A stellar day in the San Juan Islands

I was on the MV Sea Lion today with a private charter. We were waiting at the Kenmore Air docks as the two 'Otters" landed - smoother than silk. We headed off to the north and cruised by Flat Head Island. There was a group of 10 or so harbor porpoise that looked as though they were feeding. We continued up on the east side of John's Island.

Pigeon Guillemots. I do just adore them. Is it the red feet? Yes. Red interior of their mouths? Yes. Or that they are compact, agile and just too cute? Yes. We saw several just hanging by themselves and a few in groups of 2 to 4. I had a fellow birder on board we adored them too.

At the northern end of Speiden we watched 2 young Stellar Sea Lion males swimming about and diving. We bobbed about in the current just enjoying the water and their antics. The water was perfect today, sun shining and almost no wind.


Bald Eagles were abundant today! It seemed that every large rock and small island had an Eagle. Speiden Island had 4 Eagles soaring in the updraft and what we thought was a Kestral was sitting high in a tree watching.

On our way back in we saw 2 - 3 more harbor porpoise. I dont ever remember seeing them in past years in this location. Harbor porpoise tend to be shy and dont usually ride a boat's bow. They did remain fairly close to us and seemed very busy fishing/feeding.

We came back to the dock with the Kenmore Seaplanes awaiting our guests.

Perfect.
Over and out for now, Colleen Johansen, Naturalist

Orca Whales and Wildlife Are Our Only Business. ©

Sea Lion Day on the Kittiwake

Today on the Kittiwake, Captain Pete found lots of wildlife to view. The conditions were amazing, smooth seas and a clear sky. We saw many bald eagles, (even a juvenile), stellar sea lions, harbor seals, harbor porpioses and many birds. We also cruised by Spieden and were able to view some deer and sheep. We had a great trip!!!
Orca Whales and Wildlife Are Our Only Business. ©

A Beautiful Wildlife-filled Spring Day!

Although there is still an early spring nip to the weather, it was a glorious day out on the water. After hearing word of a few Minke whales off of Cattle Point, towards Hein Bank, we headed south to catch some glipses of one of the true whales that inhabit the waters of the San Juan Islands (Orcas aren't actually whales, they are the largest dolphin!). Minke whales are the smallest of the baleen whale, around thirty feet long. They feed upon krill and small fish. We had some great glipses of at least three Minkes! Also we spotted a great example of a bait ball, we saw a huge flock of birds (Gulls, Rhinoceros Auklets, Pelagic Cormorants) feeding upon a school of small fish. Diving birds, like Rhinoceros Auklets, will dive below the surface and drive small schooling fish to the surface, which is like backing a person against a wall (the fish have no where to go). After the bait ball is formed birds will eat at the ball from all angles. This is actually a good situation in which to see a Minke whale.

After spending some times with the Minkes, we headed to Kelp Reef and saw three Stellar Sea Lions, one which was resting upon a marker waiting for the tide to come back up, so it could return to the water. We also had a brief encounter with some bow-riding Dall's Porpoises and saw a few elusive Harbor Porpoises. To end our day on crystal clear waters, we rode past Speiden and checked out the exotic Speiden creatures.

It was a gorgeous crystal blue day out viewing wildlife around the San Juan Islands!

Ashley, Naturalist

2 Dead Gray Whales Near San Juan Islands

Sunday a gray whale was found floating near Camano Island, south east of San Juan Island.
Yesterday, Monday, a gray whale washed up near Blaine, about one hour north of San Juan Island.

It is not that unusual to have gray whales die in the general are at this time of year. On average six gray whales die at this time of year in this area. The gray whales are migrating from far south, Baja, to far norh, Alaska.

Orca Whales and Wildlife Are Our Only Business. ©

San Juan Islands Experiencing Beautiful Summer Weather

Blue skies and puffy white clouds today. In the hi 50's
There are gray whales out today way way over in Canada.
On a separate subject, orca whales were seen yesterday in Oregon, Depoe Bay. Apparently they are after the Gray Whale babies that are coming up from Mexico to Alaska.
Today started daily 1:00 departures until October 3.
Join us!
Orca Whales and Wildlife Are Our Only Business. ©

Real People - Real Fun - Real Corny in Friday Harbor

Orca Whales and Wildlife Are Our Only Business. ©

Transient Orca Whales Make A Killing

Yesterday the transient orca whales were in the vicinity. I heard from a naturalist that they were killing and eating a seal.
It is FINALLY, maybe, going to be spring. High 60's yesterday. Warm, but foggy today.
Should be nice Friday and Saturday.
Orca Whales and Wildlife Are Our Only Business. ©

Dalls Porpoise & Bald Eagles Today Near San Juan Island

Today both vessels went out and all guests saw numerous Dall's Porpoise (the 8', black and white ones that seem to love boats and particularly boat wake). Near Cactus Island they counted 14 (fourteen) Bald Eagle varying from 1 year old to full mature Bald Eagles.
The weather was in the high 50's. No wind. Blue skies and calm seas.
Smiles were what the guests were wearing today.

