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An Observation regarding Gray Whales and Killer Whales

1964; Kansas Academy of Science; Volume: 67; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.2307/3626888

1938-5420

Bryan R. Burrage,

Marine animal studies overview

On January 26, 1964, I was fortunate to witness an apparent natural drama involving the Gray Whales (Rhachianectes glaucus) currently migrating south past San Diego, California to their calving grounds in the lagoons of Baja California, Mexico. The day was sunny, warm and relatively clear, save for a distant haze. Six Grays, between 30 and 40 feet in size, were observed close inshore at La Jolla Cove. About a mile to the north and a quarter mile from the shore, five Killer Whales (Orcinus orca) swam south towards the Grays at a leisurely zig-zag pace. As they progressed, the leading Killer spouted, then the second, and so on down the line. These whales, with their tall dorsal fins showing clearly, appeared to be swimming in an off-set line rather than single file. The Gray Whales were no more than 100 yards from the beach. Some of them swam-singly-to the steep cliffs at the east end of the cove and raised their forequarters perpendicularly out of the water'spyhopping'. Shortly they returned to the rest of the group, rapidly moving around in tight circles at the cove's southern end and spouting frequently. Suddenly, five of the Grays started swimming southward at high speed, not more than 50 yards from shore. They did not spout for seven minutes. The sixth and smallest Gray stayed in the cove for five minutes after the others had left. It then swam slowly seaward to some distance (approx. 1000 yards) from shore, spouting frequently. After about three minutes, this Gray sounded, swam underwater obliquely towards the shore, and eight minutes later surfaced, swimming quickly in the direction of the other Gray Whales. In the meantime, the Killers were still slowly zig-zagging south towards the cove. The sixth Gray Whale joined the other five approximately halfway between Whale View Point and Windansea Beach, La Jolla, the re-united group then proceeding on south at a leisurely pace. Lifeguards-who had cleared the ocean of bathers-stated that the Killers had chanced upon the Grays off Del Mar (approx. 6 mi. N. La Jolla Cove) and had been 'shadowing' them as they proceeded south.