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In This Issue
Southern Residents
Transients/Bigg's whales
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JUNE
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FRAGILE WATERS
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June 20, 2015
Grand Illusion
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Orca Network recommends:
Puget Sound Whales for Sale: The Fight to End Orca Hunting, by
Sandra Pollard
This important volume recounts the people whose determined efforts ultimately succeeded in ending the captures.

_______________

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!

_________________

 

  David Kirby  

The bestseller about orcas in captivity

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

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June 17, 2015

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.
The male Transients, T125A and T128, that went north up Admiralty Inlet on the 14th turned out to be all of the T125s (see photos). This family of four (mom and 3 sons) came as far as Lagoon Point, Whidbey Island where they spent many hours trolling back and forth.  At some point in the night they turned south showing up in South Puget Sound the early morning hours of the 15th. The next day, yesterday, they started another journey northward and were last seen early evening rounding Point No Point, Kitsap northbound into Admiralty Inlet. We have received no reports today, so perhaps this time they really have left Puget Sound since first arriving down this way on June 4th. We'll see.

Late Spring/early Summer is in full swing with the Southern Residents. Members of all three pods, J, K and L,  are mixing it up off the west side of San Juan Island and other places as they roam their home waters. Our hope is they are all finding enough salmon to grow these families and to keep in good enough health to grow healthy thriving pods.

Thank you to those who share beautiful images and reports so that  others have the opportunity to get to know these iconic beauties and that data can be collected to aid in the recovery of these beings we all care about so deeply. And, as summer heats up please familiarize yourself with, and help educate others, how to safely and legally share the waters with marine mammals and to Be Whale Wise.

Orca Network 
Photo of the Day
June 15 
Bigg's/Transient T65A5 (b. 2014)
Photo by Connie Bickerton, June 15, 2015
(Taken with 400mm lens and cropped) 
Southern Residents  
June 16
A little bouncy out there today but great to see group A of J pod in the Strait of Georgia!
J51 peeking up beside mom and J49 trailing right behind.
Photo by Gary Sutton, June 16, 2015

June 16
J26, "Mike" a split second before his massive pec fin hit the water.
Gorgeous afternoon up near East point on Saturna, BC with part of J Pod!
We spent time with the J16's and J26 "Mike" just couldn't stop doing pec fin slaps!
Photo by Traci Walter, June 16, 2015 

June 16
One of the new calves in the J16's and Mt Baker
Photo by Traci Walter, June 16, 2015  

June 16
L87, "Onyx" and Mt Baker
Photo by Traci Walter, June 16, 2015

June 16
J26 "Mike" and Mt Baker
Photo by Traci Walter, June 16, 2015

June 16
Tonight we had the most amazing encounter with the J16's traveling south through Boundary Pass. However, it's no surprise that the one claiming all the attention was none other than little six-month old J50. I've never seen a baby orca breach so much!...Her sister, J42 Echo was also carrying on with her, breaching with J50 as she babysat...Likewise, J52 has also started breaching and engaging in lots of social activity. Those two are going to have so much fun growing up together .
Heather MacIntyre

June 16
J calf breach
Photo by Heather MacIntyre, June 16, 2015

June 16
Here's a shot of the K12s from this afternoon at Lime Kiln, when an interesting mix of members of all three pods came by...it looked to be about 15 whales from L-Pod and I think half of J-Pod in there with all the Ks.
Photo by Monika Wieland, June 16, 2015

June 16
1:08 pm - A couple Calls on the Orca Sound.
12:15 pm - Hearing loud calls on Lime Kiln
Nathan Harrison

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

June 15
Blissful day aboard the M/V Sea Lion with J (J16s & J19s) and K pods along the west side of San Juan in the afternoon and just north of East Point in the evening.
Sarah McCullagh

June 15
K22 Sekiu breach off of Hannah Heights, San Juan Island
Photo by Sarah McCullagh, June 15, 2015

June 15
J50 surfacing just behind momma J16 Slick
Photo by Sarah McCullagh, June 15, 2015

June 15
J26 Mike surfacing with what appears to be a halibut in his mouth!
Photo by Sarah McCullagh, June 15, 2015

