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!
