On the morning of December 24th, reports came in that orcas had been spotted in Upright Channel and that they were headed into Harney Channel between Shaw and Orcas Island. I quickly called Ken Balcomb at the Center for Whale Research to pass the report the on. Ken notified David Ellifrit (who is also a researcher at the center) and it wasn't long before Ken, Dave, and I were out on the water aboard Chimo to find and identify the orcas.
We motored down San Juan Channel, then through Wasp Pass. As we passed Bell Island, I gazed over towards Pole Pass and noticed a group of orcas surfacing, one of them being a male who was tail slapping. As we turned the boat and made our way over to them, we quickly realized that we were looking at J pod! Closest to us was a tightly packed all male group made up of Cookie J38 (born in 2003), Mako J39 (2003), Moby J44 (2009), Se-Yi'-Chn J45 (2009), and Onyx L87 (1992). Doublestuf J34 (1998) was also part of the group for a bit. The males were being quite tactile and playful, and even showed their sea snakes off a few times! The rest of J pod (minus the J16's) was traveling a little further ahead of the males and was also in an active/playful mood. I don't think I have ever seen so many spy hops during one encounter! Princess Angeline J17 spy hopped at least five times, but Granny J2, Samish J14, Shachi J19, Oreo J22, Polaris J28, Doublestuf J34, Hy'shqa J37, Se-Yi'-Chn J45, and Ti'lem I'nges J49 also spy hopped at different points. There were also tail slaps and cartwheels. Granny J2 even did one of her back flip type cartwheels!
We motored down San Juan Channel, then through Wasp Pass. As we passed Bell Island, I gazed over towards Pole Pass and noticed a group of orcas surfacing, one of them being a male who was tail slapping. As we turned the boat and made our way over to them, we quickly realized that we were looking at J pod! Closest to us was a tightly packed all male group made up of Cookie J38 (born in 2003), Mako J39 (2003), Moby J44 (2009), Se-Yi'-Chn J45 (2009), and Onyx L87 (1992). Doublestuf J34 (1998) was also part of the group for a bit. The males were being quite tactile and playful, and even showed their sea snakes off a few times! The rest of J pod (minus the J16's) was traveling a little further ahead of the males and was also in an active/playful mood. I don't think I have ever seen so many spy hops during one encounter! Princess Angeline J17 spy hopped at least five times, but Granny J2, Samish J14, Shachi J19, Oreo J22, Polaris J28, Doublestuf J34, Hy'shqa J37, Se-Yi'-Chn J45, and Ti'lem I'nges J49 also spy hopped at different points. There were also tail slaps and cartwheels. Granny J2 even did one of her back flip type cartwheels!
Shachi J19 spy hops. She was born in 1979. Photo taken under NMFS Permit #532-1822.
Polaris J28 spy hops. She was born in 1993. Photo taken under NMFS Permit #532-1822.
We traveled with J pod through Pole Pass, then on to North Pass, and through Spring Passage. The orcas were not in much of a hurry, and a few, including Tahlequah J35 and Notch J47, even took time to roll around in a kelp bed near Jones Island for a bit. Once J pod rounded Jones and entered San Juan Channel, they spread way out to forage. We were happy to see Doublestuf J34 chase after a salmon a few minutes later. Many of the orcas then began to head down the channel, while a few others aimed for Spieden Island. I wondered we were going to see J pod split into Group A and B, but after awhile the orcas that had swam down the channel turned around and began to head toward Spieden Island too.
At this point, I transferred to a friend's boat that was also on scene while Ken and Dave headed back to the dock on San Juan Island. My friends and I then headed motored over to identify orcas that were far away on the opposite side of San Juan Channel to see if it was the independent J16 matriline (the only orcas/matriline unaccounted for). The orcas turned out to be Granny J2 and sprouter male Cookie J38 traveling side by side. The two soon entered Spieden Channel and headed toward Battleship Island. They were followed by males Onyx L87 and Mako J39. Bringing up the rear was the rest of J pod traveling in two separate groups. One group traveled very close to the Spieden Island shoreline, while the other was further offshore. As they neared Sentinel Island, Blackberry J27 split off from the offshore group and headed towards Battleship Island.
At this point, I transferred to a friend's boat that was also on scene while Ken and Dave headed back to the dock on San Juan Island. My friends and I then headed motored over to identify orcas that were far away on the opposite side of San Juan Channel to see if it was the independent J16 matriline (the only orcas/matriline unaccounted for). The orcas turned out to be Granny J2 and sprouter male Cookie J38 traveling side by side. The two soon entered Spieden Channel and headed toward Battleship Island. They were followed by males Onyx L87 and Mako J39. Bringing up the rear was the rest of J pod traveling in two separate groups. One group traveled very close to the Spieden Island shoreline, while the other was further offshore. As they neared Sentinel Island, Blackberry J27 split off from the offshore group and headed towards Battleship Island.
Granny J2. She was born around 1911.
Blackberry J27 with Spieden Island behind him. He was born in 1991.
Once all of J pod entered Haro Strait, they spread way out to forage again and we witnessed both Tahlequah J35 and Doublestuf J34 chase after a salmon. We left the orcas as they slowly foraged their way up Haro Strait toward Canada. Since then, they have come back down and were in Puget Sound on 12/27/14 and 12/28/14.
What an amazing encounter with J pod! The water condition, sunny weather, and company (on both boats) couldn't have been better too! You can become a Center for Whale Research member here.
Please do not use these photos without permission. Just ask.
What an amazing encounter with J pod! The water condition, sunny weather, and company (on both boats) couldn't have been better too! You can become a Center for Whale Research member here.
Please do not use these photos without permission. Just ask.
