But instead of simply passing offshore, increasing numbers are now diverting into San Francisco Bay and lingering for days or even weeks inside the crowded estuary – a shift scientists increasingly link to climate change. Warming temperatures and shifts in sea ice in the Arctic are disrupting the food web gray whales rely on during summer feeding months, according to a 2023 study in Science, leaving many malnourished during migration.
Well, mebbe. Perhaps it is the omnicause. Another view is possible. Given that I’ve between little and no knowledge in this field this is, of course, just rampant speculation from an ignorant.
But what if it’s just that there are more whales?
The effort comes amid an alarming rise in gray whale deaths in the bay. Last year, 21 dead gray whales were found in the wider Bay Area – the highest number in 25 years, according to the Marine Mammal Center – with at least 40% killed by ship strikes. At least 10 more have died in the Bay Area so far this year.
Scientists say those figures probably underestimate the true toll as many whale carcasses sink or are swept back out to sea before they are ever found or reported.
There are indeed many more whales than there used to be. This is good – I do not think that wiping species out is a good idea. But there’s not much natural predation upon live and adult whales. It’s not like wildebeest, where there’s always a lion or five ready to take the one that first stumbles. The natural end of a species without such predation is to die of illness or starvation – as happens to lions in fact, to polar bears. So, if there are more whales around there are more to be hit by ships, more to shelter in SF bay and, yes, we’d expect the marginal member of the species to be malnourished.
Yes, agreed, not hitting them with ships is probably a good idea. But the why there are so many more is because there are so many more.
Thjere is the more general observation that cetacean starndings seem to be rising in number. But then there are more cetaceans – this is good – in general too.
And?
Rampant speculation my part too. But let’s take 21 in one year as the highest in 25 years as gospel. What was the next highest, 20? And the number definitely attributed to ship strikes is 8. I notice they went with a percentage on that one. How much of this is random noise in the data?
Scientists say those figures probably underestimate the true toll as many whale carcasses sink or are swept back out to sea before they are ever found or reported.
Sure. Or there’s more people looking now so more are getting reported.
“Or there’s more people looking now so more are getting reported.”
To be fair, you don’t need to look very hard to find a dead whale.
‘More of the bugger’ does sound the most likely explanation.
See also polar bears.
The bastards are everywhere. And they head towards human habitation, ‘cos that is where food is.
And they head towards human habitation, ‘cos that is
wherewho the food is.The BBC produced a very good documentary on how the Soviet whaling fleet was ordered to kill tens of thousands of whales simply to prevent the West from benefiting from whaling. They exterminated whole populations of the creatures: Greenpeace, Save the Whales and other assorted lefties and Environmentalists were all wrong – it was the commies all along:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001mwfg
However did that get made?
*Rising* temperatures, warming *seas*.
Can you put your hand on a temperature and feel that it is warm?
It’s the sea. Any plankton or fish or cetaceans who don’t like it hot can swim to somewhere else. And the ice isn’t changing, it melts in summer and freezes in winter. The aquatic fauna know what to do.
I’m constantly amazed at the effects of a 1.4 degree C rise in global average temperature and do. It can’t be more than that, ‘cos I’m still alive. How I survive at the seaside is just a mystery…
Deckchair. Knotted handkerchief. Trousers rolled up to the knees. Copy of the Sun. Works a treat.
You are Mr Gumby and I claim my £5. Are you also a Brain Surgin?
It’s autumn here and I’m only wearing five sweaters. But the only climate change I’ve noticed is that it’s getting colder!!
That temp change is since the industrial revolution. Unless you were alive then you can’t notice it. That’s part of the scam. They can claim what they like and you can’t observe the falsity of it.
The world’s wine regions aren’t moving. The most expensive wine comes from Vosne-Romanee and Margaux, just like it did 170 years ago. The best wine is produced where there is the best combination of warmth and rainwater. If the earth is warming, why hasn’t that moved?
If you strip out government stuff, and people just doing things to get some PR, what is the measurable impact of this warming? The price of goods, the shifts in industries? And not products for hippies and girlies virtue signalling, but for the people who just want a cheap holiday in the sun, a nice bottle of wine?
(and no, English wine is a folly)
Are people flocking back to Brighton because it’s so much warmer now? Are Iceland having to spend more on refrigeration because the air temperature is warmer? This should be happening, shouldn’t it? This should be measurable. Average price of a hotel room in Brighton rising due to increased demand. Total amount of energy used to keep a chicken in a freezer. Is there any evidence of this?
The Romans made wine in England.
It might have been like the wine making in my father’s village when he was growing up though. Everyone made wine because they couldn’t afford to buy it from elsewhere.
Now, the place grows apples and buys their wine, except for one fellow who sells in the local grocery; I think people buy it for nostalgia.
It seems only a month ago that vineyards in France were lighting candles to protect against late frost.
Indeed it was, makes pretty pictures for the MSM.
I wonder if they did that in the middle ages.
Middle ages? The Romans did it.
Of course, it doesn’t stop the BBC from citing “climate extremes”
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-europe-61025658
They came from Rome and probably missed home.
The problem is that growing grapes in England is marginal. All these stories about English wine’s success don’t tell the full story which is that a lot of harvests are a disaster. Which is why no-one is making much money. You still have to pay people to grow grapes even when you get a washout. It’s mostly a rich man’s hobby.
Our booze is mostly cider, beer because that’s what adds up here. Same as how it is in Northern Germany, Belgium and Normandy.
You can draw rough latitude lines for whites, reds and where it’s too wet/cold and too dry in both Europe and South America. The peak spots for reds in France, Italy, Austria, Hungary Romania are in the 44-47 degree range. Rioja’s an exception because of altitude.
But then there are more cetaceans – this is good – in general too.
Not if you’re sailing a boat of Tarifa, apparently.
(Prompted by reports of a mob of delinquent orca targeting small craft for fun. Whether they have tattoos & drink lager is uncertain)
Could we hire some for Border Force?
James Kirk and his crew will be picking up a couple any day now.
Could we start training this surfeit of whales to swamp little boats in the Channel?
Might be more effective than the RN
Nature does a lousy job managing herd sizes.
In Man’s mind. Nature doesn’t care about death, so cyclic die-offs don’t matter.
Did California change the rules to oblige ships’ captains to report collisions with whales?
“Ar-harrr. ‘E jumped up straight on to me harpoon, yer honour. I was takin’ a selfie at the time.”