To: Journey North
From: Laura Gorodezky,
Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary
Santa Barbara, California
Date: Sunday, April 21, 1996
I thought it might be time for a whale and dolphin sightings summary. Here are the running totals of animals observed from the CONDOR.
February 10 thru April 4, 1996:
The number of gray whale sightings for the period 2/10 to 4/4 is 133. The first cow/calf pair was reported 4/4 off More Mesa. Since then, about 30 pairs have been sighted. Captain Fred Benko from the CONDOR saw 16 calves on Sunday, April 13. We hope to keep seeing whales through early May.
Dall's porpoise - 10 sightings from 2/12 to 4/2
Bottlenose dolphin - 7 sightings from 2/18 to 4/4
Common dolphin - 12 sightings from 2/13 to 4/4
Killer whale - 1 sighting on 2/14 of 2 males, 4 females
Risso's dolphin - 2 sightings from 2/13 to 4/4
Pacific white-sided dolphin - 2 sightings over the period
Minke whale - 1 sighting on 3/31
I've included below much more detailed information that was collected between February 10th and March 17th.
That's all for now.
Laura Gorodezky, Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary
********************************************************
Imagine This:
Captain Fred Benko of the Condor just called your teacher. He has
offered a job to the students in your class who can analyze the data
they've collected this season aboard the whale watching vessel in
Santa Barbara, California. The phone in Captain Benko's office is
constantly ringing and people are calling to ask questions such as
these:
* When is the best time to visit between February 10th and March 17th?
* Are we sure to see a gray whale any time we go out?
* When are mother/calf pairs most likely to be seen?
* What other species might we see? What's the most common?
* What's the most unusual marine mammal we might see?
The raw data below were collected on the Condor between February 10th and March 17th. What can you tell us about gray whale migration past Santa Barbara during this time period? At first glance, you may not see anything but numbers. But the more you look at it, patterns will begin to emerge. Remember, you are looking at "raw data". This term is used to describe data that have not yet been analyzed or interpreted. When raw data are arranged into charts and tables they are usually easier to understand.
Note to Teachers:
Teachers should see the list of suggested activities at the end of
this report.
Data Collected on the Condor
February 10-March 17, 1996
The fields are Date, Time (in hours), Species, Number seen, and
Location.
2-10-1996..... 945..... GRAY WHALE .....1.....34.....
24.34'N / 119 46.88'W
2-10-1996.....1,124..... GRAY WHALE.....1.....
34 24.469'N / 119 40.390'W
2-10-1996.....1,650..... GRAY WHALE.....1.....
34 24.1'N / 119 52.2 W
2-10-1996..... 1,222..... GRAY WHALE.....1.....
34 23.9'N / 119 41.5'W
2-12-1996..... 1,200..... GRAY WHALE.....3.....
2-12-1996..... 1,322..... DALL'S PORPOISE.....20-25.....
34 20.03'N / 119 51.3'W
2-13-1996..... 1,001..... COMMON DOLPHIN.....50.....
34 21.05'N / 119 51.89'W
2-13-1996..... 1,034..... COMMON DOLPHIN.... 500-600.....
34 19.39'N / 119 48.41'W
2-14-1996..... 1,400..... KILLER WHALE..... 16.....
34 07.63'N / 120 14.74'W (2 females & 2 male @ this location)
2-17-1996..... 1,054..... GRAY WHALE.....3.....
34 24.04'N / 119 49.86W
2-17-1996..... 1,628..... GRAY WHALE..... 2.....
34 24.06'N / 119 48.30W
2-18-1996..... 945..... BOTTLE-NOSED DOLPHIN..... 10-12.....
34 24.32'N / 119 45.81W
2-18-1996..... 1,011..... GRAY WHALE..... 1.....
34 24.05'N / 119 49 15'W
2-18-1996..... 1,230..... GRAY WHALE..... 1.....
34 23.04'N /119 43.07'W
2-18-1996..... 1,413..... BOTTLE-NOSED DOLPHIN.....4.....
34 23.09'N / 119 41.08'W
2-18-1996..... 1,539..... BOTTLE-NOSED DOLPHIN..... 20.....
34 24.01'N / 119 45.07'W
2-18-1996..... 1,608..... GRAY WHALE.....2.....
34 23.04'N / 119 49.04'W
2-19-1996..... 918..... GRAY WHALE..... 1.....
34 23.368'N / 119 42.268'W
2-19-1996..... 1,002..... GRAY WHALE.....34 23.906'N / 119 44.797'W
2-19-1996..... 1,401..... GRAY WHALE...... 3.....
34 23.395'N / 119 44.944'W
2-23-1996..... 1,033..... COMMON DOLPHIN.....10-20.....
34 20.238'N / 119 47.506'W
2-23-1996..... 1,245..... GRAY WHALE.....1-2.....
34 21.06'N / 119 47.04'W
2-23-1996..... 1,340..... GRAY WHALE.....1.....
34 23.08'N / 119 46.05'W
2-24-1996..... 0..... GRAY WHALE..... 3.....
34 18.04'N / 119 43.08'W
2-24-1996..... 1,010..... GRAY WHALE.....4-6.....
