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Orca Network 

Whale Sighting Report  

In This Issue
Southern Residents.
Transients/Bigg's Killer Whales
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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Tokitae looking up at us from her tank in Miami, FL in the late 1990s 

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December 12, 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.
At least some members of J pod seem to have headed out to sea past Victoria this morning just before noon, with our fond wishes for many hearty meals. Transients/Bigg's whales were still in south Puget Sound this afternoon, and at least one humpback was heard crooning into the OrcaSound hydrophone last night.

The death of J32 Rhapsody and her daughter have stirred deep feelings for those who know of this precariously small resident orca family. The question now is: What can we do to help them? Readers of these reports may have heard the phrase: "No fish, no blackfish," meaning if the 77 remaining Southern Resident orcas don't find sufficient Chinook salmon year around, sooner or later they will all disappear.

In response to the death of J32, planning is underway for public demonstrations in the next few weeks and months to educate and advocate for specific actions to improve Chinook spawning and survival from Alaska to California. In particular, the 120+ miles of the lower Snake River were once filled from shore to shore with Chinook spawning beds, but for the past fifty-plus years the river bottoms have been deep under reservoirs behind four dams that are increasingly costly to maintain and unnecessary for power, irrigation or navigation. Removal of those dams would soon restore millions of high-calorie Chinook available for So. Resident orcas and human fishers alike. As those plans develop you'll hear more about them here.

Lab results from the necropsy of J32 will be announced in a few weeks, including toxin levels and other clues to her health and the cause of her death, but enough was learned at the scene to give us clear indications of what happened. Ken Balcomb, senior scientist and founder of the Center for Whale Research, offers context and insights in his report released yesterday, Preliminary Necropsy Report for J32.

And for your inspiration and invigoration please enjoy Elwha River at flood stage, filmed Dec. 9 and 10 by John Gussman, who produced  Return of the River, about the restoration of the Elwha River by removal of two obsolete dams.

Howard Garrett and Susan Berta, Orca Network 

Photo of the Day      
December 5                        
2:54 - they are right off Rockaway (SE Bainbridge Island), not too far from shore. Acting like T's. Small boat with them. They are foraging.
It was a dull, gray day today, appropriate for my mood. Still, it was good to be with a few fellow orca friends,(@Sue Surowiec Larkin & Connie Bickerton) remembering J32 and watching these wild black & whites pass along Bainbridge Island with the steely blue city and Cascades for a backdrop. I'm encouraged by the passion we all have for these magnificent orcas and hope we will all do what we can to help them.
Photo by Susan Marie Andersson
Southern Residents
December 12
11:05 am - J pod heading west past Clover Point, east Victoria, reported by Brett of Eaglewing Tours to Josh McInnes

December 12
J Pod calls over the Lime Kiln hydrophones from 2:48 a.m. lasting for about 30 minutes.  
Jeanne Hyde

December 7

4:29pm - Hearing faint calls on Lk, since 3:30, getting louder now.
Selena Rhodes Scofield

December 7
Saw maybe 5 or 6 orcas off the beach at Langley today around noon...couldn't get a decent pic, but they were unmistakably killer whales. I've never seen them in the wild before, it was amazing.
Brittany Mcphie Pham
Note: these orcas were not identified and may have been Transients/Bigg's whales.

December 7
9:30 - NW of pt Wilson, pod headed NW, in no real hurry.
Photo by Duke Davis

December 6
4:06 - I could still hear the Orcas milling around until the cargo ship came by. They were closer to Hansville than Whidbey.
3:50 - mid channel of Windmill Heights (about a mile south of Bush point). Heading quickly South. Can't tell how many but more than 5.
Mike Meyer

December 6
3:40 pm - Sandra and Dick have fins and spouts at Bush pt. headed south!

December 6
2 pm - Heard K Pod on PT hydro's - strongly suspect they are inbound.
Connie Bickerton

December 6
1030 - approx 6 orcas. Middle of Saratoga, shallow surfaces, circling trending northwest.
Alisa Lemire Brooks
Note: these orcas were not identified and may have been Transients/Bigg's whales.

December 6
9:30 am - Pod of Orcas Whidbey island by Inn at Langley!
Kim Dunkley Wetherell
Note: these orcas may have been Transients/Bigg's whales.
Transients/Bigg's Killer Whales 
December 12
1:24 update. They are still heading slowly north toward Boston Harbor - more spread out than when they headed into Budd Inlet. Gorgeous day. Sea Lions are hiding on the Eld Inlet side of Cooper Point spit.
Kim Merriman

December 12
1:00 - They are heading north again from Burfoot, out of Budd Inlet.
Gayle Swigart

December 12
12:07 - South South orcas are moving slowly south into Budd Inlet (near Olympia).
They are in Gull Harbor - which is south of Boston Harbor. I have lost sight because they have gone past the tip of Cooper Point which blocks my view.
Kim Merriman

December 9
4:10 -
just watched 3 orcas traveling South from under the Narrows bridge. They were moving fast - passing Titlow about 4:15. They we're close to the Titlow side.
Heidi Powers Armstrong

December 9
Orcas! 3:20 off Owen Beach, closer to Vashon heading Southwest. Fb won't let me post it to ON per Jessica Pagan - posted by Jamie Grundhauser.

