What a fantastic day observing J Pod as if a J Parade of Whales. Viewing most of the pod, and I was able to ID several that came within range. We saw all three adult males, J27 Blackberry, J26 Mike, and honorary J member L87 Onyx. J22 Oreo was with us who is the mom to yet another male J38 Cookie. Cookie is just starting to show his size and will be a big boy when fully grown.
J3 Tsuchi, J17 Princess Angeline, J16 Slick, and J35 Tahlequah were with us. Tahlequah is the mom who lost her calf last year. She carried her baby girl on her head for an agonizing 17 days of grieving.
J Pod had lots of playing around today and some foraging and feeding taking place. I recorded some vocalization taking place too and will try to post that on Facebook at some point.
We didn’t have to go far and did not see our usual seals and sea lions. Three were Cormorants, Canada Geese, and a Bald Eagle.
A very nice treat to see our Southern Resident Killer Whales, which has become a rare occurrence over the past few years.
When I left them, we were the last vessel on the scene. I let the ferries know that resident whales were ahead of them. J Pod kept on a course towards East Sound as the J Parade of Whales. That is a dead end so at some point they would turn around and make their way out in some other direction.
We still need to keep calling for more salmon to keep our resident whales from starving to death. Government is very slow to listen to the public. However, with Tahlequah losing her calf and then losing J50 Scarlet too, they are listening. I doubt their intent and if not to further their political career I don’t think they would be acting.
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