34 18.8'N / 119 44.6'W
2-24-1996..... 1,040..... COMMON DOLPHIN.....15-20
....34 19.9'N / 119 47.4'W
2-25-1996..... 945..... ID unknown check w/ S.Fry.....4?.....
34 20.347'N / 119 46.566'W
2-25-1996..... 1,055..... GRAY WHALE..... 2.....
34 20.1'N / 119 44.7'W
2-26-1996..... 954..... DALL'S PORPOISE.....15-20.....
34 19.4'N,/ 119 45.3"W
2-27-1996..... 1,006..... GRAY WHALE..... 3.....
34 17.500'N / 119 43.300W
2-27-1996..... 1,036..... GRAY WHALE.....3.....
34 18.900'N,/ 119 45.200W
2-26-1996..... 1,250..... GRAY WHALE..... 6-12.....
34 20.200'N,/ 119 47.100W
3-1-1996..... 1,037..... GRAY WHALE.....2.....
34 29.100'N,/119 48.100W
3-1-1996..... 1,247..... GRAY WHALE.....1.....
34 22.10'N,/ 119 44.2W
3-1-1996..... 1,424..... GRAY WHALE.....1
.....34 23.4'N /119 41.1W
3-1-1996..... 1,545..... GRAY WHALE.....1.....
34 24.0'N,/ 119 45.1W
3-1-1996..... 1,549..... BOTTLE-NOSED DOLPHIN..... 6.....
34 23.8'N,/ 119 44.5W (1/2 MILE OFF ARROYO BURRO BEAC)
3-2-1996..... 1,035..... GRAY WHALE..... 1.....
34 19.50'N,/ 119 48.40W (5 MI OFF STORKE TOWER)
3-2-1996..... 1,355..... GRAY WHALE..... 2.....
34 22.0'N,/ 119 54.0W (JUST OFF PLATFORM HOLLY)
3-2-1996..... 1,425..... GRAY WHALE.....2.....
34 22.31'N,/ 119 51.23W ( OFF MOORE MESA)
3-2-1996..... 1,600..... GRAY WHALE.....2.....
34 20.00'N,/ 119 51.00W (ABOUT 8 MILES OFF STORKE T)
3-3-1996..... 1,044..... GRAY WHALE.....2.....
34 19.40'N,/ 119 45.100W (SW OF SANTA BARBARA POINT)
3-3-1996..... 1,615..... GRAY WHALE.....3.34 22'N,/ 119 49.2W (3 MILES
OFF GOLETA PIER)
3-4-1996..... 1,043..... GRAY WHALE..... 2.....
34 14.900'N,/ 119 45.800W (5 MI FROM HENDRYS BEACH)
3-4-1996..... 1,530..... GRAY WHALE..... 1.....
34 23.600'N, 119 42.300W (OFF SHORELINE PARK AND ONE A)
3-5-1996..... 1,615..... BOTTLE-NOSED DOLPHIN..... 20-25.....
34 23.600'N,/119 41.700W (JUST WEST OF SBCL)
3-5-1996..... 1,700..... BOTTLE-NOSED DOLPHIN.....10-15.....
34 24.800'N,/119 38.600W (WITHIN MTRS OFF CORAL CASINO)
3-6-1996..... 1,315..... GRAY WHALE..... 2.....
34 22.40'N,/ 119 52.50W (2 MILES OFF UCSB)
3-7-1996..... 1,025..... GRAY WHALE..... 3.....
34 21.10'N,/ 119 51.100W (2 MI OFF ISLA VISTA)
3-7-1996..... 1,239..... GRAY WHALE..... 2.....
34 22.100'N,/ 119 42.10W (LEADBETTER PT)
3-7-1996..... 1,354..... GRAY WHALE..... 3.....
34 18.60'N,/ 119 41.40W ( 5 MI OFF LEDBETTER BEACH)
3-7-1996..... 1,527..... GRAY WHALE.....1.....
34 23.10'N, /119 42,70W 1/2(MILE OFF SB LIGHTHOUSE)
3-7-1996..... 1,616..... GRAY WHALE..... 3.....
34 21,80'N, /119 48,60W 3 MI (S OF UCSB)
3-8-1996..... 1,411..... GRAY WHALE.....ONE.....
34 24.300'N,/ 119 48.700W(GOLETA PIER/STORKE TOWER)
3-8-1996..... 1,658..... GRAY WHALE..... 3.....
34 23.060'N,/ 119 42.900W ( 1 MILE WEST OF LEADBETTERS)
3-9-1996..... 1,025..... GRAY WHALE..... 2.....
34 21.60'N,/ 119 48.60W
3-9-1996..... 1,605..... GRAY WHALE..... 1.....
34 21.200'N,/ 119 43.800W (2.6 MI OFF HOPE RANCH)
3-9-1996..... 1,745..... GRAY WHALE..... 1.....
34 23.990'N,/ 119 40.900W(RIGHT OFF STEARNS WHARF AB)
3-10-1996..... 1,000..... GRAY WHALE..... 2.....