June 15
J36 Alki with son J52
Photo by Sarah McCullagh, June 15, 2015

June 15
This morning Js and Ks headed east from Victoria towards San Juan Island. At 12:30 PM they approached Lime Kiln from the south, heading north. The J16s were in the lead, followed by the K14s, J19s, then J2s. They stalled out at this point, seemingly waiting for the others the catch up - and around 1:30 they were joined by the K12s. Others (presumably the rest of them) were offshore, and by 2 PM they had all turned south again.
Monika Wieland

June 15
Today was the first day Whale Scout and SSAMN (Salish Sea Assoc. of Marine Naturalists) had volunteers out at the Westside Preserve (San Juan Island)...The goal of this new program is to provide land-based whale watching experiences leading to stewardship of the marine environment. J and K pod hung around the entire afternoon...
Whitney Neugebauer

June 15
Some groups came close to shore and then hung around the south end of the preserve.
Photo by Whitney Neugebauer, June 15, 2015

June 15
It was this woman's first time seeing orcas! Now she will be spoiled.
Photo by Whitney Neugebauer, June 15, 2015

June 15
Short fences mark the trails through the preserve protecting sensitive plants
and wildflowers. This is possibly my favorite photo of the day showing
the beauty of the land and the sea.
Photo by Whitney Neugebauer, June 15, 2015

June 15
Another hot, sunny day here in the islands and I spent it relaxing on the west side of San Juan Island. While I soaked up some rays, I soaked up some orcas in the process as J and K pods wandered up and down the coast with the tide.
Katie Jones

June 15
This is J22 Oreo breaching with one of her family members watching the acrobatics.
Photo by Katie Jones, June 15, 2015

June 15
Many, many orcas off Lime Kiln today around 2:00 this afternoon,
some just right off the kelp beds.
Photo by Shelly Turne Greybeck, June 15, 2015

June 15
One more from Lime Kiln looking north.
Photo by Shelly Turne Greybeck, June 15, 2015

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

June 14
10:10pm - hearing faint J and possibly K calls. Been hearing intermittent calls the past hour.
Alisa Lemire Brooks

June 14
On the evening of June 14th we headed out to look for Js and Ks, and found the leaders (the K13s and K22s) rocketing southbound from Henry Island at 6:30 PM. We continued north as they continued south, and we encountered most of the rest of Js and Ks just south of Stuart Island. We followed them as they made their way to Lime Kiln at about 8:30 PM. As we headed home, we encountered what may have been the trailers (at least the J16s) off the north end of San Juan Island at 8:45 PM.
Monika Wieland, San Juan Island

June 14
A huge breach last night off the north end of San Juan Island.
Photo by Monika Wieland, June 14, 2015

June 14
Another amazing night in Haro Strait - and my first encounter with K-Pod in 2015!
Here are the J14s and K14s booking it south towards San Juan Island.
Photo by Monika Wieland, June 14, 2015

June 14
Today was a pretty special day on the water. J Pod breach!
Photo by Traci Walter, June 14, 2015
Biggs'/Transient orcas
June 16 - Spieden Channel
T65As and T77s in Spieden Channel off the north end of San Juan Island, WA at sunset.
(Warning: Prey event, not graphic)
Video by Monika Wieland, June 16, 2015

June 16 - Puget Sound
7:02 pm - The two I saw (T128 & T125A) looked to be angled towards Whidbey Island. I never found T127 or T125 from Point No Point. When I saw them from Kingston those two were ahead and closer to mid channel.
6:32 pm -  heading north east out of Admiralty. Just north of Point No Point lighthouse. Only two males so far. Only saw T128 and T125A from Point No Point.
6:22 pm - one just south of Point No Point, milling at this point
Connie Bickerton

June 16 - Puget Sound
4:57 pm - Closer to shore were two males, one with big chunk out of dorsal, T125A
(with T128 surfacing)
Photo by Connie Bickerton, June 16, 2015

June 16 - Puget Sound
4:43pm - T127 passing further out towards mid channel in front of
Apple Tree Cove in Kingston
Photo by Connie Bickerton, June 16, 2015

