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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...
2025 Annual Summertime 8 hour whale watch on the Condor Express
Painted Cave, Santa Cruz Island
Photo credit: Patty Farrell
2024-2025 Gray Whale Census Summary
Gray Whale Census Team with our whiteboard displaying our final counts for this season. Clockwise, L to R: Joyce Daniels, Ben Tyrrell, Terri Bidle, Gerrie Teague Cole, Carla Krysiak, Iva Maes, Gregg Gentry, Stacey Patterson, Erlinda Cortez, Kim Hoch, Cynthia Woo, and...
2023-2024 Gray Whale Census Summary
Photo of Alisa Schulman-Janiger at our Gray Whale Census location on the bluffs behind the Palos Verdes Interpretive Center. Photo by Dave Janiger. ACS/LA Gray Whale Census and Behavior Project, 2023-2024 Update: we documented very low gray whale counts, few...
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ACS/LA Gray Whale Census and Behavior Project Update, Pt. Vicente Interpretive Center, 23 April 2026 - despite beautiful conditions, we did not see any gray whales today. We did watch a FIN WHALE that came within a half mile of shore (very rare to see this species so close to shore), likely other distant FIN WHALES, COMMON DOLPHINS, offshore BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS, coastal BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS, and PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHINS. (Summary by Census Director Alisa Schulman-Janiger).
PHOTOS TODAY: leaping offshore bottlenose dolphin; coastal bottlenose dolphins foraging very close to shore; Pacific white-sided dolphins passing close to shore before sunrise (by Census Director Alisa Schulman-Janiger).
GRAY WHALES TODAY:
Southbound: 0
Northbound: 0
Cow/calves south: 0
Cow/calves north: 0
Total: 0
GRAY WHALES TO DATE (since 1 Dec)
Southbound: 212
Northbound: 433
Cow/calves south: 17
Cow/calves north: 14
Total: 645
#acsladailycount #graywhalecensus #finwhale #commondolphins #bottlenosedolphins #pacificwhitesideddolphins ... See MoreSee Less
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SPEAKER EVENT TONIGHT (Online, free): April 23, 2026, 7pm, PST!
When, where, and why blue and fin whales are found off the U.S. West Coast - Featuring Dr. Ladd Irvine.
Blue and fin whales can both be found off the U.S. West Coast. They feed in similar ways and eat similar things, but lead very different lives. Dr. Ladd Irvine will present research discussing seasonal patterns of when and where each species occurs, and most importantly, why those patterns occur and how they differ between the two species. Along the way, he will also talk about the sophisticated tag technology he uses to ride-along with these whales as they go about their lives.
Sponsored by ACS/OC, ACS/LA, and ACS/Monterey Bay
Free online event: RSVP required!
us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_86LKgEroRrOxGypa-tdRZw#/registration ... See MoreSee Less
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ACS/LA Gray Whale Census and Behavior Project Update, Pt. Vicente Interpretive Center, 22 April 2026 - despite beautiful conditions, we did not see any gray whales today. We did watch at least distant 2 FIN WHALES (likely lunge feeding), a HUMPBACK WHALE, and COMMON DOLPHINS. (Summary by Census Director Alisa Schulman-Janiger).
PHOTOS TODAY: Bar graph comparing this season to our last 9 seasons clearly shows our early southbound gray whale migration, our very early northbound migration - and our low overall gray whale counts (by Census anchor Joyce Daniels); afternoon Census crew searches for whales (by co-anchor Carla Gagnes); gray whale sculpture graces the entrance of the Point Vicente Interpretive Center (by co-anchor Carla Gagnes).
GRAY WHALES TODAY:
Southbound: 0
Northbound: 0
Cow/calves south: 0
Cow/calves north: 0
Total: 0
GRAY WHALES TO DATE (since 1 Dec)
Southbound: 212
Northbound: 433
Cow/calves south: 17
Cow/calves north: 14
Total: 645
#acsladailycount #graywhalecensus #finwhales #humpbackwhale #commondolphins ... See MoreSee Less
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ACS/LA Gray Whale Census and Behavior Project Update, Pt. Vicente Interpretive Center, 21 April 2026 - 2 northbound GRAY WHALES, including our 14th northbound cow/calf pair! They first popped up in our viewing area near Whale Rock, only a half mile away, with the calf swimming close to the mom's right side. Four minutes later, they resurfaced with the calf still next to her right side. The calf had switched over to her left side on their next surfacing series; they angled offshore toward Point Dume. We also watched COMMON DOLPHINS, coastal BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS, and PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHINS.(Summary by Census Director Alisa Schulman-Janiger).
NOTE: about 30 minutes after we closed down, some friends spotted another northbound cow/calf GRAY WHALE pair extremely close to shore, about 12 miles up the coast from our research station; they interacted with coastal BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS in the kelp bed (reported and filmed by independent offsite drone operator Marricio Tassara, aka empty_drone).
PHOTOS TODAY: pink glow lights up pre-dawn clouds; northbound gray whale cow/calf pair #14 passes us within a half mile of shore; .a female harbor seal and her pup haul up on rocks to rest (by Census Director Alisa Schulman-Janiger).
GRAY WHALES TODAY:
Southbound: 0
Northbound: 2
Cow/calves south: 0
Cow/calves north: 1
Total: 2
GRAY WHALES TO DATE (since 1 Dec)
Southbound: 212
Northbound: 433
Cow/calves south: 17
Cow/calves north: 14
Total: 645
#acsladailycount #graywhalecensus #graywhales #graywhalecalf #babywhale #commondolphins #bottlenosedolphins ... See MoreSee Less
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ACS/LA Gray Whale Census and Behavior Project Update, Pt. Vicente Interpretive Center, 20 April 2026 - 2 northbound GRAY WHALES, including our 13th northbound cow/calf pair! This mom had a pale gray body and a white head (which she raised in a head lift), which we could track as she swam underwater, passing us a half mile offshore. Drone footage confirmed that both whales were robust, and that the dark gray calf was quite large (over half the size of the mom, so likely born in December or early January). Drone operators reported that the calf often changed sides, passing both under and over the mom - possibly nursing. A few minutes after we last saw them, a jet ski sped near their path, followed by a private boat; that likely affected their surfacing behavior. One FIN WHALE: breached 2 times as we were watching it through a spotting scope, traveling 2.5 miles offshore; then it breached 5 more times - and fluked! It is very unusual to see a FIN WHALE breach - and even more unusual to see it fluke! We also watched COMMON DOLPHINS, offshore BOTTLENNOSE DOLPHINS, and coastal BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS. (Summary by Census Director Alisa Schulman-Janiger).
PHOTOS TODAY: Northbound gray whale cow/calf pair #13 passes a half mile off of our Gray Whale Census station at Point Vicente (by independent offsite drone operator @antoni74).
GRAY WHALES TODAY:
Southbound: 0
Northbound: 2
Cow/calves south: 0
Cow/calves north: 1
Total: 2
GRAY WHALES TO DATE (since 1 Dec)
Southbound: 212
Northbound: 431
Cow/calves south: 17
Cow/calves north: 13
Total: 643
#acsladailycount #graywhalecensus #graywhales #graywhalecalf #babywhale #finwhale #breachingwhale #breaching #commondolphins #bottlenosedolphins ... See MoreSee Less
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ACS/LA Gray Whale Census and Behavior Project Update, Pt. Vicente Interpretive Center, 19 April 2026 - 2 northbound GRAY WHALES, including our 12th northbound cow/calf pair! The mom looked very healthy, with a nice fat pad behind her head; her calf stayed next to her right side. They came within a half mile of shore; we could hear their blows! The mom had white patches on her right side. We watched a few unidentified whales nearly 4 miles offshore, in the glare they had tall blows, so were most likely FIN WHALES or BLUE WHALES. We also spotted COMMON DOLPHINS, coastal BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS, and a small mixed group of COMMON DOLPHINS and PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHINS. (Summary by Census Director Alisa Schulman-Janiger).
PHOTOS TODAY: Northbound gray whale cow/calf pair #12 passed by so close to shore that we could hear their blows (by Census observer Cheryl DeMatteis); Sunday Morning Census team has a meditation moment, trying to visualize more baby gray whales (left to right): Mike Maracci, Lee Bergeron, Stacie Kortkamp, Denise Donegan, Robin Riggs; our resident raven checks over anchor Cynthia Woo's data entries (by observer Kathy Eddy).
GRAY WHALES TODAY:
Southbound: 0
Northbound: 2
Cow/calves south: 0
Cow/calves north: 1
Total: 2
GRAY WHALES TO DATE (since 1 Dec)
Southbound: 212
Northbound: 429
Cow/calves south: 17
Cow/calves north: 12
Total: 641
#acsladailycount #graywhalecensus #graywhales #graywhalecalf #babywhale #commondolphins #bottlenosedolphins #pacificwhitesideddolphins ... See MoreSee Less
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