34 19.20'N, / 119 42,900W ( 4.2 MIOFF LEADBETTER BEAC)
3-10-1996..... 1,231..... GRAY WHALE..... 3.....
34 23.400'N,/ 119 40.800W ( .91 MI FROM HARBOR)
3-10-1996..... 1,610..... RISSO'S DOLPHIN..... 8.....
34 19.30'N,/ 119 44.900W
3-10-1996..... 1,643..... GRAY WHALE..... 2-3.....
34 20,900'N, 119 51.500W ( 3.5 MI OFF CAMPUS POINT)
3-11-1996..... 1,003..... GRAY WHALE..... 6.....
34.18.00'N,/ 119.50W ( 7 MI OFFSHORE)
3-11-1996..... 1,218..... GRAY WHALE.....1.....
34 23.100'N,/ 119 41.100W(BARELY OUTSIDE HARBOR)
3-13-1996..... 933..... GRAY WHALE..... 1.....
34 23.20'N,/ 119.42.30W ( 1/2 MI OFF LEADBETTER)
3-13-1996..... 1,340..... GRAY WHALE.....1.....
34 23.600'N, / 119 49.600W ( 3 MI SOUTH OF GOLETA SL)
3-14-1996..... 1,231..... GRAY WHALE..... 1.....
34 22.72'N,/ 119 41.60W ( OFF EAST END OF SHORELINE)
3-14-1996..... 1,328..... GRAY WHALE..... 2.....
34 19.90'N,/ 119 48.60W
3-14-1996..... 1,737..... GRAY WHALE..... 1.....
34 23.40'N,/ 119 43.90W ( 1/2 MI OFF WILCOX-EAST EN)
3-15-1996..... 1,020..... GRAY WHALE.....2.....
34 23.2'N,/ 119 48.7W
3-15-1996..... 1,245..... COMMON DOLPHIN..... 10-12.....
34 20.5'N,/ 119 44.0W
3-15-1996..... 1,620..... GRAY WHALE.....1.....
34 21.7'N,/ 119 48.0W
3-15-1996..... 1,635..... GRAY WHALE..... 3.....
34 21.7'N, / 119 49.4W
3-15-1996..... 1,703..... GRAY WHALE..... 1.....
34 22.4'N, / 119 45.9W
3-16-1996..... 914..... GRAY WHALE..... 2.....
34 23.67'N,/ 119 41.06W (BETWEEN BOUY'S OUTSIDE)
3-16-1996..... 1,225..... GRAY WHALE.....2.....
34 22.30'N, / 119 42.50W (APPROX 1 MI SOUTH OF SHOREL)
3-16-1996..... 1,700..... GRAY WHALE..... 2.....
34 23.51'N, / 119 45.70W ( 2 MI OFF MORE MESA)
3-17-1996..... 925..... PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHIN..... 15-20.....
34 22.10'N,/ 119 42.2W
3-17-1996..... 945..... GRAY WHALE.....1.....
34 22.9'N, / 119 45.4W
3-17-1996..... 1,115..... GRAY WHALE..... 3.....
34 12.1'N, / 119 49.8W
3-17-1996..... 1,335..... GRAY WHALE..... 2.....
34 22.7'N,/ 119 50.2W ( OFF ISLA VISTA)
3-17-1996..... 1,640..... GRAY WHALE..... 1.....
34 24.02'N, 119 44.70W ( OFF WILCOX-VERY CLOSE TO S)
3-17-1996..... 1,700..... GRAY WHALE..... 3.....
34 23.0'N / 119 50.57W
3-17-1996..... 1,740..... BOTTLE-NOSED DOLPHIN..... 15-20.....
34 23.6'N, / 119 43,4W
************************************************************************
Note to Teachers:
Divide students ino groups and give each group a copy of the raw
data above. Encourage students to figure out how to analyze the data
and come up with their own summaries. The following ideas might be
suggested to students if they seem to need guidance.
GRAY WHALES
1. Draw a line to separate the data into daily reports.
2. Count the number of gray whales seen each day.
3. Graph the number of whales seen per day between February 10th and March 17th.
4. If you don't see a trend, divide the data into weekly groupings. For example: Week 1 (2/10-2/16), Week 2 (February 17-23), Week 3 (February 24-March 1), etc. What can you say about the pace of migration past Santa Barbara between February 10th and March 17th?
5. Laura Gorodezky reported that the total number of gray whale sightings for the period 2/10 to 4/4 is 133. How many of these were seen during the February 10th to March 17th period? How many during the March 18th to April 4th?
6. Count the total number of days during which the observations were made. What is the chance you will see a gray whale on a given day? What's the average number of whales seen per day?
OTHER MARINE MAMMAL SPECIES
1. List the names of all the species seen from the Condor.
2. Count the number of each species seen each day.
3. Tally the total number of each species seen over the entire 5 week period.
4. Count the total number of days during which the observations were made.
5. List the species in order, from the most common to the least common. Calculate the percentage of trips on which each species is seen. (For example: Four bottle-nose dolphins were seen in 28 days. Therefore, the percentage of trips on which bottle-nose dolphins were seen is 14%. (4/28 is .14 or 14%)
 |
|
|---|