June 16 - Puget Sound
6:24pm - watching one staying in pretty much in one spot, southeast of Point No Point, east of shipping lane
6:09 pm - cruise ship past one just barely to the west of the orca. Looks like another orca in the lead. Point No Point (Kitsap) people should be seeing soon!
Stu Davidson

June 16 - Puget Sound
4:55 pm - from Edmonds Marina Beach seeing blows just north of Kingston, still on Kitsap side of channel. They are grouped in twos a little spread out continuing northbound at a steady pace.
4:33 pm - I moved north to Richmond Beach.  4 orcas. I can tell it's T127. Chunky disfigured dorsal. 3 males, one female. Just south of Kingston, on the Kitsap side.
3:45 pm - Picked up a 2nd and possible a third male that looks to have a dorsal like T127.
3:00 pm -  from Carkeek Park (north Seattle) I see one male mid channel moving steadily northbound.
Alisa Lemire Brooks

June 16 - Juan de Fuca Strait
2:55 pm - Albert Furst called from inside Ediz Hook at Port Angeles as he watched 4-6 orcas churning up the water while apparently catching a seal about 100 yards off the beach and 1/4 mile or so inside the hook.

June 16  - Puget Sound
1:30 - Maia of WA State Ferries reports one or two orcas in the traffic lane between Bainbridge Island and Seattle, heading east.

June 16 - Puget Sound
7:25 am - I'm watching 2 orcas from Luhr Beach boat ramp. They are off the mouth of the Nisqually. A male with a notched fin (brief video clip showed T127-ALB ) and a smaller (female?). Heading north towards Steilacoom.
Chris Warlow

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

June 15 - Juan de Fuca Strait
An amazing day with a very social family group, T65As. When I watched them on Friday (6/12) they were quietly traveling through Agate Pass (Kitsap County). Today in the wind and waves they were incredibly playful. Approx. mid channel Strait of Juan de Fuca between Port Angeles, WA and Victoria, BC.
Connie Bickerton

June 15 - Juan de Fuca Strait
Close up on T65A2's dorsal wounds.
Photo by Connie Bickerton, June 15, 2015
(Taken with 400mm lens and cropped)

June 15 - Juan de Fuca Strait
T65A4 (b. 2011) and T65A5 (b. 2014)
Photo by Connie Bickerton, June 15, 2015
(Taken with 400mm lens and cropped)

June 15 - Juan de Fuca Strait
T065A, 065A4, and 065A5 headed south west in the  Juan de Fuca Strait
Photo by Mark Malleson, June 15, 2015

June 15 - Strait of Georgia
4:00 pm - today halfway between Secret Cove and Pender Harbour about 2 miles offshore, a single large Orca heading south at a leisurely pace, breaching about once per minute.   
Ralph Gorby

June 15 - Puget Sound
1:45 pm - from Steilacoom ferry at least 3 mid channel slowly moving south on east side of Anderson Island.
1:00  pm - watched 3 or 4 from Titlow traveling south, hugging Gig Harbor/Fox Island side. Now just out of sight behind Day Island.
12:46 pm - Southbound south of Narrows bridge close to Gig Harbor side
Jill Clogston

June 15 - Puget Sound
Taken from Titlow. Lots of distortion, but we saw at least 3 orca pass by around 1:00.
Photo by Jill Clogston, June 15, 2015

June 15 - Puget Sound
T127
1:00 pm - Passed Fox Island Fishing Pier steaming hard south...4-6 of them.
Photo by Glenn Hansen, June 15, 2015

June 15 - Puget Sound
T128 and T125
Photo by Glenn Hansen, June 15, 2015

June 15 - Puget Sound
12:20 pm - Out from Salmon Beach and rapidly moving south toward the Narrows.
12:11 pm - 3 to 4 Orcas off of south Vashon , between Gig Harbor and tip of Point Defiance.
Michele Riley Campbell

June 15 - Puget Sound
10:45 pm - Brian Owens called to say a male orca and a couple of others were about 300 yards off Owens Beach heading toward the Tacoma Narrows bridge.

