Thick Arctic ice blamed for Piedras Blancas low gray whale count

AP on Bakersfield Californian ^ | 6/6/07 | AP

[NormsRevenge]

Thick Arctic ice may be the reason for a precipitous drop in this spring's two-month gray whale count at Point Piedras Blancas.

Only 115 gray whale calves were counted this year by scientists at Point Piedras Blancas, down dramatically from the 285 counted last year. It's the fourth-lowest count in the 14-year history of the cetacean census.

The most gray whale calves ever counted at the point was 456 in 2004, just three years after the low of 87 in 2001.

By counting calves swimming alongside their mothers, scientists said the health of the entire population can be assessed.

Counts fluctuate for a variety of reasons, including variations in populations and weather changes.

Wayne Perryman, of the federal National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Marine Fisheries Service, said he had expected fewer calves this year because of thick ice in the Arctic seas, the gray whale's summer feeding grounds. The thick ice makes it more difficult for cows to eat enough to support a successful pregnancy.

Gray whales migrate up to 5,400 miles from rich Alaskan feeding grounds to Baja California lagoons every winter, where females give birth and breed. In spring, they migrate back to Alaska with their calves.

Perryman predicted the count would go back up next year because the Arctic ice is reported to be thinner and is receding earlier and faster.

[LonePalm]

It's Bush's fault for not signing on to Kyoto.

Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)

[dfwgator]

If only we had Global Warming those whales might be alive today.

[Red Badger]

Global Warming causes thicker ice! Don’t you know that?!?!?!?>..........

[PeteB570]

OH COME ON NOW!

This can’t be right. Thick ice in the arctic? The libs have been telling us all winter about the Polar Bears drowning because of lack of ice.

[LIConFem]

Surprised no one made a crack about a low Sperm whale count...

[ClearCase_guy]

Wayne Perryman, of the federal National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Marine Fisheries Service, said he had expected fewer calves this year because of thick ice in the Arctic seas

That didn't seem to make much of an impact in the media, as far as I can recall.

Perryman predicted the count would go back up next year because the Arctic ice is reported to be thinner and is receding earlier and faster.

But this will be a cover story on Time and Newsweek next year.

[CindyDawg]

Is it thick or thinning? I wish they would make up their mind.

[ColdWater]

Global warming is good for whales?

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Can’t be,....Global warming has caused the North Pole to melt....I saw that somewhere....

[ml/nj]

If only we had Global Warming those whales might be alive today.

We don't have "Global Warming" anymore. Now we have Climate Change. Didn't you hear the "debate" last night? I wish just one of these so-called Republicans would have pointed this out last night, but either they are really stupid (like Al Gore) or they are so afraid of being crucified by the media types that they would just rather respond with a peecidiom and move on.

ML/NJ

[Jersey Republican Biker Chick]

Wait....didn't the libs say the ice was melting from global warming and I had to save the polar bear?????

I AM SO CONFUSED!!!!!

[GreyFriar]

Perhaps more cows and calves went on side trips like the pair that visited whereever in California a couple of weeks ago. H’mmmm, and maybe some are on the old Chislom trail heading to the railhead in Kansas.