Gray Whale Update, March 15, 1995

Thanks to Anne Smrcina, we're able to provide this report on the gray whales of the Pacific Ocean. With help from her colleagues in the U.S. National Marine Sanctuary network she may be able to provide updates on gray whale migration this spring.

We hope schools along the West Coast of North America will contribute their own observations and knowledge about whales in that region. Perhaps, before school is out, we'll even hear from our Alaskan friends when the whales arrive in the Bering and Chukchi Seas!

Here's Anne:

Hello again from the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary.

As reported in today's Northern right whale report, the right whale is presently the world's most endangered great whale. Its future here is clouded--numbers of calves are small and the threats to their survival are great, including heavy shipping and fishing along the east coast.

On the west coast of North America, there has been a different kind of story. The gray whale (similar in size to the right whale, and like the right, it has no dorsal fin) has gone from extremely low numbers to a somewhat healthy population size. The success has led to the removal of the gray whale from the endangered species list (although it is still considered threatened).

Take a look at the report below and see if you can answer these CHALLENGE QUESTIONS:

1. How does the story of the gray whale compare to the right whale?
2. What do these whales have in common?
3. How do they differ?

Gray whales migrating north on their return trip to Alaska tend to hug the coast of California and sometimes stop in kelp beds to feed. They may stay close to the coast in order to avoid predation by Orca whales. A pod of 50-60 orcas has recently formed a blockade between the mainland and Catalina Island (Santa Barbara News Press, Feb. 26, 1995).

The CONDOR, an 88-foot whale watching vessel located in Santa Barbara reports: more juvenile whales (1-6 years old) have been observed this year than in past years, and juveniles have made up about 40% of the gray whales observed; in the first week of March, approximately 60 northbound gray whales were spotted 3-7 miles off the coast, usually in cow/calf pairs; between 3-10 whales are usually spotted on each 2-hour cruise; most of the northbound animals were seen 4.5 miles offshore on the 40 fathom bank (approx. 34#161#20N 119#161#46W); every trip since March 1st had had sightings of gray whales; six orcas were observed in Santa Barbara Channel between Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz Island (34#161#17.657N 119#161#87.4W on Feb. 25; a single humpback whale was observed off the northwestern tip of San Miguel Island near Castle Rock on 2/25; and a single breaching humpback was observed on Mar. 13, approx. 7 miles south of the Santa Barbara Harbor.

Until next week, this is Anne Smrcina signing off.

Anne Smrcina
Education Coordinator
Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary