Reports of J pod, part of the Southern Resident orca community, came in suddenly around 12:30 PM on 5/15/13. The orcas were heading for San Juan Island from the Strait of Juan De Fuca, so I quickly drove to Lime Kiln State Park on the west side of San Juan Island to wait for them to swim past. Lime Kiln is the best place on the island to watch the Resident orcas because they often come within just feet of shore. After waiting over four hours as the orcas slowly made their way over to the island and up it's coast, they were finally coming into view! In the lead, but far offshore, was a female called Spieden J8. Close behind was Shachi J19 and her daughter Eclipse J41. Even farther offshore was Onyx L87, a male born in 1992.
Now, you may wonder why Onyx L87, an L pod member would be traveling with J pod. His story is quite an interesting one. After Onyx lost his mother, Olympia L32 (est.1955-2005), he was adopted by an elder female in K pod called Lummi K7 (est.1910-2008) and he switched from L to K pod. When Lummi passed away in 2008, Onyx was left without a mother figure again, but not for long. Georgia K11 (est.1933- June 2010), Lummi’s probable daughter, took up raising Onyx until she passed away in 2010. Luckily Spieden and Granny J2 were there for Onyx and he switched pods again, from K to J pod. To this day he can still be seen with Spieden and Granny.
Now, you may wonder why Onyx L87, an L pod member would be traveling with J pod. His story is quite an interesting one. After Onyx lost his mother, Olympia L32 (est.1955-2005), he was adopted by an elder female in K pod called Lummi K7 (est.1910-2008) and he switched from L to K pod. When Lummi passed away in 2008, Onyx was left without a mother figure again, but not for long. Georgia K11 (est.1933- June 2010), Lummi’s probable daughter, took up raising Onyx until she passed away in 2010. Luckily Spieden and Granny J2 were there for Onyx and he switched pods again, from K to J pod. To this day he can still be seen with Spieden and Granny.
Females Shachi J19 born in 1979 (left) and Spieden J8, estimated to have been born in 1933 (right).
Not far behind Spieden, Shachi, Eclipse and Onyx, and still offshore was Samish J14, her children Hy'shqa J37, Se-Yi'-Chn J45 and grandson J49. Samish's daughter Suttles J40 and grandmother, Granny J2, was somewhere farther behind them but I was excited to see that J49, who had been born on August 6th, 2012, was still alive.
It is often that first borns, like J49, don't survive their first year of life because of high loads of toxins like PCBs, PBDEs and DDTs that they obtain while developing in the womb and through their mother's milk while nursing. These toxins attach to fat tissues, moving up the food chain until they reach the orcas. The orcas receive the highest loads and this can severely affect their immune and reproductive systems. Sometimes calves can get such high loads of the toxins that they simply can not survive.
It is often that first borns, like J49, don't survive their first year of life because of high loads of toxins like PCBs, PBDEs and DDTs that they obtain while developing in the womb and through their mother's milk while nursing. These toxins attach to fat tissues, moving up the food chain until they reach the orcas. The orcas receive the highest loads and this can severely affect their immune and reproductive systems. Sometimes calves can get such high loads of the toxins that they simply can not survive.
After a few minutes, more dorsal fins were coming around the corner but this time, the orcas were within just feet of shore! It was the Slick J16, her son Mike J26, and her two daughters Alki J36 and Echo J42. Suttles was there, hanging out with Alki.
 |  Echo J42, born in 2007, spy hops. |  |
Mike J26, born in 1991, swims within just feet of shore at Lime Kiln State Park.
 Suttles J40, born in 2004, swims within feet of shore at Lime Kiln State Park. |  Suttles J40, born in 2004, swims within feet of shore at Lime Kiln State Park. |
Alki and Suttles side by side underwater.
Alki J36, born in 1999, swims within feet of shore at Lime Kiln State Park.
Echo J42 swims past shore.
 Mike J26 swims on his side just feet from shore. |  Mike J26 swims on his side just feet from shore. |
After the Slick's family and Suttles passed by, Granny finally came around the corner and made a close pass by shore. I was surprised Granny was not with Spieden and in front of J pod as she seems be the matriarch of J pod and is almost always in front of everybody, leading the way.
