Since 9/3/13, most, if not all of the members of the Southern Resident orca pods, J,K and L pod, have been around San Juan Island. To have the Southern Residents, especially a superpod gathering, here for more than one day is amazing for this season. This is what it used to be like when there was more Chinook salmon around for these orcas. Historically, they would all be in the area every day through out the summer as they dined on the once plentiful Chinook. When you saw one pod, for instance J pod, you would see all the matrilines that make up that pod traveling together. Now when we see J, K or L pod, it's usually just a one or two families hanging out together.
On this day, I got to see a blast from the past aboard the "Odyssey" of San Juan Excursions. All of L pod was together, every single matriline, every single member (36 individuals), moving as one, tightly together, in resting mode. I can't remember the last time I saw this happen because L pod has been so split up in recent years. It's not that they don't get along, they just have spread out and look for their dwindling prey.
All Orcas In L Pod
On this day, I got to see a blast from the past aboard the "Odyssey" of San Juan Excursions. All of L pod was together, every single matriline, every single member (36 individuals), moving as one, tightly together, in resting mode. I can't remember the last time I saw this happen because L pod has been so split up in recent years. It's not that they don't get along, they just have spread out and look for their dwindling prey.
All Orcas In L Pod
| Spirit L22, F, est.1971 Ocean Sun L25, F, est.1928 Ophelia L27, F, est.1965 Mega L41, M, 1977 Marina L47, F, 1974 Lulu L53, F, 1977 Ino L54, F, 1977 Nugget L55, F, 1977 Racer L72, F, 1986 Matia L77, F, 1987 Kasatka L82, F, 1990 Moonlight L83, F, 1990 Nyssa L84, M, 1990 Mystery L85, M, 1991 Surprise L86, F, 1991 *Onyx L87, M, 1992, travels with J pod. Wave Walker L88, M, 1993 Solstice L89, M, 1993 | Ballena L90, F, 1993 Muncher L91, F, 1995 Crewser L92, M, 1995 Calypso L94, F, 1995 Nigel L95, M, 1996 Indigo L100, M, 2001 Lapis L103, F, 2003 Fluke L105, M, 2004 Pooka L106, M, 2005 Coho L108, M, 2006 Takoda L109, M, 2007 Midnight L110, M, 2007 Cousteau L113, F, 2009 Mystic L115, M, 2010 Finn L116, M, 2010 Keta L117, Unknown, 2010 Jade L118, F, 2011 L119, F, 2012 |
Twelve of the thirty six L pod members, the rest of them are right beneath these twelve as they surface to breathe.
From left to right: Ophelia L27, Racer L72, Crewser L92, Ballena L90, Fluke L105 and Indigo L100.
From left to right: Lulu L53, Racer L72, Nugget L55, Crewser L92, Ballena L90, Fluke L105, Takoda L109, Moonlight L83, Midnight L110 and Wave Walker L88.
L119, L pod's youngest member, can be seen between her Mother Matia L77 and her uncle Mega L41.
During the night of 9/8/13, I believe most, if not all of L pod left for the open ocean but J and K pod were still around on 9/9/13, sticking very close to the Fraser River, as they have been for the last few days, which historically had a lot of Chinook salmon in it. I wonder if they will still be around tomorrow?
Please do not use my photos without permission. Just ask :)
Please do not use my photos without permission. Just ask :)
