10/02/2026
BAJA GRAY WHALE CENSUS, LAGUNA SAN IGNACIO counts, comparisons across the years! Gray Whale Migration Update, by ACS/LA Gray Whale Census and Behavior Project Director/Coordinator Alisa Schulman-Janiger.
**Baja Lagoon gray whale counts are UP!**
6 Feb 2026 127 grays (including 2 calves)
4 Feb 2025: 17 grays (including 1 calf)
3 Feb 2024: 52 grays (including 4 calves)
*3 Feb 2023: 68 grays (including 23 calves)
*1 Feb 2022: 181 grays (including 7 calves)
*2 Feb 2021: 57 grays (including 9 calves)
*9 Feb 2020: 63 grays (including 12 calves)
*5 Feb 2019: 97 grays (including 27 calves).
5 Feb 2018: 149 grays (including 19 calves).
4 Feb 2017: 121 grays (including 27 calves).
2 Feb 2016: 224 grays (including 84 calves)
3 Feb 2015: 327 grays (including 126 calves)
3 Feb 2014: 312 grays (including 115 calves)
3 Feb 2013: 184 grays (including 76 calves)
4 Feb 2012: 125 grays (including 38 calves)
*2019-2023 Gray Whale Unusual Mortality Event (UME) seasons
NOTE #1: the UME really did not end; last year's documented gray whale strandings were very high; there was a late southbound migration, very low southbound gray whale counts and newborn calf counts
NOTE #2: Baja Lagoon gray whale counts are UP this season!
Ojo de Liebre, 4 Feb: 445 grays (including 72 calves); 35 calves last season!
Magdalena Bay complex, 31 Jan: 221 gray whales (no calves)
This season's southbound gray whale migration started very late for us, again. For this 42th season of our ACS/LA Gray Whale Census and Behavior Project (at the Point. Vicente Interpretive Center), our season's southbound "peak" daily count was 17 gray whales on 23 January; last season, our "peak" was 11 southbound gray whales.
We counted 1 southbound and 2 northbound gray whales today (9 February), which brings us up to 153 southbound (16 calves), and 15 northbound gray whales; last year, we were at 88 southbound (NO calves) and 10 northbound. This is our second lowest southbound count in 42 seasons; last season we set a new record low count - ending up with only 130 southbound grays.
NOTE: When the southbound gray whale migration runs late, more gray whales tend to utilize their preferred offshore migration route through the Channel Islands (beyond our field of view) - and our southbound counts tend to run lower. We are now in the migration crossover period: we are watching both late southbound and early northbound grays. This appears to be another (typical) gap season, rather than an overlap: counts in both directions are very low. Official migration turn-around date (when daily northbound exceeds southbound grays) usually occurs between 11-21 February here, although this occurred very late in 2001 (1 March), directly following our last Gray Whale Unusual Mortality Event (UME).
Summary: late southbound migration, low southbound gray whale counts, higher Baja lagoon counts (last season many gray whales s headed much further south to warmer waters during the cold water La Nina event off Baja CA), and more newborn calf counts. Note: we are also seeing some very skinny gray whales, including 2 today.
Baja LSI gray whale census counts: courtesy of PRIMMA/UABCS and colleagues, especially Sergio Martinez and Steven Swartz.
For LSI, Mag Bay Lagoon updates, please follow the GWRM page (Gray Whale Research in Mexico): website [https://www.graywhaleresearchmexico.org](https://www.graywhaleresearchmexico.org/)
Link to San Ignacio Lagoon Ecosystem Science Program (LSIESP), research page: [https://www.sanignaciograywhales.org/research/research-blog/](https://www.sanignaciograywhales.org/research/research-blog/)
Link to more information on the Gray Whale Unusual Mortality Events (UMEs): [https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/.../2019-2023-eastern...](https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/.../2019-2023-eastern...)
Photo: gray whale mom and calf in Laguna San Ignacio, 2014; by Gray Whale Census Director/Coordinator Alisa Schulman-Janiger
