The whale rush is over for another springtime. Mothers with babies, last to leave the nursery lagoons of Mexico, are well on their way to their prime feeding waters in the Arctic's Bering and Chukchi Seas.

Early End
This season’s migration started more slowly and ended earlier than the past few years for both California scientific sites that report to Journey North. We bid them a hearty thanks after they closed their season the third week in May with these reports:

Michael H. Smith, Director of Gray Whales Count, wrapped it up after 90 days of counting at Goleta, CA, near Santa Barbara:

"We have concluded our 2017 Gray Whales Count. It was another remarkable year. We overcame a lot of weather that shut us down for periods of time, yet documented very good numbers for the northbound migration of Gray whales through the nearshore of the Santa Barbara Channel: both the general migration of females and males, mature and juvenile (a count of 1052); and the mother- and-calf migration (210)." —May 21, 2017

Alisa Schulman-Janiger, Director of the Gray Whale Census and Behavior Project summed up the migration from their post at Los Angeles after 176 days of counting:

"May 25 was our 8th straight day with no gray whale sightings, capping our terrific 34th consecutive full season for the ACS/LA Gray Whale Census and Behavior Project. We ended this season with our eighth-highest northbound gray whale count (1,990) and sixth-highest northbound gray whale calf count (207). These counts were achieved despite bad weather woes that included three straight days of no visibility through fog during our peak March northbound migration period, and more rain and wind than in many years. It was an excellent season — thanks to our hundred-plus dedicated volunteers! We'll be back on the Point Vicente Interpretive Center patio on December 1st to kick off our 35th season!"

Home Sweet Home
It may take the whales until June or July to reach their northernmost feasting grounds. Few people live there, so migration news is rare. The whales will spend the summer feeding on an average of 65 tons each of plankton blooms, whose population explodes during two months of 24-hour-long days of sunshine in the Arctic. As days grow shorter in autumn, the ocean begins to refreeze and the planet's icy cap starts to expand as winter nears. By then the whales should have enough energy stored in their blubber to make the 10,000- to 12,000-mile migration south. The cycle will start anew as they embark on what is believed to be the longest annual migration of any mammal.

We wish them good luck and happy feasting as we, too, prepare to enjoy another summer. Thanks for joining us!