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Our ACS-LA Board posts our activities, events and Gray Whale Census updates on our Facebook page and the most recent posts can be found on this page. Keep up-to-date by coming back often! And if you are on Facebook, follow us! We are also now on Instagram, so be sure to follow us there as well!
American Cetacean Society - Los Angeles Chapter (ACS/LA)
Founded in 1967, the American Cetacean Society protects whales, dolphins, porpoises, and their habitats through public education, research grants, and conservation actions.
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Commemorating 40 Years, Gray Whale Census
On Dec. 1st, 2024, Alisa Schulman-Janiger was recognized for her 40 years of dedication as Director and Coordinator of ACS-LA’s Gray Whale Census and Behavior Project by the Mayor of Rancho Palos Verdes, John Cruikshank. The ACS-LA Board was joined by Census citizen...
Gray Whale Census update March 2024
Gray Whale Census morning crew M'Liz Callender, Petrina Long, Joanne Kajiyama, and Caroline DeGraaf, 2024 February 29, Point Vicente Interpretie Center, by Alisa Schulman-Janiger. Southbound gray whale mom and calf, photographed from our Census station at the Point...
Gray Whale Census Summary 2014-2015
Photo by Alisa Schulman-JanigerACS/LA GRAY WHALE CENSUS AND BEHAVIOR PROJECT: 2014-2015 Census Project Director/Coordinator: Alisa Schulman-Janiger Email: janiger@cox.net For daily sighting details, please visit: www.acs-la.org Higher gray whale counts, record...
Gray Whale Census Summary 2017-2018
Photo by Nancy Rhodes ACS/LA GRAY WHALE CENSUS AND BEHAVIOR PROJECT: 2017-2018 Census Project Director/Coordinator: Alisa Schulman-Janiger Email: janiger@cox.net For daily sighting details, please visit: www.acs-la.org Our third highest southbound calf counts...
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ACS/LA Gray Whale Census and Behavior Project Update, Pt. Vicente Interpretive Center, 6 May 2025: we did not see any GRAY WHALES today. Two eastboind FIN WHALES passed 1.5 miles offshore. A westbound mystery whale breached 3 miles offshore; we spotted blows and fluke prints only. Another westbound mystery whale passed a mile offshore; we saw its blows, smooth back, and part of a dorsal fin that might have had an anterior hump (possible HUMPBACK WHALE). We also watched COMMON DOLPHINS and coastal BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS. (Summary by Census Director Alisa Schulman-Janiger).
Photos today: observer Joanne Kajiyama and the Raven (by anchor Dee Whitehurst); Point Vicente Lighthouse and cove; wildflowers (by observer Toni Thompson).
Gray Whales Today:
Southbound: 0
Northbound: 0
Northbound calves: 0
Total: 0
Gray Whales to date (since 1 Dec)
Southbound: 129
Northbound: 474
Total: 603
Southbound calves: 0
Northbound calves: 6
#acsladailycount ... See MoreSee Less
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If you missed the webinar hosted by the Oregon Chapter of ACS which discussed new findings on the Pacific Coast Feeding Group, you may watch the recording here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxZw-SPuqyg
Don't miss it! It was filled with great information about these gray whales, their behaviors and their habitat. ... See MoreSee Less
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ACS/LA Gray Whale Census and Behavior Project Update, Pt. Vicente Interpretive Center, 5 May 2025: 1 southbound and 2 northbound GRAY WHALES! Our southbound gray kept a low profile as it passed a half mile offshore; it left a long trail of fluke prints as it swam just below the surface. A pair of northbound whales included a juvenile and an adult; they appeared to be in good condition, as they passed a quarter of a mile offshore. We spotted 2 solo unidentified whales close to shore that may have been GRAY WHALES, but travel direction was not confirmed. We also watched several groups of coastal BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS. (Summary by Census Director Alisa Schulman-Janiger).
