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Orca Network 

Whale Sighting Report  
In This Issue
Southern Residents.
Transients/Bigg's Killer Whales
Coastal orcas.
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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orca Lolita/Tokitae,

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in 1970, somehow surviving in a small tank at the Miami Seaquarium ever since.

Tokitae looking up at us from her tank in Miami, FL in the late 1990s 

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January 2, 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.
Who's the Mom?? We're excited by the discovery of a new baby, dubbed J50, but after the initial celebration the questions started to flood over all sorts of media. The baby was seen with 42-year old J16 Slick, but there were those strange, deep tooth rake marks on the baby's dorsal fin, looking just like another orca had pulled the baby out of its mother's womb. And it was strange that big sister J36 Alki. 16-years old, was not around. Fears grew that J36 was the real mom but had possibly died during the birth, but later it was reported that she was lagging far behind, consistent with the spread out travel pattern seen that day. So we still don't know for sure who's the mom, but hopefully we'll find out in the next few days. Coincidentally,  another member of J pod, J27 Blackberry, was satellite tagged and is broadcasting their travels every few hours, as you'll see in track maps below, including a highly unusual side trip into Eastsound, Orcas Island.

In this KING5 report, Ken Balcomb, director of Center for Whale Research, tells what might have happened when J50 was born, and to whom the baby may have been born. And in this AP report, Brad Hanson of NOAA speculates that J pod may have gone all the way into East Sound, Orcas Island, about the time the new baby may have been born. You'll find the tracks below. Tom Averna, veteran whale watch captain on Orcas Island, comments:  "We've had transients travel up in to Eastsound. I don't remember ever seeing the residents there. There is a small salmon hatchery (Long Live the Kings) up in Eastsound though."

For a good description of the satellite tag tracking device now attached to J27, see J pod will be tracked by satellite again this year by Chris Dunagan.

The T137s and the T36Bs (Transients/Bigg's Whales) are still cruising all over south Puget Sound, especially around Anderson Island, and were seen in Saratoga Passage, including a close pass by Possession Point that was well photographed.

A very big Miracle March for Lolita followed by an all day lineup of presentations in Virginia Key park is set to take place in front of the Seaquarium in Miami on January 17. Momentum is building fast for this silent walk past the main gate of the theme park holding the L pod female orca, first named Tokitae, now called Lolita. All are welcome to join in, with a black and white motif for the day.

See you at Ways of Whales 2015 January 24th at the Coupeville Middle School Performing Arts Center, 501 South Main Street Coupeville WA 98239 (same place as last year). Registration opening soon.

Howard Garrett and Susan Berta, Orca Network 

Photo of the Day
December 30
Meet J50, the newest member of J pod!
 A New J Pod Calf On 12/30/14
Photo by Melisa Pinnow
Southern Residents
January 2
January 1 mid-day J-pod turned back south - this map shows 38 hours of movements through 9:43 AM January 2, with J-pod in the central Strait of Georgia off Texada Island.
For more information on the southern resident killer whale satellite tagging research effort see Southern Resident killer whale tagging. Map courtesy of Robin Baird, Cascadia Research.

January 1
Early on January 1, J27 was off Savary Island in the northern Strait of Georgia - this map shows movements from about 2 AM on December 31st through about 6 AM January 1.
See  Southern Resident killer whale tagging. Map courtesy of Robin Baird, Cascadia Research.

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December 31
After an unprecedented visit into Eastsound, Orcas Island, in the early hours of December 30, 24 hours later in the morning of December 31, J27 was off of Sechelt, in the central Strait of Georgia.
See  Southern Resident killer whale tagging. Map courtesy of Robin Baird, Cascadia Research.

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December 30
Around 4-5 AM on the morning of December 30, J27 and presumably all or most of J pod ventured into the upper reaches of Eastsound, Orcas Island, for the first time in recent history. Later that day, just after 1 pm newborn J50 was discovered about 32 miles away in Swanson Channel.
Map courtesy of Robin Baird, Cascadia Research.

December 30
The Center for Whale Research has posted a detailed account of their encounter with J pod, including photos and the discovery of the newborn calf, J50: Encounter #76.

