Journey North Gray Whale Spring 2007

Gray Whale Migration Update: March 7, 2007

Today's Report Includes:

Whale Watching: News from Observation Posts >>
Explore: Photo Tour of a Gray Whale Nursery>>
Tracking the Migration: A Look at This Week's Data >>
Journal Question: When Will They Reach Alaska? >>
Conservation: Protecting the Lagoons >>
Links: Gray Whale Resources to Explore >>

Tourists touch a baby whale.
Photo: Linda Lewis

Whale Watching: News From Observation Posts >>

Here they come! Observers in Oregon (#9 on the globe) reported their first northbound gray whales last week — and the first baby appeared off the California Coast for the Channel Islands team (#6).

The nursery lagoons are bustling with action (#1- #4). Now that the whale-watching tour boats have begun their new season, we have watchers on the water as well as on shore.

The whales in the lagoons are getting visitors from all around the world. Lucky tourists see the babies practice their breaching and play with young dolphins. What other behaviors are people seeing in the lagoons and along the migration path? What dangers lie in the path of the northbound whales? How do observers explain the later timing of this year's migration? Yellow arrows on this globe mark points where observers have seen whales.

Read the news! >>

Explore: Photo Tour of a Gray Whale Nursery >>

What is a whale "footprint" and what does it tell you? What are two facts about the barnacles on gray whales? What happens in the gray whale nursery lagoons? Find out when you join Jane on a day of whale watching in "Laguna Ojo de Liebre." Before you go, list your idea of good rules for whale watchers to obey while in the lagoon. Then click here:

Photo Tour of a Gray Whale Nursery >>

Mom and Baby whale come near the boat!
Photo Keith Jones

Tracking the Migration: A Look at This Week's Data

The turnaround (the first date on which northbound whales outnumber southbound whales) has happened. What's next? Look for pulses, or surges in sightings. First to head north are the newly-pregnant females. They are followed by the males and juveniles of previous years. In April or May, new moms and babies come head north.

Do data show a pulse since our last report?
Graphing gray whale data through the whole season? Add the latest data. >>

Current Gray Whale Migration Data >>

Questions About This Week's Data >>

Journal Question: When Will the Oregon Whales Reach Alaska?

Gray whales travel 24 hours a day at about 3-6 miles per hour (4.8-9.6 km/hr). By what date could the whale sighted Feb. 24 at Depoe Bay, Oregon, reach Kodiak Island, Alaska?

Write your prediction in your Gray Whale Journal. >>

Conservation: Protecting the Lagoons >>

On March 15, a major Mexican TV network and its U.S. Hispanic network will use Television to help gray whales. "Through the endearing images of Gray Whales and their calves interacting with visitors at San Ignacio Lagoon, our goal is to inspire and educate millions of Mexicans and Latinos in the U.S. about the importance of taking action to protect the environment, in particular the Gray Whales, which are shared by three countries — Mexico, the U.S. and Canada," said Serge Dedina, member of the Alliance. More... >>

Links: Gray Whale Resources to Explore

Gray Whales for Kids: Gray Whale Antics >>
Highlights: Lagoon Tour: Whale Watching at Laguna Ojo de Liebre >>
Video Clip:See and Hear a Gray Whale Spouting! >>
Art: Draw a Life-size Gray Whale! >>
Journals: Print Your Own Gray Whale Migration Journal >>
Lesson: Tracking Gray Whale Migration from California Observation Posts >>
Mapping: Map the Migration Route >>
Gray Whales for Kids Overview (booklets, photos, videos) >>

More Gray Whale Lessons and Teaching Ideas!

The Next Gray Whale Migration Update Will Be Posted on March 21, 2007.