Journey North Gray Whale Spring 2009

Gray Whale Migration Update: February 18, 2009

Today's Report Includes:

Whale Watching: News from Observation Posts >>

Migration Math: What's the Story? >>

Journal Topic: Babies Born at Sea >>

Tracking the Migration: Using Daily Data ≥≥

Links: Gray Whale Resources to Explore ≥≥

Teachers: Getting Started

What do you see? >>
Photo The Orca Network

Whale Watching: News From Observation Posts

Here's the news! >>
On each post's intro page, click next on the NEWS button for latest news.

Whales are on the move and so are hopeful whale watchers, flocking to the Mexican lagoons and the Pacific Coast from far and wide. This week's discoveries:

What's the latest whale count at San Ignacio Lagoon (#2)? How many whales are at Laguna Ojo de Liebre now? What exciting change took place in numbers at the Los Angeles post (#6) since our last report? What made Feb. 11 a big day for watchers at Gray Whales Count (#7)? Which Oregon observation post (#11) happily reported their first northbounder yesterday? Which two California posts (#5, #9) saw their "firsts?" Click on the globe for answers and more!

Migration Math: What's the Story?

Imagine! Holy Cow! What a Calf >>

Check the news page for San Ignacio nursery lagoon and do the math to tell the story:

On Feb. 13, the total number of whales in the lagoon was _____. So far, the trend is toward ______ cow/calf pairs in the lagoon each week. In mid-February 2009, there are _________ whales in this lagoon compared to this time in 2008. The year with the MOST whales in the lagoon in February was ________.

Write the story in your Gray Whale Journal. >>

Gray whale babies and moms play in the warm lagoons in Mexico.
Photo Keith Jones

Journal Topic: Babies Born at Sea

Investigate: Southbound Babies >>

We've been hearing all about the baby whales in the warm lagoons of Mexico, but every year some are born before their mothers reach the warm, safe lagoons of Mexico. By Feb. 1, observers at Los A ngeles, CA, had counted at least 18 new calves headed south with Mom.

What do you think: how does being born in the open ocean during their mom's southbound migration affect these babies? So far, scientists can only wonder. Compare your thoughts with what two scientists think, and chose one of the Journal questions at the end of the reading selection. >>

Photo: Mike Hawe

Baby rests on Mom's back.

Tracking the Migration: Using Daily Data

At Gray Whales Count, the weather has been a foe. How many northbound whales have they counted since Feb. 2? At the ACS/LA Census site, whales are still passing in both directions — south and north — but people are watching for the "turnaround" date. The turnaround is the first date on which northbound whales outnumber southbound whales. This year's turnaround has happened!

Can you figure out when the turnaround took place? >>
Curious about other turnarounds? Last year it was Feb. 14. Compare with 2007, 2006 and 2005: >>
Graphing gray whale data through the whole season? Add the latest data. >>

Current Gray Whale Migration Data >>

Questions About This Week's Data >>

Links: Gray Whale Resources To Explore

Photo Study: What do you see? >>
Video clip: Watch a Gray Whale Blow >>
Lesson: Southbound Babies >>
Lesson: Holy Cow, What a Calf!
Graphs: Compare PreviousTurnaround Dates >>
Journal Cover & Pages: Gray Whale Migration Journal >>
Lesson: Tracking Gray Whale Migration from California Observation Posts >>
Gray Whales for Kids (booklets, photos,videos) >>

What is this whale doing?

More Gray Whale Lessons and Teaching Ideas!

The Next Gray Whale Migration Update Will Be Posted on March 4, 2009.