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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, 25 May 2025: we tracked one northbound and one southbound GRAY WHALE today - which is the last day of our 41st season! We tracked our first gray whale for an hour; this juvenile passed half of a mile offshore. It only came up one time (occasionally twice) for each surface interval, making it very difficult to take ID and body assessment images. When we last saw it (~1.5-2 miles from us), it apparently crossed paths with a southbound GRAY WHALE, so that 2 sets of blows were popping very close to one another. This emaciated sub-adult southbound GRAY WHALE had a dip behind its head instead of a raised fat pad, and visible ribs. It milled for a while, went into a cove, came out, and eventually headed south - passing very close to shore! Both GRAY WHALES fluked. We watched 20-40+RISSO'S DOLPHINS (some were breaching) as they passed 2 miles offshore. We also watched several groups of COMMON DOLPHINS (some in groups of 1000+), and many groups of BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS (one close group likely included 40+ dolphins)!
*NOTE: we ended our 41st season with a new record low southbound gray whale count (130), a new record low northbound count (485), a new record low southbound calf count (zero), and a new record low northbound calf count count (eight). Our southbound calf percentage was 0% (0/130) - we have never before missed seeing southbound calves; last season this was 9.8% (22/225). Our northbound calf percentage was 1.6% (8/485); last season, it was 5.9% (34/579 northbound grays). Thanks so much to our incredibly devoted citizen scientist gray whale census observers, "The People Who Count"; this project would not exist without them; we'll be back on 1 Dec 2025! (Summary by Census Director ALisa Schulman-Janiger)
Photos today: 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 Census Director Alisa Schulman-Janiger; emaciated southbound gray whale with a dip behind its head and bulging rib cage; photo-ID image of our emaciated southbound gray whale.
(by Alisa Schulman-Janiger).
Gray Whales Today:
Southbound: 1
Northbound: 1
Total: 2
Gray Whales to date (since 1 Dec)
Southbound: 130
Northbound: 485
Total: 615
Southbound calves: 0
Northbound calves: 8
#acsladailycount
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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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