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Journey
North News: Spring
2011
Posted
Wednesdays:
Feb. 2, 16, March 2, 16, 30, April 13, 27,
May 11.
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FINAL
Gray Whale Migration: May 11, 2011
The
best season in four years continues as
the peak migration of mom/calf pairs thrills
whale watchers. Posts #6 and #7 have both
counted 100 calves so far! According to
the sea ice map, how far north can the
whales go this week? Dig into the data
and our journal page to sum up a season
to celebrate. Thanks for joining us for
the 2011 journey north! Image:
Michael H. Smith
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Gray
Whale Migration: April 27, 2011
Whale
mom/calf pairs are surging north in a
week with good news and great news! In
the past
13 days, ACS/LA volunteers spotted 98
northbound gray whales (including 36
calves)—the
highest calf numbers to date since 2006.
Thrills and chills abound in this week's
Field Notes. What is the calf doing in
this week's image? Image: Michael H. Smith
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Gray
Whale Migration: April 13, 2011
Whales
have reached Kodiak Island, Alaska in time
for Whale Fest.The northbound parade of
cows and calves is starting right on time
too, with official census Post #8 reporting
the first pair on April 4. "Blows" are
big in this week's report with an image,
an activity, and a video clip with a surprise
from the lagoon. Gray whales are honored
for Earth Day 2011.
Photo: Wayne Perryman |
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Gray
Whale Migration: March 30, 2011
Gray whales are surging northward.
The first leaders have reached Alaska. Reports
are flooding in from Washington, and California
Post #7 set a sightings record. Our animated
diagram shows the order of travel; what are
the reasons behind it? Discover what's so unusual
in our Image of the Week. Prepare your questions
for the Gray Whale Expert.Photo:
Daniel Bianchetta |
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Gray
Whale Migration: March 16, 2011
The migration
is in full swing, with the leaders passing British Columbia.
Spotters in California reported their first cow/calf pairs
this week. In the nursery lagoons, serious spring training
occupies the cow/calf pairs preparing for their journey north.
Except for puzzling numbers at one post, it's shaping up
as a whale of a migration!
Photo: Renee
Bonner |
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Gray
Whale Migration: March 2, 2011
“We
have a migration,” proclaimed Michael
Smith after a big day of northbound sightings.
Visit the lagoons in this week’s slideshows
and video clip. Touching a baby whale, the
teen in this image tells how it feels. What
does it mean if a whale-watcher calls 'BLOW,
300 degrees at 45 mil'? Decode when you learn
some whale watcher's lingo. Photo
Keith Jones |
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Gray
Whale Migration: February 16, 2011
Whales are still arriving daily in Mexico but northbound
sightings have begun. Our
slideshow explores just how big these whales are:
If your tongue weighed more than 1,000 pounds, you
might be a gray whale! And is that a whale
valentine in our Image of the Week? Discover why
a gray's blow is heart-shaped and
explore a tagged whale's travels. Photo
Michael H. Smith |
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Gray
Whale Migration: February 2, 2011
Pacific gray
whales are still southbound and the news from the whale trail
is all good! Delighted observers predict a record year. Discover
why gray whales rule when it comes to amazing animal migrations
in a new slideshow. Take a team treasure hunt for facts about
our whale observation posts as you get set for the 2011 journey
north. Welcome!
Photo: Jim Dorsey
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Welcome
and Orientation
In December,
gray whales will begin arriving in the birthing
lagoons of Mexico's Baja California coast. More
whales will still be heading south than north,
but that will change! After low counts in 2009
and 2010, how will this year's migration compare? Join
us here on Feb. 2 for a new season of discoveries! Photo
Keith Jones
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