Olivia | M/V Osprey | August 21st, 2024 | 12:30pm
Summer season out here in the San Juan Islands is considered peak season, bringing in the opportunity to see potentially two ecotypes of Killer Whales, Humpback Whales, Minke Whales, and Gray Whales. While statistics continually reflect on that, every day is a brand-new adventure on where or what type of whale it is we are going to see. Starting off August, we had a bit of a Killer Whale lull in the Salish Sea, where Pacific Whale Watch Association vessels were primarily seeing Humpbacks, Minkes, and even Gray Whales! While there were some orca sightings, they weren’t as close to San Juan Island as they were in July and June. However, in the last week, the Bigg’s Killer Whales [also known as Transient Orcas that feed on marine mammals] have all come back together, where we have had the opportunity to see multiple families socializing, foraging, and traveling together!
This made today feel so special as three matrilines socialized in President’s Channel, nestled between Orcas Island and Waldron Island, most of the day! We were able to see the T037A’s, T049A’s, and T075B’s. The T049A’s even traveled all the way down into Friday Harbor at one point!
We spent a lot of time talking about their conservation, what makes up an orca ecotype, and stories on the matrilines themselves. We even watched as the young calves practiced their hunting skills on some nearby Harbor Porpoise. Near the end, we of course had to go check out a Harbor Seal haul out sight and pay homage to the species the transient orcas are most dependent on in these waters. It is also so important to recognize what the health of one species means to a web of other species in this ecosystem, especially since so much of it is more than what meets the eye. We are so thrilled to be getting back out on the water again tomorrow and experience the uniqueness of the Salish Sea.
Interested in seeing pictures from our tours? Check out our SmugMug to see photos from our trips aboard M/V Osprey at https://sanjuansafaris.smugmug.com/.