J Pod
We had reports of J Pod heading South past Point Roberts around noon. Giles, Jim, Aisha, and Michelline headed to the research vessel and we cast off around 2 pm. We arrived on scene with Southern Resident killer whales just South of Saturna island, with many shore-based whale watchers checking them out as they came together in the sanctuary off of Tumbo Channel. They seemed to take a rest from their travels to mill and play with each other in the sanctuary before continuing their journey Southwest. We were surveying in ideal conditions as the whales slowly fought the current in Boundary Pass. The light wind made for challenging scent detection, but after a couple of hours on scene both Eba, Giles, and Aisha caught a scent of a sample! It took about 20-30 minutes to locate the sample, but we found it in the end! We headed back to Snug Harbor around 6 pm and were happy to know that the whales had a beautiful evening to themselves.
Research Vessel
R/V Cheena
Species
Southern Resident Killer Whales
Pods
J Pod
Research Activities
Fecal Collection, Behavior Data
This work is made possible in part by a grant from
J Pod
Wednesday morning started off with exciting sightings of SRKW off the west side of San Juan island. They were visible from the Lime Kiln Livestream, and we knew it was going to be a great day. At 8:55 AM, Giles, Jim, Aisha, Imani, and Preston prepared to boat for a day of surveying. It was sunny with a slight breeze in the harbor. We arrived on scene at 10:01 AM on the west side with J27 and family. It was reported that J pod was there, and we certainly saw dozens of whales spread from Eagle Point, stretching all the way to the lighthouse and further north.
We saw a perfect example of the “westside shuffle”, with whales spread along the westside going up and down throughout the day. As they were flipping, they were exhibiting foraging behaviors. We saw many high-arch dives and rapid movement and direction change, which Giles noted as whales chasing fish. The whales spent all day changing directions and hunting. The whales traveled in small groups or alone, with our largest group being 5 whales, including a calf. Many of the large males spent time offshore further into Haro Strait. The Center for Whale Research team reported many of them playing and socializing in the morning.
In the afternoon, the weather changed, and conditions were more optimal north of the lighthouse. We saw a couple of breaches, but mostly, the whales continued foraging. We were happy to see all the whales foraging and enjoying the west side.
Research Vessel
R/V Cheena
Species
Southern Resident Killer Whales
Pods
J Pod
Research Activities
Fecal Collection, Behavior Data
This work is made possible in part by a grant from
J, K, & L Pod
The Wild Orca team, Giles, Jim, Aisha, and volunteer Robyn, set out on the water at noon. It was partly cloudy and 62 degrees Fahrenheit! As we headed down the island, we saw many jumping fish – a few groups of jumping Pink salmon. We saw some porpoises and arrived on the scene with Southern Resident killer whales at approximately 12:33 p.m. Yesterday, J, K, and L pods returned to the Salish Sea. Most of them headed north, but about nine whales stayed along the west side of San Juan Island. We found this group ¼ mile West of Eagle Point.
Shortly after we arrived, we learned of Tokitae’s passing. We were heartbroken to hear of her death and are still grieving the life that she endured. It was a tearful day on the water. She is family to so many, including the Wild Orca team. We are thinking of her, her relatives, and the communities that fought for her.
Of the nine whales on the west side, the L11 matriline, L54 matriline, and L25 were present. Tokitae’s closest living relative, L25, Ocean Sun – the only whale alive when she was born – was present on the west side that day.
With heavy hearts, we collected samples, remembered her life, and returned home in the early evening.
Rest in Peace Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut
Research Vessel
R/V Cheena
Species
Southern Resident Killer Whales
Pods
J, K & L Pod
Research Activities
Fecal Sample Collection, Behavior Data
L Pod Calves
Giles, Jim, Aisha, and Sadie cast off from the dock at Snug Harbor at 10:30 AM to intesect with a group of Southern Resident killer whales that had been reported. We headed south along San Juan Island and found about 4 Southern Resident killer whales near Eagle Point. They switched directions many times and were milling and exhibiting forage behaviors. Two new calves were present, and we identified L113, L94, L126 and L127. All L12s were present but spread out for several miles. We found a sample that looked different than the rest. It looked very milky, and we suspect that it could be fecal matter from the calf containing milk. Our lab will be able to analyze this sample for DNA, allowing us to identify the individual it came from. We continued to trail the group towards the south, collecting additional fecal samples, and returned to Snug Harbor at 4:15 pm.
Research Vessel
R/V Cheena
Species
Southern Resident Killer Whales
Pods
L Pod
Research Activities
Fecal Collection, Behavior Data
J & L Pod
The team set out from Snug Harbor and headed north, where we located members of both J and L pods. We captured photographs and observed mostly travel behaviors. Several groups split off, but we remained behind a group of about ten whales to set ourselves up to collect the best samples.
It ended up being a very busy day, with large fecal samples spread around our area. We also found a sample of something that could be a placenta, plant matter, or possibly even a jellyfish. Our lab will analyze the material to provide a positive identification. With the help of Eba, our scent-detection dog, we were able to locate and collect several fecal samples.
Research Vessel
R/V Cheena
Species
Southern Resident Killer Whales
Pods
J Pod, L Pod
Research Activities
Fecal Collection, Behavior Data
J & L Pod
Our team departed the dock at Snug Harbor at approximately 9 am and headed northwest toward the Strait of Georgia. We stopped to scan 360 degrees with binoculars several times to try and spot the whales. After a brief fuel stop at Point Roberts, we arrived on scene with J and L pod. We observed many surface active behaviors, including tails, pec slapping, and cartwheels. The group was trending southwest, and we began to survey fecal samples. Eba performed wonderfully and led us to collect several fecal samples.
