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ACS/LA GRAY WHALE CENSUS AND BEHAVIOR PROJECT: 2013-2014
Census Project Director/Coordinator: Alisa Schulman-Janiger
Email: janiger@cox.net
For daily sighting details, visit: www.acs-la.org

Higher gray whale counts, record numbers of northbound gray whale calves, record sightings of bottlenose and common dolphin,  and a very rare false killer whale sighting highlighted our 2013/2014 ACS/LA Gray Whale Census and Behavior Project. This is the 34th year (31st 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 2,046 hours over the 174 days between 1 December 2013 and 23 May 2014 (averaging nearly 12 hours/day). The 110 volunteers contributed 11,302 effort hours. The 15 core volunteers that donated over 200 hours each, totaling nearly 40% of our effort hours (and the number of volunteered days) include: Joyce Daniels (164), Sheila Parker (115), Greg Gentry (109), Stacy Gremminger (85), Natalie Massey (81), Bob Jensen (81), Tom Budar (77), April Ryan (68), Gerrie Teague (67), Richard Scholtz (66), Kathy Beckman (53), Tony Carrillo (52), Rod Jensen (50), Bette Williams (50),  and Cynthia Woo (37). Twenty-six additional volunteers donated 100-199  hours each, totaling nearly 31% of our effort hours. Experienced observers anchor all shifts.

GRAY WHALE COUNTS ROSE:We spotted 1,214 southbound and 1,741 northbound gray whales (771 southbound and 1,152 northbound gray whales last season). This was our 3rd highest southbound count (highest in 16 seasons), and our 7th highest northbound count (highest in 25 seasons). Whale counts have widely fluctuated over 30 previous seasons: southbound numbers varied from 301-1,301, and northbound counts varied from 521-3,412.  Although most of the ~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 the same number of days this season (66) as last season.                             

PEAKS AND TURN-AROUND DATES:The southbound migration started early again with more whales: we had record high December counts of 364 southbound and 4 northbound grays (*previous record two seasons ago: 191 southbound, 3 northbound). The peak southbound count was 39 whales on 27 January. Our previous peak counts ranged from 15-98. We spotted 190 southbound whales during the peak southbound week of 26 December-1 January (122 last season). Instead of the typical gap, we had a short overlap between migration phases. The official turn-around date (when daily northbound whales exceed southbound whales) was on 23 February - a bit later than usual. We spotted 50 northbound whales during the “southbound migration”, and 55 southbound whales during the “northbound migration”. Our peak northbound count of 94 (plus 7 southbound) grays occurred on 1 March – our highest daily gray whale count in 25 years! Previous northbound peaks counts have ranged from 20-152. We recorded 296 gray whales during the peak northbound week (main migration pulse) of 16-22 March (260 last season).

CALF COUNTS: We spotted 14 newborn southbound calves (1.2% of southbound migrants), from 24 December-19 February, the second lowest newborn calf percentage;  the lowest percentage (0.5%) was recorded in 1988-1989. (Last season we saw 21 newborn calves: 2.7% of the southbound migrants). Our record high southbound calf 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 a record *286 northbound calves (16.4% of northbound migrants), between 7 March-23 May, peaking with 15 calves on 25 April. Last year we counted 138 northbound calves (12.0% of northbound migrants). Our previous record calf counts included 260 northbound calves ( 22.9% of northbound migrants) in 2011-2012,  and 222 calves (13.8% of northbound migrants) in 1996-97. Other calf counts ranged from 11-196 (0.9%-18.5% of northbound migrants). We recorded 77 cow/calf pairs (166 gray whales) between 2-8 May, and 75 cow/calf pairs (174 gray whales) between 19-25 April: these were our peak northbound weeks (cow/calf migration pulse); this cow/calf pulse generally peaks 5-6 weeks later that the main pulse, which allows calves to nurse longer and strengthen swimming skills in Baja lagoons before initiating their perilous migration northward. We also logged additional probable cow/calf sightings: 3 southbound cow/calf pairs, and 6 northbound pairs.

BEHAVIORS AND HUMAN INTERACTIONS: We watched gray whales milling, rolling, lunging, breaching, spyhopping, bubble blasting, and mating, and a record number of nursing calves. Many calves were playing in kelp, rolling on moms, or riding on moms’ backs. We noted probable feeding: whales bobbing up/down or swimming with open mouths at the surface. We saw pods separate or  merge. On 10 days we witnessed near-collisions involving a total of 15 boats (13 private) that closely approached whales; on 3 days, we saw near-collisions with a total of 6 jet skis. The grays clearly reacted: one half-breached, one fluke slapped; some turned inshore, others zig-zagged, dove longer, slowed down, or became stealthy:"snorkeling" ( switching 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's 2006-2007 population estimate was 19,126; the current estimate is 20,000-22,000. Gray whales were removed 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 shifted northward, following their prey; strandings decreased and calf production increased. Although we saw an early migration this season; at times grays 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 remains very healthy; high numbers of documented calves continue to reverse the past trend of lower counts.

