Photo by James Dorsey
ACS-LA GRAY WHALE CENSUS AND BEHAVIOR PROJECT: 2022-2023
Gray Whale Census Project Director/Coordinator: Alisa Schulman-Janiger
Email: janiger@cox.net
For daily sighting details, please visit: www.acs-la.org
High northbound gray whale calf counts, higher fin whale sightings, continued high common dolphin and bottlenose dolphin sightings, and a killer whale sighting highlighted our 2022-2023 ACS/LA Gray Whale Census and Behavior Project. Both southbound and northbound gray whale counts fell again; our southbound count set a new record low! Calf counts increased (especially northbound), although continued sightings of skinny grays are concerning, as the 2019-2023 Gray Whale Unusual Mortality Event continued. This is the 39th season, consecutive except for two COVID-19 closures (closed 21 March-25 May 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.
COVERAGE: Our census station operated for 2,098 hours over 173 days between 1 December 2022 and 25 May 2023, averaging over 12 hours/day. Our 98 volunteers contributed 9,142 effort hours. The eight core volunteers that donated over 200 hours each, totaling 23.9% of effort hours (and the number of observer days) include: Joanne Kajiyama, 473 (127); Alisa Schulman-Janiger, 368 (63); Kathy Beckman, 262 (48), M’Liz Callender, 245 (63); Stacie Kortkamp, 213 (33); Mike Malone, 212 (56); Chad Sprouse, 208 (49); and Sjors 202 (46). Twenty-six other volunteers donated 100-199 hours each, totaling 38.5% of our effort hours. Experienced observers anchor all shifts; 29 volunteers have been with us for at least ten seasons.
GRAY WHALE COUNTS FELL AGAIN: population estimate has dropped 46.1% since 2016! We spotted 292 southbound and 755 northbound gray whales (313 southbound and 814 northbound grays in 2021-2022). This was our record low* southbound count, and our seventh lowest northbound count. Whale counts have widely fluctuated over 38 previous seasons: southbound counts varied from 301-1,902, and northbound counts varied from 521-3,412. Although most of the ~14,526 Eastern North Pacific gray whales (NOAA Fisheries, updated 2022-2023 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 (58/173) as in 2021-2022 (59/176).
PEAKS AND TURN-AROUND DATES: both our southbound and northbound migrations started later. Our peak southbound count was 17 (our second lowest peak day) on 5 February; our previous peak counts ranged from 15-98. We only spotted 58 southbound whales during our peak southbound week of 10-16 Jan (69 in 2021-2022). The official turn-around date (daily northbound whales exceed southbound whales) was on 23 February; northbound first exceeded southbound grays on 15 Feb. We spotted 21 northbound grays during the “southbound migration”, and 16 southbound grays during the “northbound migration”. Our peak northbound count was 39, on 16 March. Previous northbound peaks counts ranged from 20-152. We recorded only 139 grays during the peak northbound week (Phase A, main northbound migration pulse) of 22-28 March (171 in 2021-2022) – three weeks later than last season.
HIGHER CALF COUNTS – ESPECIALLY NORTHBOUND! We documented our tenth highest southbound calf count, and our eighteenth lowest northbound calf count (highest calf count since 2017-2018)! We spotted 35 southbound calves (4.6% of southbound migrants) between 30 December-26 February, peaking with 3 calves on 11 and 20 January; in 2021-2022, we spotted 28 newborn calves (8.9% of the southbound migrants). Peak southbound weeks were 11-17 January and 20-26 January, with 11 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 83 northbound calves (11.0% of northbound migrants), between 12 March-16 May, peaking with 9 calves on 26 April; this is our highest northbound calf count since 2017-2018 (104)! In 2021-2022, we spotted 25 northbound calves (3.1% 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 recorded 34 cow/calf pairs during the peak week of 24-30 April (7 pairs in 2021-2022). 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: 4 more southbound, and 3 more northbound calves.
BEHAVIORS AND HUMAN INTERACTIONS: We watched gray whales milling, rolling, breaching, head slapping, spyhopping, head lifting, bubble blasting, mating, nursing (calves surfaced on alternating sides of moms). Groups split up and merged. UNUSUAL: multiple grays lifted their heads to watch Coast Guard helicopter maneuvers!
Interaction with long line of lobster traps (bordering Marine Protected Area “MPA”): adult gray whale (in a pair) “collided
with trap buoy”, rolled on its side, and then continued onward; likely entangled briefly.
HARASSMENT: Over 12 days, we witnessed a total of 15 boats approach too closely, some nearly hit whales! Over 3 days, we witnessed a total of 5 jet skis approach too closely. Gray whales clearly reacted to these close calls: nearly all changed travel direction (zig-zag, turned inshore or offshore, reversed direction for a short time). Most became stealthy/low profile, or disappeared. Some dove longer, a trio stopped rolling, and one whale headed into a cove.
