Census Project Director/Coordinator: Alisa Schulman-Janiger
Email: janiger@cox.net
For daily sighting details, please visit: www.acs-la.org
High numbers of fin whale, common dolphin, and bottlenose dolphin sightings highlighted our 2021/2022 ACS-LA Gray Whale Census and Behavior Project. However, both southbound and northbound gray whale counts plummeted, and skinny grays and fewer calves are concerning – as the Gray Whale Mortality Event 2019-2022 continued. This is the 38th season, consecutive seasons except for two COVID-19 closures (closed on 20 March (quarantine) in 2019-2020* – and the entire next season) that the American Cetacean Society’s Los Angeles Chapter has sponsored a full season gray whale census project from the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Our cliff-side post is on the patio of the Point Vicente Interpretive Center (PVIC), 138 feet above kelp beds and rocky shoreline, with a seafloor that drops off abruptly near shore. Citizen scientists (trained volunteers) collect data on gray whales and other cetaceans (identifications, counts, and behaviors). All participants use binoculars (most with reticles and compass); some also use spotting scopes to confirm and detail sightings. Weather data (visibility, weather conditions, sea conditions) are recorded at least twice hourly. In 2019-2020*, we counted 440 southbound grays (including 35 calves), and 882 northbound grays (including 13 early calves), before closing on 20 March (during peak northbound migration); because that season was incomplete, comparisons here are from this season to 2018-2019 (our last full season).
COVERAGE: Our census station operated for 2,091 hours over the 176 days between 1 December 2021 and 25 May 2022, averaging nearly 12 hours/day. Our 89 volunteers contributed 8,786 effort hours. The seven core volunteers that donated over 200 hours each, totaling 23.2% of effort hours (and the number of observer days) include: Joanne Kajiyama, 537 (145); Alisa Schulman-Janiger, 306 (65); Mike Malone, 269 (63); M’Liz Callender, 250 (70); Joyce Daniels, 233 (47); Chad Sprouse, 213 (44); and Kathy Beckman, 206 (38). Twenty-eight other volunteers donated 100-199 hours each, totaling 42.8% of our effort hours. Experienced observers anchor all shifts; 28 volunteers have been with us for at least ten seasons.
GRAY WHALE COUNTS FELL: We spotted 313 southbound and 814 northbound gray whales (543 southbound and 1,612 northbound grays in 2018-2019). This was our fifth lowest southbound count and our ninth lowest northbound count. Whale counts have widely fluctuated over 37 previous seasons: southbound counts varied from 301-1,902, and northbound counts varied from 521-3,412. Although most of the ~16,650 gray whales (NOAA Fisheries updated 2021-2022 estimate) migrate past California, we spot only a small proportion. Gray whales off Palos Verdes, especially adults, tend to travel further offshore – notably during the southbound migration. Northbound whales, particularly cow/calf pairs and juveniles, tend to hug the coastline. These trends, combined with extended springtime observation hours, produce higher northbound counts. Shifting migratory corridors and weather conditions result in annually fluctuating shore-based counts. The number of whales completing migration varies, and feeding ground conditions (especially ice coverage) affect migratory timing and corridors. Poor visibility drastically affects counts. Fog compromised visibility during nearly the same number of days this season (59) as in 2018-2019 (57).
PEAKS AND TURN-AROUND DATES: Our peak southbound count of 21 was on 7 January; our previous peak counts ranged from 15-98. We only spotted 69 southbound whales during our peak southbound week of 7-13 Jan (164 in 2018-2019). Our southbound migration started later and peaked earlier. The official turn-around date (daily northbound whales exceed southbound whales) was 12 February (northbound first exceeded southbound on 7 Feb.). We spotted 32 northbound grays during the “southbound migration”, and 34 southbound grays during the “northbound migration”. Our peak northbound count was 35 on 4 March (111 in 2018-2019). Previous northbound peaks counts ranged from 20-152. We only recorded 171 grays during the peak northbound week (Phase A, main northbound migration pulse) of 28 February – 6 March (423 in 2018-2019).
