Transient Encounter

Below: Transient Orca male named T-14. This photo was taken by Dave Ellifrit of the Center for Whale Research team on June 23, 2007. To view more information on the Center's encounter with this same whale please visit their site at http://www.whaleresearch.com/thecenter/Encounters_030_2007.html

Our day began yesterday with no sightings of orca in the area. As usual, we let our guests know right away, but informed them that whales are wild animals and can choose to appear on a whim. This information proved to be true as we observed Steller Sea Lions rafting in the water off Speiden Island. Captain Hobbes got word from our fellow Canadian vessels that a lone orca had been spotted off Mandarte Island in Canada. Our trip quickly turned international as we darted over to the island to get a closer look. We told our guests to keep their eyes of the horizon for any exciting wildlife, hoping the surprise of a whale would make their trips even better. As soon as the blows and dorsal were spotted, our guests erupted in excited chatter. Since there was just one orca in the area it was clear to our crew that we were viewing a Transient orca. Transients are different from our Residents in that they eat seals, sea lions, dolphins, porpoises, and even sharks. This difference in prey requires different hunting techniques. They tend to hunt in much smaller groups from 1 - 6 animals, make less chatter in the water, and exhibit more serious behaviors (less play). We also learned the individual we were observing was named T-14. ("T" designates him as a Transient and 14 is his individual ID number.) T-14 has an interesting story because he was captured in 1976 with the intention of being sold to a marine park. Luckily for him, the tides were changing in Washington and whale captures were frowned upon. He, and a female named T-13, were marked with radio transmitters and subsequently released. The full story and pictures of the capture can be viewed at the Center for Whale Research by clicking on the following link: http://www.whaleresearch.com/thecenter/Captures_050076_T13_T14_000.html.

It was clear that T-14 was on the prowl for seals and after multiple lunges through the water we saw the oil slick drift in the current across the water towards our boat. The oil we saw was not from a tanker, but it was a small scale "spill" nonetheless. When seals are killed, oil is released from their coats and into the water. Our guests were witnesses to a story straight out of a National Geographic Special as T-14 trashed about with his prey. We spent about 1/3 of our time with T-14 and then made the trip back to America to see more animals like Harbor Seals, Mouflon Sheep, Fallow Deer, and Bald Eagles. Once again, our trip was a unique learning experience for our guests. Although we didn't see the Residents, we did see a different type of orca showcasing his magnificent hunting abilities.