (37), Katie Wade* (35), April Ryan (34), Leslie Brucker (34), Jean DeGraff (31), Michael White (31), Laura Marcella (29), Tom Budar (29), Norma Lira (29), Havilah Abrego (28), Mike Brucker (28), Kris Clifford (19), Renee Rosado* (19),  Fran Austin from Colorado (15), Hugh Ryono (13),  and Carol Harrison (13).

GUESTBOOK LOG: USA: 1140 visitors from 43 states (Illinois highest). Foreign: 204 from 33 foreign countries (Canada highest).

COMPUTER ENTRIES: We especially thank Dave Janiger for computer entries.

JOIN US! Contact Alisa Schulman-Janiger at: janiger@cox.net. No experience necessary: on-site training in November and December. Highly recommended: attend the Whalewatch Training Class at Cabrillo Marine Aquarium (CMA) [(310) 548-7563; www.cabrilloaq.org], co-sponsored by CMA and ACS/LA (www.acs-la.org). On Tuesday nights, October-March, volunteers are trained to become Whalewatch boat guides and classroom lecturers. ACS/LA offers free lectures from invited specialists the last Tuesday of each month at the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, and all day whalewatching trips: gray whales off Santa Catalina Island in March; humpback and blue whales in the Santa Barbara Channel - summertime (www.acs-la.org).

*Please contact Census Project Director for permission to cite thiscopyright-protected data in publications: janiger@cox.net

 

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