LOWER CALF COUNTS; ONLY SEASON SOUTHBOUND EXCEEDED NORTHBOUND CALF COUNTS! We documented our fifteenth highest southbound calf count (migration was later, more females likely to have given birth), and our fifth lowest northbound calf count. We spotted 28 southbound calves (8.9% of southbound migrants), between 1 January-13 February, peaking with 4 calves on 5 January; in 2018-2019, we spotted 61 newborn calves (6.6% of the southbound migrants). Peak southbound weeks were 1-7 January. 2-8 January, and 24-30 January, with 8 calves each. Our record high southbound calf count occurred during the 1997-1998 season (106 calves, 8.6% of southbound migrants). Previous southbound calf counts ranged from 3-60 (0.5%-8.9% of southbound migrants), with the lowest percentage (0.5%) in 1988-1989. We counted 25 northbound calves (3.1% of northbound migrants), between 14 March-19 May, peaking with 3 calves on 11 April. In 2018-2019, we spotted 37 northbound calves (2.3% of northbound migrants); in 2015-2016, we tracked a record 341* northbound calves (13.4% of northbound migrants). Our other calf counts have ranged from 11-318 (0.9%-22.9% of northbound migrants). We only recorded 7 cow/calf pairs during both peak weeks, 6-12 April and 27 April-3 May (14 pairs in 2018-2019). The peak northbound week (Phase B, cow/calf migration pulse) typically occurs 4-8 weeks later that the main pulse, which allows calves to nurse longer and strengthen swimming skills in Baja lagoons before initiating their perilous migration northward.
**Probable additional gray whale calves: 1 more southbound calf, and 2 more northbound calves.
BEHAVIORS AND HUMAN INTERACTIONS: We watched gray whales milling, rolling, breaching, head slapping, spyhopping, head lifting, tail throwing, playing in kelp (“kelping”), bubble blasting, courting, nursing behavior (calves surfacing on alternating sides of their moms). Groups split up and merged. HARASSMENT: On 6 days, we witnessed 13 boats approach too closely, some nearly hit whales! On 2 days, we witnessed people on jet skis approach too closely. Gray whales clearly reacted to these close calls: nearly all changed travel direction (zig-zagged, turned outward, reversed direction, milled). Some became stealthy/low profile or disappeared. Some dove longer. One adult did a head lunge and went stealth. One boat cut off a northbound cow/calf pair; they were not seen again.
LOWER CALF COUNTS, SKINNY GRAYS, UME: NOAA Fisheries 2021-2022 Eastern North Pacific (ENP) gray whale population estimate dropped to ~16,650, down 38.1% from 26,960 (2015-2016 – a record high count); the (2019-2020 estimate was ~20,580. Population fluctuations, number of whales completing migration, weather conditions, and observer experience affect whale counts. In 1994, ENP gray whales were removed from the endangered species list, when they had rebounded to ~19,000. The gray whale population had dropped from about 21,000 (1997-1998) to 16,000 (2000-2001) following the 1999-2000 Unusual Mortality Event (UME), which included three low calf seasons. Calf production dropped during 1999–2000 to less than one-third that of previous years. Arctic warming led to a northward shift in distribution of gray whale prey (mud-dwelling shrimp-like amphipods): they thrive in cooler water, feeding on algae that fall from ice sheets. Gray whales shifted northward as they followed their prey. Then strandings decreased, calf production increased, and the gray whale population rebounded. Gray whales sometimes ignore the initial migration cue (shortened daylight hours) so that they can rebuild blubber that allows them to fast during migration and on Baja nursery ground, and provides energy to withstand disease, storms, and killer whale attacks. New UME: in December 2018, we started documenting skinny (sometimes emaciated) gray whales, increasing in number as our season progressed. A later southbound migration, fewer calves, skinny grays, and increased strandings concerned many gray whale researchers. *NOAA Fisheries has declared an ongoing 2019-2022 Gray Whale Unusual Mortality Event (UME), with elevated strandings (606) reported between Mexico and Alaska (2019 through 21 September 2022): 81 in CA (out of 300 in US), 280 in Mexico, and 26 in Canada. A direct cause for these UMEs has not been determined. Continued expanded ice-free habitat and lower nutrient flow may be contributing to challenging feeding conditions; gray whales may shift further north to prey on pelagic krill swarms, rather than on benthic amphipods. Gray whale calf recruitment has dramatically dropped, likely due to poor maternal condition. We documented at least 22 skinny grays (including 2 very skinny southbound moms and 2 northbound moms), as well as low calf counts. It is very important to see if this UME continues next season. These large-scale UME population fluctuations are likely short-term events; hopefully resilient gray whales will rebound again.
OTHER SPECIES SIGHTED: We spotted 9-12 other marine mammal species over 176 days (176 days in 2018-2019), including many sightings of fin whales, common dolphins, and bottlenose dolphins – and *KILLER WHALES on 1 day. Comparing this season (to 2018-2019), we spotted bottlenose dolphins on 150 days (150), common dolphins on 152 days (144), fin whales on 66-88 days – including “Fluky” (75-88), Pacific white-sided dolphins on 23-24 days (86), humpback whales on 20-23 days (39-49), Risso’s dolphins on 6 days (6), *KILLER WHALES* on 1 day: 9 Dec (2), minke whales on 0-3 days (1-4), false killer whales on 0-3 days (0-1), California sea lions on 161+ days (152+), and harbor seals on 17+ days (9+).
