BajaNomad

Dick Russell's Opinion

bajajudy - 2-19-2006 at 01:26 PM

As promised, I did ask Dick what he thought about the whale watching tours. He said that he truly believed that if the pangeros allowed the whales to come to them, there was no harm done to the whales and an enormous benefit realized for the cause of saving the whales. He also stated that he would never go back to Lopez Mateos because they do chase the whales there.
As for the quesion of what happened to make the whales trust the ones who had killed them, he had one word....Pachico, the gentleman in San Ignacio Lagoon, who was the first to ever pet a whale. He believes that they learned from him that people could be gentle.
His presentation was very interesting. He believes that the decrease in the number of whales arriving in the Baja lagoons is caused by global warming which is decreasing the number of planktons and thereby decreasing the amount of food available. He surmises that the whales may not be leaving the northern waters because they know that they are not strong enough to make the journey. While many claim that global warming is just another natural ocurrence, he claims that when we start seeing the sea level rising as significantly as it has in the past few years, it is time that we all sit up and take notice.
Wish you could have all been at our event where Dick spoke!

[Edited on 2-21-2006 by bajajudy]

No comments?

bajajudy - 2-21-2006 at 07:31 AM

I thought that SOME of you would respond.:(

elgatoloco - 2-21-2006 at 08:05 AM

Thank you for asking Mr. Russell's opinion as it comes from a well informed position. I am not surprised at his response. Having read his book I was aware of his feelings towards the operators in Lopez Mateos. Sorry we did not make your event. Maybe next time.

Tomas Tierra - 2-28-2006 at 03:39 PM

interesting... you should post it on the bajanews thread

Thank You for posting, glad I looked around......Tomas

fdt - 2-28-2006 at 05:41 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajajudy
I thought that SOME of you would respond.:(

Last easter vacation we went to San Ignacio lagoon, stayed @ Kuyima and I thought it was a great experience. Do not know about the others like Ojo de Liebre or Lopez Mateos since this was my (our) first ever, but I feel that the Kuyima people are very professional and eco-conscious. I did not know about Pachico then and I have not read Dick Russel's book but was listening to him when he was w/Ted on Baja Talk Radio.
We are going back , will be there 3/18-20 since there is no escuela in M?xico on 20th and 21st.
I think every human should experience these encounters, regardless of age, our baby Sofia 3 years old at the time kissed a baby whale last year, what an experience.
Now I saw a map of the lagoon and Kuyima is closer to the whales than Pachico, because I do remember the long boat ride to get to where the whales are.
And as for the road to get there, oh well, just go slow.

Tomas Tierra - 3-1-2006 at 12:24 PM

FDT...

Wait until your little girl goes to kindergarten and they talk about whales..
She can stand up and say "I kissed a baby whale!!"

Happened to my little girl last week, very special..can't immagine seeing something like that at that age..At 30 something it changed my life..can't wait to take my Son!

TT

bajajudy - 3-1-2006 at 12:41 PM

TT
I have told so many of my friends those exact words....it will change your life. Last year two couples came from back east and touched whales. They were so happy and couldnt wait to get back home and tell everyone.
I still put it in the top 5 of things you HAVE to do in your life.

ursidae69 - 3-1-2006 at 01:25 PM

Sorry I missed this thread till now. It sounds like the book signing went well and I'm looking forward to reading his book, just got my order last week, thanks. :cool:

sneezerdog - 3-1-2006 at 01:51 PM

Judy and the other four are? : )

Darn, but oh well

fdt - 3-18-2006 at 06:54 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by fdt
[We are going back , will be there 3/18-20 since there is no escuela in M?xico on 20th and 21st.

Had to CXL :( , but will be there 4/09-12 :bounce:

David K - 3-18-2006 at 12:17 PM

Sea levels have not risen... due to plate tectonics, some land is dropping!:o:light:

turtleandtoad - 3-18-2006 at 12:31 PM

If more people from the countries that still allow whaling would come over and pet/kiss the whales, maybe those countries would stop killing the whales for "research".

bajajudy - 3-18-2006 at 01:59 PM

DK, I will let you argue that with Dick. That is what he said.

Sea is a-rising??? The jury is still out------

Barry A. - 3-18-2006 at 02:26 PM

We may never know, and you can argue both ways, the way I understand it.

In some places the sea seems to be receding (land rising?), and other places the sea is encroaching (land falling?, sea rising?) Glaciers melt, and glaciers form, all changing the amount of liquid water on the earth. It is quite complex.

We DO know that temps are rising right now, but then that has happened many times in the past. They may start dropping, tomorrow. Change is inevitable----the geologic evidence "history" of the planet proves that. The earth may change it's axis, too, totally messing up all theories, and in fact there is evidence to support that it has done just that several times. Ice ages, tropical hot zones-----what is next?

