Lots of new updates! Today, we have confirmed reports of over 70 Southern Resident Orcas in addition to the Transient Orcas we have been seeing this last week.
Currently, our whale watch vessel, the Sea Hawk (with Naturalist Kevin and Captain Brian) is observing all of J Pod heading south along the west side of San Juan Island. For those of you who are not familiar with the summer travel patterns of the fish-eating Southern Resident Orca population, the west side of San Juan Island is their main travel route!
In the past week, Naturalist Kevin and guests on the Sea Hawk have witnessed two seperate Transient Orca groups huntings marine mammals, which is usually a once in a lifetime experience! Kevin observed a small group of orcas hunting Dahl's porpoise one day, and then harbor seals the next. The water was churning with lots of fast moving behaviors such as spy hopping, breaching, tail lobbing and even some blood in the water from the orcas' kill. Amazing!
-Brittany