CONTACT
San Juan Orcas
  • HOME
  • ORCA ENCOUNTERS BLOG
  • IDENTIFICATION HELP
  • HELP THE ORCAS
  • LINKS

Resident And Transient Orcas In The Same Trip On 6/18/13

6/19/2013

0 Comments

 
We left the dock aboard the "Odyssey", of San Juan Excursions, with reports of L pod on the West side of San Juan Island. There were also reports of Transient orcas heading our way from Smith Island. When we got on scene with L pod, the orcas were spread over miles and the only L pod members I was able to identify were Surprise L86, born in 1991, and her son Pooka L106, who was born in 2005.

While we were with L pod, it was obvious that they were leaving the area after just arriving the day before, which most likely means there is not enough Chinook salmom to sustain them here. Historically, the Southern Residents (J,K, and L pod) could be seen in the area all year long feasting on Chinook salmon, but now they are only seen around San Juan Island in the summer and fall. These orcas are also listed under the endangered species act, and some of the Chinook salmon they depend on for almost their entire diet are endangered as well. If we are unable to save the Chinook salmon, J, K, and L pod are doomed as well. Visit Help The Orcas page to learn more.
Picture
Surprise L86.
Then, out of nowhere five different Transient orcas that had not been reported showed up nearby so we headed over to check them out. It is pretty unusual to have Transient and Resident orcas so close together as they are different species of orcas that do not socialize, mate or interact with each other and basically stay out of each others way.

The group consisted of T075 with her adult son T075A and another matriline called the T036As. We watched as they made two kills (probably harbor seals) in a span of about ten minutes. After each kill they celebrated with breaches, spy hops, tail slaps, and other playful activities.
Picture
T075, born around 1976, and T036A1, born 2005 pursue what was probably a harbor seal.
Picture
Behind T075 and T036A1 is adult male T075A, born in 1991.
Picture
T075A's dorsal fin has a wave in it.
Picture
Picture
T036A2, born in 2012, leaps into the air.
Picture
Picture
T036A1, spy hops.
Picture
T036A2 spy hops.
Picture
Picture
T036A1 breaches.
Picture
Just as we were ending our encounter with these Transient orcas as they headed up the West side of San Juan Island, the other group first reported approached from the South East and headed up San Juan Channel, which was the way back to our dock, so we were able to watch the orcas as we headed back home. In this group were two matrilines called the T065As and T075Bs, the same two matrilines we had seen a few days before.
Picture
T065A2, born in 2004, and T075B, born in 1994.
Picture
T065A, born in 1986, with her child T065A3, born in 2007.
Right after we left this group of orcas, they had a harbor seal for lunch as well. What an unusual but awesome day aboard the "Odyssey"!
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    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.

    Picture

    Archives

    October 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    October 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    April 2017
    January 2017
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    March 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    March 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013

Proudly powered by Weebly