Monthly Orca Update September 2007
Whale Report
By Jeanne Hyde, Orca Adoption Program Coordinator and Volunteer Naturalist at Lime Kiln Point State Park
The month of September began similar to August – no orcas! J, K and L pods once again left the Salish Sea waters and headed out toward the open ocean. There was lots of waiting and wondering as to when they would return. September might be described as ‘fewer whale-days but more whales.’ The whales leave the area more often in September and when we do see them, more often all three pods are together, making for some spectacular whale sightings. It doesn’t matter if you are sitting along the shore at Lime Kiln Point State Park, a bit further south at the San Juan County Land Trust, north at San Juan County Park, or if you are on a commercial whale watching vessel, “September Whales” can be truly awesome. And that is what they have been this past month.
Seeing 87 killer whales passing-by is a most amazing sight. They pass-by in groups, large and small, sometimes individuals from different pods are traveling together and other times they are in their family groupings. They are sometimes spread out several miles. Some may be close to where you are, while others may be far-off. You may get to see them breach, tail slap, spyhop, and most often you will hear yourself exclaiming, “There’s one!” “Oh look!” Or you may just be at a loss for words because it is overwhelming and words can’t describe the moment! That’s what occurred one September day when all three pods returned after what felt like a long absence.
J, K and L pods traveled in (east) through the Strait of Juan de Fuca to the south end of San Juan Island. They began to make their way north, ever so slowly. You see, they were having a ‘party’ (called socializing) and they really weren’t interested in traveling. They seemed to be ‘happy whales’ with lots of breaching, spyhopping, rolling around on one another, tail lobbing, mating, and the kids looked like they were having great fun too! During the ‘party’ the whales moved less than four miles the entire day! That night all three pods went north, but it seems no one knew, because there were no reports of hearing vocalizations over the hydrophones. They may have traveled silently through the range of the hydrophones during the night, or they may have passed-by far enough from shore that the hydrophones did not pick up their calls. However, the next day all three pods were found many miles north, past the Canadian Gulf Islands. They spent the day foraging and the next morning they were gone again! They were spotted heading west out the Strait of Juan de Fuca, toward the open ocean. Did they ‘sneak’ past the hydrophones on the west side of the island again or did they go south down Rosario Strait, across the southern end of Lopez Island and west out the Strait of Juan de Fuca? We may never know for sure which way they went, we only know where they were sighted that next day.
A few days later J Pod returned with Grace’s (L-2) subgroup. It seems that Ruffles (J-1) and Grace ‘took a liking’ to each other as they were seen spending lots of time together! Gaia (L-78) was seen traveling with Granny (J-2). Gaia is just 18 yrs old while Granny is in her nineties. Wave Walker (L-88) was hanging out with Blackberry (J-27) and Rhapsody (J-32). Splash (L-67) and Mike (J-26) were romping around a bit and Aurora (L-101), Splash’s offspring, was seen with Cookie (J-38) and Suttles (J-40). Aurora is about five years of age, Cookie is four years old and Suttles is the youngest of the three, being just about three years old. Of course the rest of J Pod was there too, but it was the pairing-up of the L-2s with specific J Pod whales that made for great observations! The L-2s remained with J Pod for more than a week. Then, after a couple weeks together, the L-2s decided not to continue traveling with J Pod. As the rest of the pods moved north, the L-2s remained behind with the L-9s (also called the L-5s) - Tanya (L-5), Flash (L-73), Saanich (L-74) and Nyssa (L-84).
There has been a rumor that Princess Angeline (J-17) may be pregnant. Is it because recently Princess Angeline has been seen several times traveling with Slick (J-16) and her five month old calf J-42? Since Princess Angeline’s youngest, Tahlequah, is nine years old, might she be reacquainting herself with caring for a baby? Prior to this month, Princess Angeline has most often been seen with her two offspring Polaris (J-28) and Tahlequah (J-35). During September, Polaris and Tahlequah have been observed several times traveling in the vicinity but not with their mom, as mom was with Slick and calf. These types of casual observations are always good to note because it can sometimes shed light on a future occurrence, possibly providing a tool for future observations. For example: Shortly before Eclipse (J-41) was born in 2005 and shortly before J-42 was born this year, J Pod changed their travel pattern and moved only short distances each day. It appeared that no one knew why they had reduced their daily area of travel to less than ten miles, when their normal daily travel was up to ten times that. The reduced travel range continued for several days and then, a new calf would be seen! A few days after each of these calves was born J Pod went back to what was considered a more normal travel pattern for them. If Princess Angeline were to have a calf in the near future, it may be a clue that when a female is pregnant she may be seen ‘hanging out’ with other moms who have calves. The pregnancy gestation period for a killer whale is 17 months so we may never know for sure!