The one big question is, "what is causing it". We really do not know that, for sure, either. We can only speculate, and continue doing the Science, hopefully getting a better and better handle on it.

As individuals, it seems to me, folks just grab on to what they want to believe, and just run with it, to prove whatever point they are trying to make. I wish I was so sure. I'm not.

I tend to believe that "man" probably does not really effect these humongous forces to much, if at all.

But what do I know????

I'm a little confused......

neilm - 3-18-2006 at 04:51 PM

Can someone clarify this?
Quote:
Originally posted by bajajudy
He believes that the decrease in the number of whales arriving in the Baja lagoons is caused by global warming which is decreasing the number of planktons and thereby decreasing the amount of food available. [Edited on 2-21-2006 by bajajudy]


Didn't I just read:
Quote:
Originally posted by Bajame

The guides said that the whales are returning in record numbers this year.


just a little confused.. more whales or fewer?

Neil

Tomas Tierra - 3-21-2006 at 12:25 PM

WOW...as I sat on the boat at work yesterday(sea urchin diving), I have never seen so many gray whales in a day,easily over 100, I wondered how many of them had made human contact in on e of the wonderful Baja lagoons?? I will never know...
They are beutiful creatures!!

bajajudy - 3-22-2006 at 09:36 AM

More opinions on global warming...first hand, I would say.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11951694/

Judy-------

Barry A. - 3-22-2006 at 10:49 AM

Again, GLOBAL WARMING IS HAPPENING--------it is what is causing it that is in question.

That is a very interesting article, and thanks for posting it.

Capt. George - 3-22-2006 at 11:02 AM

THE SKY IS FALLING, THE SKY IS FALLING!

TOOOOOO MANY PEOPLE IN THE WORLD. PERIOD! Got any suggestions to change that, perhaps nuclear war? that shoud thin us out a little for the next species...

capt. g

barry check out thread on pseudo police i explain myself...

bajajudy - 3-22-2006 at 11:14 AM

Well I was talking with someone the other night who was discussing the history of the earth and how over the millions of years, it has warmed and cooled. How Chicago used to be an iceburg. The problem that he sees is that the trend now should be toward cooling not warming(we are talking 20,000 years here not exactly current events)
It certainly could be just that, a trend, but on the other hand is could be the rapid rate at which we are consuming natural resources, some un renewable. George, a nuclear war would do the trick and over population is certainly a factor. No argument there.

Judy---yur right-----

Barry A. - 3-22-2006 at 11:49 AM

----it is generally excepted that we are in a huge long-term cooling trend----BUT, there are "trends" within "trends", and his could be just a mini-trend of warming in an overall trend of cooling---------that is what makes it so controversial, and complex, and nobody really knows, as near as I can tell.

I will now leave this subject alone (finally) :yes:

Barry

bajajudy - 3-27-2006 at 07:25 AM

http://edition.cnn.com/2006/US/03/26/coverstory/index.html

David K - 3-27-2006 at 08:17 AM

CNN, MSNBC, no wonder!

I would trust FOX NEWS more than them!...:yes:

neilm

Baja Bernie - 3-27-2006 at 08:44 AM

had a great question! Wonder why no one answered it.

As far as the TV media thing goes--I am an equal opportunity doubter--I no longer trust any of them!

Bajame - 3-27-2006 at 09:04 AM

Don't worry about the population getting out of hand the BIRD FLU is coming! Pretty soon we will all be wearing those mask and looking freakie, then the whales will start tipping the boats over again out of fear, then the world will come to an end as we know it! Time to get those magaritas, after a half a dozen of those you won't care! :biggrin:

Russell's Book

ursidae69 - 4-20-2006 at 01:12 PM

Just wanted to say I'm through Chapter three off Russell's book and it is hard to put down. It's historical accounts are really informative and the book is well-written. I'd recommend it.

New article on Warming and the Gray Whale

bajajudy - 6-28-2006 at 09:34 AM

I cant get the complete link to come up so go to

http://www.sfgate.com/

And it is on the front page today, June 28





[Edited on 6-28-2006 by bajajudy]

thebajarunner - 6-28-2006 at 04:38 PM

Judy, SFGate (SFChronicle) is just to one side of Pravda.
Yeah, check out today's edition you referenced... great stuff:
"Testimony on judges penis pump"
"Britney poses in the nude"
"Child molester too short for prison"
etc.
etc.
etc.

only in San Francisco!!

bajajudy - 6-28-2006 at 04:48 PM

Son of a gun, the article is gone.
Sorry about that Runner.