Research Vessel
R/V Cheena
Species
Southern Resident Killer Whales
Pods
J Pod, L Pod
Research Activities
Fecal Collection, Behavior Data
J Pod
In the morning, we received reports that Southern Resident killer whales were inbound towards the San Juan Islands. It was a sunny day with mild to medium wind and ideal for collecting fecal samples. Eba, Jim, Giles, Research Assistants Aisha, and Nikhela left the dock to fuel up before meeting the whales. We made contact at around 1:30 pm and got a report from The Center for Whale Research that members of J pod were present.
The whales were spread along the west side of San Juan Island, and we made first contact with a large male near Hannah Heights. Giles identified him as J38. Following our contact with J38, we saw many more members of J Pod exhibiting mixed behaviors from play to logging. We have confirmation that we were with J19, J47, J44, J53, and the J16s. Between 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm, we observed a lot of breaching, tail slaps, and pec slaps. Additionally, we observed modified rest, with some whales coming together to log. Around 4:00 pm, Eba hit on a scent, and we found the first fecal sample of the day shortly after.
Between 5:15-5:25 pm, we collected another sample offshore of the San Juan Island County Park. The scent of the fecal matter was so strong even we could smell it! We returned to our home port around 6:00 pm and froze the samples after additional processing in the evening.
Research Vessel
R/V Cheena
Species
Southern Resident Killer Whales
Pods
J Pod
Research Activities
Fecal Collection, Behavior Data
J Pod
After learning that J pod was heading west in Boundary Pass, our team met at Snug and headed south to find the whales – locating the first whales about 30 minutes later offshore of Pile Point on San Juan Island.
While the whales were still overall spread out, we were able to survey behind a group of 5 animals as they alternated between foraging and slow traveling northwest “back up island” compared to the rest of the whales who were documented by the Soundwatch Crews and relayed messages from friends on the shore near South Beach.
After about an hour of surveying downwind of a few different small groups of whales, Eba had a strong change in behavior which Jim relayed to Giles, who was driving the boat. Working together, the team was able to pinpoint the fecal sample, which was collected out of the water, decanted into 50mL tubes, and “spun down” using our onboard centrifuge! The collected sample is big enough for our lab to run all the hormone analyses, which will help us understand the health of the whales by looking at stress, nutrition, and pregnancy hormones.
After processing the samples, the team returned to surveying for more floating feces, but with the whales spreading out more and the current shifting to a strong flood, we decided to head back to our home port for the day.
Research Vessel
R/V Cheena
Species
Southern Resident Killer Whales
Pods
J Pod
Research Activities
Fecal Collection, Behavior Data
J Pod
We spotted a large dorsal fin about halfway between Point Roberts, USA, and East Point on Saturna Island, BC, a little over an hour after leaving our home port. The whale turned out to be J27 (Blackberry), and we trailed him downwind and at a distance of more than 400 meters for about 30 minutes – until Soundwatch contacted us on the radio to say they had a group of 3 animals grouped up close to the beach near Point Roberts. We decided to head inshore to find the group, hoping that more whales might up our chances of finding a sample. By the time we arrived, the whales had headed offshore, spread out, and commenced foraging.
Over the course of the entire encounter, we were never with more than two animals, with their next nearest neighbor being several hundred to several thousand meters away. Indeed, as we scanned the area looking for another group to follow, we saw whales breaching several miles to the west of our location, along the northeast coast of Galiano Island.
Since J pod returned to the inland waters of the Salish Sea on May 31st, researchers from both the Center for Whale Research and SR3 have noted the whales as being spread out, indicating the whales are spending a lot of their behavioral time budget foraging far apart from one another, most likely to increase the possibility of finding the Chinook salmon or other prey items that are themselves, few and far between.
Given the increasing oncoming winds and flooding tides, we returned back to Snug Harbor.
Research Vessel
R/V Cheena
Species
Southern Resident Killer Whales
Pods
J Pod
Research Activities
Fecal Collection, Behavior Data
J Pod
After receiving confirmation that the orcas spotted in San Juan Channel were Southern Resident killer whales, the team headed to the boat at Snug Harbor. While preparing the boat for the day, we received a report that four J pod whales were off Eagle Point. We headed down the west side of San Juan Island, even though the water conditions were rough, at least a three on the Beaufort scale, making our travel down the island quite rough. Despite our constant scanning for whale dorsal fins, we did not encounter any whales before turning north into Cattle Pass.
As we traveled North into San Juan Channel, Dave Ellifrit from the Center for Whale Research radioed to tell us he was heading back south to try to locate the J16 matriline and J22 matriline as he had not yet encountered them. Shortly after arriving on scene, we encountered a large group of whales with significantly better water conditions; we positioned ourselves downwind and to the side of whales from the J11, J14, and J19 matrilines.
Overall, the group was slow traveling and occasionally socializing or engaged in “logging” behavior most of the time we were with them. However, if one phrase could be used to describe the whales’ behavior during our time with them, it would be LONG DIVE TIMES! The amount of time the whales were underwater is more often documented with Bigg’s (Transient) mammal-eating killer whales. Predicting where the whales will resurface when they are on such long dives is harder.
We continued to search for fecal samples when the whales turned South and headed out of Cattle Pass towards Salmon Bank, but as the water was even more choppy than it was earlier, we decided to head back to our home port by going “up and over” San Juan Island via the more sheltered water of San Juan Channel.
Research Vessel
R/V Cheena
Species
Southern Resident Killer Whales
Pods
J Pod
Research Activities
Fecal Collection, Behavior Data, Health Assessment