December 30
J50 follows behind presumed mom J16.
Photo by the Center for Whale Research

December 30
J50's dorsal fin shows tooth rake marks likely caused by an adult pulling the baby into the world at the moment of birth.
Photo by the Center for Whale Research

December 30
J16 and J50!
Photo by Melisa Pinnow 

December 30
Newborn J50 off swimming by him- or herself.
Photo by Mark Malleson

December 30
J27 Blackberry heading past Turn Point Lighthouse.
Photo by John Boyd

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December 29
J27's movements through the Canadian Gulf Islands the day after he was tagged off Bush Point, Admiralty Inlet, about 1 pm on December 28.
Map courtesy of Robin Baird, Cascadia Research

Transients/Bigg's Killer Whales 
January 2
About 2 pm in the very southern part of Longbranch, Wa...almost to Devils Head.
Photo by Michael Viergutz

January 2
1:45 - With binos they be seen from Solo Point (about two miles north of Nisqually Reach).
1:36 - They're following the gray boat and were porpoising at one point. Off the south end of Anderson now, heading west. I'm at Solo Point.
1:33 - They're now following the gray boat that's heading southwest along the south side of Anderson.
1:30 - They're off the east side of Anderson Island. Just playing around, no specific direction of travel.
Jessica Pagan

January 2
12:42 - This in from Bob on Anderson Island. "Whales just sighted from the Anderson Island Ferry at noon looking west towards Eagle Island close to the north end of Anderson Island and the south end of McNeil Island." So they headed north and hung a west and are between Anderson and McNeil.

January 2
10:52 - Orcas off Anderson Island between the ferry lanes and Ket. Island. 1 male, 1 juvenile and 1 or 2 females. (updated edit-Looked like they were heading north, slow possibly foraging)
Elizabeth Get Kraken Swanser

January 2
Jeanette Leah reports seeing two orcas between Blake island and Southworth ferry heading toward Manchester around 9:45. They were moving quick, on a mission!

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January 1
Transient orca T137s and T036Bs were once again sighted in Puget Sound. They were sighted harassing sea birds and to have peacefully approached a paddle boarder. They were sighted in Hale Passage on the north side of Fox Island and heading east. Big thanks to Kim Merriman, Kelly Burns Keenan, and Belan Bilgic Schneider.

January 1
T137A and an unidentified juvenile in Puget Sound.
Photo by Belan Bilgic Schneider

January 1
T137s and T036Bs in Puget Sound.
Photo by Belan Bilgic Schneider

January 1
T137s and T036Bs in Puget Sound.
Photo by Belan Bilgic Schneider

January 1
Whales were at Anderson Island ferry dock this afternoon, seen from a couple miles away at Steilacoom ferry dock.
James Gresham

January 1
2:54pm - They appear to be south of the ferry landing on Anderson Island.
Daniel Szekely

January 1
12:44 - Viewed from Chambers Bay. Three orcas playing!
Brandie Hassing

January 1
12:42 - Orcas on the East side of Fox Island, heading South towards McNeil, on the Fox Island side of the sound.
Photo by Don Gaines

January 1
12:41 - They are just passing by between Fox Island and Sunset beach! So awesome to see!!!
Sue Gaines

January 1
12:36 - I saw the pod from the southern most point on Pt. Fosdick in Gig Harbor. They were hanging out in the middle of the Sound between the Fox Island Dock (east side of the island) and University Place/ Chambers Bay.
Dan Ratkus

January 1
12:25 - moving south hugging Fox island breaching and playing!!!
Erica Leuty

January 1
1218 - moving south towards Chambers Bay. Closer to Fox Island.
1210 - seeing from Titlow Beach looking towards Fox Island. Mid channel. Keep changing directions.
Jennifer McKee-johnson

January 1
12:12 - Seeing now from Narrows Park.
Russ McPhee

January 1
Taken as they were in Hale Passage, north side of Fox Island heading east towards Tacoma, still in narrows passage south of the bridges.
Photo by Anita Asmussen

January 1
Just taken as they head out to the narrows channel south of the bridges. Still in channel!
Photo by Anita Asmussen

January 1
Photographing the orca photographers at Titlow Beach around noon.
Photo by Katy Erickson

January 1
12:19 - close to the Tacoma side south of Narrows Marina trending south. Still harassing the paddleboarder!
12:12 - now they have turned and are heading south. Giving a paddle boarder a good scare!!
12:06 - they are directly off Pt. Fosdick...milling possibly feeding. One boat following way too close. Trending towards the Narrows now, mid channel.
11:51 - off Pt. Fosdick possibly mid channel. Hard to tell from Hales Passage, just saw a breach.
11:50 - They are right off Pt. Fosdick now. Near a sail boat.
11:45 - I'm on Wollochet, looking into Hales Passage. Can see blows right off Point Fosdick. Can not tell direction of travel.
Melissa Bird

January 1
11:01 - Now on north side of Fox Island just going past the yacht club headed west in Hale Passage between Fox Island and Point Fosdick/Wollochet, headed west but one turned around and headed east towards to Tacoma.
Anita Asmussen

January 1
10:56 - visible from Narrows. My brother spotted them! Seemed to be heading north, but because we were driving, I can't be certain.
Jessica Pagan

