[CINC] Gray Whale migration now/ SB NewsPress

[paul jr petrich]

Hello Again Ocean and Island People,
 Peter Howorth's article in today's Sunday Santa Barbara News-Press updates some interesting facts about Gray Whales as the migrate through our local waters. He corrects some old myths recently with recent observations as follows: 
"In the past, it was held southbound whales tend to cut corners, swimming from headland to headland, rather than following coastal contours. Northbound whales were thought to hug the coast. Research have found, instead, that the majority of both southbound and northbound whales thread there way through a choice of passages between the Channel Islands."
With a stock size now of over 20,000 animals, plenty of animals still pass close to Santa Barbara and Ventura coastlines.
"Another myth that has been shattered is that gray whales don't eat during migrations or while in the Baja lagoons."
Grays have been seen feeding in the lagoons as well as during their travels. Off our coast, they sometimes venture into the surf to dredge up sand grabs. They also forage for small, buglike creatures that are sometimes very abundant in the kelp."
See Gray whale migration in full swing , SB News-Press , Jan. 20/ by Peter Howorth. Peter is the Director of the Santa Barbara Marine Mammal Center.   Paul
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