"It's Earth Day, and we think it is splendid that momma whale is gushing while the oil platform is silent, preparing for decommission."
Michael H. Smith, Gray Whales Count
The nursery lagoons of Mexico are emptying out and the migration of gray whale mothers-with-babies is building. As JN reporter Jeanne Jackson at Gualala, CA said, "Seeing a big spout closely followed by a little spout is an affirmation of life, and never fails to warm my heart!" Meanwhile, the whales in the lead have reached Alaska on their quest to reach the prime feeding waters in the Bering, Chukchi and Beaufort Seas.
Counts from CA Scientific Sites
From the field station at Pt. Piedras Blancas, CA (35.66N, -121.28W), Dr. Dave Weller reports: "We had quite a bit of unworkable weather early in the week, but we counted 44 mom-calf pairs and 49 adults at Piedras Blancas this week." They're counting mom/baby pairs from March 27 to May 26.
At Gray Whales Count (34.40N, -119.69W), the volunteer Counters also continue to battle some difficult weather, but Earth Day, April 22, was a great day for them. Director Michael H. Smith shares:
"With 16 calves attending today's party, it was a big celebration. Many joined in. We counted lots of family and friends among the visitors to Counter Point on the Coal Oil Point Reserve. We appreciate our caring community, passionate and thoughtful."
At Los Angeles (33.74N, -118.41W), the Gray Whale Census and Behavior Project reports high calf counts for this time of year. Director Alisa Schulman-Janiger reports:
"Our counts are now at 1256 southbound grays (including 68 newborns) and 1753 northbound grays (including 103 northbound calves). This compares to counts last season of 1430 southbound grays (including 33 newborns) and 2127 northbound grays (including 147 calves, in our record-high 2016 northbound calf season).
"Our two highest calf counts so far were on 21 April (with 14 calves, including three pairs traveling together!), and 11 calves on 20 April! Our calf counts are quite high for this point in time: discounting last season, the highest calf count to date in the past ten seasons was 94. Although our peak week last season was 5-11 May, our peak northbound calf count date was on 22 April (20 pairs).
Northbound calf counts will hopefully continue to pick up over the next two weeks: we are looking forward to a big calf pulse—our favorite time of the season!"
Adults and Juveniles in Alaska
The leading whales have now passed Cape Chiniak Alaska (57.49N, -152.14) in their push northward to the Arctic feeding grounds:
"Early on Friday, April 14, a local mariner reported seeing 40 gray whales between Cape Chiniak and Narrow Cape as he was coming back to Kodiak. Very exciting news for Alaskans awaiting the whales!"
— Pam Forman, KMXT radio, Kodiak, AK
Where is "Fingers"?
"Fingers," a very distinct adult female Gray Whale, travelled through Monterey Bay March 9," reported Catherine (Katie) Dunbar of Monterey Bay Whale Watch. Katie's sighting report photo shows how this whale's flukes are dramatically deformed with extensive white scarring and whale lice. "She was previously seen in in Laguna Ojo de Liebre (one of the mating and nursery lagoons in Baja CA Mexico) on both February 20, 2014 and February 15, 2017." Now we wonder if anyone else along the migration trail will spot Fingers on her journey north.
Isn't it amazing and wonderful to know that every one of these individual whales has a story? The eldest whales will travel the distance to the moon and back during their long lifetimes!