Photos today: cottontail rabbit (by anchor Laurie Thomson); Cleveland sage and California poppies (by anchor Cynthia Woo).
Gray Whales Today:
Southbound: 1
Northbound: 2
Northbound calves: 0
Total: 3
Gray Whales to date (since 1 Dec)
Southbound: 129
Northbound: 474
Total: 603
Southbound calves: 0
Northbound calves: 6
#acsladailycount ... See MoreSee Less
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ACS/LA Gray Whale Census and Behavior Project Update, Pt. Vicente Interpretive Center, 4 May 2025: 4 northbound GRAY WHALES! Our first solo whale was a juvenile. The other solo whale was low profile. Our GRAY WHALE pair also kept a low profile, about a half mile offshore. These adults appeared to be fairly healthy; one had slightly protruding scapulas. A HUMPBACK WHALE headed northwest, just over a mile offshore. An unidentified northbound whale passed about a mile and a half offshore. A few groups of coastal BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS passed nearshore. (Summary by Census Director Alisa Schulman-Janiger).
Photos today: gray whale pair in sighting #3 (by observer Joyce Daniels); afternoon Gray Whale Census observers (left to right): Kim Hoch, Stuart Warren, anchor Cynthia Woo, Iva Maes, and Cesar Rodriguez (by observer Erlinda Cortez); California brown pelican (by observer Stuart Warren); Baja desert-thorn (by anchor Cynthia Woo).
Gray Whales Today:
Southbound: 0
Northbound: 4
Northbound calves: 0
Total: 4
Gray Whales to date (since 1 Dec)
Southbound: 128
Northbound: 472
Total: 600
Southbound calves: 0
Northbound calves: 6
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ACS/LA Gray Whale Census and Behavior Project Update, Pt. Vicente Interpretive Center, 3 May 2025: 2 northbound GRAY WHALES! One whale kept a low profile, passing within a mile of shore. The other whale was a juvenile that passed close to shore at the end of the day. We watched at least 2 HUMPBACK WHALES that were lunge-feeding on anchovies, within a large group of COMMON DOLPHINS, for many hours; we also saw pectoral flippers and flukes. There may have been a HUMPBACK WHALE mom and calf present near the end of the day! Multiple groups of COMM0N DOLPHINS and coastal BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS came by. (Summary by Census Director Alisa Schulman-Janiger).
Photos today: humpback whale lunge feeds on anchovies for hours; it had numerous healed orca tooth rakes on its flukes (by Census observer Gregg Gentry, taken on Harbor Breeze Cruises).
Gray Whales Today:
Southbound: 0
Northbound: 2
Northbound calves: 0
Total: 2
Gray Whales to date (since 1 Dec)
Southbound: 128
Northbound: 468
Total: 596
Southbound calves: 0
Northbound calves: 6
#acsladailycount ... See MoreSee Less
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ACS/LA Gray Whale Census and Behavior Project Update, Pt. Vicente Interpretive Center, 2 May 2025: despite excellent viewing conditions, we did not confirm any GRAY WHALES. However, we watched a very long northbound print trail (and one small blow) for over 45 minutes; this was likely created by 2 very low profile GRAY WHALES - possibly a cow/calf pair. We watched 2 or 3 distant BLUE WHALES, including a probable cow/calf pair. A solo HUMPBACK WHALE breached twice. A pair of HUMPBACK WHALES milled. We also watched many groups of COMMON DOLPHINS, and multiple small groups of coastal BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS. (Summary by Census Director Alisa Schulman-Janiger).
Photo today: honey bee on blue statice flowers (by anchor Joyce Daniels).
Gray Whales Today:
Southbound: 0
Northbound: 0
Northbound calves: 0
Total: 0
Gray Whales to date (since 1 Dec)
Southbound: 128
Northbound: 466
Total: 594
Southbound calves: 0
Northbound calves: 6
#acsladailycount ... See MoreSee Less
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