Posts Tagged ‘Salmon’

Killer whales and breaching salmon

Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011

It was an absolutely gorgeous warm, sunny day; perfect for wildlife viewing. With the weather on our side, we headed north into Canadian waters to find the killer whales. As we saw the first dorsal fin slice out of the water, two harbor seals came up right next to our boat, followed by a couple harbor porpoises. Distracted, we lost sight of the orca until three of them came up on us, about one hundred yards away! It was K pod; we were able to identify Cappuccino.

We watched them slowly move near shore and meet up with other whales. As we were watching the whales, salmon began to jump out of the water. They were breaching! Then, just before we needed to turn around to head back, the killer whales started proposing out of the water, creating large splashes.

On the way back to Friday Harbor, we stopped by Speiden Island because there were a lot of harbor seals hauled out on exposed rocks. We were even able to see a small pup suckling, which was an amazing site. There was also a bald eagle, perched in all its glory on the top of a tree, and as we rounded Speiden, there was a herd of Mouflon sheep grazing that included one large buck. Overall, we couldn’t have asked for a better trip.

Kristen, Naturalist, San Jan Safaris

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Banner Runs of Salmon and Steelhead Are Migrating Up Some Northwest Rivers This Summer

Friday, August 27th, 2010

This just out regarding Salmon (resident orcas mainstay of food). It is interesting enough that I am putting up on our blog, which is usually reserved for  crew to report on their tour experiences.

Here is the link.  It is only about a 2 minute piece – give a listen?  http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kplu/news.newsmain/article/0/1/1690183/KPLU.Local.News/Unexpected.Plenty.Salmon..and..Steelhead.Surge.Up.Some.Northwest.Rivers

NORTH BONNEVILLE, WA (N3) – Banner runs of salmon and steelhead are migrating up some Northwest rivers this summer. Not since dams were constructed on the Columbia and Snake Rivers have this many sockeye salmon returned. Sockeye bound for Baker Lake in northwest Washington also smashed the pre-season forecast. Meanwhile, the 2010 summer steelhead run is on pace to be the second highest on record on the Columbia. The modern record for steelhead was set in 2001. KPLU’s Tom Banse explores possible explanations for the unexpectedly high salmon returns.

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Roly Poly Fish Heads

Thursday, July 22nd, 2010

The amount of activity that we are seeing out of the orcas this season is amazing.  They seem far more acrobatic and aerially inclined than they were last year.  Of course that is undoubtedly just my generous heart making me see more than there really is, but I think it is spectacular.  Especially all of the aggressive feeding that we are able to watch day after day.  It suggests good things about the salmon run this year and means that all of our new moms will be well able to feed their calves.

Like they say for milk, salmon builds strong bones, plus it is the orcas most favorite thing to eat.  Chinook is their chocolate and who can blame them?  Even the bald eagles, harbor seals, Steller’s sealions, California sealions and humans want some of that salmon.  With all of those hungry mouths hankering for some tasty vittles though, what can that mean for the salmon population?  Confusing the issue even more is the fact that all five of our local salmon species are endangered.  Uh oh, this could be bad.  What are we to do?

Here is a list of some of the simple things that anyone can accomplish to help stabilize and hopefully revitalize the salmon stocks here and elsewhere.

  • Eat all 5 species
  • Buy frozen or local
  • Choose wild
  • Buy organic foods
  • Conserve water and electricity
  • Look for the Salmon-Safe label
  • Join a cause

There you go, it is that easy.  So, from all of us at San Juan Safaris, to all of you fishy friends out there, thank you and we will…

See You In The Islands!

~Tristen, Naturalist

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Tales of Whales

Saturday, September 5th, 2009

Some days are just not like the others and sometimes the orcas do things that we just can not predict. Yesterday, members of K and L pods swam up San Juan Channel between San Juan and Lopez Islands. That was only the second time this season that they have done that, and we were there to see it. They made it all the way to Friday Harbor before they turned around and headed back south. It was a lovely, mostly clear day and with the orcas traveling in two large, close groups it was easy to both see and hear them.

One of our young guests has had an adoption of “Moonlight” for a couple of years and he was anxious to see her. With so many animals around it was hard to tell at times which individuals were there, but he and I were both pretty sure that we saw her family. There was also “Flash”, “Saanich”, “Raggedy”, “Cappuccino”, “Ino” and many, many more.

It was a unique and interesting opportunity to see these animals right in and amongst our islands. No one can say why they choose to come through here, or why they usually do not. There is salmon in the area, as evidenced by the seals and sea lions that we see feeding on them. Even yesterday, in a little cove on Sentinel Island, there was a young harbor seal with a huge fish and lots of seagulls around begging for scraps. So food is available, but whether it is not plentiful enough, or if there is too much boat traffic it is hard to say what directs the orcas’ paths to the outer channels and straits. Luckily for us and our guests on the M/V Kittiwake though, the orcas chose a different path this time and we were there to witness it.

So, from Capt. Craig, me and all of the crew at San Juan Safaris, thank you and we will…

See You In The Islands!
~Tristen, Naturalist

Orca Whales and Wildlife Are Our Only Business. ©

San Juan Island near Seattle: Home to the Southern Resident Killer Whales

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