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Whale Count

From Point Vicente

 

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Whale off Pt Fermin

Located at the Point Vicente Interpretive Center

Latest Gray Whale Count

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ACS/LA Gray Whale Census and Behavior Project Update, Pt. Vicente Interpretive Center, 27 Mar. 2024 - message from our observers: 6 northbound GRAY WHALES, including our 10th cow/calf pair! Our cow/calf pair included a healthy-looking mom. The calf switched sides repeatedly as it surfaced next to its mom, likely nursing! The calf did at least 4 head lifts; it had an angular line of orange whale lice on its back (perhaps an injury). Two whales rolled and displayed a pectoral flipper; the adult had a lot of white on its head, and the smaller whale was dark. One solo whale was a single adult in good condition. Right after our last whale surfaced for the first time, an approaching small powerboat ran over its fluke print; we never saw it again. An independent offsite drone operator filmed this whale just before it entered our field of view; his footage confirmed that it was skinny. We also tracked at least 1 FIN WHALE, COMMON DOLPHINS, offshore BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS, and coastal BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS; a pair of unidentified whales may have been HUMPBACK WHALES. (Summary by Census Director Alisa Schulman-Janiger).
Photos today: observers Skip Eastman and Lilia Stephenson scan for whales in the moonlight (by anchor Laurie Thomson); afternoon Gray Whale Census crew (by observer Gregg Gentry); drone screen shot of our skinny last gray whale (by independent offsite drone operator Mauricio Tassara)
Gray Whales today:
Southbound: 0
Northbound: 6
Total: 6
Southbound calves: 0
Northbound calves: 1
Gray Whales to date (since 1 Dec)
Southbound: 223
Northbound: 488
Total: 711
Southbound calves: 22
Northbound calves: 10
#acsladailycount
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ACS/LA Gray Whale Census and Behavior Project Update, Pt. Vicente Interpretive Center,  27 Mar. 2024 - message from our observers: 6 northbound GRAY WHALES, including our 10th cow/calf pair! Our cow/calf pair included a healthy-looking mom. The calf switched sides repeatedly as it surfaced next to its mom, likely nursing! The calf did at least 4 head lifts; it had an angular line of orange whale lice on its back (perhaps an injury). Two whales rolled and displayed a pectoral flipper; the adult had a lot of white on its head, and the smaller whale was dark. One solo whale was a single adult in good condition. Right after our last whale surfaced for the first time, an approaching  small powerboat ran over its fluke print; we never saw it again. An independent offsite drone operator filmed this whale just before it entered our field of view; his footage confirmed that it was skinny. We also tracked at least 1 FIN WHALE, COMMON DOLPHINS, offshore BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS, and coastal BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS; a pair of unidentified whales may have been HUMPBACK WHALES. (Summary by Census Director Alisa Schulman-Janiger).
Photos today: observers Skip Eastman and Lilia Stephenson scan for whales in the moonlight (by anchor Laurie Thomson); afternoon Gray Whale Census crew (by observer Gregg Gentry); drone screen shot of our skinny last gray whale (by independent offsite drone operator Mauricio Tassara) 
Gray Whales today: 
Southbound:   0
Northbound:   6
Total: 6
Southbound calves: 0
Northbound calves: 1
Gray Whales to date (since 1 Dec)
Southbound: 223
Northbound: 488
Total: 711
Southbound calves: 22
Northbound calves:  10
#acsladailycountImage attachmentImage attachment

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