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.
 To learn more about orcas: 
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  |
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Click here
to learn about L pod
orca Lolita/Tokitae,
captured in Penn Cove,
Whidbey Island, WA
in 1970, somehow surviving in a small tank at the Miami Seaquarium ever since.
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| May 9, 2014
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.
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On May 1 J26, Mike, was photographed off the Russian River, about 50 miles north of San Francisco, on May 1, the first record of J pod off California. Yesterday (Thursday) morning they apparently rounded Neah Bay and headed into the Salish Sea, then were seen passing San Juan Island heading north this morning (Friday), and coming back south down Boundary Pass this evening. That adds up to well over 850 miles traveled in less than eight days, confirming once again the orcas' ability to travel more than 100 miles per day over long periods. As this report goes out J pod is chattering mightily on the Orcasound hydrophones.
Back in June 2007 members of L pod were photographed in Chatham Strait, Southeast Alaska. Previously thought to range only as far north as the Queen Charlotte Islands, B. C., this sighting extended their known range about 200 miles to the north. The same whales were photographed 8 days later off Victoria BC., over 800 miles to the south, which was the first confirmation of 100 miles per day as typical travel speed. This amazing tendency to travel great distances, even with young juveniles and a 100+ year-old great-great-grandmother, may be contrasted with the typical tank sizes found in captive orca entertainment parks.
A large group of Transients called the T65As, with the new baby, were still around southwestern Georgia Strait, but as J pod came north today the Bigg's Whales progressed further north.
Gray whales haven't been seen off South Whidbey Island since May 5, which is an early departure if indeed they have left for the spring.
A young minke whale was seen and photographed romping around with its mother May 3. The NE Pacific Minke Whale Project analyzed the photos and provides a wealth of knowledge about these minke whales and minkes worldwide.
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Photo of the Day
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 | J14 in the Strait of Georgia.
Photo by Mark Malleson, May 9, 2014.
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Southern Residents (J pod)
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May 9
A few of us got to see Jpod go through Spieden Channel heading NW at 8:30 p.m. They were moving steady and pretty fast, a bit spread out. There are a few photos but I haven't gotten permission yet to post. Granny was in the lead with Onyx, I am pretty sure.
Peggy Mauro
May 9
Calls just started at 9:19 on Orcasound! :)
May 9
I received a call from a buddy on the ferry that he saw killer whales entering Active Pass at 1145. Mike on Sealion was able to locate them and confirmed Jpod spread out offshore Mayne Island heading south east towards East Point. With the power outage on San Juan Island between 12:00 am and 7:00 am they were able to make their way north up Haro and Swanson Straits in the early morning without being detected on the S.J.I. hydrophones.
Mark Malleson, Prince of Whales
May 9
6:22 - J pod heading south in Boundary Pass, approaching Turn Point.
3:30 - Ken Balcomb reports J pod is in southern Georgia Strait, heading south, spread out and hopefully finding some scattered Chinook heading for the Fraser River.
As noted in the previous Orca Network Sightings Report, J26 Mike (presumably with the rest of J pod) was photographed off the Russian River, about 50 miles north of San Francisco, at 1130 on May 1. As noted by Meg McDonald, J pod traveled over 850 miles in 8 or fewer days to get from Bodega Bay (Russian River) on May 1 to the San Juan Island area today, where they were reported at 6 am this morning. That doesn't give them much time to eat or rest.
May 9
We spotted Granny, the oldest killer whale known to science, with an estimated birth year of 1911, and matriarch of J-pod.
Prince of Whales Whale Watching
May 8
Jon (Scordino) got a call this morning at ~8:45 reporting a large group of killer whales (at least 20) heading East past Neah Bay. They reported seeing 3 or 4 males, so it is possible the group was larger. Jon actually was on the water shortly after that but did not run into them.
Adrianne Akmajian, Makah Fisheries Management
This may have been J pod coming in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. |
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Transients/Bigg's killer whales
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May 9
T065As T101s T100s Josh McInnes May 9
From our UnCruise skiff boat - Orcas spotted east of Stuart Island heading north at about 9 am today. Kim Sharpe Jones May 5
First joint report from Gary and Tasli! What a day!! A huge group of T's reported early in the morning in Sansum Narrows so off we went to find them. We caught up with them around Crofton and they were really moving! 8 knots against the tide. We had the T90's, T100's (minus the 100B's), T101's, T124's and T87. They slowed down for a while near Kuper island (northern Gulf Islands) and did some spy hopping and then continued moving up towards Thetis Island. We hadn't seen T101C for most of the trip and was starting to get worried but then, out of nowhere, there he was with T124E porpoising right passed our boat to catch up with the others! We have attached some pictures. The first one is T124E porpoising by the boat and the other is T101C following suit (Photos by Gary Sutton, Wild Whales Vancouver). The next shot is a spy hop from T101 and I've sent another photo in a separate email with the two brothers, T101B and T102 because the files are too big for one email (Photos by Tasli Shaw, Steveston Seabreeze Adventures). Gary Sutton & Tasli Shaw  | T124E on the move!! Look at that speed!
Photo by Gary Sutton, May 5, 2014. |
 | T124E cruising!
Photo by Gary Sutton, May 5, 2014.
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 | T101C rockin' along!
Photo by Gary Sutton, May 5, 2014.
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 | | Photo by Gary Sutton, May 5, 2014. |
 | T100's minus the 100B's.
Photo by Gary Sutton, May 5, 2014.
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May 5
Today a "superpod" of Ts! T90s, T100s (minus 100Bs), T101s, T124s, and T87. A real treat to watch whales in the northern Gulf Islands. Always one of the highlights of my season. Tasli Shaw  | | Photo by Tasli Shaw, May 5, 2014. |
 | | Photo by Tasli Shaw, May 5, 2014. |
 | | Photo by Tasli Shaw, May 5, 2014. |
 | | Photo by Tasli Shaw, May 5, 2014. |
 | T101 (at least 41 years old) and T90 (34 years old).
Photo by Tasli Shaw, May 5, 2014.
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 | Brothers T102 (30 years old) and T101B (17 years old) in the most beautiful place in the world!!!!!!
Photo by Tasli Shaw, May 5, 2014. |
May 5
There were approx 17 Biggs orca at the Duke point ferry terminal (Nanaimo) on the east side by Mudge. There were 2 bulls calves and cows. This was on monday at 5:30. Shannon Carifelle May 5
I was able to find a large group of T's at the mouth of Cowichan Bay on the morning of May 5th thanks to a report from Simon of Ecoventures. They went north into Samsum Narrows where they met up with a south bound group. They eventually turned back north. Mark Malleson, Prince of Whales  | T100C in Sansum Narrows.
Photo by Mark Malleson, May 5, 2014.
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May 5
Mark and Rush booted it up to Sansun Narrows where a couple groups of transient killer whales had been reported. What they found was spectacular. Two groups of killer whales, joined together zig-zagging through the channel, initially going south, switched direction and travelled north along Saltspring Island. Mark said they were breaching and conducting lots of surface behaviours, even vocalizing at the surface! Prince of Whale Whale Watching May 4
Some more piccies from today's encounter with 20+/- transient (Bigg's) killer whales between Portland Island and Salt Spring Island, British Columbia. Katie Jones  | Photo by Katie Jones, May 4, 2014.
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 | | Photo by Katie Jones, May 4, 2014. |
 | | Photo by Katie Jones, May 4, 2014. |
 | | Photo by Katie Jones, May 4, 2014. |
 | | Photo by Katie Jones, May 4, 2014. |
 | | Photo by Katie Jones, May 4, 2014. |
May 4
It was so beautiful out by Salt Spring Island. I've lived in the area all my life and I'm continually awed by it all. I think I always will be. Sara Hysong-Shimazu  | T100C and T100.
Photo by Sara Hysong-Shimazu, May 4, 2014.
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 | | Photo by Sara Hysong-Shimazu, May 4, 2014. |
 | | Photo by Sara Hysong-Shimazu, May 4, 2014. |
 | | Photo by Sara Hysong-Shimazu, May 4, 2014. |
May 4
Skipper Matt was notified of reports of orcas heading south from Active Pass and was able to join the whales traveling in small groups through Satellite Channel- which is roughly 40km from Victoria! Prince of Whales Whale Watching |
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Coastal Orcas
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May 8
Saw another orca pod today. Sighting was at 38.40 (latitude, just south of Sonoma State Park, California) less than a mile off the beach. Looked like another feeding event, tail slapping, birds, etc. Directly off of Black Point just below the Sonoma/Mendocino co line. They were very slowly heading south. Erik May 8
845AM - Pt Arena Harbor Master relayed a call from urchin diver lots of killer whales active in close to shore at 38 40' N, (Sea Ranch area)? No other details. May 8
Jon (Scordino) got a call this morning at ~8:45 reporting a large group of killer whales (at least 20) heading east past Neah Bay. They reported seeing 3 or 4 males, so it is possible the group was larger. Jon actually was on the water shortly after that but did not run into them. Adrianne Akmajian, Makah Fisheries Management May 8
Killer whales spotted off Morro Bay, Calif. It's a rare sight: Killer Whales passing near the shores of the Central Coast. It happened today in Morro Bay. "It looks like the Killer Whales might be either attacking or taking down one of the gray whales." said Becka Kelly, Harbor Patrol supervisor in Morro Bay. "Ive never seen this before in this area." she said. "We've seen Killer Whales come through, but I've never seen any live action like this." Jeanette Trompeter May 8
We had a pod, Minimum 7 possibly 9 or more 1 mile west of Morro Bay. They killed a baby gray in the morning right off the harbor and we were on them later in the afternoon, breaches, tail displays, feeding.....going through pics now for IDS with Alisa and will send you more data and pics soon Hunter Kilpatrick May 8
1020 - 3 orcas killing a grey whale. Morro Bay California, right off the sea buoy watching three orcas chasing and attacking a grey whale. Jane Favors  | 3 orcas killing a grey whale calf in Morro Bay CA.
Photo by Dawn Santiago, Sub Sea Tours Kayaks and Whale Watching, May 8, 2014.
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May 3
Spotted a single Orca on Saturday around 6:30 p.m. in the bay by Ferry Road Park (near the North Bend "McCullough" Bridge") in North Bend, Oregon. Traveling, perhaps scouting, was by itself. He surfaced four or five times after I first spotted him and then headed out back under the bridge. I think it's about five miles or so from where I saw him to where he had to have come in at in Charleston. Pretty amazing. Morgan Gaines
 | A single orca by Ferry Road Park in North Bend, Oregon.
Photo by Morgan Gaines, May 3, 2014. |
April 27
It was a pod of about 33 (20 in one group, 13 in another) heading North past the Point Reyes Lighthouse. The time was around 1630 hours. First time seeing orca in the park! John Eleby US Park Ranger Point Reyes National Seashore
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Gray whales
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May 6
8:00 AM - Another sighting today of a single grey whale in front of Chito Beach Resort (Olympic Peninsula, west of Sekiu). Amy Cramer May 5
1:24 - Gray is heading south now toward the end of Whidbey.Gwendine Ellis Norton May 5
Patch (#49) made an appearance east of Hat Island at 12:25 pm, while at 1:10 pm #723 had passengers on Mystic Sea holding their breath as he traversed the Clinton/Mukilteo ferry dock in sight of the approaching ferry... All passengers gave a sigh of relief when #723 surfaced before waving farewell with his flukes and heading towards Possession Point. Sandra Pollard, Naturalist on Mystic Sea.  | Gray whale #723 passes the Clinton ferry dock.
Photo by Sandra Pollard, May 5, 2014.
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 | #723 close to the shore, Whidbey Island.
Photo by Sandra Pollard, May 5, 2014. |
May 4A few rain-squalls didn't deter us today, and collaboration with 2 other whale watch boats was the key in locating gray whale #723! After searching in all directions, he turned up right by our home port of Langley, delighting our passengers with great views which included a good pass-by close to the boat. What a way to end the day!
Jill Hein, SSAMN.
 | | Photo by Jill Hein, May 4, 2014. |
 | Photo by Jill Hein, May 4, 2014.
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 | | Photo by Jill Hein, May 4, 2014. |
May 3
I saw a request from your network recently for pix of the troughs made by the greys. These were taken yesterday off our deck at Whidbey Shores beach (at East Point, outside Holmes Harbor in Saratoga Passage, Whidbey Island). Finally! We have really missed seeing our greys and sweet old Patch this year so far and were getting quite worried that they had deserted us. Penny Thackeray  | Gray whale feeding pits at Whidbey Shores beach.
Photo by Penny Thackery, May 3, 2014.
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Minke whales
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May 3
Onboard the Island Explorer 4, we found a mom and a baby minke! It was so exciting! In my eight years of working for Island Adventures, I haven't ever heard of someone seeing a mother-calf pairing in the area. We were at the south side of Hein Bank.
Brooke McKinley, Naturalist at Island Adventures Whale Watching
 | | Photo by Brooke McKinley, May 3, 2014. |
 | | Photo by Brooke McKinley, May 3, 2014. |
May 3
While on the Ocean Magic II this afternoon, this Minke whale traveling with a very small calf was seen at Hein Bank, around 2.30pm. We were 350-400 metres away so image is heavily cropped. The calf appeared to be very young.
Marie O'Shaughnessy, Orca-Magic.
 | Photo by Marie O'Shaughnessy, May 3, 2014.
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Much more about this rare sighting of a young minke whale, and a comprehensive natural history of minke whales, may be found in:
More about Minke whales of the Salish Sea by Frances C. Robertson, Wildlife biologist Northeast Pacific Minke whale Project Based in Vancouver, BC. "...the Northeast Pacific Minke Whale Project (NEPMWP) have identified the larger whale as an individual we call 'Joan' (after Joni Mitchell -she sang a song about circles, this whale made an impression on us by swimming in circles so it seemed only right to name it Joan). "But it is very unlikely that Joan's calf is newborn (as suggested in the recent news report) and is close to being weaned as evidenced by the time of year, size of the whale and the presence of months old cookie cutter shark scars." The Northeast Pacific Minke Whale Project conducts research under NMFS permits; all photos collected by citizen contributors are taken under compliance with the MMPA. |
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 [email protected], 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.
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