Orca Whales and Wildlife Are Our Only Business. ©

Dalls Porpoise & Bald Eagles Today Near San Juan Island

Both of our vessels were out today and saw numberous Dall Porpoise (the cute 8' black and white ones that seem to love boats and riding boat wake). Near Cactus island they counted 14 (fourteen) bald eagles! Varying from 1 year olds up to mature. It was a perfect day on the water, in the high 50's, very little wind, bright sun and smooth water.

Orca Whales and Wildlife Are Our Only Business. ©

Popey-the friendly harbor seal in Friday Harbor

This is Popeye. She is famous here on the island. Friendly. Impatient in the mornings around 8 - 8:30 while she awaits her friend by the fueling dock. She looked so pretty this morning as I was coming into the office. I snapped a few photos of her as she looked on longingly, slapped the water impatiently and hung out.
Below, you can see a stone statue of her made by an island artist. This statue is just steps from our office.

Orca Whales and Wildlife Are Our Only Business. ©

Birds on San Juan Island . . .

Look for San Juan Safaris on Twitter too.

AND
Wednesday, April15 Puget Sound ACS Presentation, Seattle, WA
Dave Rugh: How many gray whales are there and where are they?
Gray whales of the Eastern North Pacific population have a phenomenally long and predictable migration between the Arctic and Mexico. Surveys along this migratory route show that these whales generally follow the coast, passing close to shore at some key locations. The site used most routinely for calculating abundance is at the Granite Canyon research station near Carmel, California. Shore-based counts of whales migrating south past Granite Canyon have provided good estimates of population size. Results from studies conducted across four decades show that gray whale abundance has had a fairly steady increase but with a notable decline after 1998 followed by an apparent stabilization. As the population increases, it is approaching the carrying capacity of the environment - a highly variable feature that can hold back productivity or give latitude for more growth.

Dave Rugh is a Wildlife Biologist at NOAA Fisheries Service's National Marine Mammal Lab (http://www.afsc.noaa.gov/nmml/cetacean/), studying Alaska's gray whales, belugas, and bowheads, primarily for distribution and abundance. This has meant oversight of NOAA's shore-based census of gray whales during their southbound migration past Granite Canyon in central California since the mid- 1980s.

ALSO
Killer Whales
of the Salish Sea
A Special Conservancy Fundraising Presentation
by Howard Garrett and Susan Berta, Co- Founders of Orca Network

Thursday, April 23, 2009
Artspring Theatre, Salt Spring Island, B.C. Canada 7:00 pm.
Tickets ($12 adults; $6 children) available at Artspring

The Southern Resident community of killer whales (or 'orcas') is certainly the most important wildlife feature of the ocean waters around Salt Spring Island. This special multimedia presentation will provide an entertaining, in-depth look at the lives of these killer whales as it has been revealed by scientific studies over the last few decades.

Orca Whales and Wildlife Are Our Only Business. ©

Two Transient Orca Whales Today

No Rain. Blue Sky. With a nip in the air. Off we went with guests from Denmark, Australia, Chicago and Seattle into Canadian waters near Cordova Bay. When we came on scene there were two transient orca whales. We thought it looked as if they had just killed a harbor seal and were eating what was left of it. That was at about 1400. They stayed in that area for at least half an hour, the time we were there. Usually transients are busy traveling. Near our boat, a small (probably immature) harbor seal popped up-an appetizer to a transient killer whale. We also saw numerous, the usual non indigenous, sheep and deer that inhabit Speiden Island and there was an immature bald eagle perched right on the ledge close to the water. We had some great looks at it. Two Stellar Sea Lion were seen on our trip today also, both were solo.

Orca Whales and Wildlife Are Our Only Business. ©

Mother's Day Whale Watching Special

Orca Whales and Wildlife Are Our Only Business. ©

Welcome The Whales Day Festival April 18, 2009

Join Orca Network, the City of Langley, and Gary the Gray Whale for the 6th annual
Welcome the Whales Day Festival & Parade
Saturday, April 18, 10 am - 5 pm
Langley, Whidbey Island, WA.

Orca Whales and Wildlife Are Our Only Business. ©

Transient Orcas are around near Canada

The Transient (meat eating) Orca Whales were seen again yesterday off Canada.
Gray whales continue to be sighted off Cameno Island.
Orca Whales and Wildlife Are Our Only Business. ©

Sonar and Orca Whales (the Navy ... more)

By the way, OrcaNetwork repported: all the Transients that were ID'd in the Strait of Juan de Fuca the day of the sonar exercises were back again today off Dungeness Lighthouse


From Fox News: April 10, 2009

A group of Port Townsend residents gathered to talk about Naval activities in the area around the Haro Strait and the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
Hydrophones in the water recently picked up human voices and sonar from the USS San Francisco.
The Navy confirmed the submarine was doing some training and communicating with a nearby boat.
Local Orca advocates say several whales had been seen in the area earlier that day.

