With impending rain, Captain Mike steered the M/V Sea Lion north with Naturalists Heather and Emily, and guests in tow. The goal: transient killer whales off North Pender Island in Canada. A little Northwest rain did not dampen any spirits on board and before we knew it we were rewarded with great views of 7 transient orcas traveling southeast in Swanson Channel. T137 and her offspring T137A, T137B, and T137D were traveling with T36A and her two offspring T36A-1 and T36A-2. It was awesome to see two different family groups traveling together! We followed the 7 transient orcas for several miles and saw porpoising, a couple of rolls, and a few spy hops!
After traveling with the orcas for a while, Captain Mike took us in search of Steller Sea Lions. There was a large group of Stellers hauled out on Green Point on Speiden Island. A couple of the sea lions were swimming in the wind blown water and playing in the waves! At 10ft long and over 2000lbs, you would think the Steller Sea Lions would not be on the menu for transient orcas, but with a lot of team work and skill orcas are able to bring down these giant pinnipeds. Recently two Steller Sea Lions were found dead with many rake marks from the teeth of the orcas. One of the theories for the decline in the Steller Sea Lion population is that they are being selectively targeted in some areas by transient orcas.
Everyone had a great time out on the water viewing orcas and sea lions on this rainy spring day!
Naturalist Emily
M/V Sea Lion, San Juan Safaris