The longest known migration of any mammal, in which Eastern Pacific gray whales travel roughly 16,000 to 20,000 kilometers round trip each year between summer feeding grounds in the Arctic's Bering and Chukchi Seas and winter breeding lagoons along the coast of Baja California, Mexico. Mothers and newly born calves make the return journey north together along the coast, close enough to shore that the migration is one of the most reliably observed whale movements from land anywhere in the world.
Facts
PeriodicityEastern North Pacific gray whales migrate northward along the U.S. West Coast from mid-February to May, then return south later in the year. 1 ScaleGray whales make one of the longest annual migrations of any mammal, traveling about 10,000 miles round trip and in some cases upwards of 14,000 miles. 1 First DescribedShore based observers have conducted systematic counts of the eastern North Pacific gray whale's southbound migration along the central California coast in most years since 1967. 1 Identification
Distinguishing AppearanceGray whales have a mottled gray body with small eyes located just above the corners of the mouth, and broad, paddle-shaped pectoral flippers pointed at the tips. 1 Sources
1. Gray whale, NOAA Fisheries
Migration timing paragraph
From mid-February to May, eastern North Pacific gray whales can be seen migrating northward along the U.S. West Coast
Migration distance paragraph
Gray whales make one of the longest annual migrations of any mammal, traveling about 10,000 miles round-trip and in some cases upwards of 14,000 miles.
Population monitoring paragraph
Shore-based observers have conducted systematic counts of eastern North Pacific gray whales migrating south along the central California coast in most years since 1967.
Physical description paragraph
Gray whales have a mottled gray body with small eyes located just above the corners of the mouth. Their pectoral flippers are broad, paddle-shaped, and pointed at the tips.
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