Encounters With Gray WhalesStory and Photos By Jim Peckarsky

Every year I am fortunate to travelto San Ignacio Lagoon in Baja Califor-nia Sur, Mexico in search of the EasternPacific gray whale.

Cousins of Humpbacks, graywhales are about the same size with someinteresting features that differ. Measur-ing about 40 ft. long and weighing about40 tons, gray whales (Eschrichtiusrobustus) have a more tapered head withshort (whitish in color) baleen plates thataverage only two feet in length. Theyhave no dorsal fin, instead a dorsal ridgewith bumps or “knuckles” extendingfrom the dorsal ridge down to the tailflukes. This area of the body is used byscientists to identify individuals. Profilephotographs are taken of the ridge andknuckles.

Ballenas gris (the Spanish name)have numerous barnacles attached andthree types of “lice” (crustaceans) ontheir bodies Cyamus ceti, Cyamus

kessleri, and Cyamus scammoni. When the barnacles drop off white blotchy scars are left giving the skin agray/white maudlin pattern. Hence the name gray whale.

The Eastern Pacific population of gray whales is one of three in the world. The Atlantic population isextinct and the Western gray whale population is on the verge of extinction with only about 200 animalsremaining. The Eastern Pacific population is one of the few success stories among whales having been re-moved from the Endangered Species List in 1994. Their numbers are estimated to be in the range of 17,000 to23,000.

This fascinating baleen whale species travels 12,000 miles round trip from the feeding waters off ofAlaska to three favorite breeding and birthing lagoons (Ojo de Liebre, San Ignacio, Magdalena Bay) in BajaCalifornia. Making the longest migration of any mammal known, hearty grays leave Alaskan waters in Sep-tember-October and hug the West coast of North America migrating South. Pregnant females arrive first in thelagoons (December-January) to give birth and nurse their calves. They remain for about three months beforeembarking on the long journey North back to the feeding waters. Others migrate for the purpose of breeding orjust to make the trip.

During time spent in the Baja lagoons, gray whales exhibit very little feeding behavior, so when theyreturn to arctic waters they feed sometimes eighteen hours a day on amphipods and mycids. A favorite feedingmethod is to burrow head first on their side into the sediment on the ocean floor. The whales then suck bottommaterial into one side of the mouth, squirt water out the other, trapping the crustaceans inside the baleen. Beingopportunistic feeders, gray whales often use any means necessary to secure a meal. They are at times seenplowing through kelp in shallow water, mouths open, hoping to pick up a tasty meal.

While in the Baja lagoons grays are well protected from predators and humans. The whales seem tohave no apprehension when humans visit the animals’ habitats. San Ignacio Lagoon is the most remote andpristine of the lagoons and is a perfect area to observe natural behaviors from both land and boats.

I spend sixweeks every Februaryand March in SanIgnacio Lagoon work-ing as a naturalist forvisitors. We camp on apoint of land calledPunta Piedra (RockyPoint) and watch graywhales up close andpersonal with a mini-mum of impact to theirroutines. Some indi-vidual whales exhibit“friendly” behaviors byshowing interest in thehuman visitors. Attimes it appears that thewhales might actuallybe “people watching”.

These breedingand birthing areas are very important to help maintain the health of the gray whale population. There iscontinual pressure on, and encroachment into their habitat. So far protection has been good. The most severethreat was a salt evaporation facility proposed by Mitsubishi for San Ignacio Lagoon in the 1990’s. Afterseveral years of public opposition and outcry, Mitsubishi and the Mexican Government decided not to pro-ceed.

We all can make a difference! The vigilance of concerned people and on-going research worldwide ofwhales and all marine life will help improve ocean ecosystems, ensuring the survival of all species. As weenjoy the amazing animals of the oceans we need to do our part in protecting the natural world for all of itsinhabitants.

A Very Special “Thank You” to our “Patron Saints” Donand Lee Hamilton for your continued generosity and kindness.When the “house” broke...you were there. When we wanted orneeded any new equipment...you were there! You are truly re-markable people, and we are so glad to have you on our team!

Mahalo Dear Friends!

