10-11-24 Sad News - New Calf L-128

The Center for Whale Research shared some very sad news about Ballena L-90 and her new calf, L-128.

The details are on Facebook and their site.

9-19-24 Ballena L-90 and her Calf L-128

An unusual and perplexing several days... 

and that's because of Ballena and her new calf!

The calf was first seen recently, the calf and mom have been the only SRKWs in the inland waters for several days now.

This may be the first time ever that this has occurred:

- a new mom - with her very first ever surviving offspring.  Ballena has been pregnant multiple times in the past but not ever seen with an alive offspring.

The whales don't leave their family and often a new mom has been documented by researchers of seeing another member of the Pod bring food to the new mom.

Also there are many times other adults have been attentive to help the new mom.

How's a brand new mom going to take care of a baby and get the food needed to keep her health and her baby's health too.

Well, just maybe this afternoon, off the west side off San Juan Island she demonstrated that 'she can do this'!

Not always easy to see the little one...gotta look close.

They were in the same area for quite a long time. Ballena appeared to be foraging, changing direction often but staying in the same area...it was quite a special afternoon getting to just watch them. :)

I guess she was successful or they likely would have moved on.

What will they do next and which way will they go next? Only they know for sure. We humans have to figure it out!

8-30-24-The last few Months

 It has been busy and not busy - busy with many visitors, seeing long- time friends, oh, and the WHALES!  However, it is a worrisome time and continues to be.  One reason is the lack of their food - salmon which means they have had many days absent from the inland waters.

The next 2 J Pod whales were heading north passing San Juan County Park.

   Spyhop !

Mom and calf

I always like getting images of people on the shore watching the whales.

-Up in the tower waiting for more Lighthouse visitors to come up those stairs, he scans - always alert and ready!!

It is hoped salmon will be returning in September bringing in the SRKWs.

In the meantime there have been Transient orcas just about 'everywhere'. 

They don't eat salmon.  

They eat seals, sea lions, and porpoise.

And seals, sea lions and porpoise eat salmon. 

June 26-2024 More Happy whales and People too!

J Pod came down from the north today. They were very spread out. Some were miles across Haro Strait and luckily some were closer to the west side.

Suttles J-40 was in the mix with several of the mothers and their littles.  But Suttles wasn't 'on duty' as an escort today, but maybe just in-case she was called on :)

Slick and Shachi were both up front as the whales came down - these next two images are of Slick J-16.  She was changing directions a few times as they were passing by.

Then came some moms and kids.

Shachi J-19 was with her grandson, Nova J-51, and Nova's mom,

Eclipse J-41 was with her youngest, Crescent J-58.

Tsuchi J-31 and her offspring, Tofino J-56 were there too.

Mike J-26 was the only male that I saw in closer to the west side while it appeared the other males were miles offshore, which is not uncommon.

And then some action began and oh how the people on shore were delighted!

...and then came Hy'Shqa J-37 & offspring J-59 Swee-uh-kosh, currently the youngest living member of J Pod.

That's J-59's head and dorsal fin tip landing with a big splach!

It was a great day for the people to learn about the SRKWs and the challenges they face.  Each of us can do somethig to help these whales live long lives and prosper into the future.

Cheers!

June 2024 - SRKWs - Full of Energy!

 Happy whales!!  This is just one pass-by! images from shore by Jeanne Hyde.

This was a day of hope for this community of orcas which in turn showed those watching that just maybe they too could help this community of orcas so that they can thrive in these waters that have been their home for more years than we humans know.

Enjoy this 'energy in motion' and think about what you can do to help these whales of J, K and L pods. The next generation of humans and whales will thank you!  

                                            One more heading for the fun!