This is a serious, research project, conducted with scientific protocols. It is also an education project. We welcome your participation, even if you have no experience. You will learn quickly; and, in a very short time, you will be a capable observer, providing much needed assistance in the scientific process. Soon, too, you will able to share information and your enthusiasm with passersby who may be curious about what we are doing and why.

Gray Whales Count starts in mid-February and continues daily through May. Observer shifts are two hours. We encourage you to take a shift a week through the Count to enable you to keep up with the changing migration and environment around our site.

The first shift is at 9 AM  with following shifts at 11, 1 PM and 3. We conclude our survey at 5 PM each day.  Because of the equipment limitations and access restrictions, all shifts must be scheduled in advance through the Project Coordinator, Michael Smith.

Sometimes the weather shuts down the Count. Rain and fog are troublesome, but wind can be the most disruptive. You will be able to call ahead, if you are in doubt about the current conditions and your shift.

For your comfort and safety we require that you wear sunglasses, preferably polarized. (Magnetic clip-ons conflict with our binoculars.)

We strongly advise that you wear a hat and sunscreen. We also suggest layers for warmth. You will be positioned on a bluff with a breeze coming off the ocean (cold water).

We have five pairs of binoculars that have a reticle scale and a compass. We will, of course, show you how to use those, so we can work together to record datapoints and confirm identities.

A note of encouragement to those with experience observing marine mammals and entering data: We vitally need Supervisors. Please discuss the opportunity with Michael Smith, Project Coordinator. You will receive specific training on this research and the operation of the project site by experienced Supervisors. Do consider it. It is fun. If you want to try out the process first as an Observer, where you can get a feel for what is needed, please do that.

We are an informal, congenial group and, importantly, we are a team. We depend on each other. Communicating is the only way to keep our effort going.