[CINC] CINMS onGray Migrations-2012

[Kenneth A. Tatro]

Hi all,

Good discussion, and good digging into this, as we gather our info to be able to share it with the public when on the water or the islands, or in our outreach events.

The "in flux" notion applies to OUR knowledge, and MAYBE to the Grays behavior POSSIBLY due to climate change. However, it is apparent we have not been watching them in enough depth of time and physical observation, to make any really definitive comment on how they are operating and what these observation may or may not mean as far as their over all behavior and/or health of the stock.

We will keep observing and listening to the in depth researchers as we all gather more and more information, share ti with one another, vet it for clarity, and share with the public as "this is what we understand, so far."  

This is the great beauty of oceanography, it is so new to us, and there is soooooo much for us to learn and understand, the possibilities seem to be wide open. Fun, fun and exciting all at the same time.

Open for more info and comments always.

Ken Tatro   

 
On Jan 26, 2013, at 10:49 AM, paul jr petrich wrote:

> Bob, Cubby, Hal, Marty, and Ken,
>  I think the scribe at the computer just made two mistakes in the CINMS article on Grays: One was keyboarding "on"kelp, instead of "in" kelp. The other was misstating that the "..northbound migration is shorter than the southbound migration, and it occurs in two distinct waves.." If stated that "the northbound migration is longer...", it all makes sense, as two waves would obviously take longer. . 
>  Additionally, a study in which John Calambokidis collaborated with 14 other researchers, between 1999 to 2007, presented at the 2008 ACS Symposium,  Gray Whales and ClimateChange: Sentinels of the N. Pacific/  Arctic Ecosystems concluded with this following sentence, expressing all the researchers' surprise at what they found out, and explains our consternation!  Like Bob says, "it is in flux".    Paul    
>  "The variable locations and prey of these whales is a demonstration of the surprising versatility of gray whales, a species that was previously thought to be a highly specialized feeder with a very regimented migration."
>  
> On Jan 26, 2013, at 9:20 AM, paul jr petrich wrote:
> 
>> Hi Bob,
>>  Peter, in his article last Sunday in the News-Press, referred to Grays now having been seen occasionally feeding on "..small, bug-like creatures that are sometimes very abundant in the kelp."   Maybe his reply to Cubby's email will verify we do not yet have vegetarian Grays!  Paul
>> On Jan 26, 2013, at 7:39 AM, paul jr petrich wrote:
>> 
>>> Hi All,
>>>  This is an excerpt from our CINMS summarizing official NOAA data about the most recent research on Gray Whale migrations. The link I passed on to Cubby in my previous email last night has the whole article. The 2008 American Cetacean Society Conference focused on Gray Whale research, and hit upon all the calving and feeding issues discussed by Hal, Marty, and Cubby, except the new reevaluations about routes through our Channel Islands. If you want specific references to abstracts about those studies, let me know ( from 2008 ). Cubby says he emailed Peter about the specific studies pertaining to the local routes .  Keep on Swimin, Paul
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Whales arrive at Santa Barbara Island from a variety of directions and pass along either (western/eastern) shore. From Santa Barbara Island, most head for Santa Catalina Island and pass along the seaward shore. 
>>> 
>>> Once past the southern Channel Islands (Santa Catalina and San Clemente), most whales return to the coast. Some whales continue on into the Sea of Cortes, but most spend their winters in and near lagoons on the west coast of Baja California and the mainland coast of Mexico near Yavaros. 
>>> 
>>> It has long been believed that most gray whale offspring (calves) are born in Mexican waters in and near the lagoons. But more recent studies have revealed that a higher than expected number of calves are actually born during the southern migration, as far north as southern Oregon. Some mothers and calves have been spotted passing south through the Channel Island sanctuary waters. 
>>> 
>>> Gray whales begin leaving the lagoons for the northward migration as early as mid-January; so the beginning of the northbound migration overlaps slightly with the end of the southbound migration near Baja California and Southern California in January and February. The northward migration is shorter than the southward migration, and it occurs in two distinct waves or 'pulses'. The earlier pulse includes a larger cross section of the whale population. The later, smaller pulse consists primarily of females and their calves. 
>>> 
>>> The occasional observation of females and calves or yearlings in the same kelp areas off the Channel Islands on successive days has led to speculation that quiet kelp beds are of special importance to newborn and juvenile whales during spring. Given that 60% of the kelp beds in theSCB (the Southern California Bight--which extends from Point Conception to Cabo Colnette, Baja California) are in CINMS waters, some young whales might be expected to linger there. One reason the northbound migration takes longer is probably due to whales stopping to feed on kelp, which is more bountiful in the spring. 
>>> 
>>> As with the fall/winter migration, during the spring/summer migration some gray whales do not complete the migration to subarctic or arctic waters, electing instead to spend summer and/or fall in the waters of California, Washington, British Columbia, or Alaska. The number of animals in these "summering" populations appears to be increasing, along with the growth of the population at large (around 25,000 gray whales in the North Pacific as of 1996).
>>> 
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