Gray Whale Migration Update: March 19, 1997

Greetings from the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary !

There have been some wonderful whale sightings off the coast of Santa Barbara this year. I just talked with Captain Ron Hart of the Condor and he says that there has been lots of breaching and friendly encounters with gray whales. From February 18-28 there were 65 northbound gray whales sighted from the Condor. From March 1st -10th, there were 110 animals sighted (all between Santa Barbara Harbor and Campus Point).

I have only been able to get out and see gray whales once so far this season. We went out and anchored our Research Vessel "Ballena" (which means whale in Spanish) off the coast of Summerland and scrubbed its underside to get rid of algal growth. As we were preparing to jump in the water we saw a blow about 100 feet away. We thought we might catch a glimpse of the animal underwater, but unfortunately didn't.

I regularly paddle with the outrigger canoe club in Santa Barbara (4 days per week) and have been hoping to see a whale from the canoe (wouldn't that be cool?). Last Saturday we paddled out to the Oil Platform "C" off the coast (about 8 miles offshore). I looked for whales because I am sure that they were all around us, but unfortunately I didn't see any that day. Maybe next time...

We are still anxiously awaiting the arrival of northbound Mother/calf pairs with the calves that were borne in Baja, but we have not yet had an official report. I will keep you posted.(We have already seen some calves that were born on the way down).

So that you can "come aboard" and experience what the people see on the whale watching boats, I have gathered some whale sighting reports from whale watching vessels so far this year, and those can be found at the end of this report.

Right now, let's turn to answering last week's Challenge Question which asked you to guess how many gray whale calves are born in Magdalena Bay each year:

"It has been reported that less than 6 percent of all gray whale
calves are born in Magdalena Bay each year. How many calves would
that be?(Hint: Assume a total population of 23,000 gray whales and
15,000 mature adults. Also assume a 1:1 ratio of males to females and
that half of the females will bear young in a given year)?"

Assuming half of the mature adults (7,500) are females and half of those (3,750) will bear young this year, then we might expect .06 x 3750 = 225 or fewer calves to be born in Magdalena Bay this year. Our thanks to the students from Ferrisburgh Central School in Ferrisburgh, VT who nicely explained how they calculated the answer, and also to Oak Hall School in Gainesville, Florida, who also answered the challenge question correctly! Here are their answers.

From: VERMONT
Only mature adults would give birth. There are 7,500 that are female. Half of this would be 3,750. When you take 6% of this, you get 225. So less than 225 gray whale calves are born in Magdalena Bay each year.
Grade Four - Taylor, Craig, Andrea and David
Ferrisburgh Central School
Ferrisburgh, VT
lthurfer@pop.k12.vt.us

From: FLORIDA
Hi!! I want to answer your question. My answer is less than 225 babies. That sure is a lot!!! Oh, I forgot to tell you that I am from Gainesville, Florida. I go to Oak Hall School. I'm in the 5th period class. Well, got to go!!!
Sara Morris
Jon Morris (N2033r@Nersp.Nerdc.ufl.edu)

That's all from me today! Be sure to read the rest of this update, which has important recent news reports on the gray whale's habitat, and information about the gray whale sightings from the whale watching boats and from other sources too. Until next time, this is Laura Gorodezky, Education Coordinator at Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary signing off.

Visit our Sanctuary on the WWW.

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Whales In The News
There have been several news stories recently about threats to whale habitats, and here are summaries of those news reports.

First, this week's issue of Newsweek (March 24, 1997) reports that Mitsubishi plans to construct the world's largest sea-salt plant in Baja California's San Ignacio Lagoon. This lagoon is the last pristine calving grounds of the gray whale. Environmental groups and tourists are pressuring Mexico not to permit the plant. Mistubishi will conduct an environmental impact report and says they won't proceed if the plant is shown to cause major ecological damage.

Next, Don Davis of Toronto, Canada sent us information from the February 22 Toronto Star, Earthweek column, reporting about another recent threat to whales in the Baja waters:

"Environmental officials in Mexico declared a state of emergency in the Gulf of California following the deaths of whales and dolphins. Authorities in Sinaloa State suspect the marine mammals may be dying from a chemical dumped into the sea by drug traffickers. The substance, known as NK-19, is used to mark drug loads for nighttime detection from the air by other smugglers. No number of deaths was given, but Luis Fuello of the environment ministry's office in Culiacan described them as "massive". The gulf is rich in diverse marine life, and is also a main corridor for cocaine and other drug shipments destined for the U.S."
Donald_Davis@stubbs.woodsworth.utoronto.ca

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Whale Sightings
As promised by Laura Gorodezky, there are plenty of gray whale sightings to report, and here are the sightings from Laura's colleagues on the whale-watching vessels and from a few other observers too.