*KILLER WHALES: they were nearly 3 miles out in very rough seas, so no individual IDs were possible.
*California Killer Whale Project: please help contribute to this citizen science research project!
*Please send photos/sighting data to: janiger@cox.net; Alisa Schulman-Janiger will compare to our Photo-ID catalog, notify you.
PREVIOUS SEASONS – OTHER SPECIES SIGHTED: blue whales, sperm whales, pilot whales, northern right whale dolphins, beaked whales, Dall’s porpoises, Steller (northern) sea lions, northern elephant seals, and southern sea otters.
GRAY WHALE BEHAVIORS OBSERVED: milling, rolling, breaching, head slapping, spyhopping, head lifting, bubble blasting, play in kelp (“kelping”), courtship, nursing behavior (surfacing on alternating sides of the mom). Some sightings joined, while others split.
GRAY WHALE INTERACTIONS: gray whales sometimes interacted with other marine mammals including bottlenose dolphins, common dolphins, Pacific white-sided dolphins, and sea lions. We also observed mixed species groupings: different dolphin species, dolphins with sea lions, and other whales with dolphins/sea lions.
MISC: Peregrine falcons* seen on most days, crows scared them off to another nesting site; Ospreys: often seen, usually foraging.
Peregrine falcons and ospreys continue to recover from DDT (pesticide) contamination.
Many days ended with green flash sunsets.
OBSERVERS’ EFFORT HOURS: Joanne Kajiyama (537), Census Project Director/Coordinator Alisa Schulman-Janiger (306), Mike Malone (269), M’Liz Callender (250), Joyce Daniels (233), Chad Sprouse (214), Kathy Beckman (206), John Fleming (197), Petrina Long (182), Iva Maes (168), Cynthia Woo (165), Rachel Narr (164), Colin Gleason (156), Stacie Kortkamp (153), Kathy Hill (147), Gregg Gentry (147), Stacey Hiram (139), Miriam Moses (138), Dee Whitehurst (133), Nancy Johnson (132), Nanette Dominguez (129), Rose Piccioni (125), Sheila Parker (124), Cheryl Revkin (124), Jo Bonds (124), Stephanie Bryan (119), Kathy Wanchek (119), Agnes Rutkai (117), Stuart Warren (117), Skip Eastman (117), Greta Bravo (113), Pat Ashenfelter (108), Bart Eccles (107), Rob Gray (103), Nancy Arseneault (101), Terri Bidle (100), Kim Botts (99), Jean Woodrow (97), Stacy Gremminger (97), Eric Hemion (94), Joyce Neu (93), Gerrie Teague Cole (89), Tina Hoff (88), Nancy DeLong (88), Gordon Gates (88), Jean Huber (85), Ann Pitts (85), Laurie Thomson (83), Noelle Pellowski (83), Cathy Ragland (81), Erlinda Cortez (76), Pam Ryono (75), Hugh Ryono (75), Susan Stella (74), Ken Ragland (73), Pat Harpole (71), Christy Varni (69), Kim Watson Young (66), Maura Whitfield (64), Kevin Coy (61), Jeanne Bishop (60), Tamara Mason (60), Liliana Ghelfi (59), Cesar Castaneda (57), Jeff Wolfe (57), Vikki Franck (55), Robin Riggs (51), Joan Krause (50), Richard Scholtz (49), Paul Nitchman (48), Stan Kaminski (44), Carla Mitroff (40), Donna McLaughlin (39), Nina Whiddon (39), Sjors Sjors (38),Tricia Horn Mueller (37), Kara Stella (36), Patty Farrell (30), Patricia VanOver Indictor (27), Roberta Shanman (26), Kathy Eddy (24), Val Lattanza (22), Nina Sua (22), Ginny Houston (22), Laura Marcella (18), Natalie Massey (15), Steve McJones (15), April Carbone (11), and Sara Engl (11).
*SPECIAL THANKS: anchor Joyce Daniels (generates graphs), Dave Janiger (digitizes data), and the Point Vicente Interpretive Center!*
JOIN US! Please contact Alisa Schulman-Janiger at: janiger@cox.net. No experience necessary: on-site training in December. Highly recommended: attend Cabrillo Whalewatch Training Class at Cabrillo Marine Aquarium (CMA) [(310) 548-7562 (548-7770); www.cabrilloaq.org], co-sponsored by CMA and ACS-LA (www.acs-la.org). On Tuesday nights, October-March, volunteers are trained to become whale watch naturalists and classroom lecturers. ACS-LA offers free lectures from invited specialists the last Tuesday of each month at the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, and all day whale watching trips (www.acs-la.org).
*Please contact Census Project Director for permission to cite this copyright-protected data in publications: janiger@cox.net.