Most mammals have strong protective feelings toward their own offspring. Whales are no exception, as can be seen in the above photograph. At this time of year, mother gray whales and their calves swim side by side. The calf is only a few weeks old. During the next couple months the calf will stay nearby its mother and learn what is necessary for survival. She provides rich milk that enables the calf to gain several pounds per hour. When it is bigger and stronger it will migrate with its mother along the coast of North America to the feeding grounds in the Arctic. There, in the shallow Bering and Chukchi Seas, it will learn to feed for itself, gleaning small crustaceans from the sediments. It will return to Magdalena Bay next winter and in a few years will become part of the breeding population and the reproductive cycle will continue.