[CINC] CX, JANUARY 23

[Bernardo Alps]

Hi Ken at al.

Gray whale calves are now routinely being born during the southbound migration, often as far north as Monterey Bay. The ACS/LA Gray Whale Census and Behavior Project at Point Vicente on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, Los Angeles County, has recorded 17 southbound gray whale calves so far this season, 21 during the 2011/12 season and 106 during the 1997/98 season. Southbound calves off Southern California have been observed for decades, although the numbers appear to be on the increase. Scientists believe that it is related to climate change; as the gray whales venture further north to find similar conditions on the feeding grounds, their southbound migration becomes longer and they a arrive on the wintering grounds later. No ill effects for the calves have been documented. The water temperature in the Southern California Bight is not that much lower than that off Central Baja California and the gray whale's destination is only a few days away once they reach our area. Newborn whales maintain a position to the side and slightly below the mother where the slip stream carries them along with very little effort on their part. Keep in mind that only a small percentage of gray whales are in the Baja lagoons at any one time. Some might not visit the lagoons at all and many spend a considerable amount of time outside of the lagoons.

Take care,

Bernardo

-----Original Message-----
>From: "Kenneth A. Tatro" <kensword at cox.net>
>Sent: Jan 23, 2013 9:48 PM
>To: HAL ALTMAN <nymeetsca at gmail.com>
>Cc: Channel Islands Naturalist Corps Channel Islands Sanctuary Volunteers <channel_islands_naturalist_corps at rain.org>
>Subject: Re: [CINC] CX, JANUARY 23
>
>Hi Hal,
>
>So, this second group, you say is " ... likely the season's first Mom and calf pair with the tiny, smooth skinned calf looking no more than a few days old."
>
>Were they heading south? This would mean the calf was birthed somewhere up here or north of here in the much colder waters than that of the lagoons of Baja. This, as I understand it, is not good for the calf as it has yet to build the blubber coat needed to deal with the colder waters it will be heading for in the north bound trek.
>
>If they were heading north, this too would a bit odd, as we understand it, they nurse in the lagoons for about six weeks to grow strong and do the fattening they need for the cold waters up north.
>
>We do know that some Grays ARE birthing here and north of here, as noted in the last couple of years, but we feel it is not a good sign for the calves that are birthed in these much colder waters before they have the chance to fatten up.
>
>Your take on what you saw would be interesting for our ongoing observations of what is happening with the Grays, and the issue of the ice melt, and them needing to travel farther for their feeding while up north, and its effect on the gestation period of the pregnant females, thus causing them to birth before they reach the Baja lagoons.
>
>Ken Tatro
>
>On Jan 23, 2013, at 7:53 PM, HAL ALTMAN wrote:
>
>> GROUP 1:  5 GRAY WHALES
>> GROUP 2:  2 GRAY WHALES
>> 
>> Noteworthy:  The 5 Grays stayed clustered in their southbound journey and each of them fluked with every dive.  They were heavily encrusted with both barnacles and whale lice.  The second group were likely the season's first mom and calf pair, with the tiny, smooth-skinned calf looking no more than a few days old.  Both groups barely broke water with their snorkeling technique and stayed topside a scant minute or two.
>> 
>> Nice to see Rae Emmett and Ginny Fischer again, as well as Capts. Dave and (Double T) Matt.
>> 
>> ENJOYING LIFE,
>> Hal Altman   
>> 

Bernardo Alps
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