One morning, as heavy fog lingered over the island and all across the water’s surface, there were reports of hearing the whales blow, other reports of hearing the whales over the hydrophones (www.orcasound.net click on Lime Kiln Lighthouse) and one phone call saying that there were ‘fins’ off the lighthouse! Upon further investigation J Pod was found making their way south. (It was later learned that they had gone north in the fog and then turned around.) It was a flood-tide [tide coming in (North)] and the whales were going against the tide (South). When this occurs, often the same whale will pass-by several times! They surface three or four times, then take a deeper dive and allow the tide to carry them back! You think you identified a whale passing-by, but then that same whale appears, causing you to wonder if you really got it right!
Two days later, all three pods were together and the L Pod new mothers all passed-by close to shore with their calves.
Moonlight (L-83) and L-110 (the newest calf- first seen 8/16/07), were seen with grandmother Marina (L-47) and great grandmother Ankh (L-21). With them were Nugget (L-55) and her middle offspring Lapis (L-103) who surfaced with kelp draped over her dorsal fin. Kasatka (L-82) was traveling with her youngest sibling L-109. Little L-109 was traveling in Kasatka’s slipstream (see description). She must have been babysitting, giving mom some quality time with sister Lapis. As they continued moving north, L-109 stuck his/her head straight up out of the water - an attempted spyhop - just as the other three surfaced in unison, one behind the other. Lapis first, then Nugget and last was Kasatka. With their next surfacing Lapis had moved over to join L-109, and Kasatka had moved to the far side of both youngsters, sandwiching Lapis and L-109 between the two adults!
Cali (K-34) has been one very observable whale this month. One day he was seen with kelp draped over his fluke, the next he was surprising observers by diving about 400 yards from shore and then surfacing less than 50 yards, heading directly toward the shore! Another time, Cali demonstrated ‘the art’ of tail slapping as he slapped his fluke on the water’s surface over and over again as he traveled south with K Pod! Scoter (K-25) has appeared several times in the company of whales that one wouldn’t normally expect. For example – he and Faith (L-57) traveled north along the kelp beds surfacing just in front of the lighthouse. Another time, Scoter, along with Skagit (K-13) and Cali were seen traveling with Ophelia (L-27) and her sisters Nugget and Surprise! (L-86) and their offspring.
During part of September, researchers from Cascadia Research were on the water collecting prey samples from the whales, whenever possible. Now just imagine following behind a 14,000 lb. whale, you in a 17’ inflatable zodiac vessel, standing in the ‘bow pulpit’ with a long handled swimming pool net, trying to scoop up particles on the water’s surface, left behind after a whale dives! Items collected from the water’s surface, once analyzed, can reveal many different types of information. For example, scientists are able to tell what species of salmon the whale had ingested and sometimes which river the salmon is from. For more information and pictures about this, go to http://www.cascadiaresearch.org/robin/kwdiet.htm.
