...watching the L22s for the last three days has grown from curiosity to concern...
...yes, that's right the L22s - 3 whales...during the night of July 2nd the other 7 members of the L12s (not counting Onyx L-87 who travels with J pod)left the area and were seen traveling west in the Strait of Juan de Fuca the next day...
...this is the 2nd time this has occurred this season...
...but now after three days of only Spirit L-22, Skana L-79 and Solstice L-89 being present has not only raised red flags, but it's causing people to begin to ask the question: "What is going on this year?"
...however, I think that we have to observe and be keen about it and then look back at the end of the season to try to figure it all out...
...Spirit L-22
...Solstice L-89
...they don't have anywhere they have to be, because they are already 'home' so to speak...
...they travel slowly up and down the west side of San Juan Island, like I've seen them do so many times before...
...there's a spyhop now and again, a breach when least expected - and often one, so no second chances for that great picture...
...an animated tail slap or a lackadaisical one...
...they move toward one another and then move off again...
...sometimes Spirit is with Skana and sometimes she's with Solstice...
...sometimes they are each a 1/2 mile or more apart...
BUT what's most noticeable is that there aren't any other killer whales in the area.
...is it that there is just enough salmon to sustain these three whales ONLY?
(that would be an alarming situation)...
...in the last few days salmon have been seen jumping-that's a good sign...
...is there something wrong with one or all of them? (a suggestion made to me by a concerned person)
(none appear to be lacking in energy, but the Center for Whale Research would know better in that department)
All we can do is wait, watch and see what happens...and in the meantime to make sure that things we are doing and products we are using are not hurting the environment.
...a few notes:
...J pod has been gone for 26 days now...
...K pod has still not made an appearance...I think it's July 8th that their latest return has been...
So maybe they will all show up by July 8th, and those who are concerned will be able to breathe a sigh of relief!
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