#GRAY WHALE SERIES#

The return trip north takes another 2-3 months and mothers and calves travel very near shore on the northbound migration to avoid their main predators. The southward journey takes 2-3 months and the whales remain in the lagoons for 2-3 months allowing calves to build up thick layers of blubber for the northward migration. 7 During the winter, the Marine Bio Conservation Society states that the gray whales inhabit shallow coastal waters of the eastern and western North Pacific often sighted along the North American Pacific Coast between the arctic and the equatorial lagoons of Baja California, Mexico. The eastern North Pacific stock of gray whales prefers shallow, coastal waters and feeds over oceanic continental shelves around the northern Bering and southern Chukchi seas between Alaska and Russia during the summer. This western North Pacific population of gray whales, estimated to include fewer than 100 individuals, remains highly depleted and its continued survival is questionable. There is also a western North Pacific population of gray whales found along the coast of eastern Asia that is totally isolated from the eastern North Pacific population. In the winter, many of these gray whales migrate to the warm waters of the west coast of Baja California, Mexico, and the southeastern Gulf of California.A large numbers of whales, particularly females with newborn calves, utilize coastal lagoons on the Pacific coast of the Baja peninsula. The blow is bushy, heart-shaped when viewed from ahead or behind.' 2Īccording to the National Marine Mammal Laboratory, the eastern North Pacific stocks of gray whales spend their summer around the northern Bering and southern Chukchi seas between Alaska and Russia. The mouth contains 130 to 180 pairs of yellowish baleen plates, with very coarse bristles. These patches of ectoparasites are very helpful in distinguishing this species. They are nearly covered with light blotches and white to orangish patches of whale lice and barnacles, especially on the head and tail. Although young calves are dark charcoal grey, all other gray whales are brownish grey to light grey. There may be several (generally 2 to 5) short, but deep, creases on the throat that allow compression of the throat during feeding.

#GRAY WHALE SERIES#

There is a dorsal hump about two thirds of the way back from the snout tip, followed by a series of 6 to 12 smaller 'knuckles' on the dorsal ridge of the tail stock. The flukes have smooth S-shaped trailing edges, with a deep median notch. The flippers are broad and paddle-shaped, with pointed tips. The upper jaw is moderately arched, and the head is acutely triangular in top view and slopes sharply downward in side view. Webber, 'Gray whales are easy to identify. 3Īccording to FAO Species Identification Guide: Marine Mammals of the World 'by Jefferson, T.A., S. As a result, current populations are considered close to their pre-exploitation numbers.

Gray whales have been protected from exploitation by the International Whaling Commission since 1946.

Gray whales were nearly hunted to extinction in the 19th century.A mother gray whale's milk is more than 50% fat.Baby gray whales average 15 feet in length and weigh about a ton.Gray whales make one of the longest migrations of any mammal-10,000 miles round trip.Adult Pacific Gray Whales can be 45 feet long and weight up to 33 tons.Owing to its extraordinarily long migration on a coastal route that passes close to large human populations, it is probably the most viewed of any large whale. The gray whale is probably the best known of the great whales of the northeastern Pacific and the one most frequently seen in and around Channel Islands National Park and Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary.