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Photo of the Day
Humpbacks
Transients (Bigg's Whales)
Coastal Orcas
Global orcas
Find a wide range of books related to orcas at the Orca Network Amazon store.
Orca Network recommends:
The Lost Whale, by Michael Parfit and Suzanne Chisolm  
An intensely personal story...but this person is a young orca.  

Lost Whale book...ver scaled  

 To learn more about orcas: 

Orcas in Our Midst, volume 3, by Howard Garrett

Orcas in Our Midst,

Vol. 3: Residents and Transients, How Did That Happen?

Click here  

to order YOUR copy!

~~~~~~~~~~~~

The bestseller about orcas in captivity.

Death at SeaWorld, by David Kirby 

DeathatSeaWorld


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November 27, 2013

We are watching and visiting the whales in their home~

Please observe, love and respect them from a distance.

Having trouble viewing this Sightings Report? Archived Reports can be found HERE.
There have been orcas over the past few days, some ID'd as Transients and some not ID'd but believed to be of the Transient persuasion, from Speiden Channel to Possession Sound, but the big event was on Monday, when a humpback whale called Windy approached boats filled with incredulous whale watchers. Melisa Pinnow was onboard and has written about the moment here, and the event has been told and retold many times, including on Seattle and Victoria TV and in many newspapers.

This improbably friendly behavior by humpback whales has occurred every now and then
on Stellwagen Bank in New England for many years, and in the past few years the humpbacks
off Maui, Hawaii have begun approaching boats full of awestruck visitors, and the
friendly gray whales of Baja are well known, but this appears to be the first time a humpback in the Salish Sea has approached and gracefully surrounded boats filled with excited people. Who knows, it might have something to do with the way the people are intensely following the humpback's every move that attracts the whale to get closer to the astonished gazes of the people, but whatever it is, it seems to be some kind of attempt at interspecies communication, and the experience can change lives, maybe even the whales' lives.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. We're thankful for the wonder of the orcas all around us, and Windy the gregarious humpback, and for all who participate with us in this never-ending adventure of whale awareness.

A documentary film showing what it will take to bring back the Chinook to provide essential sustenance for the highly endangered Southern Resident orcas is in the beginning stages of production and needs support. If you'd like to help, please visit: Fund the film Fragile Waters: A film of hope to save orcas.

December 5th at 6:30 join us to see Lolita, Spirit in the Water at the Admiral Theater in West Seattle. And on Sunday December 8, from 7:00 PM - 9:30 PM at the Edmonds Theater, see "Blackfish," the film that's changing the public's understanding of the business of holding orcas captive for our entertainment, followed by a Q&A session with Orca Network's Howard Garrett. Thanks to Dawn Clark and her daughter Keely for sponsoring this showing of Lolita - Slave to Entertainment in West Seattle and Blackfish for the Edmonds community.
Photo of the Day
A humpback named Windy would like to meet you.
Photo by Jim Maya, November 25, 2013.

Humpbacks
November 25
Today was my number 1 day with Humpbacks. TOTALLY MUGGED FOR AN HOUR UNDER AND ALONGSIDE THE BOAT. The following are Melisa Pinnow's words..."As we were watching a humpback, it went on a very long dive. While it was under, I said "watch this, its gonna be just like Baja." I was right. The humpback suddenly surfaced within feet of the boat and played with us for an hour, staying just feet underneath the boat, spy hopping on both sides and even fluke waving its gigantic tail just feet away...."
Back to Capt. Jim...In all my years this is the most amazing amazing experience I've ever had with a Humpback. I would swear it was listening to us. She was curious about the boat. As another boat approached she went to visit them for a few minutes then came back to us. There are times when whales connect with humans in boats. I know this to be a fact! This was one of those times. Epic moments!
Capt. Jim Maya

Windy the friendly humpback visits excited whale watchers.
Photo by Jim Maya, November 25, 2013.

Windy hovers off the side of a whale watch boat.
Photo by Jim Maya, November 25, 2013.

Those big bumps are hair follicles, used to sense the movements of schools of small fish.
Photo by Jim Maya, November 25, 2013.

This humpback is longer than the boat, yet she seems to want to climb onboard.
Photo by Jim Maya, November 25, 2013.


Sometimes a telephoto lens just won't do.
Photo by Jim Maya, November 25, 2013.

Note the divot on Windy's side.
Photo by Jim Maya, November 25, 2013.

The flukes of an adult female humpback like Windy can be up to 15' from tip to tip.
Photo by Jim Maya, November 25, 2013.

November 25
Never thought I would have an encounter like this with a humpback whale in Haro Strait, near San Juan Island, Washington. On Maya's Westside Charters it was an unbelievable experience on a mid-November, 2013 afternoon.
Jeanne Hyde
hyde 11252013 HumpbackCloseEncounter
Humpback Close Encounter
Video by Jeanne Hyde, November 25, 2013.

What a great Sunday! Two Humpback Whales waving goodbye as they swim out of San Juan Channel today at about 11:20AM.
Photo by Chris Teren, November 24, 2013.

November 24
11:15 - We were at Deadmans Bay (near Lime Kiln Park) and saw blows way offshore. Next thing you know, TWO HUMPBACKS came INTO the bay--I kid you not and proceeded to travel ON THE SHORE along Lime Kiln. It was surreal.
Sandy Buckley
A humpback cruises along the rocky shoreline of San Juan Island.
Photo by Jim Maya, November 24, 2013.

Windy the humpback off San Juan Island.
Photo by Jim Maya, November 24, 2013.

November 24
I saw 2 adult Humpback Whales today at 1100, off San Juan Island, traveling through Cattle Pass. They traveled through Cattle Pass and then southwest into the Strait. Steady but unhurried pace. Periods of 3-5 blows, alternated with flukes up dives of up to 5 minutes. Pair remained within one body length of each other.
Breck Tyler

November 24
9:32 - Just spotted two humpbacks from the ferry Elwah...north of Turn Island (near Friday Harbor) heading SE.
Dan Klimke

November 24
9:27 am - Maia of WSF called to report 2 large whales near Turn Rock in San Juan Channel.
Transients (Bigg's Whales)
November 27 
Thanks to reports on Orca Network's fb page, I watched 8-10 orca (presumed to be Transients) travel from the north end of Marrowstone Island to north of Point Wilson.... pretty much out of sight by 3:40pm. Was unable to post on fb from Fort Casey. They were too far away for ID's. Lots of Steller sea lions "people watching" at Fort Casey.  
Jill Hein
Distant orcas in Admiralty Inlet, seen from Ft. Casey, Whidbey Island.
Photo by Jill Hein, November 27, 2013.

A male orca in Admiralty Inlet.
Photo by Jill Hein, November 27, 2013.
 
November 27 
Elsa Leavitt reported a bunch of orcas heading out Admiralty Inlet, off Bush Pt at 1:45 pm.  

November 27 
1:32 - Orcas off Windmill Heights (about 2 miles south of Bush Point), mid channel, heading towards Bush Point. 
Mike Meyer

November 26
11:30 pm - We were just outside with our dogs and could hear a pod of orca out in the Sound - too dark to see them, unfortunately! We're about a mile north of the Kingston ferry
and it sounded like they were headed south. It sounded like a lot of them - lots of blowing, but no splashing. It was a pretty calm night or else we might not have heard them. It was pretty cool! 
Shirley Bomgaars

November 26 
11:40 am - Chamber's Bay gold course (south of Tacoma, 4 miles south of Narrows bridge). Small pod of 4 or 5 orcas were deep but we watched for an hour move from one location to another. A small one breached with fins showing but, the rest were deep. They were traveling. One came up and was playing a little bit but, looked like another brought it back down. They were deep. Headed north to Narrows bridge I presume.
Rebecca Harden

November 26 
Matt McCulloch from Tyee Charter called at 3:30 to report seeing about ten orcas off the south end of Whidbey Island while fishing on Possession Bar at 10:30 this morning. There was at least one adult male, 8 females and a juvenile who breached 4 or 5 times. Some of his passengers took photos which he will send whenever he gets them. There were no other reports of orcas anywhere today, but it was foggy so it's not surprising that these were not seen from land.
This group of Transient Orcas were south of Discovery Island. (T35, 38, 38b, c and d, 75b, and c), the same ones from two days earlier.
Photo by Capt. Jim Maya, November 24, 2013.

Transient Orcas south of Discovery Island, with Mt. Baker looming behind.
Photo by Capt. Jim Maya, November 24, 2013.

Transient Orcas south of Discovery Island.
Photo by Capt. Jim Maya, November 24, 2013.

We had them come up next to the boat south of Discovery Island, one taking a peek while another put its fluke across her back (see above) - that was rare and fun!
Photo by Florian Graner, November 24, 2013. 

Photo by Florian Graner, November 24, 2013.

November 24 
Mark set out west towards Race Rocks. The group was soon greeted by three humpbacks that displayed many tail slaps and dives, then five transients breached and spy hopped.