To All of You Who Make Our Work Possible!To Don, Lee, David, and Christopher Hamilton,thank you for always being there for us! We cannever thank you enough! For always stepping to the plateand providing whatever we need! Mahalo! But most of all,Mahalo for your friendship!To Bob and Gracie Egan, thank you for allyour knowledge, expertise, and kindness inguiding us through “ciguatera”. Not top mentionthe swordfish recovery or the boat! You havebeen a godsend to us! Mahalo Friends!!To “KB”, Kieran Burke...when I put my hand onmy head...it means “START THE BOAT”!Thank you for always being there for us, andkeeping me in “shape”! To the Final Four.Mahalo Big Guy!To Dick and Vicki McCarty, Thanks for yourfriendship, and help. Congratulations Grandmaand Grandpa!Aloha to Ted and Barbara Menk, for your greatsupport of our work. Take care of each other! Mahalo!To Charles Hicks and Interphase Technologies, thankyou for your support and incredible tools!To Jim Peckarsky, “The Dizzy Dude”... “Sid” - Mahalo foryour help, friendship, and kokua...Thanks Diz!Congratulations MOM AND DAD! Steve Zeff and wifeJaana gave birth to their new baby girl Zoe! ALOHA!To Randy Miller, for taking care of “us”. Mahalo Randy!

To Nancy and HamiltonHarris, thank you for your neverending support and friendship.Mahalo Nancy and Ham!Aloha to Calvin, Bettina, andStephanie Spencer... “turtles”to you, and Beware of theThunder Chicken!

To Harold and Dorothy Ferrari for managing the Califor-nia office, and always being there when we need you!Thank you for your inspiration, love, and “kokua”!! Welove you Mom and Dad! Mahalo!To Wilfred and Elrita Glockner for your ever continuinglove and support. You are truly a wonderful Mom andDad! We love you Maw-maw and Paw-paw!!To our wonderful “freshman” daughter Chantelle Ferrari,for working so hard in school and showing us about what̓simportant in life!! We Love You! Mahalo Princess!!To Larry and Diane Meador, and Clinician SupportTechnology...For your friendship! Mahalo.To Bob & Linda Caldwell, Mahalo for all your help!

Thanks to Dan & Deenie Reese for taking care of ourorphaned dogs, Yukon & Shadow. Mahalo!To our Directors, Kevin Kelly, Randy Andrada, and JayZiegler...Mahalo for your help & putting up with us! Aloha!Thanks again to Clyde & Penny Wakida for being suchwonderful stewards of our research boat! A better “partner”doesn̓t exist! Thank you dear friends. Mahalo!To Connie Sutherland, Nelson, Leslie, and RussellHiraga, Bob, and Terry,for your love and “kokua”..throughall these difficult times...our prayers and love. Mahalo!To Mary Anna, Randy, and Goldie Waldrop…Thank you“healer”, teacher, and “house hunters”. For your friendshipand kokua! For Oahu! Mahalo!Mahalo to Terry Nani Mitchell, and your team at Dollar.Mahalo to Rob Harty & Larry Graf of Glacier Bay Cats.

MAHALO!

CWS Saints:Donald and Aleta Hamilton

CWS V isionaries:Kieran BurkeDr. Rober t and Gracie Egan Christopher and Jason

CWS AMBASSADORS:Dr. Adrian and Cher CairnsLinda and Bob CaldwellHar old and Dor othy FerrariW ilfr ed and Elrita GlocknerElizabeth R. GuistNancy and Hamilton HarrisMidge McGannLou Ellen McGinleyTed and Barbara MenkMary Lee ScheidtW ing and Jan Park Joshua and Tyler

CWS P ATRONS:J. Randall and Nancy AndradaJill B.R. CherneffWalt ContiMatt and Lisamarie FerrariGordon and Doris Fir esteinW illiam S. GoellKevin KellyT.E. LeonardDick and V icki McCar tyC. Lawr ence and Diane MeadorMr . and Mrs. E.D. NienowJim PeckarskyJames and Linda PortisRandy and Gail PuckettKur t and Terr y ScheidtCraig and Kim ScheidtMar y Anna and Randy Waldr opClyde and Penny WakidaJay and Carrie Ziegler

P.O. Box 1539, Lahaina, Maui, HI 96767-1539CWS is a non profit 501 (c)(3) or ganization

©2005, Center for Whale Sudies, all rights r eserved

WE NEED YOUR HELP!!!Please Make Our 31st

Consecutive Year a Reality!!If your company has a matching gifts program ,

please let us know! It will help your dollars go even fur-ther for whale research, conservation, and education!!Thanks to Bruce Christopher (Household International),John and Linda Biter (Prudential Foundation) , andKaren Bucy (IBM Foundation) for their Matching Grants.