January 1
10.30 - off far end of Fox Island..no direction.
Jennie Sheridan

January 1
A pod of 3-4 orcas surfaced, easily seen from ferry just about 2 miles from Steilacom dock en route to Anderson Island, and again on the way back from Anderson Island.
Carol Harkness

January 1
10:45 - they are heading north towards Narrows closer to Fox Island side.
10:08 - mid channel between Fox and McNeil.. No direction yet.
Jill Clogston

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December 31
4:00 PM - Orcas at Burfoot Park. We saw between 6-8 orcas at burfoot park today! Beautiful, and so close! They seemed to be travelling south towards Olympia.
Kate Parker

December 31
3:47pm - Several Orcas playing with birds near Boston Harbor Marina in Olympia. Headed into Budd Inlet currently.
Peace Corey

December 31
3:46pm - Happy New Year's Eve - pod people. WHALES visiting us here in the south Sound. Slowly heading into Budd Inlet. 3-5 of them.
Kim Merriman

December 31
2:25pm - Just saw a group of four off the south end of Harstine island headed south toward bud inlet. One male. Happy way to end the year!
Tom Yocum

December 31
11:40 AM - Mother and baby sighting. We saw two Orcas out in Nisqually near Tolmie State Park. Mother and baby. Traveling, feeding.
Julia Sweeney

December 31
10:24 - Anderson Island is reporting 3-4 off Sandy Cove headed South!!
Krissie Carl

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December 30
4:55pm - Single male orca at Prevost Island. On the ferry from Swartz Bay to Mayne Island, spotted a single (I think, never saw more than one at a time) male orca just south east of Prevost Island (Canadian Gulf Islands) between the ferry and the island. It looked small to me, but I wouldn't know as this was my first sighting ever! Definitely a male though, based on the very tall dorsal fin. Thanks so much for this website! Recent sightings in the area are what kept me motivated to stay out on the cold deck so long! He came up maybe 10 times and disappeared just as I pulled out my camera and just as my wife joined me!
Jeff Turner
Note: The orca in this sighting was not identified.

December 30
My name is Wayne Barnes & am a wildlife photographer in Tofino. I came across a small pod of 4 Orcas. It appeared to be 3 adult females with two calves.
Dave Ellifrit and Josh McInnes confirmed the ID on these orcas as Transient orcas T68C's, T68C, C1 and C3.

December 30
Bob Lyden just posted: I just received a call from Joe in Thompson Cove (south end of Anderson Island) that there were about Five (5) Orcas in the Cove probably looking for sea lions between 9:00 AM and 10:30 AM this morning and they left when some boats arrived. Joe said there was also approx. (4) Sea Lions hugging the shoreline at the same time, and he sees one out there now at 2:00 PM on this afternoon. so this probably is the same pod that has been around Anderson Island for the last seven (7) weeks.
Kelly Burns Keenan

December 30
Not sure of pod identification, but seeing 3 or 4 orcas heading north through Tacoma Narrows.
Steve Finney

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December 29
 They continued south slowly down the shore, tail slapping buoys as they went by. I spent an hour watching these orcas pass very close to shore, a pod I have never seen before. It took me 3 hours to finally catch up to them, and just as I was about to head home and give up, this happened. It was a truly amazing day.
Rachel Haight

December 29
Taken at Possession Point Park, south tip of Whidbey Island. These are the T137s, thanks to Josh McInnes for the ID. One was tail slapping a buoy.
Photo by Rachel Haight

December 29
 They disappeared for 5 minutes and surfaced about 100 feet or less from shore in a tight knit group.
Photo by Rachel Haight

December 29
They approached very close to shore and appeared to be hunting.
Photo by Rachel Haight

December 29
 They continued south slowly down the shore, tail slapping buoys as they went by. I spent an hour watching these orcas pass very close to shore, a pod I have never seen before.
Photo by Rachel Haight

December 29
It took me 3 hours to finally catch up to them, and just as I was about to head home and give up, this happened. It was a truly amazing day.
Photo by Rachel Haight

December 29
We got a tail slap as they left Possession Point as if to say goodbye. I was trying to video, but was too excited and forgot to hit start.
Photo by Dori Dace

December 29
They were even closer to shore than this! So beautiful!
Photo by Dori Dace

December 29
Here they are heading off into the sunset.
Photo by Dori Dace

December 29
Bigg's (Transient) killer whales T137s- Possession Sound-Dec 24, 2014
Bigg's (Transient) killer whales T137s- Possession Sound-Dec 29, 2014
Filmed by Alisa Lemire Brooks
December 29
Video by Alisa Lemire Brooks - Since mid-late November the T137s (mammal eaters) have been documented nearly everyday somewhere in the inland waters of Puget Sound, primarily roaming the inlets deep in the south Sound. Today came word of orcas southbound in Saratoga Passage in the north Sound. From the bluffs above Mukilteo Lighthouse park we spotted their blows as they neared the Clinton Ferry terminal on Whidbey Island. This video follows them southbound in Possession Sound until they reach Possession Point where they regrouped became very surface active, as if on a kill. Across on shore was a friend who was gifted with a very close up encounter. The pods approached within 100 feet of shore and she photographed one as it engaged in tail-lobbing a buoy. She was able to get IDable photos of at least one matriline, the others were not ID'd at this time. We followed the pod(s) southbound and ended in Shoreline watching the orcas pass the Kingston ferry terminal minutes before the sun nestled down for the night behind the Olympic Mountains.

