|
Journey
North News: Spring
2008
Posted
Wednesdays:
Feb. 6, 20, March 12, 26, April 9, 23, May 7,
and May 14.
 |
FINAL:
May 14,
2008
Hungry whales are strung out along the
Pacific coast from Mexico to the Bering Strait, ready to swallow
at least 67 tons of food during a 5-month feast
on
their arctic
feeding
grounds. Where will they reach ice this week? View the
sea ice changes on our animated map. Moms and calves are still
passing California; how do calf counts
compare this
spring?
Take
action
for
the
whales'
ocean habitat and dig into a good list of summer resources
as we end our season today. Go Whales! |
 |
May
7,
2008
The first mom and calf
were reported passing Vancouver, BC.
Whales are cruising along the
coast, and calf numbers
passing California may finally be climbing. Could
the whales possibly make their 10,000-mile
roundtrip migration
without any rest or sleep? Find out what we
know (and don't know) about whale sleep. compare
how a whale's sleep is like your sleep. How
do you think baby whales have fun on the migration? Observer
comments reveal some clues! |
 |
April
23, 2008
While hopeful whale watchers
at a few posts wonder where
the whales are, groups larger than 30 have
been
celebrated
at Kodiak, Alaska! In Mexico, a nursery
lagoon reports only about 50 whales
remaining. The
cow/calf
phase of the migration provides some great
stories, shared in our comments
from the observation posts, and this week's
journal questions invite you to think like
a whale.
Team up
with scientist Wayne Perryman as he dives
into fluctuating calf counts. |
 |
April
9, 2008
Whales are passing the coast
from Mexico to Alaska, and the first adults
have reached Kodiak Island! The
northbound parade of cows and calves is starting
right on time too, with the first pair reported
past Wayne Perrymans' official census
on April 4.
Our Califoria Point-count
sites continue their enchanting reports. What
does it mean if a whale-watcher calls 'BLOW,
300 degrees at 45 mil'? Decode with
whale watcher's lingo.
|
 |
March
26, 2008
No cow/calf pairs, but exciting numbers
continue past our California point-count sites. Wayne
Perryman's
cow/calf census began March 24 with no calves but 86 whales going by! Two students
touch the whales in the lagoon, where baby
whales
are getting spring training. Our
slideshow
explores how
whales find
their
way
on
a
journey
longer
than 5,000 miles. |
 |
March
12, 2008
Migration
is in full swing! The first cow/calf pair appeared off the California Coast for
the ACS-LA team and observers
in Oregon and Vancouver Island have now seen their first northbound
gray whales. Strangely, whales have been passing the lagoons and continuing
to the Sea of Cortez. Why? If
you weighed the same pounds per foot of your length as a baby whale,
how
much
would you weigh? An observer shares visual clues for telling a whale's age; test
your new skill with photos. |
 |
February
20, 2008
Off the coast of California, whales are passing in both directions.
People watching at Los Angeles for what's called the "turnaround" date
have news! Farther up the coast, the FIRST northbound whale
was spotted by folks at Gray Whales Count. Fill in th blanks
to tell a story with data from San Ignacio Lagoon, where
moms and babies frolic. Climate in the Arctic is changing
faster than anywhere on Earth; investigate whales weathering
change in this report. |
 |
February
6, 2008
The longest migration of any mammal is underway! California gray whales are swimming
south AND north along the Pacific coast. Among those still headed for Mexico
were 21 newborn babies with their moms. Explore the outlook for babies born in
the open ocean instead of the warm lagoons of Mexico. See our slideshow (or booklet)
to learn why gray whales rule when it comes to amazing animal migrations. Welcome
to the 2008 journey north! Welcome Teachers: See Getting
Started |
|
