This Week's Update Includes:

• News: Migration Pushes Northward
• Explore: Navigating the Way
• Tracking the Migration: Daily Data
• Annual Evaluation: Please Share Your Thoughts!

The gray whales' epic journey is only half done, even for the leaders! Scientist Bree Witteveen tells us, "By the time they reach Kodiak, Alaska (16), the whales are approximately 2/3 to 3/4 of the way to their ultimate destinations." Click on our migration route map (right, below) for posts 17, 18, and 19. See why it takes until July to reach their summer feeding waters!

Moms and Babies Northward Bound!
Meanwhile, moms with babies are bringing up the tail of the migration parade. How are they doing?

In Tofino, B.C. (15), Kati Martini reported the first confirmed cow/calf sighting on May 6. See the report! "We know that there are a good number of Gray Whale mother and calf pairs still coming our way in the next few weeks," declares Katie.

Gray Whale cow and calf pairs are coming through Monterey Bay (9), reports Katie Dunbar. She notes, "This period has been marked by more Killer Whale sightings than Gray Whales." Her field notes tell what they've seen, and a possible explanation why they may have missed some gray whale sightings. Check it out!

At Post 8, a scientific study site, May 6-10 was "another really good week, with sightings of 58 cow/calf pairs, for a total count of 279 so far. "It's still behind last year's count, but a very respectable total," reports Wayne Perryman. Counting continues throughout May. Read Wayne's field notes to find out what made May 8th an exciting day at Pt. Piedras Blancas.

This is the final week of counting at Post 7, where Michael Smith reported their 101st pair on May 3. The counting crew named the calf 101 North—after the famous California highway. Season tally to date: 738 whales, 126 calves.

"We have sighted 39 of our 136 northbound cow/calf pairs over the past two weeks. We'll likely see several more northbound cow/calf pairs," reports director Alisa Shulman-Janiger At Post 6. She was on early duty at their gray whale census on May 14, and saw a nearshore gray whale cow/calf pair just after 6:30 a.m. It turned out to be the day's only sighting. Highlights of the past two weeks include bubble blasting, calves adorning their heads with kelp and rolling with their moms; and bottlenose dolphins interacting with cow/calf pairs.

Looking Ahead

Image: Kathy Bishop

Breaching Baby

Image: Caroline Armon

Bubble Blast!

Image: Bree Witteveen

Stray Gray

Map: Journey North

See Latest Field Notes: Post 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 15, 16

A whale-sized thanks to contributing scientists Alisa Schulman-Janiger, Michael H. Smith, Wayne Perryman, and Katie Dunbar. Your data and observations give us a front-row seat. We are grateful!

• Navigating the Way

• Please Help: Journey North Annual Evaluation