Grays
March/07/2008
Took a
break from diving today to drive to Lopez Mateos
on the Pacific Coast
about 2 hours west of Loreto.
We charted a longboat and captain for a two-hour cruise into the sheltered
coast peninsula to get up close and personal with some calving gray whales.
The migration route of the Eastern Pacific, or California, Gray Whale is often
described as the longest known mammal migration. Beginning in the Bering and
Chukchi seas and ending in the warm-water lagoons of Mexico’s Baja, their
round trip journey moves them through 12,500 miles of coastline.
This journey begins each October as the northern ice pushes southward.
Travelling both night and day, Gray whales average approximately 120-km (80
miles) per day. By mid-December to early January, the majority of the Gray
whales are usually found between Monterey and San Diego, where they are often
seen from shore.
By late December to early January, the first of the Gray Whales begin to
arrive the calving lagoons of Baja. These first whales to arrive are usually
pregnant mothers that look for the protection of the lagoons to give birth to
their calves, along with single females seeking out male companions in order
to mate. By mid-February to mid-March, the bulk of the Gray Whales have arrived
the lagoons. It is at this time that the lagoons are filled to capacity with
nursing, calving and mating Gray Whales. The three primary lagoons that the
whales seek in Baja California are Scamnon's (named after a notorious whale
hunter in the 1850's who discovered the lagoons and later became one of the
first protectors of the Grays), San Ignacio and Magdalena. Throughout February
and March, the first Gray Whales to leave the lagoons are the males and single
females. Once they have mated, they will begin the trek back north to their
summer feeding grounds in the Bering and Chukchi seas. Pregnant females and
nursing mothers with their newborn calves are the last to leave the lagoons.
They leave only when their calves are ready for the journey, which is usually
from late March to mid-April. Often there are still a few lingering Gray Whale
mothers with their young calves in the lagoons well into May.
The gray females spend the first 8-months after their calves birth nursing
them and readying them for the long journey north. All the mother energy goes
into producing the milk and the mothers literally starve themselves while this
process is taking place. Meanwhile, they acclimatize themselves to the dozen
or so wooden longboats that cosy along side them for an opportunity to
interact.
The wind was blowing heavily and water quite choppy. We headed for the
peninsula entrance where the outside Pacific Ocean was tumultuous. After an
hour and a half of unsuccessful sightings, we headed back to the pier girding
ourselves for disappointment before catching glimpse of several boats to the
south that raced to congregate. Joining them, we were delighted to see a
mother and calf between and completely oblivious to the boats. They were
moving at a relaxed pace, with the mother nudging its calf toward the boat
gunnels. To the delight of all on board, people could lean over the sides and
pat the baby’s backside. Obviously used to and appreciating the attention,
this went on for several seconds until the calf moved back out and repeated
the same routine for the other boats.
Interacting by touch with another species is nothing short of awesome.
about 2 hours west of Loreto.
We charted a longboat and captain for a two-hour cruise into the sheltered
coast peninsula to get up close and personal with some calving gray whales.
The migration route of the Eastern Pacific, or California, Gray Whale is often
described as the longest known mammal migration. Beginning in the Bering and
Chukchi seas and ending in the warm-water lagoons of Mexico’s Baja, their
round trip journey moves them through 12,500 miles of coastline.
This journey begins each October as the northern ice pushes southward.
Travelling both night and day, Gray whales average approximately 120-km (80
miles) per day. By mid-December to early January, the majority of the Gray
whales are usually found between Monterey and San Diego, where they are often
seen from shore.
By late December to early January, the first of the Gray Whales begin to
arrive the calving lagoons of Baja. These first whales to arrive are usually
pregnant mothers that look for the protection of the lagoons to give birth to
their calves, along with single females seeking out male companions in order
to mate. By mid-February to mid-March, the bulk of the Gray Whales have arrived
the lagoons. It is at this time that the lagoons are filled to capacity with
nursing, calving and mating Gray Whales. The three primary lagoons that the
whales seek in Baja California are Scamnon's (named after a notorious whale
hunter in the 1850's who discovered the lagoons and later became one of the
first protectors of the Grays), San Ignacio and Magdalena. Throughout February
and March, the first Gray Whales to leave the lagoons are the males and single
females. Once they have mated, they will begin the trek back north to their
summer feeding grounds in the Bering and Chukchi seas. Pregnant females and
nursing mothers with their newborn calves are the last to leave the lagoons.
They leave only when their calves are ready for the journey, which is usually
from late March to mid-April. Often there are still a few lingering Gray Whale
mothers with their young calves in the lagoons well into May.
The gray females spend the first 8-months after their calves birth nursing
them and readying them for the long journey north. All the mother energy goes
into producing the milk and the mothers literally starve themselves while this
process is taking place. Meanwhile, they acclimatize themselves to the dozen
or so wooden longboats that cosy along side them for an opportunity to
interact.
The wind was blowing heavily and water quite choppy. We headed for the
peninsula entrance where the outside Pacific Ocean was tumultuous. After an
hour and a half of unsuccessful sightings, we headed back to the pier girding
ourselves for disappointment before catching glimpse of several boats to the
south that raced to congregate. Joining them, we were delighted to see a
mother and calf between and completely oblivious to the boats. They were
moving at a relaxed pace, with the mother nudging its calf toward the boat
gunnels. To the delight of all on board, people could lean over the sides and
pat the baby’s backside. Obviously used to and appreciating the attention,
this went on for several seconds until the calf moved back out and repeated
the same routine for the other boats.
Interacting by touch with another species is nothing short of awesome.