Family Ties

Below: Photo taken from our boat by guest and marine biologist, Adam U, of an orca family group on June 3, 2008.

Today was a perfect opportunity to learn about orcas and their family structure because we had the privilege of seeing two matriline groups of J Pod hanging out together. We saw the J11s and the J14s frolicking through the currents together just north of Lime Kiln Lighthouse and we parallelled them until Kellet Bluff. The rumor was that Ls were also in the area, but we only encountered J Pod animals north of the light. The J11s, which include: J11 (Blossom) and her offspring J27 (Blackberry), J31 (Tsuchi), and J39 (Mako); were the first group sighted. J31 was MIA in the beginning of the encounter and grouped up with her mom and siblings as they approached the bluff. J39 appeared in high spirits, as usual, as he breached multiple times and played games with big brother Blackberry. Blackberry was seen swimming on his back and slapping his tail and pectoral fins while Mako popped up around him. Tsuchi joined in on the play when she appeared and also gave us a nice breach. The J14s were also there, with the exception of J14's middle calf, seven year old Hy'shqa (J37). J14 (Samish) and her son J30 (Blackberry) and daughter Suttles (J40) met up with the J11s just south of Mosquito Pass and they swam together briefly before breaking off at the bluff.

Our guests were thrilled to see the orcas in their natural environment and swimming as tight family units. They showed us today just how tight those bonds actually are with J27, who's seventeen (a breeding age bull), still staying close my mom and siblings.

We also had an amazing encounter with J1, who surprised us as we came on scene. (Hard to believe seeing as how he's so huge.) As we approached he was seen in the distance with other boats. Just as we began to throttle back, he popped up on our port side. We quickly shut off the engine and allowed him safe foraging around our boat. Our guests were in awe by his size, grace, and beauty as he sliced effortlessly through the water after salmon. He looked nice and round, healthy and beautiful as ever.

We began and ended our orca encounter with J1. We left them moving north towards Stuart and hope to meet up with them again on our sunset trip tonight. The orcas are so magnificent and it's a gift each time we see them and are able to share them with the public in hopes of fostering a sense of concern and conservation.

Megan, Naturalist

Do You Want to See it All?

Below: J-1 on May 9, 2008 taken by Ken Balcomb of the Center for Whale Research

Today was a spectacular trip! The weather was phenomenal, perfect for being on the water and the rumor of the whales was true!!! We took off straight out of Friday Harbor to bring our guests to East Point on Saturna Island in Canada, where J-Pod was reported to be. On the way we learned about the orcas, specifically J-Pod and their fellow Resident families. We also learned that East Point, where we were headed, was the scene of the first orca capture. Moby Doll was harpooned off East Point while swimming with her family so an artist in Canada could make a life size model of an orca for the Vancouver Aquarium as realistic as possible. We've come a long way since those days and continue to learn more about the orca and their lives. Our guests got a great look into this lifestyle as we watched them foraging and playing a few miles off Saturna heading eastward towards Point Roberts. We got great looks at J-1 and J-26 as well as a group of unidentified J-Pod females. They seemed to be in high spirits and breached and spy hopped multiple times. Our guests even were able to catch some pictures of those breaches, spy hops, and tail slaps.

But wait, there's more! We even got looks at a dozen Steller Sea Lions hauled out on Boiling Reef as well as Harbor Seals hauled out nearby. We even had time to head over to Speiden and see the Mouflon Sheep and Fallow Deer as well as a Bald Eagle sitting on its nest. The trip was fabulous and our guests and crew had a really great time. See you all tomorrow!!!

Megan, Naturalist