The Southern Resident Population of Orca Whales

Residents?

On January 29, researchers from the Monterey Bay Whale Watch identified a group of unfamiliar orca whales foraging and feeding on fishstock in Monterey Bay, CA. Later photo ID work confirmed that at least 35 of these orcas where members of the southern resident K and L-pods normally found in WA and BC waters. Good photos of L-57 (Faith), L-7 (Canuck), L-60 (Rascal), and possibly K-18 (Kiska) and K-40 (Raggedy -- fairly obvious because of her distinctive dorsal notches).

We had a two day visit from three pods from northern Vancouver Island early in September. There were up to 50 orca from the northern residents that were feeding out in the Straits. The last time these whales were sighted here was over thirty years ago! When we saw them they were spread out over a span of five miles feeding. The speculation is the salmon run up north ended earlier than normal. Perhaps these orca were in a search for food and wound up here. (Tom Averna, Deer Harbor, WA)