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

Superpod On 7/8/13

7/9/2013

0 Comments

 
Reports came in of a large amount of orcas heading for San Juan Island from the Strait of Juan De Fuca on the morning of 7/8/13. Soon after, it was confirmed that all three pods that make up the entire Southern Resident orca population were coming home!!! Soon, all 82 orcas would be back in the area for the first superpod event of the year, which is their version of a big family reunion. During superpods, the orcas socialize, mate, celebrate, and interact with friends from the other pods they have not seen for awhile. J pod had been gone for the last month, K pod had not been back to San Juan Island since December, and L pod had been in and out of the area for the last few weeks.

The "Odyssey" (the San Juan Excursions boat I work on) met up with J and L pod as they headed for the West side of San Juan Island, but we did not see any K pod members as they were farther North of us. The first orcas we saw were Blackberry J27, his younger brother Mako J39, and Spirit L22.
Picture
Blackberry J27 (1991), Spirit L22 (est.1971), and Mako J39 (2003) travel tightly towards the island.
Picture
Marina L47, born in 1974.
Picture
Marina's son, Mystic L115, born in 2010.
In the distance, I could see other J and L pod members. All three pods were spread out for miles and everywhere I looked I could see orcas!
Picture
Mega L41, born in 1977.
Picture
Moonlight L83, born in 1990.
Picture
Moonlight's son, Midnight L110, born in 2007.
Picture
Takoda L109, born in 2003, breaches. . .
Picture
. . . followed by sibling Jade L118, who was born in 2011.
Picture
Takoda L109 breaches again. . .
Picture
. . .followed by sibling Jade L118 again!!
Picture
Racer L72, born in 1986. Her son Fluke L105, born in 2004, was not far behind.
Picture
Ophelia L27, estimated to have been born in 1961.
Picture
Pooka L106, born in 2005.
Picture
Lapis L103, born in 2003, waves goodbye.
The next day (7/9/13), all three pods had split up. The L12's and L22's were still on the West Side of San Juan Island, J and K pod traveled from Point Roberts to Lummi Island, and the rest of L pod went from San Juan Island to East point on Saturna Island in Canada. Where will they all be tomorrow??
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