Photo of Spring Street Landing next to the ferry in Friday Harbor
April 22, 2011 at 4:30 PM
At 5:00 pm it is bright, sunny and warm - probably close to 60 degrees.
Saturday, April 23, tomorrow will be our first daily scheduled tour for the season. Still a few seats left.
Transient Orca Whales have been making a splash in the San Juan's this past week.
GET UP HERE!
Announcing the Photo winners for 2011 in the category of whale photo: Janet Holba of WI. Winner for "wildlife" photo is Patty Quales of NC. These will be highlighted in the new 2011 sanjuansafaris.com website due to be published March 1, 2011.
The daily trips may be done, but that does not mean that I do not still get the chance to get out on the water. Today we had a charter and that is really the way to go if you are a naturalist. Or even if you are a guest. The groups tend to be relaxed and fun-loving and ready for anything. There are usually fewer people on the boat and sometimes the crew even gets snacks. It also means that the routine gets shaken up. We leave at different times and sometimes even from a...
Southern Resident Killer Whales. Photo courtesy of NOAA/NMFS
"Until we meet again."
Well, it is sad to say, but today was our last daily trip. We still have a few Saturdays left, but this is it for the daily grind. It has been a season like no other, with the orcas being found along the coast of San Juan Island most every day. They still do not keep any kind of schedule and there is no guarantee of seeing them, but what a fabulous way to spend one's days. We have racked up...
When you cover as much water as we do in a week, it is easy to feel proprietary about the islands and creatures found therein. We all feel like we know and own the orcas, trees and birds. We even feel a fondness for the slimy spineless creatures, and who wouldn't when they make up most of the biomass (living bulk) of the ocean? So, the orcas are fabulous and I could not be happier that we have been continuing to see them everyday, but I think that the invertebrates need some love too. This is my...
The naming of an orca calf is a sensitive and involved process. By the means of soliciting suggestions, sifting through the offerings and choosing the best options, and then serving up the prime choices for heated voting, orcas are endowed with monikers that help elevate them to the most regal of heights within the marine mammal community. These chiefly labels will help the orcas define and express their personalities, strengths and values. Because of this, orca calves must...
I did the 'Whale Plane' from Lake Union Seattle. Forty five minutes on a fantastic small sea plane, with wonderful views. Went on smaller boat from San Juan safaris with only 12 on board. We left early as we were all on board to give us the best chance of seeing the orcas.We roared off very fast, which was very exciting. The naturalist aboard was very friendly and...
Today we ventured to Active Pass in Canada to admire those beautiful black and white creatures known as Orcas.
It is not very often we have to travel this far to see them. Thanks to the gorgeous weather, our guests definitely did not mind the boat ride. The longer boat rides are often very nice because we get the opportunity to know the guests on board a little better and delve into deeper subjects relating to the Orca population. Also we get to see many of the islands along the way and talk...
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...
NORTH BONNEVILLE, WA (N3) - Banner runs of salmon and steelhead are migrating up some Northwest rivers this summer. Not since dams were...
Each day as we cruise out of Friday Harbor, with hopes of seeing whales drifting about in our heads, I start the guests of with an introduction to the San Juan Islands and the all the wonders the islands offer. I often mention in this introduction that we as naturalists love questions. Not only do we have a passion to educate, we all have a passion to share the facts that YOU as a guest want to know. As an educator, I feel that people retain information better if it is something they...
