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Our Passion Projects – Resesarch
Gray Whale Census
Today’s Count
ACS/LA Gray Whale Census and Behavior Project Update, Pt. Vicente Interpretive Center, 9 March 2026 - 1 southbound and 1 northbound GRAY WHALES! We got a call from independent drone operator Mauricio Tassara shortly before 6pm, who had spotted a southbound GRAY WHALE about a half mile offshore, up the coast from us; his drone images revealed that this was another emaciated southbound whale (like yesterday). Two members of our Monday Census crew team stayed overtime to watch for this whale. We spotted a northbound GRAY WHALE about 30 minutes later, and tracked it for 30 minutes; it passed us about a mile offshore. We spotted the southbound GRAY WHALE as we were watching the northbound whale. It passed within a quarter mile of shore after sunset, so close that we heard it blow twice! Fourteen minutes later, we heard its loud blows twice more - after it had passed us in near darkness. Neither GRAY WHALE fluked. We also watched an unidentified whale with a bushy blow that could have been a GRAY WHALE or HUMPBACK WHALE, COMMON DOLPHINS, and a few coastal BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS. (Summary by Census Director Alisa Schulman-Janiger).
PHOTOS TODAY: An emaciated southbound gray whale in sighting #2 (by independent offsite drone operator Mauricio Tassara aka @empty_drone); Point Vicente Lighthouse and cove, and Census sunset (by Census Director Alisa Schulman-Janiger).
GRAY WHALES TODAY:
Southbound: 1
Northbound: 1
Cow/calves south: 0
Total: 2
GRAY WHALES TO DATE (since 1 Dec)
Southbound: 199
Northbound: 247
Cow/calves south: 17
Total: 446
#acsladailycount #graywhalecensus #graywhales #commondolphins #BottlenoseDolphins
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This project runs during daylight hours, from December 1st through late May, on the patio of the Point Vicente Interpretive Center.
Gray Whale Census and Behavior Project
This full season shore-based gray whale census has operated on the Palos Verdes Peninsula since 1984. Trained volunteers spot and track Pacific gray whales on their annual migration, recording counts and behaviors. They also identify and record other marine mammals seen. This project runs during daylight hours, from December 1st through late May.
Research Grants
Every year, the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Cetacean Society awards scientific research grants to researchers or students studying cetaceans.
Travel Awards
Every other year we give out Travel Awards to help aspiring cetacean researchers attend both the American Cetacean Society's International Conference and the Society for Marine Mammalogy Conference.
Whalewatch Program
Sponsored in collaboration with the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, ACS-LA trains volunteers (college age and up) as naturalists to accompany whale watching adventures on boats that departing from local landings December 26 through March, educating the public about the whales, dolphins, and marine life that live off our coast. Naturalists also give presentations in classrooms and to groups.
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