Gray Whales Count annual survey of northbound migration in Santa Barbara Channel, California 2011-2012

Gray Whales Count

We have defined Gray Whales Count as a research and education project, in which observers (Counters) on land monitor the passage of gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) migrating northbound through the nearshore of the Santa Barbara Channel, along a corridor extending approximately 3 nautical miles (nm) from shore. Each annual survey is approximately 100 consecutive days from early February though mid-May. (2011 was 105 days; 2012 was 98 days.) Conditions permitting, each survey-day begins at 9 AM and ends usually at 5 PM.

Our survey site is Counter Point on the
Coal Oil Point Reserve in Goleta, California, USA, with GPS coordinates, 34˚24.434'N, 119˚52.701'W. The coastline runs east-west, with northbound whales traveling west, left to right across our Point towards Point Conception. We are able to track across 200 degrees from 80˚ to 280˚ magnetic. Unfortunately, facing east, south, and west, observers also track the sun across the day.

The observation team consists of from one to five Counters, including the Project Coordinator, up to two Supervisors, and up to two Observers. Supervisor shifts are four hours; Observer shifts are two hours; and the Project Coordinator is usually on-site all day. The Project Coordinator and/or a Supervisor is always on Counter Point.

The goals of the research are to estimate the number of gray whales and gray-whale calves migrating northbound through our corridor and to share our data to complement similar sampling-studies along the California coast. Goals of education are to teach the process of scientific research to Counters and to give them the opportunity to conduct a meaningful study, to experience marine mammals in their environment, and to share this process and their enthusiasm with the public through outreach and various media, especially the internet.

Sighting locations were calculated using the bearing and distance from the survey site (34˚24.434'N, 119˚52.701'W). Points are the first location sighted, though tracking information was recorded. When calves were sighted, they were included in the total count.
In 2011, we made note of Off-Effort sightings of anything (marine mammals and vessels). In 2012 only Off-Effort sightings of northbound Gray whales were included in the raw data. We do not include Off-Effort data when creating an estimate of the Gray whales in migration. We do keep them in the record of sightings.
It is rare for us to be able to distinguish species for Common dolphins: Delphinus capensis (Long-beaked) or Delphinus delpus (Short-beaked). Occasionally they will come close enough and with the conditions good enough, and we may get an image that will determine species.
Northbound and southbound Gray whales are the same species, but migrating in different directions. Our targets are northbound Gray whales.
There are many California sea lions in our area, in the water close to shore, traveling offshore, resting on buoys, and occasionally on the sand, sick or injured. We do not usually enter sightings of California sea lions, except if they are sick or injured and onshore or they are in exceptionally large groups or involved in a vessel interaction.
This dataset was first published with 2011 data only and was updated with 2012 data later.

Overview

This section explains attributes included in the original dataset. OBIS-SEAMAP restricts the attributes available to the public to date/time, lat/lon and species names/counts only. Should you need other attributes described here, you are encouraged to contact the data provider.

Attributes described below represent those in the original dataset provided by the provider.
All attributes are included in the downloadable file (CSV or ESRI File Geodatabase) for "Complete Set of Dataset".

Attributes in dataset

Attribute (table column)	Description
oid	Unique ID (generated by OBIS-SEAMAP)
recid	Record ID
originid	Original record number
sightnum	S Sighting Number
code	Code
originyear	Year
originmonth	Month (number)
originday	Day
originhour	Hour
originmin	Minute
timegmt	Time GMT CALC
bearing	S Position Bearing True CALC
distance	S Position ReticleConv DistEst CALC meters
directtrav	S Position Direction of Travel CALC
sp_obs	Species Name
obs_count	Species Number of Animals at Sighting
calf	Species Calf Number text
gwcname	GWC name
gwcnum	GWC number
shiftlog	Shift log
sightcomm1	Sighting Comments
sightcomm2	Sighting Comments (continued if longer than 255 characters in Sightomm1)
originmonth2	Month (text)
surveyday	Date to Survey Day Number CALC
comweath	Comments Weather
sptotcalf	Species, total numbers, calf numbers
images	S Images CALC for Report
sightnumoff	S Sighting Number Off Effort Indicator
sightnumvoid	S Sighting Number Void
behavior	Species Behaviors1234 CALC text
obs_time	Time CALC
vid	V ID Name Numbers CALC for Report
vtype	V Type CALC for Report
wbeaufort	W Beaufort
wcloud	W Cloud Cover CALC
whorizon	W Horizon CALC
wqual	W Quality to text CALC
wvis	W Visibility
stationlat	Station latitude
stationlon	Station longitude
latitude	Latitude of sighting (calculated from bearing and distance)
longitude	Longitude of sighting (calculated from bearing and distance)
sp_tsn	Species ITIS TSN
obs_date	Observed date
dayofyear	Date to Day of Year CALC for Estimate