Gray Whales Count
nonprofit research/education project with ucsb's coal oil point natural reserve, goleta +
american cetacean society–channel islands + cascadia research collective, olympia, wa +
marine physical laboratory, scripps institution of oceanography, ucsd, la jolla
Surveying the northbound migration of gray whales (eschrichtius robustus)
conducted at our Counter Point, Coal Oil Point Natural Reserve, Goleta, California
with support from UCSB's Coastal Fund
Today’s Count
Concluded Sunday, May 17, 2009 — Day 105 of 105
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| Observation hours: |
Gray whales north (all, including calves) |
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Gray whale calves northbound |
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2009 Count |
Gray whales north (all, including calves) |
540 |
Gray whale calves northbound |
38 |
Observers record sightings of all cetaceans and sea otters.
Only gray whales on their northbound migration are included in Today's Count + 2009 Count above. |
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Comments
For past weeks, click on the week-button at left, in the blue. |
It has been a monumental year for us: our fifth survey, the addition of acoustic monitoring, and the development and maturity of a dedicated, conscientious, and skillful observation team.
Gray Whale calf off Counter Point, May 5, 2009
Personally, I deeply appreciate and admire the Counters: Observers and Supervisors!
It has been an honor for me to work with each one. We have done some good work and had some good fun.
We all learned a great deal about our particular part of the ocean, the animals in and around the water, the impact of weather, and how scary fire can be. It has been a remarkable year. We identified an unprecedented array of species. Our estimate of total gray whales will likely be high, but our calf count was disturbingly low.
Our task is to monitor as best we can, to describe what is going on in our area. Even so, it is hard to report what appears to be a problem for the species. Next year, we do hope the results will be more encouraging.
Congratulations Counters. Very well done.
Counter Point, sans Counters.
We Counters all benefited from counsel, collaboration, and support from our partners. Thank you all: Cris Sandoval, Director of the Coal Oil Point Natural Reserve; Michelle Berman, President, American Cetacean Society-Channel Islands; John Calambokidis, Founder, Cascadia Research Collective; and John Hildebrand, Professor, Marine Physical Laboratory, Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
This year, Ira Leifer, Marine Sciences Institute + Institute of Crustal Studies, UCSB provided invaluable assistance.
This is the fourth year UCSB's Coastal Fund has supported our project, particularly the intern program. Thank you, Scott Bull, Grants Manager, and your enthusiastic board.
Jean and Barry Schuyler, Jr. and Fred Benko of the Condor Express stepped up and saved the survey, while the migration was in progress. Their critical support made it possible for us to repair and replace equipment vital to our effort.
A profoundly committed, anonymous foundation funded operational support for Gray Whales Count. We are humbled by their faith in our shared vision. Thank you.
And, finally, thank you to our community that includes caring people, paying attention from all across the world. Some we know well from their visits to our site. Others we hear from and sometimes exchange ideas. And, others we do not know; but we do know they, too, care. Thank you.
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Counter Point, the unofficial name for our survey site, is between two surf breaks: Devereux on the left and Sands on the right.
The registered name is Coal Oil Point, which we find unappealing and very difficult to say.
Our webpage, Count, and Comments are updated every evening to record the day’s events. We welcome your questions and comments about our work, and we hope you will check in often. For additional information about the migration, we encourage you to click on links below to Journey North + BBC’sWorld on the Move + Palos Verdes/ACS-LA.
Interested in Counting in 2010?
Contact Michael Smith about volunteering.
Project Description a PDF (3 pages) of the research and education project description.
Information about Participating a PDF (1 page) with information about the requirements for Gray Whales Count.
Contact Information Form a PDF (1 page) to be filled in by persons who want to Participate in Gray Whales Count. Mail or fax with Insurance Waiver Form to Michael Smith, Project Coordinator.
Insurance Waiver Form a PDF (1 page) to be read, agreed to, and signed by the Participant and mailed or faxed
with Contact Information Form to the Project Coordinator.
Map to Coal Oil Point + Regulations a PDF (1 page) with map + directions to Counting site and regulations for use of Coal Oil Point Natural Reserve.
Public Downloads:
2009
2009 Daily Count a PDF (2 pages) record of all the Daily Counts, of northbound, gray whales observed during the 2009 Count.
2008
2008 Daily Count a PDF (3 pages) record of all the Daily Counts, of northbound, gray whales observed during the 2008 Count.
2007
2007 GWC Narrative Report a PDF (7 pages).
2007 Daily Tallies a PDF (3 pages) record of all the Daily Tallies for northbound gray whales
observed during the 2007 Count.
2007 Graph a PDF (1 page, tabloid size) of the 2007 season.
2007 Species Totals a PDF (1 page) of the 2006 season summary of all species observed.
2006
2006 GWC Report a PDF (4 pages) of the 2006 field season, including analysis.
2006 Daily Tallies a PDF (3 pages) record of all the Daily Tallies for northbound gray whales
observed during the 2006 Count.
2006 Graph a PDF (1 page, tabloid size) of the 2006 season.
2006 Species Totals a PDF (1 page) of the 2006 season summary of all species observed.
LINKS
to our Partners and Colleagues:
Journey North Gray Whale page offers in-depth information about the gray-whale
migration, including detailed examinations of survey data from the Gray Whales Count
in the Santa Barbara Channel, Palos Verdes, and Piedras Blancas with stories, pictures,
and fun educational activities.
BBC World on the Move takes you to the Gray Whale Page in the British Broadcasting Company's year-long presentation of migrations throughout the world. You can click on recent reports to hear audio of what the BBC is reporting.
Link to Cascadia Research Collective.
Link to Coal Oil Point Natural Reserve.
Link to Marine Physical Laboratory, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UCSD.
Link to Coastal Fund.
Link to Palos Verdes (ACS-LA) daily census report about a day's swim from south.
Adobe Reader if you have trouble downloading or opening the files,
please download the latest, free version of the software. |