December 9
3:08 - One large several smaller Orca midpoint in Henderson Bay (in Carr Inlet, west of Gig Harbor). Moving SW.
Nathan Kellogg

December 9
An orca pod was seen in Henderson bay at 2:30 PM. (in Carr Inlet, NW of Gig Harbor).
James MacDonald

December 9
1:30 - Whales in Thompson Cove this am. Sighted by Joe H.. Two adults and two calves and 3 seal ions trying to get away. Posted on the Anderson Island FB page.
Kim Merriman

December 9
1:17 pm - We here at Diamond Point just saw a lone male Orca about 1000 yards off shore heading east to Discovery Bay (west of Port Townsend). When he was about at the mouth of Discovery Bay he suddenly turned around & headed back to the west. We could hear & see him quite well. So fun to see.
Helen Bohac

*************************

December 8
10:00 AM - Case Inlet Orcas. Saw 3-4 orcas in Case Inlet, just south of McMicken Island around 10:00am this morning. They were playing for a bit, rolling on their backs, then traveled south.
Photo by Shirley McNeil

December 8
1:40 - Still off the south end of Ketron Island.
1:14 - I see them pretty far north of here, off the east side of Anderson Island.
Gayle Swigart

December 7
3:09pm - 5-6 Orcas just went past Fox Island fishing pier. Headed towards Narrows Bridge.
Andrea Shields Pellumbi

December 7
Taken from Anderson Island facing Steilacom. Lucky person.
Photo by Belen Bilgic Schneider

December 7
Because of the kindness of Bob Lyden sharing where they were, I was able to see these wonderful creatures and take these pics today. I hope others will share their wonderful pics too.
Photo by Lane Sample

December 7
Photo by Lane Sample

December 7
Photo by Lane Sample

December 7
Photo by Lane Sample

December 7
2:12 - Mid channel btwn Anderson and McNeil.
James Gresham

December 7
1:41pm - Several Orcas breaching and leaping on the northwest shore of Ketron island right now. They are heading north now.
Joe Orcason

December 7
1:39 - Orcas by they Narrows. I'm on Anderson Island and can see them with binoculars.
Rachel Wiemann-Maw

December 7
1:44 - sounds like two groups of orcas are around Anderson Island area. James Gresham reports being at Steilacom dock and seeing them heading slowly north on the east side of Anderson Island.
12:40 - 2 groups of Orcas just passed the Riviera Marina (Anderson Island) heading north. Very active.
12:20 - Pod of Whales just passed by Cole Point heading North on the East side of Anderson Island. Get your Cameras ready. Will be going by the Riv. Marina Dock soon.
Kim Merriman

December 6
11:00 - Orcas made their way past the Riviera Marina (Anderson Island area) heading south - there's a group of maybe 5 or 6. And are currently at Oro Bay. Messages from Anderson Islander FB page.
10:05 AM - Whales just sighted on East side of Anderson Island.
Kim Merriman

December 5
Orcas in Rolling Bay (NE Bainbridge Island).
Photo by Connie Bickerton

December 5
Orca, from Creosote, Bainbridge Island.
Photo by Connie Bickerton

December 5
Creosote, Bainbridge Island.
Photo by Connie Bickerton

December 5
Creosote, Bainbridge Island.
Photo by Connie Bickerton

December 5
At 2pm a group of 4 Orcas travelling south in the mid channel just off Wing Point on Bainbridge Island    
Jeff Scrugham

December 5
12:19 - They must be hunting/foraging. It's getting harder to keep track of them. Still approaching Fay Bainbridge but much closer to that side of the channel now. I'm always grateful for the opportunity to see whales but I'm especially grateful today! Thanks everybody!
12:05 - from Richmond beach I can see approximately 10 heading south swiftly. They are still mid channel approaching Fay Bainbridge.
Sara Troyer

December 5
11:49 - counted five. Moving south steady. out mid channel off President pt.
11:45 - Off President point moving south, near the channel marker.
Joanne Graves

December 5
11:22 - pod is at Kingston now steadily moving southbound... eastbound ferry getting great look. . I think more like 6-10 orcas. Gotta go. Hope you all have sweet day.
11:10 - from north Richmond Beach (kayu kayu) can see a pod of approx 5 just out from Apple Tree Pt. north of Kingston trending south near two small boats. Seeing tail lobs.
Alisa Lemire Brooks

December 5
10:40 - I spotted three find out towards Whidbey but more mid channel. Then there was another closer to Eglon south of the first three.
10:33 - At Eglon now. I have multiple fins close to shore. Appear to be foraging. I counted five fins no apparent direction. Deep dives.
Elyse Margaret

December 5
10:15 AM - from Rebecca French Gerke: They have turned back and headed NE...now off the south tip of Whidby. Small boat zipped out and floating amidst them. Getting a bit foggy/decreased visibility.

December 5
10:08am - My dad just called to tell me he has a pod right in front of his house on Eglon Beach, outside of Kingston, heading south! He said they are so far in it would be dry beach with the tide out. Wish I had pics. Awesome
Katlin Jones Lee

December 5
9:40 AM - Eglon a group of 5 (?) meandering about 200 feet offshore on the Kitsap side. No real direction, just back and forth. Tail slaps and a spy hop at a passing sailboat.
Rebecca French Gerke
Humpbacks
December 11
10:26 pm - Still hearing humpback vocals on Orcasound hydros.
Vickie Doyle

December 11
8:30 pm - humpbacks on Orcasound.
Josh McInnes
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.