OTHER SPECIES SIGHTED: We spotted 13 other marine mammal species over 174 days. Comparing this season (to last season), we saw common dolphin** on 166 days (162), bottlenose dolphin** on 147 days (142), fin whales on 107-118 days (138+),  Pacific white-sided dolphin on 54 days (55), Risso’s dolphin on 20 days (14), minke whales on 18-21 (11-14), humpback whales on 9-11 (17-19), KILLER WHALES* on 7 days (6), false killer whales on 1 day (0), sperm whale on 1 day (0), unidentified whales on 22 days (20), California sea lion on 163 days (163), harbor seal on 102 days (105), and a VERY RARE Steller sea lion on 2 day (1). * KILLER WHALES: Sightings included a well-known transient matriline - the CA51s - who visited multiple times over the past four seasons! *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 (PREVIOUS YEARS): blue whale, pilot whale, northern right whale dolphin, Dall’s porpoise, beaked whale, northern elephant seal, and southern sea otter.  
GRAY WHALE INTERACTIONS: gray whales often interacted with other marine mammals including sea lions, bottlenose dolphin, common dolphin, Pacific white-sided dolphin, and even fin whales. 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): afternoon  anchor Joyce Daniels (663), Greg Gentry  (488), Sheila Parker (400), April Ryan (330),  Bob Jensen (302), Richard Scholtz (256), Cynthia Woo (254), Gerrie Cole Teague (253), Stacy Gremminger* (252), Kathy Beckman* (241), guestbook archivist Natalie Massey (226), Rod Jensen* (222), Tom Budar (217), Tony Carrillo (204), Bette Williams (201), Mike Malone (190), Corine Sutherland (178), Carl Gadow (171), Carol Tokushige (165), Wes Tokushige (165), Gordon Gates (164), Betty Larson (155), Dee Whitehurst (152), Jo Bonds (147), M’Liz Callender (146), Lynn White* (143), Joyce Jessoe (136), Andy Veek (133), Laurie Thomson (128), Census Project Director/Coordinator Alisa Schulman-Janiger (127), Karin Campbell (126), Barbara Stone (123), Terry Bidle (122), Tina Hoff (122), Cheryl Revkin* (122), Stephanie Bryan (119), Pam Ryono (119), Kim Watson (116), David Zahniser (114), Eric Hemion* (109), Tricia Horn (101), Carla Krysiak* (95),  Carla Mitroff (91),  Kris De-Roo (91), Pat Ashenfelter (90), Tammy Da Costa Gomez (90), Jean Rodgers (87), Skip Eastman (87), Nancy DeLong (86), Robin Riggs (86), Amy Heintz (85), Suzan Carne (82), Deborah Leon (81), Pat Harpole (78), Justin Greenman* (77), Stephanie Brito (74), Victoria Chalaya* (73),  Dave Morse (70), John Norris (69), Norma Lira (69), Terry Hayes (65), Stan Kaminski* (59), Erlinda Cortez (57), Richard Kawasaki (53), September Sucher* (51), Deborah Wuliger (51), Irene Kurata (49),  Betina Loudermilk* (48), Sally Sadler* (47), Karl Veek* (47), Britt Simon* (46), Janet McClellan* (45), Jean DeGraff (45), Reba Devine* (43), Casey Chase* (42), Eric Austin Yee* (42), Denise Donegan (41),  Barbara Eidel (40), Donna McLaughlin  (38),  Joyce Neu* (37), JoLinda Garnier (36), Larry Howe (35), Vikki Franck* (34),  Leslie Brucker (34),  Debra Kettler* (34), Maryke Brannin* (31), Jean Woodrow* (31), 
Robin Riggs - Colorado (28), Jan Malone (28), Jim Matthews* (28), Dick Brannin* (27), Renee Rosado (27),  Susie Yang* (25), Mike White (25), Mike Brucker (24), Toni Thompson (24), Lisa Margolis (23), Prarthana Shankar* (20), Gerry Lampbert* (20), Laura Marcella (20), Kris Clifford (19), Saskia Fagan* (18), Nancy Johnson* (19), Diana Bahr* (17), Christy Varni (17), Margaret Cape* (16), Phil Gash* (15), Carol Fritts (13), Chris Mumford* (10), and Linda Jebo (10).

IN MEMORIUM: We lost our census observer Carol Fritts in June. She generously volunteered for 960 hours over 316 days, during the past 5 seasons; she often alerted us to incoming whales from our nearby "pre-census census" location. .

GUESTBOOK LOG: USA: USA: 1,407 visitors from 46 states (Illinois highest). Foreign: 210 from 36 foreign countries (UK highest)

COMPUTER ENTRIES: We especially thank Dave Janiger for computer entries, and Joyce Daniels for updated graphs.

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

 

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