Granny J2, estimated to have been born in 1911, surfaces close to shore.
After Granny was out of view, the last of J pod appeared, with three matrilines traveling closely together. They were Blackberry J27's family, Princess Angeline J17's family and Oreo J22's family. These three families are also known as Group B of J pod while Group A consists of the Granny's family, Shachi's family, Spieden, Onyx and sometimes Slick and her family, who will switch between both groups.
Blackberry's family is made up of adult male Blackberry, his younger sister Tsuchi J31 and his younger brother Mako J39. Thier mother, Blossom J11, passed away in 2008 at an estimated age of just thirty six years old.
Princess Angeline's family consists of Princess Angeline, her daughters Polaris J28, Tahlequah J35 and son Moby J44 and her grandchildren Star J46 and Notch J47.
Oreo's matriline is made up of Oreo, her two sons Doublestuf J34 and Cookie J38 and her niece, Rhapsody J32.
Blackberry's family is made up of adult male Blackberry, his younger sister Tsuchi J31 and his younger brother Mako J39. Thier mother, Blossom J11, passed away in 2008 at an estimated age of just thirty six years old.
Princess Angeline's family consists of Princess Angeline, her daughters Polaris J28, Tahlequah J35 and son Moby J44 and her grandchildren Star J46 and Notch J47.
Oreo's matriline is made up of Oreo, her two sons Doublestuf J34 and Cookie J38 and her niece, Rhapsody J32.
Here they come!
Blackberry J27, born in 1991, tail slaps.
Blackberry's younger sister, Tsuchi J31, born in 1995.
Princess Angeline J17, born in 1977, surfaces close to shore at Lime Kiln State Park.
Tahlequah J35, born in 1998, swims just feet from shore.
Cookie J38, born in 2003, surfaces close to shore.
Mako J39, born in 2003, swims just feet from shore.
Polaris J28, born in 1993, swims past shore at Lime Kiln State Park.
 Doublestuf J34, born in 1998, Notch J47, born in 2010 and Moby J44, born in 2009, swim within feet of shore at Lime Kiln State Park. |  Doublestuf J34, born in 1998, Notch J47, born in 2010 and Moby J44, born in 2009, swim within feet of shore at Lime Kiln State Park. |
Oreo J22, born in 1985.
Blackberry J27 exhales.
 Blackberry J27 tail slaps. |  Blackberry J27 tail slaps. |
Headstand from one of the juveniles!
The entire time the orcas were passing shore, a Steller and California sea lion were nervously gazing at the them, closely hugging the rocky shore just in case they had to quickly jump out of the water to escape being dinner. The sea lions had nothing to worry about though as the Southern Resident orcas only eat salmon, specifically Chinook salmon. The sea lions were mistaking the Residents for Transient orcas, which instead of eating salmon, eat only marine mammals.
As I watched J pod head farther North up the island and disappear from view, I wondered if they would stick around for a few days (meaning there is enough salmon for them to eat), or at some point during the night, turn around and head back out the Strait of Juan De Fuca. Either way, they looked super happy to be back in the islands, and it seemed like they were saying we're back!!
The next day, J pod was nowhere to be seen but on 5/17/13 they appeared off the South end of the island and swam past Lime Kiln State Park again, with all of the pod far offshore in a resting line. I can't wait for K and L pod to show up!
Please don't use my photos without permission. Just ask :)
As I watched J pod head farther North up the island and disappear from view, I wondered if they would stick around for a few days (meaning there is enough salmon for them to eat), or at some point during the night, turn around and head back out the Strait of Juan De Fuca. Either way, they looked super happy to be back in the islands, and it seemed like they were saying we're back!!
The next day, J pod was nowhere to be seen but on 5/17/13 they appeared off the South end of the island and swam past Lime Kiln State Park again, with all of the pod far offshore in a resting line. I can't wait for K and L pod to show up!
Please don't use my photos without permission. Just ask :)