Guess I should say what the article said. Basically it said that scientists have been surprised to find that the gray whale is seeming to adapt to the warmer water temps, as the number of babies increased last year.
It is kind of the opposite of what Dick said in Feb.

[Edited on 6-28-2006 by bajajudy]

turtleandtoad - 6-28-2006 at 05:22 PM

Yeah, it also said that they don't know if this is just a short-term effect and that, if global warming continues, the Grays will run out of continental shelf ocean bottom to feed on.

wornout - 6-28-2006 at 07:02 PM

Looks like some of the Gray Whales like Arctic Ice Reduction:

From: http://kcbs.com/pages/50862.php

Arctic Ice Reduction Causing Gray Whale Boom On CA Coast

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (KCBS) -- Gray whales appear to be experiencing a baby boom, and it appears to be connected to a reduction in Arctic ice.

The annual gray whale calf count that is tallied along the California coastline is up this year.

"Reproduction in gray whales over maybe the last thirteen years is linked to the distribution of seasonal ice in the arctic," biologist Wayne Perryman, of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, told KCBS Reporter Susan Leigh Taylor.

Comparing gray whales to another species that has been affected by the ongoing rise in temperatures, recession of ice, and global warming debate, Perryman said gray whales are the opposite of polar bears.

"Polar bears feed on top of the ice -- so if there's lots of ice, there's lots of area for them to feed," he told Taylor. "Gray whales feed under the ice, and so when the ice backs up early, they have more access to prey, and I think that nice big healthy well-fed females are more likely to have calves."

Asked if the gray whale indicators were another "canary in the cave" -- evidence of warming waters, which points to global warming, Perryman said he doubted it.

Perrimen said it was more likely a product of inter-annual variability in the ice, rather than global warming.

"We really don't know how long-term changes in temperature regimes in the arctic are going to affect these animals," he said. "We have a pretty good handle on this short-term change."

Gray whales make an extraordinarily long migration from the Arctic Ocean, northwest of Alaska, to the Baja peninsula off Mexico -- and back, each year. They travel about 12,500 miles each year, staying near the coast. They mate and calve in the warm tropical waters of the Pacific Ocean off Baja, Mexico.

(pha)

Copyright 2006, KCBS. All Rights Reserved.

elgatoloco - 6-28-2006 at 11:44 PM

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/06/28/...

The number of baby gray whales born along the Pacific Coast has increased over the last five years, leading scientists to believe that for now the pregnant females are doing all right feeding in a warming Arctic environment.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration researchers counting the calves that passed Point Piedras Blancas near San Luis Obispo tabulated 1,018 calves in 2006, up from 945 in 2005. The whales migrate about 5,400 miles a year on their way to summer feeding grounds off the coast of Alaska, roaming February to May past popular whale-watching spots such as Half Moon Bay State Park and Point Reyes National Seashore.

The agency reports an upward trend since the counts of 3-month-old, 20-foot-long whales plummeted below 300 in the years 2000 and 2001. The counts began in 1994.

"It's a reasonable level of reproduction, and the overall trend over the past five years is positive,'' said Wayne Perryman, a fisheries biologist with NOAA in La Jolla (San Diego County).

"In the short term, they appear to be doing well, based on our monitoring of reproduction. But we really don't know how the long-term warming trend is going to affect this population,'' Perryman said.

Scientists report a major shift in the ecosystem of the northern Bering Sea, the whale's traditional feeding ground, because of warming air and water in the Arctic. The whale's favored prey, the fatty amphipod, is less abundant, sending the animal searching for food farther north.

But, say scientists, the whales have taken advantage of polar sea ice that melted in the spring, opening up new passageways to food supplies farther north near Barrow, Alaska.

California's calf count, sometimes conducted only dozens of yards away from the whales offshore, serves as a way to measure the health of the population, considering the expense and difficulty of a whole population count. The last complete census was taken in 2001, and the estimates ranged from 17,000 to 27,000.

Just as scientists watch to see how the polar bear, the ringed seal and the walrus respond to environmental changes due to the shrinking pack ice, they also watch the gray whale, which has fed for thousands of years in the northern Bering Sea.

In the summer of 1997, an El Ni?o year, scientists recorded the warmest water temperatures on record in parts of the Bering Sea. Since then, the amphipods have dropped in numbers in the northern Bering Sea, including beds in the Chirikov Basin.

In 1999, the number of whales that washed up dead or dying on the Pacific Coast went up 10-fold to about 270, according to NOAA. Some were malnourished; others were not.

But in recent years, NOAA scientists and others have found the gray whale moving to the Chukchi Sea off Barrow, apparently searching for -- and finding -- enough crustaceans in the mud to nourish the pregnant females.

Perryman thinks the pregnant females are now doing well when they reach the Arctic in the spring.