Prince of Whales Whale Watching

November 23 
12:29 - Spotted one orca about one mile off shore at Ft. Warden near Pt. Townsend.
Drew Collins

November 23 
Just got a call from Billy Wind reporting 2 dorsal fins in the Port Townsend/Keystone ferry lane this morning, heading generally north at about 8 am. These are probably some of those Ts seen yesterday around the San Juans or the ones seen by Race Rock around 2 pm, if they turned around. Ts are known for erratic changes in directions.
This group of Transient Orcas (T35, 38, 38b, c and d, 75b, and c) came up the West Side of San Juan Island and then went east through Speiden Channel. I left them at 2:30 headed north toward Boundary Pass and Canada, just south of Waldron Island.
Photo by Capt. Jim Maya, November 22, 2013.
Transient Orcas in Speiden Channel, north side, San Juan Island, WA.
Photo by Capt. Jim Maya, November 22, 2013.

Transient Orcas in Speiden Channel.
Photo by Capt. Jim Maya, November 22, 2013.

We saw 3 orcas westbound, south of Race Rocks at about 2pm. There was a large male with a wonky dorsal fin.
Photo by Keith Provan, November 22, 2013.

3 orcas westbound south of Race Rocks with what looked like a fairly new baby.
Photo by Keith Provan, November 22, 2013.
 
Coastal Orcas
November 26
Noon - off the Mendocino CA headlands, a pod of 10 to 12 were in my sight for about 15 minutes.
Michael Wilkerson

November 25
10:30 - In Lincoln City OR watching three Transient Orcas, 100 yards offshore, heading southbound. Right now! We couldn't get any ID's but assumed they were transients. We tried to catch up with them to get ID's but had no luck. It was interesting. The Orcas were traveling the exact same distance offshore as 90% of the sea lions we had sighted. We believe they were three females.
Spencer Domico
Three Transient orcas off Lincoln City OR.
Photo by Spencer Domico, November 25, 2013.

November 25
10:00 AM - Three possibly 4 Orcas sighted off Lincoln City, Oregon beach heading South. First spotted around 10 a.m. off beach access NW 15th and last seen in Lincoln City after 11 a.m. near Siletz Bay. There was a male in the group. Was not able to get any pictures. This is a confirmed sighting from the Oregon Marine Mammal Stranding Network.
Jane Holbrook

November 25
1:50 - David Moffit of the US Forest Service called to relay a report of three orcas off Cape Perpetua, OR.

November 25
Naked Whale Research reports killer whales south of Point Arena, CA. 7:45AM at Schooners Gulch. Heard loud blows... Knew exactly.., pod of about 8-10 orca, spread out in pods of two, one of about 5. No males. Positive they were orca. Heading south.
Naked Whale Research
Global orcas
No exact date
I am the head of an environmental NGO in Cape Verde, Africa.  Some friends of mine recently saw some orcas just off Sal (west coast of Africa) where we live and this is the first time this has been reported to us.  We are reaching out to anyone who may be interested in this information and who may have details of any previous sightings.
Regards,
Jacquie Cozens
Please report any sightings to Orca Network.
ABOUT ORCA NETWORK  
Orca Network is a 501 c3 nonprofit organization, dedicated to raising awareness about the whales of the Pacific Northwest, and the importance of providing them healthy and safe habitats.
Orca Network's Whale Sighting Network involves citizens in helping researchers track the movement of whales, and encourages people to observe whales from their homes, businesses, ferries, and beaches.
Whale reports are sent in to our Sighting Network and emailed out to researchers, agencies, and citizens on our network, and posted on our website (MAP of sightings also on website). Whale reports and observations are sent in by a variety of sources, and Orca Network does not guarantee the accuracy of any report or whale identification.

 

TO REPORT WHALES, CALL: 1-866-ORCANET (1-866-672-2638), email info@orcanetwork.org, or post sightings on our Orca Network Facebook page.

 

*BE WHALE WISE! BOATERS - NEW FEDERAL REGULATIONS IN EFFECT AS OF MAY 16, 2011:

 "The new rules prohibit vessels from approaching any killer whale closer than 200 yards and forbid vessels from intercepting a whale or positioning the vessel in its path. This doubles the current approach distance of 100 yards. The rules go into effect May 16 and apply to all types of boats, including motor boats, sail boats and kayaks, in Washington"

 

For more information on the new Federal Regulations, visit the NOAA Fisheries website. 

 

 
To report harassment of whales in US waters, call NOAA Enforcement: 1-800-853-1964;

In Canadian waters, call DFO's Observe Record and Report (ORR) Violations Hotline: 1-800- 465-4336

Report the boat name &/or a description of the boat, & get photos if at all possible.