They say sonar can confuse and upset whales causing erratic behavior and other problems for sea-life.
The Navy says they do try to protect killer whales and take precautions not to upset the animals.
The Navy would like to expand their training along the coasts of Washington, Oregon and Northern California.
Advocates against it worry it could cause further damage to animals in the area.
They suggest the Navy limit their use of sonar, move operations out into deeper waters or spend more time making sure whales are not in the area.
The National Marine Fisheries will accept public comment on the Navy's request until April 13th.

Orca Whales and Wildlife Are Our Only Business. ©

Sonar and Orca Whales (the Navy. . . again)

I seems that around 7 PM on Tuesday electronic-type noises were being heard from the bank of hydrophones off of Lime Kiln on the west side of San Juan Island. These pinging sounds were recorded until about 4:30 AM Wednesday.

IF you have not already made a comment to the upcoming April 13, 2009 Navy NW Training Range . . . do it right now, here http://www.nwtrangecomplexeis.com/NtrcCommentForm.aspx
It does not have to be a scientific comment. Just by giving voice in numbers will make a difference.

Beam Reach has a recording of the sonar that you can listen to by clicking here:
http://www.beamreach.org/blog/2009/04/07/sonar-in-haro-strait



Orca Whales and Wildlife Are Our Only Business. ©

Help Retail Small Businesses in Friday Harbor and Other small towns

This is the 3/50 rules of keeping businesses alive
More can be found at: http://www.the350project.net/home.html
Help your community just by picking 3 stores that you do not want to go out of business.

Pick three locally owned stores you’d miss if they disappeared, then return to them. Say hello. Pick up a little something that will make someone smile. Those purchases are what keeps those businesses around.

If just half the employed US population committed to spending $50 in locally owned stores each month, it would generate more than $42.6 billion in revenue. Imagine what would happen if 3/4 of them did that.

When you go whale watching in Friday Harbor San Juan Island,
you help to ensure that we, the small business owners, will be here next year.

Orca Whales and Wildlife Are Our Only Business. ©

Whale Watching on April 11, 2009

Transient orca whales have been seen yesterday, the day before yesterday and most likely will be seen again today. Someone snapped a photo of them chasing and eating a dolphin.

In addition to our whale watching tour April 11, 2009 at 1:00, Friday Harbor has lots of fun planned too.
Like:Gourmet bake sale here at the Theatre—and this year, it gets some new ingredients: The Baker Boys and a Peep Hunt for the little ones. 10 AM to 1:00 PM. The 9:30 AM ferry arrive at 10:40 so head right up Spring Street, turn right on 1st st and about 2 blocks you'll be at the theatre.



Orca Whales and Wildlife Are Our Only Business. ©

Transient Orcas are around

Some of the "T's" transient orca whales are around out towards Victoria.
It is absolutely gorgeous today, just as it was Saturday and Sunday.

Orca Whales and Wildlife Are Our Only Business. ©

Our first day of the season and what a great day. Calm seas, beautiful sunshine and lots of wildlife. We saw adult and sub-adult bald eagles at various locations, harbor porpoises, lots of moufflon sheep and new lambs on Speiden Island, harbor seals hauled out on many rocks and reefs and a great run with playful Dall's porpoise off Turn Point. And then the highlight of the trip was a half dozen Stellar sea lions in Speiden Channel. One surfaced only feet from Sea Lion and then flipped over for a deep dive. We had great view of the others as well and are always impressed by those big heads and teeth.
Nancy


Orca Whales and Wildlife Are Our Only Business. ©

Hummer comes to Friday Harbor

They are late, but at least they arrive.
The hummingbirds.
Bill saw our first one at the feeder this morning.
Usually the hummingbirds arrive mid March.
Our three big current bushes are just about to break out in blossoms. The hummers love those bushes. (We know it and that is why we planted them)
Currents are the first flowers around our place to bloom, so they are very important in the world of hummingbirds. And they are so beautiful too!

Orca Whales and Wildlife Are Our Only Business. ©

Orca Whale Found Dead

T 44, a 31 year old transient male orca was found dead near Port Hardy, N Vancouver Island, Canada. He was last seen and photographed alive March 8, 2009.
So rarely are orca bodies found once they have died, that this is an exceptional opportunity to do a necropsy and find out what caused the death of this whale.


Orca Whales and Wildlife Are Our Only Business. ©