“Gray whale reproductive behavior includes courting activities, where both males and females arch out of the water, roll around the body axis, and swim in line, and mating behavior, where the male may swim in circles, swim on its side with one flipper held above the water, and engage in touching displays and other exaggerated positions. Females, sometimes with calves alongside, will be accompanied by a male intent on mating. A second bull often follows the two in readiness to mate if he has the chance. This is a dangerous situation for the female. There is much rolling about by the two competitors, and often the female will try to escape and protect her calf. She can lie belly up so that the males cannot reach her genitals, but finally one the males rotates his body under hers so that when she turns over to breathe, copulation can take place."

The Baja lagoon looks like the figure of a whale sticking into the land. The lagoon is where the gray whales mate and give birth. The newly-arriving calves are protected by their mothers here and nursed until they are ready for the arduous trip north.

Gestation, according to the ACS, is 12-13 months, and calves nurse for 7-8 months. When the calf is born, it is about 15’ long and weighs 1500 lbs. The mother whale’s milk is 53% fat or 10 times richer than cow’s milk. A strong mother-calf bond is maintained for the duration of the migration to the summer feeding grounds where the calves will be weaned from their mothers. Gray whales live an average of 50 years and some individuals live into their 70s.

---

Alan B. Nichols is a professional freelance writer based in Bethesda, Md. He can be reached at sftspike@aol.com 301-229-1977

---