Whale Count
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Located at the Point Vicente Interpretive Center
Latest Gray Whale 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.
Background
It is sponsored by the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Cetacean Society, and is staffed by teams of trained volunteers from the American Cetacean Society, the Cabrillo Whalewatch Program, and the general public. Except for 1981-82 and 1982-83, this project has operated annually since 1979 from Long Point or Point Vicente; during past seasons parallel stations have operated from Santa Catalina Island and Santa Cruz Island. Our primary station since the 1985-86 season has been the patio of the Point Vicente Interpretive Center (PVIC). Though the generosity of PVIC and the City of Rancho Palos Verdes, we are back on the patio of PVIC. We have great views of marine life from our cliffside post 125 feet above sea level, where the water depth abruptly drops off close to shore.
This station runs from 1 December through late May during daylight hours, seven days a week. The official project binoculars are Fujinon 7Ч50, with built-in reticles and compass. All participants use binoculars, and several confirm and detail sightings with spotting scopes. Weather data, including visibility and sea conditions, are recorded at least hourly. Observers identify and record various marine mammals and their behaviors, focusing on gray whales. Because the majority of gray whales use off-shore migratory routes in this area (primarily through the Channel Islands), especially on the southbound migration, we see only a small proportion of the total gray whale population, so our counts cannot be used to determine that population. Instead, our project focuses on ascertaining seasonal usage of the nearshore migratory path, and documents changing trends over time. Variable weather and shifts in migratory path preferences result in annual counts that fluctuate dramatically, which does not necessarily mean the gray whale population is likewise fluctuating. We especially detail calf sighting in both the southbound and northbound migration, which helps track trends in calf recruitment.
Spotters also detail migratory behaviors observed, including breaching, spyhopping, rolling, courtship, apparent nursing, possible feeding, and interaction with kelp and with other marine mammals. Participants also note possible human impacts on gray whales, including boat interactions, possible harassment incidents, and entanglements. In addition, we identify and record behaviors of any other marine mammals that utilize these waters, including common dolphin, Pacific bottlenose dolphin, Pacific white-sided dolphin, Risso’s dolphin, northern right whale dolphin, killer whales, false killer whales, pilot whales, Dall’s porpoise, sperm whales, minke whales, humpback whales, blue whales, fin whales, California sea lions, harbor seals, northern elephant seals, and southern sea otters. When possible, attempts are made to cross-check and augment notes on individually identifiable cetaceans with photos and behavior data collected from commercial and private whalewatching boats.
For more information please contact the Census director, Alisa Schulman-Janiger
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