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BajaNews
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Fewer migrating whales arrive in Mexican lagoons (corrected)
http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=scienceN...
Feb 10, 2006
By Frank Jack Daniel
SAN IGNACIO, Mexico (Reuters) - The number of gray whales making a yearly migration from the icy North Pacific to breed in Mexico's warm lagoons has
dropped this year, scientists say, possibly because of changing weather patterns.
Gray whale researcher William Megill said food shortages in the whales' feeding grounds near Canada and Alaska mean that some of the thousands who
make the annual 5,000-mile journey have departed late or even stayed behind this year.
Other researchers said on Thursday that varying sea temperatures in the Bering Sea could be contributing to changes in migration patterns.
Megill, a lecturer at Britain's Bath University, warned those that made the trip may be undernourished and said he feared many could die from lack of
energy on their return trip north later in the year.
"We saw in British Columbia this year there was nothing to eat until well into September," he told Reuters at San Ignacio lagoon on Mexico's Baja
California peninsula. "I wouldn't be surprised to see carcasses up and down the coast, because they didn't have enough food."
According to Megill's latest census, around 90 whales had made it to San Ignacio by February, down by about a half compared to the same month in 2005.
Every year thousands of gray whales spend several months swimming from their northern feeding grounds to warm lagoons with a high salt content along
Mexico's Baja California peninsula.
Once there, pregnant whales give birth to half-tonne calves, teach their young to swim in the buoyant salty waters, look for partners and mate.
Whale-watching in the lagoons is a popular tourist attraction. Gray whales in the lagoons sometimes approach visitors' boats and let humans touch
them.
Last week, dozens of the mammals -- which can grow 50 feet long and weigh up to 40 tonnes -- swam near the surface with new-born calves, while others
flipped their forked tales out of the water in mating rituals.
The whales, which were removed from the U.S. endangered species list in 1994, arrive in the lagoons between December and February and start their
return journey in April.
Research in traditional feeding grounds in the northern Bering Sea between Alaska and Siberia shows an abrupt rise in temperatures there since 2000,
and a decline in the worm and shrimp colonies that nourish the whales.
Sue Moore, head oceanographer at the University of Washington in the United States, said the whales appeared to be adapting to changing environmental
conditions in the North by feeding in new areas and heading South later in the year.
But she did not believe the whales faced greater challenges this year than in other years.
"I do not think they are suffering starvation at this point -- gray whales are very resilient and can feed on a variety of prey all along their
migration route," she said.
Between 1999 and 2000, hundreds of gray whales washed up along the West coast of the United States and Canada, after they apparently suffered food
shortages as a result of climatic changes related to the El Nino phenomenon.
Recent changes in weather patterns in the North Atlantic are harder to explain, say researchers at the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, since El Nino had little effect in 2005.
[Edited on 2-10-2006 by BajaNews]
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Pompano
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Fewer whales??
Hmmm...that's odd. We went fishing yesterday..(Feb 9th 2006.) and saw about 15 whales from Pt. Conception to Pt. Teresa near Ille del Fonso.
Here is poor photo of one. One thing we noted was that the whales were extremely wary and sounded quickly as we approached from a distance.
Something they have never done is the past. They could have had young with them which would account for this rare attitude.
There are certainaly more whales this season than last.
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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Bruce R Leech
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I think that as long as people keep harassing them in there formerly isolated berthing waters there will be fewer and fewer return. also you will see
more and more acts of aggressive behavior by the gray whales.
If you people really care about the whales then leave them alone. if you see them while out in the open sea like Pompano that is OK but to invade
there isolated berthing waters is way to intrusive. why do you think they go to those locations?
Bruce R Leech
Ensenada
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elgatoloco
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Pompano
Which kind of whale in your photo?
Bruce
Have you ever been to out to the lagoons to see the whales in a panga?
It's educational and inspirational.
The only way you can get close is if they come to you.
The locals get some income and the whole thing is done in a very controlled way with limitations on how many boats on the water at a time and how
close the operator's can get.
You should give it a try. 
MAGA
Making Attorneys Get Attorneys
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elizabeth
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| Quote: | Originally posted by elgatoloco
Bruce
Have you ever been to out to the lagoons to see the whales in a panga?
It's educational and inspirational.
The only way you can get close is if they come to you.
The locals get some income and the whole thing is done in a very controlled way with limitations on how many boats on the water at a time and how
close the operator's can get.
You should give it a try. |
It is educational and inspirational; however, there are way too many panga captains who chase and circle the whales. This is not exactly like them
deciding to come to you.
[Edited on 2-10-2006 by elizabeth]
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Bruce R Leech
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| Quote: | Originally posted by elgatoloco
Pompano
Which kind of whale in your photo?
Bruce
Have you ever been to out to the lagoons to see the whales in a panga?
It's educational and inspirational.
The only way you can get close is if they come to you.
The locals get some income and the whole thing is done in a very controlled way with limitations on how many boats on the water at a time and how
close the operator's can get.
You should give it a try. |
don't you think that if that is what they wanted they would go to San Francisco Bay or something like that.
they want to be alone. leave them alone. when they come to the boat maybe they are asking you politely to leave.
Bruce R Leech
Ensenada
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Pompano
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elgatoloco...those we saw yesterday were all finback whales. Estimated lengths from 30-45ft. We conservatively estimated seeing 15 during our
fishing trip. We never get too close, bother them in any way whatsoever, and have chased down some boats who did...kids on a jetski.
