Today's Report Includes:
- The Longest Mammal Migration is Underway!
- Whale Watching: News from Observation Posts
- Journal Question: What's a Good Nursery?
- Tracking the Migration: Using Weekly Data
Photo: Mike Hawe
 |
As
you sit in your cozy classrooms today, where are the California
gray whales? Are you surprised to learn that many are still plowing
south on their 5,000 to 6,000-mile swim from Alaska to
Mexico? But most gray whales are in the warm Mexican lagoons
right now. Click on the globe to discover their
migration route! |
|
|
Why do they migrate? How can observers spot them? And just how long are those two-ton babies? Read all about it in Gray Whales: The Monumental Migration. |
Babies
in "Nursery" Lagoons
Whale observers along the California coast have spotted only a few whales
migrating north. The real action right now is in the warm lagoons
of Mexico. The whales swim all this way to mate and give birth — two
important
life cycle events. Most births take place in two lagoons.
(Click on #2 and #3 on the migration
route map to see them.)
For centuries
gray whales have migrated to Mexico to give birth to their young.
We know
why people like Mexico in winter, but why do the whales go there? Explore
life in the lagoons to find out.
Welcome to the whales' spring journey north!
Photo:
Keith Jones
A curious mother and baby gray whale in one of the Mexican lagoons.
Babies
Born at Sea!
Each year, some babies (calves) are born before their mothers
reach the warm, safe lagoons of Mexico. Observers have counted at least
19 new calves headed south with Mom. "We saw the calf
riding on mom's pecs, flukes, and back. The calf bobbed its head high
out of the water many times," said one observer.
How does being born in the open ocean during their mom's migration affect the babies? So far, scientists can only wonder. Read what two scientists think about southbound babies:
Photo:
Mike Hawe
Mom and Baby
- What do you think makes the Mexican lagoons such good gray whale baby nurseries? Name at least two conditions and tell why each is important.
Write your ideas in your Gray Whale Journal. >>
Where are those gray whale adults and babies (calves) this week — and which direction(s) are they going? With each Journey North report, you can view current migration data showing the gray whale counts from two California census stations. Then you can use our handout to answer questions about the data. (See right.)
You can also graph gray whale data through the whole season using blank student data sheets and graphs in this lesson:
- Lesson: Tracking Gray Whale Migration from California Observation Posts >>
The Next Gray Whale Migration Update Will Be Posted on February 21, 2007.
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