June 15 - Juan de Fuca Strait
9:30 am - Orcas in Port Angeles Harbor. I attempted to take photos but the light was low and my lens was only 150mm. I have photos of at least 5 dorsal fins visible at one time. The group seemed to consist of several very small whales and one much larger than the rest. I only saw markings which indicated they were Orcas on the largest of the pod. The whales would only breach occasionally and did not appear to be moving quickly or hunting. They did not seem to be playing. I did see seal shortly before and after the sighting so I doubt they were feeding.
Carlton Chastain

June 15 - Juan de Fuca Strait
8:00 am- Lone orca hunting off Cadboro Bay/Jemmy Jones (off Victoria) for 40 minutes. Judging by grey saddle patch, might have been T012A (unconfirmed). Left for Haro Strait afterwards.
Glenn Barker

June 15 - Puget Sound
T127
7:05 am - Today I saw a male and female Orca feeding at Three tree Point
near the Des Moines Marina.
Photo by Peter Madonna, June 15, 2015

June 15 - Puget Sound
5:55 am - 1 Male orca traveling south off Fauntleroy (West Seattle) ferry terminal terminal. Distinct notch or bend on tip of dorsal fin.
Burt Miller

June 15 - Puget Sound
5:50 am - Lone male orca, with hooked dorsal fin,  on 0550 Fauntleroy ferry from Vashon to Fauntleroy.
Kevin Silis

*********************
June 14 - Admiralty Inlet
Another beautiful day. Orca reports indicated all long distance trips, our closest option being to Whidbey Island and Admiralty Inlet. There we found 4 Transients, T127 with a very distinguished dorsal fin, and he travels with T125, T125A and T128. They were slowly heading north - we found them just north of Lagoon Point. A super day with lots of amazing views of these beautiful mammals as they appeared to be foraging, with lots of tail slaps. It was a long trip, but so well worth it.
Jill Hein, volunteer naturalist.

June 14 - Admiralty Inlet
Look at the size of that pectoral fin (T127). T125A on the left.
Photo by Jill Hein, June 14, 2015

June 14 -  Admiralty Inlet
T128 in back, T125 in middle, T127 is closest.
Photo by Jill Hein, June 14, 2015

June 14 - Admiralty Inlet
As they fully surfaced...T128 in back, T125 in middle and T127.
Photo by Jill Hein, June 14, 2015

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

June 13 - Puget Sound
Saw 4 orcas south of Tacoma Narrows Bridge Saturday night, traveling north.  3 boats with them near Toliva Shoal.
Chris Maxwell

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

June 12 - Puget Sound
8:17-9:55 pm -Thanks to Connie Bickerton for alerting me the T65As had exited northbound Agate Pass (west side of Bainbridge Island) Once I arrived at Richmond Beach Saltwater Park (Shoreline) I immediately spotted blows across Puget Sound in the north end of Port Madison near Indianola. The pod then turned south directionally towards Bainbridge Island. I lost them for a bit and short time later (8:45) I spotted them to the south porppoising towards Faye Bainbridge park. At least one made it to the park while the others hung just to the north lazily circling. I thought they might be on a kill but a short time later they all huddled up, turned and began traveling at a steady pace northbound, which they continued into darkness. With just enough light lingering, I last saw them passing Appletree Cove, Kingston still northbound at 9:55 pm.
Alisa Lemire Brooks

June 12 - Puget Sound
7:45-8:30 pm - Spent all day trying to find the Transients reported in the Bremerton area. I was waiting for them at Old Man House in Suquamish (Agate Pass), and was getting ready to give up, when I took one last look around - and there they were. It was quiet, and I could hear them breathing - the most perfect sound in the world. At 7:45 hey passed me at Old Man House in Suquamish heading east, a boat came in very respectively, but they dove and disappeared. About 8:00pm they were hugging the north shore and it looked like they found the Harbor porpoise, then I lost them again.  At 8:12 they appear to be heading east and north. Perfect conditions. (ID'd as T65As. Connie's photos included in June 14 report)
Connie Bickerton

June 12 - Puget Sound
4:26 pm - Orcas are now straight across from Illahee. Headed toward Poulsbo slowly. I didn't see them again after I posted this. They went under and I'm not sure which direction they went!
Megan Rogers

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

June 6 - Puget Sound
I was lucky enough to see what I think were three different pods, here is one of them. Off of Pickering Rd. by the bridge in
Pickering Passage.
Video by Maria Nelson, June 6, 2015
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*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.