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The Gray whale, Eschrichtius robustus, is a coastal whale, that migrates along the North American Pacific Coast. At this time of year (Spring), the whales migrate north to their feeding grounds and they travel close to the shore, so that anyone can spot them from the beach. You can get a better view of a Gray Whale if you join a professional whale watching tour but even this is incomparable to actually being in the water with them. Not many people can claim to have swam with a Gray Whale, but one man who can, is wildlife cameraman Gavin Thurston. It’s a filming experience, he won’t forget in a hurry.
Scientists studying the Pacific Gray Whales over the past few years believe that climate change is having an adverse effect on their migration and their ability to produce calves. In the next few reports we will be analysing whether we can prove this theory using data from Gray Whale spotters based on the western seaboard of the United States.
Further Reading:
Next report: Gray Whales leave California
Last report: 40 Gray Whales spotted so far
Gavin Thurston's website
How to spot a Gray Whale