Gray Whale Migration Update: March 7, 2001 Today's Report Includes: Spring Training Underway Try This! Latest Highlights From Gray Whale Observation Posts Challenge Question #6 Putting It All Together: Challenge Question #7 Teacher Tip Discussion of Challenge Questions #3 and #4 Reminder: Challenge Questions #5 Spring Training Underway The northbound migration is off to a slow start, but how many whales are still in the lagoons? Whale counts are down from previous years. Journey North observers Mike and Winston had news from two of the main breeding lagoons in Baja: Juan from Guerrero Negro reports approximately 1000 whales compared to 1220 in 2000, and 1675 in 1999 (February counts). In San Ignacio, guide Theresa noted about 100 whales in the lagoon compared to approximately 300 whales last year within the same ten-day period. What are those whales doing? The mothers and babies are busy with spring training! Naturalist Tom Lewis describes his observations in San Ignacio: Breeching Baby "When we see a brand new baby gray whale, its flukes and flippers are very floppy, and have not yet become rigid. It is very difficult for these newborns to swim fast enough to keep up with an adult, so the mothers move very slowly, and are very protective of their young. Once the calves' flukes and flippers have gained strength, they begin to explore the lagoon. Mothers carefully swim with their babies around the lagoon, gradually teaching them how to swim. However, they do this in a very specific manner. Newborn Whale Photo courtesy Linda Lewis The majority of the whales, and particularly the mothers with calves, swim in a predictable pattern while inside the lagoon. The tidal current inside San Ignacio can be very strong, as much as 2 or 3 knots. The mothers and calves swim against the tidal current. If there is an incoming tide, they will swim toward the mouth of the lagoon. If there is an outgoing tide, they swim toward the upper end of the lagoon. This pattern helps to protect the young calves from an accident, and prepares the calves for their life in the open ocean." Photo Courtesy Keith Jones Meanwhile, whales in the lagoons continue to enchant and entertain visiting whale watchers. Tour guide Keith Jones says: "We have been blessed with one trip after the other where whales have come up to the boat. (We never approach the whales! They approach US.) I have observed interesting behavior by some of the whales that approach close to the boats. I refer to them as "stalkers," but in a friendly way. This is because they seem to follow the pangas at a distance and for some length of time. They may even circle our pangas several times. Frequently these stalkers first make their appearance by surfacing behind the pangas in the wake of the boat as it slowly motors across the lagoon. I have been working on a technique that I refer to as "trolling for whales." Once we have observed a stalker in a certain area of the lagoon, we slowly traverse that area on subsequent trips. We watch the water behind the panga and slow down whenever we observe an animal appear close behind. It is so exciting to have one of these animals float beneath the panga with her head on one side and her tail on the other. Last trip we had a mother surface very close to the right side of the panga. Her baby was lying on top of her so she didn't realize that he was actually pushing our boat up! He slid off to the side and we remained right side up, but it was certainly an exciting couple of seconds for me. Most of my group didn't realize just what happened. They were all too excited by the close encounter." Just how big are these whales? Find out for yourself with the Journey North activity below. Try This! What if your heart weighed 285 pounds (130 kilograms)? What if your eyeball was the size of a baseball? You might be a gray whale! Use our verbal clues to draw a life-size gray whale and you'll find out just how BIG these creatures are! For directions and more, see: Whale Art Latest Highlights From Gray Whale Observation Posts Outside the lagoons, what's happening along the migration trail? An Irregular Migration Scientist Dave Rugh writes from the National Marine Mammal Lab (NMML). The NMML directs a census that covers nearly the entire migration of gray whales past the research station at Granite Canyon, just south of Carmel in central California. Dave says, "Although it is not yet over, it's now clear that the gray whale migration has been very irregular this year." Whale counts peaked on January 17, but numbers were below peak counts seen in other years. Whales were still heading south long past mid February, when the southbound migration has typically ended and the northbound migration begun. Dave says, "The southbound migration is now scheduled to end on 5 March, though I've had to make two extensions since the original termination date of 23 February." ACS/Los Angeles Gray Whale Census Project: Latest Turnaround Ever! Alisa Schulman-Janiger of the ACS reports from the census station on Palos Verde Peninsula (33.44N,-118.24W): "The northbound count has increased from 16 to 66 in the last two weeks, but only 3 days have included more northbound than southbound whales: 23 Feb: 9 northbound, 3 southbound 3 Mar:19 northbound, 0 southbound 4 Mar: 2 northbound, 1 southbound (during much wind and rain) Alisa writes: "The official crossover or turnaround date (daily northbound whales exceeding southbound whales) will probably turn out to be 3 March, which is, by far, the latest crossover in the 18-year history of our full-season project. Last year this date was 14 February, and in previous seasons it has varied from about 9 February to 21 February. Some seasons we have a gap period, with few whales seen going in either direction. Other seasons these migrations overlap. This season has had numerous days affected by storms, wind, and fog; trends will be more difficult to ascertain. "Our southbound peak was quite late, and I predict that our northbound peak will also be on the late side. The arctic icepack did not