2/10/97
Great sighting on our 12:00 trip. Located a juvenile whale 1/2 mi. off Santa Barbara point. Whale was heading south bound. Very friendly whale. Whale put on a great show for our passengers. It breached eight times in a row. We left the whale at East beach.

2/12/97
Boat: M/V Rachel G
Time: 1345
Location: .3 miles off Wilcox Bluffs.
Info: One whale. Wasn't in a hurry to go any place. Stayed in the general area until went left it at 1425. During this time, I took engines out of gear and drifted. The Whale just hung around and gave us a good show. This young whale was waiting for its friends to continue its northern migration.

2/13/97
Location: 2 miles off Goleta Pier
Time: 1330
Boat: M/V Rachel G
Great sighting of two Gray Whales. Appeared to be a mother and 2nd year calf. Whales were very friendly and adjusted well to the Rachel G. Breathing cycles were approximately five minutes. Our passengers were very excited. We ended our visit with a double fluke by mother and calf.

2/21/97
Great sighting of two pairs of cows and calves traveling together. The sighting was approximately 4.5 miles off Santa Barbara Lighthouse in 268 feet of water. The Whales were following the traditional 50 fathom curve. The passengers really enjoyed watching the synchronize fluking by all four Whales.

Super sighting on the 12:00 p.m. trip. Connected with a pod of seven Whales. Location was 6.5 miles off of Santa Barbara Point. Time sighted was 1255. Stayed with Whales for 45 minutes. These Whales were in no hurry. They enjoyed our company. I believe they were human watching and found us entertaining. Great show with lots of flukes.

On the 3:00 p.m. trip, located a calf next to breakwater. Appeared to be confused. Left it and found mother 300 yards off Santa Barbara Point. She was doing circles. Decided the best thing to do was leave both mother and calf alone so they could re-unite. Contacted Capt. Ron Hart on the Condor and we both decided it was the best thing to do. We left the mother and calf and went off shore.

2/23/97
The gates must be open. Lots of Whales are moving along Santa Barbara Coastline. At 1220 found Cow and Calf at approximately one mile off Santa Point in 90 feet of water. Great sighting. Whales moving at a slow pace. Must still be early in the season, they were moving east. Followed them down to Summerland and left them in the kelp forest. Mother was resting and taking care of baby. The young Whale was most likely a second year calf.

2/23/97
Great sighting of a pod of seven Gray Whales. Time: 1230. Found the Whales Approximately 3.5 miles off light house. Lots of tail fluking. Found another pod of three Whales on the way back in. All Whales heading north bound.

Yes, another Whale heading East. Found single juvenile at approximately 3 miles off UCSB in 290 feet of water. This little guy enjoyed our company. Every third breathing cycle it showed us its fluke. The passengers went wild when it breached 6 times in a row. Excellent sighting. I'm looking forward in seeing this friendly Whale on the way back up.

Whale Sightings From Other Sources
"My name is Joel Tyberg and I saw some gray whales off the Coastal Hwy around Big Sur as I was heading towards Santa Barbara for an interview at the University there. I was traveling with my wife, sister, and her husband when we spotted them from the shore. There seemed to be a pod of around 30 to 50 of them. They were heading south. A CA. state ranger confirmed they were gray whales. I was very excited to see them as it was my first trip to California and my first exposure to live whales in the wild! We saw them around the 13th of January."

"I went out on a whale watching boat on March 4, approximately 15 miles west of the coast of San Diego,and we spotted four gray whales travelling northward together, at about noontime. They were all full-grown, and remained at or close to the surface for about fifteen minutes while we motored along parallel to them.They seemed comfortable with our presence, but definitely seemed on a mission, a journey."
Melissa Groo
San Diego,CA
mgroo@lcn.org

Please Note:
Laura has adjusted the schedule for her regular Gray Whale reports. She will provide updates on alternate weeks. They will be posted on the following WEDNESDAYS: 4/2, 4/16, 4/30 and 5/14, 5/28

The Next Gray Whale Migration Update Will be Posted on April 2, 1997