As this monthly update was being completed, J, K and most L pods surprised us by coming south along the west side of San Juan Island. Two days before some L Pod whales remained at the south end of the island while the rest of the three pods went north. Reports stated that the northerly group had traveled north of the Fraser River, and were continuing north. They were expected to return south, but not unitl later in the day. However, they surprised everyone by showing up much earlier. It was just 8:15 a.m. when off in the distance there was a disturbance on the water. It was time for the binoculars! Two whales were spotted. Were they from the group that had remained to the south or was it the rest of the Southern Resident Community that had been north near the Fraser River? The answer came quickly as Georgia (K-11) surfaced; it was the northerly group coming back! Next Raggedy (K-40), who is usually seen with her brother Cappuccino (K-21), was observed porpoising south with Deadhead (K-27)! It isn’t often that we observe Raggedy porpoising, so that was doubly exciting to see! Behind these two whales were Skagit (K-13) and Sekiu (K-22). But where was Sekiu’s offspring Tika (K-33)? That question was soon answered, as three whales approached close to shore from the north. One youngster lunged, bringing his/her head completely out of the water - it was Rainshadow (K-37). Rainshadow’s mom Sequim (K-12) surfaced next, and there was Tika in front of both of them. All three surfaced close to the shore, along the kelp beds. The flat calm water and the quiet morning with the sun behind us added to the specialness of the pass-by. But that wasn’t the end of it. Many more whales in mixed family groups traveled past for the next two hours. Nugget, Kasatka and L-109, were traveling offshore with Ankh (L-21). Ankh slowed, then turned, lunged and dove looking as though she was after a salmon. Two young whales, Pooka (L-106) and who appeared to be Moonlight’s calf (L-110), surfaced face-to-face, and remained on the surface, facing each other for several seconds. When these two surfaced again they were side-by-side. It seems that L-110 is a bit young to be playing in this manner, however with the next surfacing L-110 was back by Moonlight’s side. Mega (L-41), Matia (L-77) and Ocean Sun (L-25) were a bit farther offshore. Not far from them were Shachi (J-19) and Calypso (L-94). Seeing Calypso with Shachi caused some to wonder if Calypso might be picking up some mothering tips from Shachi because it is rare to see Calypso with whales other than her sister Matia, brother Mega and close companion Ocean Sun. Eclipse (J-41), Shachi’s offspring, was off to herself rolling and diving and we wondered just what this two-year-old was up to. There were several gulls at the surface acting as if they were getting some food scraps. Each time Eclipse was about to surface the gulls would take off! Later, reviewing the photos from the morning revealed that Eclipse had a salmon in her mouth! Just imagine a two year old child eating. Well, it’s probably the same with a two year old killer whale and a big salmon, lots of tidbits all around! Another interesting combination: Lulu (L-53) was with Princess Angeline (J-17) and Solstice (L-89). Princess Angeline and Lulu were born the same year, so they are most likely ‘old friends’. But Solstice is just fourteen. He must have been along for the ride or interested in learning something from these two females.
The majority of J Pod whales passed-by far offshore. They all appeared to be heading west out the Strait of Juan de Fuca, but before too long they turned and came back in. One of the highlights of their return was when Ruffles was seen traveling north surrounded by Dall’s porpoises that were rooster tailing all around him. It’s called ‘rooster tailing’ because the speed at which the Dall’s porpoise travels, combined with surfacing causes the water to shoot-up, looking like a rooster’s tail. Dall’s porpoise are know for bow riding, skimming along the surface at high speed just off the bow of a boat as it moves through the water. This same thing occurred this time last year with Ruffles and the Dall’s porpoises. The Dall’s porpoises seemed to be using Ruffles like a boat. Ruffles just continued moving along, not changing his direction, seeming to pay no attention to these speedy small porpoises (the fastest of the small cetaceans - up to 35 mile per hour).
What is a Slipstream?
As a whale moves, the water is pushed away from in front and along its sides. As the whale continues on, water rushes from behind to fill in the gap created by the displaced water. A calf is able to travel close to mom in the ‘free space’ created from its mother’s body. (Note: There isn’t ever actually ‘free space’ because there is always water there, it is just moving water.) As the water rushes in from behind to fill in the gap it acts similar to a wave pushing a surfboard forward. It also helps keep the calf close to its mother as they travel along. This helps the calf conserve energy and keep up with the pod.
Whale Birthdays
Fluke - 1st seen 10/04 Cookie was first seen in late 2003.
L-108 Has Received a Name
Over 3,500 votes were cast to name L-108. The six eligible names were Echo, Inoke, Cayuco, Ozzie, Neah and Coho. Coho is the winning name. Coho is the name of a species of salmon that the Southern Resident orcas like to feed on. Coho salmon are also called ‘silvers.’ Maybe the name was so popular due to the fact that salmon are a threatened species and salmon are a major food source of the Southern Resident Community orcas. We all hope that Coho will find lots salmon to feast on! Coho is now available for adoption. There must be someone you know who would just love a Gift Adoption of this young whale!
Be sure to use your Seafood Watch cards when you go shopping or to a restaurant. Just one more way to help the whales and the oceans.
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Until next time….