"They are the first animals there'' when they arrive, probably starting in May, he said. Even though they have to go farther north to find food, scientists believe the whales can get to it more easily because of the earlier sea ice melt that allows them to move through open ocean waters, he said.

"What we find is a relationship between the timing of the melt of sea ice in the Arctic and the number of calves we see the next season. This past year, the ice has been light, and we've had really good recruitment in calves,'' Perryman said.

"Think of the sea ice as a table. The polar bears feed on the sea ice. But the gray whales don't have access to the bottom of the ocean when the table's there. So, you have to pull the table away for them to find food,'' Perryman said.

He cautioned that there has been no study determining whether the individual whales are able to put on as much weight as needed given their lengthy route to find food and the changing food supply. The gray whales don't eat krill that float in the water the way blue, humpback and bowhead whales do. They scoop up the mud on the floor of the continental shelf and sift out the sea life.

Jacqueline Grebmeier -- a biological oceanography professor at the University of Tennessee and lead author on an ecosystem shift study published in the journal Science in March -- said the whales were staying up in the north and foraging longer, taking advantage of a greater expanse of open waters, which aren't blocked with ice again until the fall.

But she noted that the changing ecosystem raises questions.

"If they go farther north, they have to spend more energy.''

Also, the gray whale may be at the end of its feeding range, she said, because it relies on the shallow continental shelf in the Pacific Ocean -- and not the Arctic Ocean, where the continental shelf is narrow, with less room for foraging.

"For now, it's time and space playing in their favor. But at some time in the future, the space issue will become a limiting factor.''



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

E-mail Jane Kay at jkay@sfchronicle.com.


Baby whales on parade

Here are the counts of Pacific gray whale calves as they migrate from Baja
California to feed in Arctic waters.
The figures show a positive trend over the last five years, up since a
decline following warm 1997-1998 El Ni?o years when amphipod food supplies
declined in the Bering Sea. The whales are now benefitting from finding new
food in the Chukchi Sea, but scientists don't know how long-term warming will
affect the population.

5,400 + miles: Gray whales have the longest yearly migration route of any
mammal

Best viewing in the Bay Area
Montara State Beach
Point Reyes National Seashore
McNee Ranch State Park
A?o Nuevo State Park
Half Moon Bay State Beach.

'94 946
'95 619
'96 1,146
'97 1,431
'98 1,388
'99 427
'00 279
'01 256
'02 842
'03 774
'04 1,528
'05 945
'06 1,020
.
Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The Chronicle

SiReNiTa - 6-30-2006 at 04:24 PM

I just wanted to let you know that as much as I like Dick Russel, he is not a whale expert...he interviewed me for his book and he is a good writer and did good interview, but....anyway, to begin with, gray whales are not plankton eaters so the gray whales aren't leaving the lagoons due to global warming. Now, many years ago, I warned the whale watching companies that if they chase whales around too much, they will go elsewhere to raise their babies. The lagoons are very critical to gray whales as the survival rate of the calves is higher in the lagoon. In Scammons Lagoon, they have an area off limits to pangas and when I did the census there, the highest concentration of whales was in this area. In this lagoon, there are literally hundreds of whales so the boats don't have to chase whales around so there is less harrasment. I personally wasn't pleased in San Ignacio and found there was more harrassment there than any lagoon as people there EXPECT to pet a whale, which is absurd....a whale is a wild animal and we should appreciate just seeing it in it's natural habitat and not HAVE TO pet it to have a good experience. OK, I know it awesome to pet a whale and believe me, I know it is a life changing experience....BUT...a whale has to come to you, it should decide if you deserve this wonderful gift.
Now some whales arent' making the migration as they are too weak to swim all the way to Alaska...this weakness could be caused too by whale watchers...in the feeding grounds, there are so many bloody boats that whales are not able to feed properly, they are being seriously disturbed there and this could contribute to a general weakening of the species. So think about this...in all wild animals, the human habituated ones are the first to die, whether by hunters or accidents...friendly whales get hit by boats outside the lagoons because they think all humans are friendly and also they approach hunters as they now trust humans...NOT....so sometimes I wish whales were still afraid of us which would be safer for them......also the quantity and quality of food in Alaska was affected by the Exon Valdez spill....although it happened years ago, the food chain has been affected and gray whales are bottom feeders....I have noticed an increase of skinny whales in the last 5 years. The interesting thing globaol warming has caused in the lagoons is that the sea level has been rising...my old campsite is now underwater at high tide! I truly wish humans could just go whale watching and be content watching them from a considerate distance.

SeRiNiTa--------Very well said, and I completely agree with you

Barry A. - 7-1-2006 at 10:34 PM