We again respectfully request your continued sup-port, as we begin the 2005 field season. Through yourhelp, we have been able to continue our long term re-search project. We share with you, our work and accom-plishments, for it is because of your support that we havebeen able to continue this vital project.100% of your donation goes dir ectly to support

the Center ’s non-pr ofit work!!MAHALO to Don and Lee Hamilton for your con-tinued support. This past summer we had theyear from “House Hell”. Everything broke, and Imean everything! {Try living in Louisiana with-out AC! Can you spell M-O-L-D?} Don and Leehelped us repair and replace all of our home/of-fice infrastructure, and kept our old cars operat-ing. If there is anything we needed, Don and Leehave been there for us. MAHALO DEAR FRIENDS!

M any thanks for your continued support!!The “wish list” for 2005 includes a new Mac G5 desk-top computer system, a Mac 17” laptop, softwareupgrades, two Sony HiDef Z1 camcorders and uwhousing, a digital projector , a Nikon 9000 slide scan-ner , salaries, and (as usual) a new truck! Thank You!!

CWS Membership Fees Are Now Due... MAHALO FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Center for WhaleStudies’ Members:

Ada and Whitney AddingtonJoyce and Ted AirdGeorge and Linda AlbrightGeorge and Janet AllanRandy and Nancy AndradaBill and Mickie AnstineDon AusSusan and William AustinPatricia C. AxelrodWanda L. BaderNancy L. BallengerJane and Bill BallhausJenien M. BeachJeremy McGilligan-BentinWorden and Gail BethellLinda and John BiterJacqueline M. BlairWilliam O. BolandDorothy L. BolinRick BlackwoodCharles BrownKieran BurkeSue BushDr. Adrian and Cher CairnsLinda and Bob CaldwellBob CarabelloJill B.R. CherneffBarry ChernickBruce W. ChristopherJill CollinsGreg, Judy, and Josh ConantHoward and Stephanie ConantAlma ConnollyWendell and Marie ConoverWalt ContiJohn, Sherry, and Blair CrimminsMargaret DankoSusan DunswellSylvia A. EarleJudith N. EganDr. Robert, Gracie, Christopher and Jason EganCarole and Frank EhrhardtShirley H. EtorGeorge V. EwingSally Farrand

Christine FerrariHarold and Dorothy FerrariMatt, Lisamarie, Gabriella Nicholas and Luca FerrariSandra FinleyGordon FiresteinMrs. Carol FrazeeWilliam S. GoellElizabeth GuistWilfred and Elrita GlocknerBill HalseyDon and Aleta HamiltonDavid and Christopher HamiltonDr. Ray and Karen HarrisNancy and Hamilton HarrisAndrew D. HeussnerEleanor HigginbothamNelson, Leslie, Daniel and Russell HiragaConnie HodnettBarb and Dick HolmeJohn Hornsby, Jr., and FamilyDavid and Patricia JensenJay M. JermanSteve and Eleonore JohnsonGerry JohnstonCapt. Larry and Florence KelleyKevin KellyHoward E. KernEdward Ketchum, Jr.Herb and Janet Ketchum, Jr.Randy KielblockSam and Kathy KiethSteve KingTina KingPeter J. KochDon and Jean KoskinenJanice and Kenneth KramerJeff LahlKim, Anne, Tommy, Molly, Cosmos, and Kenny LairdDoris LangThomas C. LaytonKaren and Michael LearnedT.E. LeonardDebby LevinBeverly LewisCarol L. LibeyAnn and Frank Lorey

Mrs. James O. LyonSheila MargesonCarol MarkusBruce and Kathy MarshLynette Rae MasonJames H. Mason, Jr.Dick and Vicki McCartyMarge McGannMidge McGannLou Ellen McGinleyBarry, Irene, Kai, and Haley

McPheeScott McWilliamsC. Lawrence and Diane MeadorTed and Barbara MenkMr. and Mrs. D.J. Meskell, Jr.Randy MillerJoyce MurphyGuy MurphyDr. Murray and Katherine NewmanSally A. NicholasMr. and Mrs. E.D. NienowC. Clyde NixonRaymond and Deborah NorrisWing, Jan, Joshua, and Tyler ParkIrv PeckarskyJim PeckarskyKenneth S. PhelanJames and Linda PortisRich PowellFred F. PraxelJim and Devonna PrimaveraRick RoshonJanet M. SadoffNicholas and Mary SammonsKurt and Terry ScheidtCraig, Kim, Kari, and Kristin ScheidtMary Lee ScheidtWes and Mary SchmidtSister Elizabeth SchneiderDr. Leslie SheltonBill and Lee ShewryHannah and Tessa SiegelDr. John M. SnyderTimothy and Cheryl SoosDuane and Sue Spidle