This amazing drone footage captures the movement of gray whales along the coast in Newport Beach, California, on Thursday (September 1).

"So why do these whales make arguably one of the longest migrations of any mammal each winter? One explanation is that newborn calves lack the insulating blubber to keep their bodies warm in cold waters. The warm lagoons of Baja not only provide incubation for growing calves, but also provide refuge from potential predators. But why then does the entire population migrate, even non-breeding/non-calving whales? Perhaps, it's that it simply requires less energy for adult whales to slowly and purposefully swim to low latitudes and warm waters then remain active in colder water further north," said the filmer.

In late Autumn and Early winter, adult gray whales stop feeding in the high latitude Bering and Chukchi Seas and embark on a fasting migration south. Gray whales migrate to balance the need for both foraging and reproduction. They embark on a 5,000 mile journey toward the protected lagoons of Baja California where their calves will be born and grow. So why do these whales make arguably one of the longest migrations of any mammal each winter? One explanation is that newborn calves lack the insulating blubber to keep their bodies warm in cold waters. The warm lagoons of Baja not only provide incubation for growing calves, but also provide refuge from potential predators. But why then does the entire population migrate, even non-breeding/non-calving whales? Perhaps, it's that it simply requires less energy for adult whales to slowly and purposefully swim to low latitudes and warm waters then remain active in colder water further north. Along their journey they pass right by Newport Beach, CA. We will be seeing gray whales through May and hope you get a chance to come view them!