Grey Whale Migratory Project (1)

My Life as a Grey Whale

Brad Freyberger

My Calf Days

I start off my life in Baja California, Sur, Mexico. In
a nearly enclosed body of water called a lagoon.
For the first 6-8 months I drink my mother’s milk
and I drink about 50 gallons per week.



We begin our Journey

Springtime is right around the corner, so it’s almost
time to start heading north to the Arctic sea for
summer time. We have to swim 5,000- 6,000 miles to
get there so I better rest up. My mother said I need to
be careful of the killer whales and humans because
they want to hurt us. Sometimes we also get in
collisions with vessels or get caught up in fishing gear.



Summer Vacation

I water is so warm up north, I was so surprised. I don’t
drink my mother’s milk anymore, and now I eat
Amphipods, which are very small crustaceans
resembling shrimp, and these little guys taste so good
they make up about 90% of my diet.



Our Journey Home

We begin our journey in the fall so we can get to the
lagoons of Mexico before the water gets to cold for me. I
heard the the water in the Arctic sea is unbearable in
winter so that’s why we swim south. Also my mother told
me that I’m going to have a brother soon and that is
another reason that we have to swim south.