FEWER SKINNY GRAYS, MORE CALVES: UME UPDATE! NOAA Fisheries 2022-2023 Eastern North Pacific (ENP) gray whale population estimate dropped to ~14,526, down 46.1% 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. EARLIER UME: The gray whale population had dropped from about 21,000 (1997-1998) to 16,000 (2000-2001) following the 1999-2000 Gray Whale 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 New UME: in December 2018, we started documenting skinny 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. CURRENT UME: *NOAA Fisheries declared an ongoing 2019-2023 Gray Whale Unusual Mortality Event (UME), with elevated strandings (682) reported between Mexico and Alaska from January 2019 through 28 August 2023: 93 in CA (out of 340 in US), 315 in Mexico, and 27 in Canada. CAUSE OF UMES (NEW PAPER): changes to Arctic sea ice conditions seem to be causing gray whale populations to boom and bust, based on shifting access to amphipods – linked to how much time sea ice blocks their access to Arctic feeding grounds, and food quality available when the whales are there. Sea ice variability was also behind two prior gray whale UMEs. New findings also suggest that climate change could limit how many gray whales can survive in the future. 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. We documented at least 25 skinny gray whales (including 1 southbound mom, 7 northbound moms, and 1 northbound calf). These large-scale UME population fluctuations are likely short-term events. This season’s higher calf counts documented by our project (and by NOAA Fisheries Gray Whale Census and Baja CA lagoon researchers), as well as fewer reports of skinny whales and strandings, suggest that this Gray Whale UME may be slowing down, and hints at a turnaround. Hopefully the very resilient gray whales will rebound again!
OTHER SPECIES SIGHTED: We spotted 14 other marine mammal species over 173 days (176 days in 2021-2022, we were closed 3 days due to record high winds). This included many sightings of fin whales (especially in Dec and Feb), common dolphins, and bottlenose dolphins, multiple sightings of one blue whale (deformed rostrum), and *KILLER WHALES on 1 day. Comparing this season (to 2021-2022), we spotted common dolphins on 149 days (152), bottlenose dolphins on 141-142 days (150), fin whales on 85-102 days – including “Flukey” (66-88), humpback whales on 27-30 days (20-23), Pacific white-sided dolphins on 12-14 (23-24 days), blue whales on 7 days (0), Risso’s dolphins on 5 days (6), *KILLER WHALES* on 1 day: 23 April (1), minke whales on 1-3 days (0-3), false killer whales on 1-2 days (0-3), California sea lions on 111+ days (161+), harbor seals on 10+ days (17+), northern elephant seal on 1 day (0), Steller (northern) sea lion on 1 day (0).
*KILLER WHALES: Observers sent in photos of these distant Bigg’s killer whales; CKWP Lead Research Biologist Alisa Schulman-Janiger
identified them as the CA216s – including pale gray leucistic 4-year-old CA216C1 “Frosty”!
*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: sperm whales, pilot whales, northern right whale dolphins, beaked whales, Dall’s porpoises, and southern sea otters.
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. Bald eagle* on 2 days. Ospreys*: often seen, usually foraging. Great horned owls: courting.
Peregrine falcons, bald eagles, and ospreys continue to recover from DDT (pesticide) contamination.
Green flash sunsets ended many of our days.
OBSERVERS’ EFFORT HOURS, 10+hours/season (*new observers): Joanne Kajiyama (473), Census Project Director/Coordinator Alisa Schulman-Janiger (368), Kathy Beckman (262), M’Liz Callender (245), Stacie Kortkamp (213), Mike Malone (212), Chad Sprouse (208), Sjors (202), Joyce Daniels (196), Cynthia Woo (185), Iva Maes (179), Petrina Long (175), Kathy Hill (164), Gregg Gentry (164), Kathy Wanchek (148), *Melody Baylor (147), Gerrie Teague Cole (146), Nancy Johnson (143), Nina Whiddon (143), Tamara Mason (136), Stuart Warren (135), Kevin Coy (130), Rose Piccioni (127), Gordon Gates (124), Pat Ashenfelter (120), Stacey Hiram (112), Miriam Moses (112), Jean Woodrow (109), Dee Whitehurst (108), *Cheryl Beshke (108), Rachel Narr (107), Skip Eastman (105), Colin Gleason (102), *Julie Horowitz (102), *Theresa Stahlman-West (99), Jo Bonds (97), Nancy Arseneault (95), Stephanie Bryan (93), Rob Gray (91), Greta Bravo (91), Tina Hoff (88), Sheila Parker (87), *Gail Goulet (86), Kim Watson Young (84), Bart Eccles (82), *Lilia Stephenson (82), *Andrew Holmes (82), Erlinda Cortez (79), Nancy DeLong (78), Pat Harpole (75), Cathy Ragland (74), Stacy Gremminger (73), Cheryl Revkin (70), Jeanne Bishop (70), Patricia VanOver Indictor (68), *Kai Zhang (68), Kim Botts (66), Terri Bidle (65), Maria Coy (64), *Patty Miller (64), Laurie Thomson (63), Paul Nitchman (63), Jeff Wolfe (60), Denise Donegan (59), Eric Hemion (59), Stan Kaminski (56), Joyce Neu (56), Pam Ryono (54), Hugh Ryono (54), *Mercedes Hineman (54), Nanette Dominguez (50), *Debi Chew (50), Vikki Franck (49), Gina Lumbruno (49), Robin Riggs (48), Cesar Castaneda (46), Patty Farrell (44), Joan Krause (42), Donna McLaughlin (40), Christy Varni (39), John Fleming (35), Noelle Pellowski (35), *Dasha Masalitina (35), Maggie Levy (34), Susan Stella (33), Val Lattanza (29), Ann Pitts (28), Agnes Rutkai (26), Maura Whitfield (25), *Shanu Jain (24), *Lynne Parker (23), *Kelly Catalfamo (21), *Ellina Domnidou (20), Kathy Eddy (14), Ginny Houston (13), *Gary Green (13), Ken Ragland (12), and Tricia Horn Mueller (10).
*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.