Many times in the past whales have approached us for some unknown reason...curiousity perhaps?...or were they jealous of my fishing prowness!! I have
whale stories to tell but not here and now....I believe that is another thread somewhere.
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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elgatoloco
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Bruce
I take it that you have not actually been out yet.
It's too cold in San Francisco in February, for mating or boating.
When we visited San Ignacio lagoon we drove around in a panga for an hour and never got within 100 yards of a whale, although we could see them
everywhere around us, mostly mothers with newborns. It was still great to see these magnificent creatures in their element. As we sat motionless in
the panga, motor idling, all of a sudden from the depths appeared a very large female with a baby in tow. She was so peeed off that we were bugging
her that she spent the next thirty minutes alternately floating on her back under us with both flippers out of the water, one either side of the boat
so close you could touch them (although, as instructed we did not). When she tired of that she pushed, yes pushed her baby over to us so it could get
a good look at the pesky people who were bugging them and it could feel the touch of the nasty tourist. Yep those are some peeed off whales. It?s a
shame I could not realize that they just wanted us the hell out of there.
See you at the zoo.
MAGA
Making Attorneys Get Attorneys
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elgatoloco
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Pompano
I would love to hear some of your whale stories someday. I'll bring the beer.
When we have been in kayaks the only whales that don't go the other direction when they see us are the gray whales, the finbacks and humpbacks seem to
be shy and will head the other way. Always great to see them in the wild.
MAGA
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Debra
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I have to say, I was also one of those people that said "leave them alone" until I also went out and had the same experience that "elgotoloco"
had.....the Mom chashed US and pushed her baby toward us, the baby stayed and teased, begging for us to pet him/her for over an hour while the mom
stayed in the background and watched. Finally Mom gave a flip/flap and off went the baby. Awesome experience!
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elgatoloco
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| Quote: | Originally posted by elizabeth
[
It is educational and inspirational; however, there are way too many panga captains who chase and circle the whales. This is not exactly like them
deciding to come to you.
[Edited on 2-10-2006 by elizabeth] |
That has not been our experience to date. I have heard that some drivers are more aggressive than others. We have been out at Scammons five times and
San Ignacio once. If I were in a boat that was harassing whales I would complain to management and I would NOT tip.
MAGA
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Bruce R Leech
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the way I watch when I go is from shore with a telescope or camera with a big lens. nature is always more beautiful with out human intervention.
I have seen boat harassing and actually purposely hitting the whales. one time I saw some people shutting them with paint ball guns. and many other
atrocity's.
the thing is if you like it or if they like it doesn't mater. it is not natural for them to have human intervention in this the most privet of there
times. and if they get used to playing with all the boats then the next time they see a whaling ship they will swim to it rather than swimming away.
Bruce R Leech
Ensenada
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David K
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Gee Bruce, the only boat operators on the lagoon are those certified. So, you actually saw a certified whale watching panga operator allow his
passengers to shoot the whales with paint balls???????
Please...
Did you report this to proper authorites???
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Santiago
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| Quote: | Originally posted by elgatoloco
It's too cold in San Francisco in February, for mating....
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Crazycat: this is gonna be a problem - I've booked a fancy hotel there this coming Tuesday (2/14) with that very thing in mind.
She-who-must-be-obeyed is gonna be p.o.'ed.
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Don Alley
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Yes, whale watching is bad.
It runs counter to everything I learned about wildlife in over 30 years in Montana...elk, bear buffalo moose...
DO NOT APPROACH THE WILDLIFE!
But last winter I ended up on a panga at Lopez Mateos on a whale watching trip, approaching and petting whales.
BOY WAS IT FUN!
Now I am addicted and will go again next week.
Yes, crime is a slippery slope, as Bruce pointed out in another thread. First, collecting seashells. Then, clamming, and whale watching...smuggling
boxes of Cherrios and Cherry Coke across the border...grand theft auto may be in the cards next. 
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abreojos
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If you want to avoid the crowds and encounter the whales at their friendliest, March & April are the best months at San Ignacio. I have watched
the last mom and bably leave the middle of May. They all pass my property on the way back. You can see the majority of them pass from the middle of
February until the middle of March, mas o menos.
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Pompano
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Hey...I have a photo of a large pale whale spouting just off our patio. Now if I can just find that darn thing..??
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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Bruce R Leech
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
Gee Bruce, the only boat operators on the lagoon are those certified. So, you actually saw a certified whale watching panga operator allow his
passengers to shoot the whales with paint balls???????
Please...
Did you report this to proper authorites??? |
so are you saying that I'm lying or what is the reason for your negative comments David
this really is not like you David I hope I'm not going to be your new jrbaja
[Edited on 2-11-2006 by Bruce R Leech]
Bruce R Leech
Ensenada
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eetdrt88
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awesome thread...
this is a good debate,I see both sides as I have always wanted to go out on one of these chartered pangas to get up close to these whales and actually
once on a kayak at Calamajue I was able to get fairly close to a whale...but I definitely see where Bruce is coming from that maybe all this human
intrusion into their breeding grounds may not be such a great idea...I would like to think that most of the panga operators that take people out to
see the whales are very respectful of these creatures and the ones Bruce mentioned are the exception to the rule
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bajajudy
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Pompano
Dont you dare!
I will tell Felipa.
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