2009 Life at Campo Cortez
By Caroline Armon
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March 18, 2009
Hola from Laguna San Ignacio! The big news today; since last season, Apolo, our resident Pug dog here at Campo Cortez, has acquired a ‘wife’ – another Pug, Bebe who is in labor as I write this! She has successfully delivered one pup so far, we think there might be two more coming!! It is also one of our guests, Harald’s 79th birthday, so lots to celebrate! We really enjoy the birthdays, anniversaries, and we even had an impromptu ‘wedding’ take place this season, Maldo performed the ‘ceremony’, he’s a captain so it’ll stick- right? Then we get Maldo’s famous cakes! For many guests, coming here and seeing the whales is a realization of a life long dream, or a dying wish… They remind me how special this place is, the cycle of life.
The weather has resumed its normal pattern of north-northwest winds off the mountains at night and morning, until the sun heats up the land and a period of no wind, then the ocean winds from the west-southwest. So we still go through our layers of clothes throughout the day and evening. We had thick fog and dew this morning, I suspect it may be hot this afternoon.
The last whale count, taken March 12, 2009, showed 40 pairs of mothers with calves, and 46 single whales, 126 total still in the lagoon. Again, the census was taken on a minus low tide, where many whales were outside the mouth of the lagoon in the outer bay, so not included in the total. Most were moms and babies, there are less solo whales each day, as they leave and head north.
I appreciate the scientists’ patience, observations, and years collecting data to see patterns emerge. I’m not sure if I am noticing new things or wasn’t paying attention in previous years! Watching the grays spy hop, the way they lean their heads backwards as they go back down in the water, I have noticed for many years they spy hop more frequently when the tidal currents are running at full force. It recently occurred to me that they are leaning against the currents. Does that help them keep their massive bodies vertical?
I am including photos of a female, mom with calf, which has survived a killer whale attack. You can see the tooth or rake marks on her dorsal ridge. She also bears scars on the dorsal knuckles. She’s a fighter for sure! I have really noticed this season it is not uncommon to see these scars on the adult grays, especially the edges of the pectoral fins and tail flukes. I have said in the past, that my opinion was, attacking other whales is an energy expenditure on the part of the killer whales, it may not be their first choice if other prey, i.e.; seals, are available, and we might see more documentation of the attacks as much of the grays migration route is past very visible and populated areas. (You know I speak up in defense of the transient killer whales! This season I have some decent photos I took from the Salish Sea- San Juan Islands to share with guests, along with vocalizations of both resident fish eating and transient mammal eating ecotypes of killer whales, thanks to Ken Balcomb and The Center For Whale Research.) As well as the life in this ecosystem, there is that predator – prey relationship between the grays and orcas. Now my questions: are there more attempted, but unsuccessful attacks by orcas on the grays? Or more attacks because/ when other prey is unavailable?
The new game this season is splash the tourists back! The whales, especially the calves seem to enjoy having us splash water on them. Well, one frisky boy flicked his tail fluke and splashed me back! I am convinced these whales have a sense of humor! They are flicking water at us regularly, albeit gently, they are much better at it than us! Some of our guests are getting soaked, with good humor too!
On another trip, a guest was leaning over the bow when a big mama whale surfaced, exhaled, and blew Mike’s baseball cap right off his head!! Sometimes we can get a pretty good soaking by those powerful blows!
We are starting to see the moms teach the calves how to feed off the bottom. They prefer a sandbar by the mouth of the lagoon, 6 to 12 feet of water, where we see them turn sideways with a pectoral fin or tail fluke above water, as they vacuum up a mouthful. Then we see the sediment-mud circle in the water as they surface and push their tongues against the baleen. Just a little snack, I think, as birds aren’t following them for critters that are stirred up and exposed. I see surf scoters here; in the Salish Sea they will feed off of what the grays turn up, but not here- which tells me there’s not much prey in the bottom sediment. I think of the feeding Gray Whales as the gardeners of the ocean. I have not seen any more ‘skinny whales’, although some of the moms are looking lean, which is normal at this time, for the blubber they are turning into milk for the calves. Learning how and where to feed is an important skill, and grays are opportunistic feeders- strong and resilient like their name – robustus!
I hope all is well with you! Carolina
P.S. Bebe had 5, Yes 5! Little Pug pups, all natural with the help of the vet in Santa Rosalia. Mom and pups (3 males, 2 females) are healthy!! We are now calling Apolo, Muy Macho Apolo!!
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