About the Gray Whale Migration Study Spring 2007 Photos: Keith Jones Getting Started Overview Gray whales migrate farther than any mammal. Their journey between the warm birthing lagoons in Mexico and the frigid arctic feeding grounds adds up to more than 10,000 miles roundtrip—each and every year of their lives! Join Journey North to follow the northward migration of gray whales from their nursery lagoons in Baja California to their summer feeding grounds in Alaska. News from our observers at outposts along the way will help narrate the extraordinary journey. To follow the spring migration of these gentle giants and their new babies all along the Pacific Coast, Journey North watches for: Date of first sighting of northbound gray whales. Date of first sighting of northbound gray whale mother/calf pairs. Migration Route Live Migration Map Two Observation Methods You can follow the migration in your classroom in two ways: 1. Observation Posts Like watching a parade, trained volunteers watch for whales and calves passing two California observations posts. Counting for the American Cetacean Society (ACS), they provide live data for each of our spring migration updates. Track gray whales from one or both ACS Census posts! ACS-Los Angeles (ACS-LA) reports whales southbound and northbound using the nearshore coastal path. This is a long-term study. ACS-Channel Islands (ACS-CI) reports northbound whales (many with calves) passing Coal Oil Point in Goleta, California (10 miles west of Santa Barbara). The census is being conducted from the mainland and will look at whales who choose to go along the coast (which is the long way). Over time and in comparison with other census data, this census hopes to begin to provide an understanding of the percentages of whales that choose between the two routes: along the coast and the more direct route through the islands. We're thrilled to share data! The data and our guiding questions help you compile a picture of migration as the whales swim past. What migration patterns will emerge based on the hundreds of whales observed offshore? Our lesson explains how to use the ACS migration data to calculate, graph, and analyze. Thanks to Alisa Schulman-Janiger and volunteers of the ACS-LA Census, and to Michael Smith and volunteers of the new ACS-CI Census for providing this opportunity! 2. Reports from Observers Along the Migration Trail News from observers all along the "whale trail" helps to narrate the whales' long journey up the Pacific Coast to the arctic feeding grounds. If you live along the whale trail, please help us track the migration! Read The Monumental Migration (Booklet) (Slide Show) Learn About the Gray Whale Annual Cycle Follow Migration News Keep A Migration Journal Graph & Analyze Using ACS Data Map the Migration (lesson and student map) Track Whale Movements on our Map Server Wonder Gray Whale Adaptations Copyright 1997-2006 Journey North. All Rights Reserved. Please send all questions, comments, and suggestions to our feedback form