Why Do Whales Travel So Far?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hey there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why do whales travel so far?

The Big Idea

Many whales make long trips each year, called migrations. They feed in cold, food-rich water, and then swim to warm water to have their babies. So cold water is like a pantry, and warm water is like a nursery!

Summer Feeding

Step one: summer feeding in the cold. Cold, nutrient-rich water grows lots of tiny krill and small fish. A baleen whale gulps down tons of food each day.

Fat Stores Build Up

Step two: fat stores build up. The whale stores energy as a thick layer of blubber. Then it swims toward warm water, sometimes eating very little on the way.

A Calf Is Born

Step three: a calf is born in warm water. A newborn has little blubber, so warm water helps it stay cozy. When the calf is strong enough, they head back to the cold feeding grounds together.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look at a whale's year! The feeding ground is out in the cold sea. The migration path is the long road between. And the warm nursery is near the shore, where calves are born.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! A gray whale can swim about 10,000 miles on its round trip. That is like crossing a continent, and back! Calves drink rich milk, and they grow fast. Ships and fishing nets can block whale routes, so give animals a wide lane. And watch from the shore or a permitted boat, and never herd a whale.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Find a map of a whale migration route. Trace the path from the pantry to the nursery. Add up how far it is. Why split the pantry and the nursery? And what does the calf still need to grow?

Outro

A long swim is a calendar with two addresses. Science is amazing! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!