Active J Pod Group B Members On 7/10/13

Members from all three Southern Resident orca pods were still hanging around near San Juan Island on 7/10/13 after arriving 7/8/13. Aboard the "Odyssey", of San Juan Excursions, we caught up with Group B of J pod plus Slick J16 and her family.

A few years ago J pod began to split into two groups, Group A and Group B.

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)
  

Onyx was born into L pod but travels with Granny and Spieden after loosing his mother, Olympia L32. To learn more about Onyx's journey to find a mother figure, read Olympia's biography here.

Group B contains:

• Oreo J22, F (1985)
  
• Doublestuf J34, M (1998)
  
• Cookie J38, M (2003)
  
• Rhapsody J32, F (1996)
  
• Princess Angeline J17, F (1977)
  
• Polaris J28, F (1993)
  
• Tahlequah J35, F (1998)
  
• Moby J44, M (2009)
  
• Star J46, F (2009)
  
• Notch J47, M (2010)
  
• Blackberry J27, M (1991)
  
• Tsuchi J31, F (1995)
  
• Mako J39, M (2003)

• 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.

We watched as members of Group B looked to be socialized with each other, as well as being just generally active. In the distance Granny J2 was leading Group A and some K pod members North.

Blackberry J27.

While someone does an inverted tail slap. . .

. . .a calf spy hops right next to him/her.

Oreo J22 rolls around.

Polaris J28 spy hops while other orcas splash around her.

Polaris J28 spy hops again.

Slick J16 and her daughter Echo J42 spy hop in unison.

Someone lifts their pectoral fin in the air before slapping it on the surface of the water.

Someone lifts their pectoral fin in the air. . .

. . .while someone else spy hops next to them.

Princess Angeline J17 and her son Moby J44.

Tahlequah J35, Oreo J22, Doublestuf J34, Rhapsody, and Cookie J38

It so was great to see all these guys interacting with each other. We left the orcas as they headed North for the Fraser River in Canada.

Please do not use my photos without permission. Just ask :)