Porpoising Orcas In Pursuit of....
The Orcas were moving, and FAST!! Found out the Orcas were at East Point, just off Saturna Island late morning and heading to the south...cruising at 10 knots....by the time we departed at 1pm they were already just off Henry Island, which hugs the northwestern end of San Juan Island! They were making good time...so we left the dock going south. By the time we met up with the "leaders" they were already south of Lime Kiln Light on the west side of San Juan Island. Unbelievable!! These Orcas really had someplace to be!
We think we saw K-42 amongst a small group of Orcas, assuming that her mother was in there as well (K-14, Lea). Most of the whales we saw were porpoising, which is what we say when they are traveling forward so fast that they seem to leap out of the water as they come up for air! There's just a great movement of water as they move, and their body lunges of the water! Amazing!!
The pods were spread out, which is fairly common, (they don't need to be side by side to be moving together, just as long as they can all communicate with each other underwater they know where to go). Some great looks at a group just offshore which included a big male L-57 (Faith), and about 6 others. Our guests got some great pictures showing both the dorsal fin and saddle patch of a few individuals. This allowed us to compare their photos to the Center for Whale Research's "Orca Survey" photos of all our Southern Resident Orcas, to identify the whales. We found that L-57, Faith was traveling with J-28 (a female named Polaris) and L-7 (a female named Canuck). Both J-28 and L-7 have nicks in their fins, just in different places on the dorsal fin so they were both easily recognized. Looked like a "sprouter male" (a teenager, maturing with a growing dorsal fin) in the mix, but not sure of the others....
From what we heard from other boat captains it sounded like all 3 pods were out today, on the move, presumably following their favorite food....Salmon!! Another great day on the water watching the whales in their natural habitat! :)
-Jaclyn, naturalist
We think we saw K-42 amongst a small group of Orcas, assuming that her mother was in there as well (K-14, Lea). Most of the whales we saw were porpoising, which is what we say when they are traveling forward so fast that they seem to leap out of the water as they come up for air! There's just a great movement of water as they move, and their body lunges of the water! Amazing!!
The pods were spread out, which is fairly common, (they don't need to be side by side to be moving together, just as long as they can all communicate with each other underwater they know where to go). Some great looks at a group just offshore which included a big male L-57 (Faith), and about 6 others. Our guests got some great pictures showing both the dorsal fin and saddle patch of a few individuals. This allowed us to compare their photos to the Center for Whale Research's "Orca Survey" photos of all our Southern Resident Orcas, to identify the whales. We found that L-57, Faith was traveling with J-28 (a female named Polaris) and L-7 (a female named Canuck). Both J-28 and L-7 have nicks in their fins, just in different places on the dorsal fin so they were both easily recognized. Looked like a "sprouter male" (a teenager, maturing with a growing dorsal fin) in the mix, but not sure of the others....
From what we heard from other boat captains it sounded like all 3 pods were out today, on the move, presumably following their favorite food....Salmon!! Another great day on the water watching the whales in their natural habitat! :)
-Jaclyn, naturalist
Labels: Center for Whale Research, Orcas, Porpoising Orcas
posted by San Juan Safaris Whale Watching at
5:22 PM
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