April

Leaving the Lagoons

By April, most adults and older juveniles are heading north from the warm wintering lagoons in Mexico. Whales are parading up the Pacific Coast from Mexico to Alaska, where warm spring sun is melting arctic sea ice. Open seas mean huge food supplies are once again available to the hungry whales! Meanwhile, moms and babies will be last to leave the Mexican lagoons. The babies need time to build strength and gain blubber for energy and warmth in colder waters ahead.

Facts and Photos

• Here Come the Babies!
• Northward Bound?
• Celebrating the Return

Daily Counts
From February to May, two research teams share data from the California coast as northbound whales pass.

• Daily Data