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J Pod Group A Encounter On 5/19/13

5/20/2013

1 Comment

 
After two encounters with J pod on 5/18/13, the orcas were found the next morning at Henry Island again and continued South down the West side of San Juan Island until they reached False Bay. Once the "Odyssey" (the San Juan Excursions boat I work on) met up with them, we spent the entire encounter with members of Group A of J pod.

Group A contains:
  • Granny J2,  F (est. 1911)
  • Spieden J8, F (est.1933)
  • Samish J14, F (est.1974)
  • Hy'Shqa J37, F (2001)
  • Suttles J40, F (2004)
  • Se-Yi-Chn J45, M (2009)
  • J49, M (2012)
  • Shachi J19, F (1979)
  • Eclipse J41, F (2005)
  • Onyx L87, M (1992)
  • Slick J16, F (est.1972)
  • Mike J26, M (1991)
  • Alki J36, F (1999)
  • Echo J42, F (2007)

These orcas are known to switch between Group A and B.
The orcas were very spread out so the only members we saw were Slick, Mike, Echo, Granny, Spieden, and Eclipse.
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Mike J26.
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Mike J26.
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Granny J2, estimated to have been born in 1911.
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Mike J26 does an inverted tail slap.
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Mike J26 does an inverted tail slap.
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Eclipse J41 surfaces unexpectedly near the boat. We had not seen her at all during the encounter until she popped up next to us.
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Slick J16 shows her unique dorsal fin shape and saddle patch.
There are days when the orcas are active, with breaches, spy hops and other above water behaviors. Other times they are focused on, resting, traveling or looking for salmon to eat. Sometimes they are very spread out over miles of ocean, and sometimes they are all just feet from each other. During this encounter they seemed to be in travel mode and were very spread out.

We had met up with them as they were heading south but right before we left, Mike, Granny and Spieden tail slapped a few times and Slick breached. Once this happened everyone turned around to head back North, even the J pod members farther up the coast of the island. But how did the orcas farthest North know to turn around? I saw that when the Group A members we were with tail slapped and breached, other orcas began to do it as well, first closer orcas, then big splashes from breaches far away could be seen as these behaviors were passed up the island like that telephone game but between the orcas. Were the breaches and tail slaps used as signals to turn around? It's definitely possible and they could have also used vocalizations paired with breaches and tail slaps to tell the other members of J pod it was time to do a U turn.

J pod was last seen heading South again past Lime Kiln State Park on San Juan Island around 4:00 that evening and had disappeared on 5/20/13.

Please don't use my photos without permission. Just ask :)
1 Comment
De Um Clic E Visite Tambem O Blog link
6/20/2023 06:25:34 pm

Hello nicce post

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    Author

    Melisa Pinnow grew up on San Juan Island in Washington State. She attended The Evergreen State College from 2013 to 2017, receiving a Bachelor of Science in marine biology and ornithology. She has been a certified marine naturalist at San Juan Excursions since 2010. It is her hope that sharing her orca encounters will inspire others to love and protect these magnificent creatures for generations to come.

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