December 29
The Victoria Clipper reports seeing 3 orcas in Possession Sound headed north between Camano Head and Sandy Point.

December 29
1232 - above marina in Langley. Can see three orcas near Camano side. Lots of splashing. Appear to be eating. Not really moving.
Jennifer Thorn Scanlon

December 29
12:28 - We lost them at the south end of Camano.
12 noon - Two orca just spotted heading south near Langley. We're at boy and dog park!
Sharon Harper-Peck

December 29
12:03 - Ok they are coming south towards Langley mid channel.
11:40 - I'm in Langley and see an Orca now passing Elger Bay Camano side coming towards Langley but Camano side.
10:45 am or so, saw one in or near Elger Bay moving fast going towards Langley. I am on my way to Langley.
Marilyn Armbruster

December 29
10:am - at Long Point southeast of Coupeville, we spotted from six to eight Orcas within 150 yards of the shore line. They appeared around a floating dock and stayed for several minutes...the they proceeded southeast towards Snakelum Point and on south via Sarratoga passage.
Dennis Hauff

December 29
9:57 - Orcas in Saratoga passage! 3 or 4 of them - by Cama Beach - heading south.
Jill Hein

December 29
9:53 am - Alleged small group of orcas in Saratoga passage just south of Penn Cove. I didn't see them but the wheelhouse slowed down for a second or two and said they were behind us. I missed them so can't say for sure who or give direction of travel.
Renee Beitzel

December 29
Killer whale south bound southwest of Race Rocks. I spotted a few killer whales (looked like transients) in less than ideal conditions near Race Rocks. Before I could confirm who they were they surfed off to the south and disappeared into the 6 foot seas.
Photo by Mark Malleson, Prince of Whales

December 28
Walking with some friends at the Heron Rocks campground (in western Georgia Strait, between Nanaimo and Campbell River), with hundreds of Stellers + California sealions on the rocks and in the water, off TOBY Island, there was a SINGLE, YOUNG ORCA, (2 years old?) swimming back and forth nearby, creating quite some commotion amongst the swimmers.
Still, NONE took to the rocks. It all seemed strange to us. Could not detect any white marking on its smallish dorsal fin.
Jan Steen

December 26
11:02 AM - 1 Male, 2 Females and a calf were seen looking out to the Narrows from the 17th green of the Chambers Bay golf course.
Bruce Murray


December 23
Our friends that own the Marina, Fair Harbor, said their were Orcas down here last Tuesday morning. They were across from us at Rocky Bay and then went north toward Allyn (north end of Case Inlet) and then back again, and headed out around Anderson Island.  There were 5ish smaller ones and another set of a large and small.
Margot Ladd
Coastal orcas
January 2
Cape Meares, OR, Park Ranger Travis Corby reports seeing a pod of one adult male and two smaller orcas two hundred yards off the cape between noon and 1:30 pm today, heading north toward Tillamook Bay, OR. Park visitors had reported seeing more orcas - possibly up to 10 earlier in the day, and seals and sea lions were all on the rocks. He said the visitors reported the orcas were attacking a crab pots - I asked if they were doing that by tail lobbing the crab pot buoy and he said yes. This is incredible, as we've just had two reports of that happening with Transients in Puget Sound this past week - but something we have never seen or heard of before - interesting! Anyone else out there remember seeing Transients (or Residents?) attacking crab pots in the past?

January 2
After the above report was posted on the Orca Network facebook page this report of the same encounter appeared:
Chris Fisher Hill I was there watching the greys at Cape Meares and first spotted the Orcas today. At first they were in the inlet towards the rocks with the seals. They lingered for almost half an hour working their way around the lighthouse point and off to the north. some seemed to be working in circles possibly fishing. I watched one throw, roll, slap etc the crab pot. There were at least 10. What a sighting of a lifetime. I still can't believe it. Oh yeah and they grey whales were abundant too!

A possible explanation: It is not uncommon that crab pot bait attracts swarms of mysiids and other zooplankton, which sometimes attracts fish. Perhaps the orca are trying to stun fish associated with the pot or buoy.
Bruce Mate, Director, Marine Mammal Institute
Oregon State University  

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.