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March 1: Whale of a Day!
This was a huge day at the ACS/LA Gray Whale Census and Behavior Project, where volunteers counted an incredible 94 non-stop whales plowing northward—despite a severe rain squall with near gale-force winds hit for about 45 minutes, turning umbrellas inside out and making it hard for watchers to even stand or walk. This is the highest northbound count since March 1989 (also 94 northbound)! We have only exceeded this count during our first five seasons (1984-1988)! Our single highest northbound count was on March 2, 1988, with 152 gray whales. Back then, our northbound gray whale migration often peaked during the first week of March.

Our migration officially switched from primarily southbound to primarily northbound on Feb.23, our "migration turnaround" date. Although we will see some southbound whales, northbound whale counts will increase for several weeks, usually peaking in mid/late March. No cow/calf pairs yet; they usually peak about 4-6 weeks after the first phase (non-cow/calves).

Our December count reached a 31-season record high! Our southbound count is the highest in 16 seasons, and third highest ever. From December 1st, the day we started counting, though March 1st, we've counted 1185 southbound (including 14 newborn calves), and 244 northbound.
—Alisa Schulman-Janiger, Director, Gray Whale Census and Behavior Project

Census board from a record day at the ACS/LA Gray Whale Census and Behavior Project

Courtesy of Alisa Schulman-Janiger