Lauren | M/V Osprey | 06/19/2022 | 12:30 pm
From Saturna Island to Sanctuary Zones followed by a stop at Spieden, our Sunday was packed full of spectacular wildlife!
Shortly after our journey began, we slowed to view a bald eagle perched up high on a treetop. As we continued north, we cruised around White Rock to get a look at some hauled out harbor seals. Harbor seals are extremely important to our ecosystem here, as they make up 70% of our Bigg’s killer whale’s diet. We couldn’t stay with this precious prey long, as Captain Gabe informed us there were a group of Bigg’s killer whales near Saturna Island and they were heading right for the interim sanctuary zone! It was now a race against the clock to get to these whales before they entered the no-go zone.
Thankfully we arrived just in the nick of time! We got great looks at four Bigg’s killer whales as they hugged the coast of Saturna. Three of these whales are known as the T124A2’s. We had Matriarch Elkugu, and her two offspring Agafia and Litton. This family was also traveling with T049A2, a 15-year-old male named Jude. Once Elkugu and the crew swam into the no-go zone, we transited along the border until we could no longer see them. The Interim Sanctuary Zone was established to provide a protected foraging area for the critically endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales as well as to provide and observe a section of our ecosystem not influenced by boat traffic.
On our way back to Friday Harbor we cruised by Spieden Island to get a look at some hoofed animals. Spieden, formally known a “Safari Island” used to be a big game reserve, and once the business shut down the owners left the animals on the island. We now have the rare opportunity to view species like Mouflon Sheep, Sika Deer, and Fallow Deer, none of which are native to the Americas.
The Salish Sea is a wonderfully unique ecosystem and there is nothing better than a well-rounded wildlife tour!