Journey North Gray Whale Migration

Gray Whales: Weathering Change?
Wayne Perryman, Biologist and Gray Whale Expert

Wayne Perryman is the government's leading expert on gray whale cows and calves. He counts them each spring as they pass the California coast at Pt. Piedras Blancas on their way to Alaska.

Mr. Perryman reminds us, “Most of the eastern Pacific population of gray whales feeds in the Arctic during the summer to early fall. That environment has changed significantly over the past 15 years. As the climate warms, there is less ice; this change impacts a wide range of marine mammals (seals, walrus, whales, polar bears). Right now, we can feel comfortable saying that gray whales are feeding in different places (farther north) and on different prey than they did back in the 1980s.

"It takes a long time series of data to know how this is affecting the whale population. Climate changes slowly in the long term while weather can fluctuate widely in the sort term, so it takes time to tease out the long-term effects from the short-term ones.

"It appears that growth of the gray whale population has slowed and may have stopped. Also, reproduction (number of calves migrating north) has fluctuated widely, and in general has been lower than we would expect for a growing population. How this all fits into the puzzle of climate change effects is a good question. Perhaps YOU will become a scientist and help to figure it out!"

Try This! Journal Questions

Read more about Mr. Perryman here. Think about how his life prepared him for the job he has today. What things do YOU enjoy doing that might lead to enjoyable work in your future?
Of the challenges you know about today, which do you think are most important for scientists to be studying? Explain.
Find out more about gray whales and things that might make the species' population decrease.