J Pod Encounter On 3/20/16

Very early on the drizzly morning on 3/20/16, orcas were heard breathing in President Channel, which runs between Waldron and Orcas Island. Luckily, I was back home on San Juan Island for spring break and a few hours later, some friends and I headed out on the water to see if we could find them. We left Snug Harbor and aimed for the Henry Island bluffs. Our plan was to search the area where the orcas had been heard and then head further north. Immediately after leaving the harbor, I spotted two orcas ahead of us! After some milling, long dives, and low surfacings, I recognized them as Samish J14 and her son Se-Yi’-Chn J45! They were foraging along the bluffs for salmon, most likely Chinook/King salmon. Unlike Transient orcas who eat marine mammals like seals, sea lions, whales, dolphins, and porpoises, the Southern Resident orcas (J, K, and L pod) are salmon specialists. Samish J14 and her son moved on and slowly traveled south down Haro Strait.

Offshore of us, we noticed a few more blows near the Kelp Reefs marker so we motored over and spotted Shachi J19, her daughter Eclipse J41, and grandson Nova J51. The three of them were rolling around together and also slowly traveling south. We could also see males Mike J26, Onyx L87, and Mako J39 spread out and southbound offshore of us. When headed over to Mike J26, he was traveling with Granny J2. An interesting pair! Granny’s usual travel companion, Onyx L87, was nearby.

We soon spotted Shachi J19, Eclipse J41, and Nova J51 again but Alki J36 and her son Sonic J52 had joined them. We found Mako J39 again and then headed down Haro Strait a bit and saw Granny J2, Mike J26, and Onyx L87 change direction and turn toward Discovery Island. Onyx L87 then switched places with Mike J26 and joined Granny J2. Off in the distance, we spotted more fins and they turned out to be Slick J16 and her two daughters Echo J42 and Scarlet L50. The three of them were in pursuit of a salmon and once they were finished, they also pointed towards Discovery Island.

Granny J2, estimated to have been born around 1911.

We then headed back up Haro Strait and found Alki J36, Suttles J40, and Sonic J52 milling around. Doublestuf J34 then popped up nearby, pectoral fin slapped, and aimed for a resting line that contained the J17s (Princess Angeline J17, Polaris J28, Tahlequah J35, Moby J44, Star J46, Notch J47, J53, and J54), Blackberry J27, and Tsuchi J31. Doublestuf J34 joined his mother, Oreo J22, near the resting line. Cookie J38 and Se-Yi’-Chn J45 were also near the resting line. The two young males were wrestling around and showing off their sea snakes.

Doublestuf J34 pectoral fin slaps.

Princess Angeline J17 and her newest calf J53.

Then a group made up of Slick J16, Shachi J19, Mike J26, Alki J36, Hy’shqa J37, Mako J39, Suttles J40, Echo J42, Eclipse J41, Ti’lem I’nges J49, Scarlet J50, Nova J51, and Sonic J52 appeared and joined the resting line group. Nearly all of J pod was now all together in a big group, with lots of milling and social behavior. Mako J39 joined Cookie J38 and Se-Yi’-Chn J45 in wrestling and there were tail slaps all around. J54 even practiced a few tail slaps. Granny J2 and Onyx L87 were the only ones that did not join in the party. The two were way ahead of the others, with Granny J2 seemingly insisting with tail slaps that everybody else should hurry up and continue heading to Discovery Island. After a while, the big group started heading slowly towards Discovery Island.

Nova J51 incoming.

Mako J39 and Se-Yi'-Chn J45 messing around.

Js passing Discovery Island.

Once J pod passed Seabird Point, we turned around and headed back to the dock. Soon after, J pod also turned around and swam right back up Haro Strait! The next day, they were up in the Gulf Islands and continued north through Dodd Narrows. Where would they pop up next? To see two other orca encounters I had over spring break, click here.

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