form as expected. With much less ice than is there normally, many whales stayed there to feed and migrated late--or possibly did not migrate at all. "Last year our peak count of northbound whales (without calves) occurred during the second week of March, and has varied in other years from the last week in February to the third week in March. The cow/calf migration typically peaks about 6 weeks later." You can see a colorful graph showing these comparisons on the ACS Web site: How Does the 2000/01 Season Compare to Other Seasons? You can also keep an eye on the daily counts by visiting the ACS Web site: American Cetacean Society--Gray Whale Census and Behavior Project News From Up the Coast Mike and Winston heard reports on several days last week that up to 5 gray whales were seen in San Francisco Bay. Mike says, "Nobody knows if they were originally southbound or northbound, but a close eye is being kept on them to make sure they find their way out into the ocean again." Challenge Question #6 "What reasons are there for concern when gray whales are seen in San Francisco Bay?" (To answer this question, please follow the instructions below.) If you were curious when Alisa mentioned some grays staying behind and not migrating, here's more from Mike and Winston: "I am still receiving reports out of the Monterey bay area of southbound gray whales, but who knows if they will migrate all the way to Baja? This year's migration was once again late. The whales stayed longer in the Bering and Chukchi seas, trying to get enough food in them to make the long migration. It also seems as though the whales are migrating farther off shore, maybe trying to get away from the ever increasing boat traffic or the ever increasing pollution of our coastal waters." Vancouver Farther up the coast, the first gray whales have been spotted off Vancouver and Tofino, BC. On Feb. 25, Mrs. Jur Bekker reported 3 Gray Whales heading North just off the Vancouver Island shore of the Amphitrite lighthouse in Ucluelet, British Columbia. Jamie from Jamie's Whaling Station reported "no gray whale sightings until February 26, when we saw four migrating grays." He added, "We have seen a few killer whales already this year, a welcome sight when there are no grays." Putting It Together: Challenge Question #7 Observers have given several clues to help you answer this week's Challenge Question: Challenge Question #7: "What are some possible explanations why whale census data (dates and counts) change from year to year?" (To answer this question, please follow the instructions below.) Teacher Tip In 1977, Mary Lou Jones and Steven Swarz began six winters of observing and studying the gray whales of San Ignacio Lagoon. From their camp and 18-foot observation tower, they could watch as many as 500 whales a day enter and leave the lagoon. Keeping careful notes and photographs, they identified more than 500 whales by distinctive body markings. They found that some cows consistently return to San Ignacio, while others visit a different lagoon each year and still other females circulate through the lagoons during the same season. They compared their extensive photo collection with those of many other experts and gained valuable new data. If your students are interested in learning more about the discoveries of these researchers, recommend "Gray Whales of San Ignacio" in the June 1987 issue of National Geographic. Whales in the Nursery Lagoons: Discussion of Challenge Question #3 Last time we asked: "Why is it best for the whale mothers and babies to stay apart from other whales in the lagoon?" This observation from Keith Jones offers a clue: "Last week we observed many mating pairs and trios. This activity is always accompanied by the wildest thrashing and splashing imaginable. We can usually see this action from a distance of several miles." During breeding season, males are very rambunctious. But whale moms know their babies are safest in the lagoon's quieter waters while they gain strength and skills. Thar' She Blows! Discussion of Challenge Question #4 "What causes a whale's blow?" When a whale inhales, it takes in large amounts of air. The blow is not a fountain of water, but a mist that condenses from the warm, moist air as it is exhaled under high pressure from the whale's lungs. In a single big blow, a whale may e xpel almost 100 gallons (378 liters) of air! The spray can be quite high, and visible over a long distance. But if the whale exhales slowly, you hardly see the blow. Because baleen whales have two blowholes, the spray from a gray whale can look heart-shaped (except on windy days, when the wind mixes it up). This heart-shape is how you can tell spouts of baleen whales from those of species with only one blowhole. Here's something else. Whales may have BAAAAAAAAAAAD breath! JN whale observers and tour guides Mike (on the right in the photo) and Winston (on the left!) hear from surfers that the breath of a gray whale smells terrible! When Mike asked them how they knew that, they told him that they had been surfing alongside a gray whale. Reminder: Challenge Question #5 Last time we asked a question that invites your predictions. It's not too late to send us your guess! On Feb. 26 the whales reached Vancouver. For the clues you need, check the Feb. 21 Gray Whale Migration Update. Then let us hear from you! Challenge Question #5: "When do you predict the first gray whale will be sighted in the Gulf of Alaska, near Kodiak?" (To answer this question, please follow the instructions below.) How to Respond to Today's Challenge Questions: IMPORTANT: Answer only ONE question in each e-mail message. 1. Address an E-mail message to: jn-challenge-gwhale@learner.org 2. IMPORTANT: In the Subject Line of your message write: Challenge Question #5 (OR #6 OR #7). 3. In the body of the message, answer ONE of the questions above. The Next Gray Whale Migration Update Will be Posted on March 21, 2001. Copyright 2001 Journey North. All Rights Reserved. Please send all questions, comments, and suggestions to our feedback form