The salmon are back, and so are the whales! On Saturday, J pod returned to central Puget Sound for the first time this season. They spent most of the morning foraging near the south end of Whidbey Island in an area known at “the Triangle”, where salmon school.
We followed the orcas’ progress on the app Whale Alert, and headed to Alki Beach in the late afternoon hoping to see them. A small crowd had gathered, waiting too. We scanned the horizon for blows or spouts. The light was fading and it was getting harder to see. We moved to the west side to catch the end of the sunset before the light disappeared completely. Alas! We later learned the whales had turned and headed north before they made it this far. Even though we didn’t get to see them, it’s always exciting just knowing they’re around. Our binocular bags are packed and we’ll be ready when they return!
There are 25 members in J pod, including four calves under 5 years old! Phoenix, a 4-year old male, is the newest offspring of Tahlequah (J35), who so memorably grieved the loss of her calf in 2018, drawing worldwide attention to the orcas’ plight, and galvanizing recovery efforts. Her resilience is as motivating as her grief.
On January 1, 2025, new distance regulations take effect in Washington State, requiring all boaters to stay 1,000 yards away from southern resident orcas, year-round. The law is based on NOAA studies showing the disruptive impacts of noise on foraging (Holt et al 2021), and the need to harmonize regulations for commercial and recreational boaters. For the past few months I’ve been serving on an advisory group for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). Our goal is to recommend solutions that will help boaters learn about the law, and give them the tools they need to comply with it. We’re working on the recommendations now. Stay tuned!
Upcoming Event!
This Thursday October 10 at 6 PM I’ll be presenting a virtual talk “Working Together to Save the Whales: Stories of Hope, from Springer to the Southern Residents.” Register here for this free event presented by the Southwest Historical Society as part of their “Words, Writers and Southwest Stories” series.
(Photo of a southern resident orca breaching in Puget Sound, taken by Mark Sears Permit 21348 in 2015)