February 23, 2023

J27 Blackberry in San Juan Channel.

photo by Kat Martin, February 19, 2023

SUMMARY

Sightings through February 22 include:

Southern Residents - On February 14, J Pod made their way north through the Dodd Narrows. On February 19, J Pod was spotted in San Juan Channel and made their way north. On February 21, J Pod was seen foraging in Swanson Channel and continuing up Trincomali Channel at sunset.

Bigg's Killer Whales - Few reports with no confirmed IDs.

Humpbacks - Few reports with no confirmed IDs.

Gray Whales - CRC22 Earhart and CRC53 Little Patch spotted in Possession Sound and Saratoga Passage.

EVENTS

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2023 AT 11 AM

Coffee and Chat, an Orca Network Volunteer Recruitment Meetup

WiFire Community Space

Have you ever been curious about volunteering for one of Orca Network's many programs? Join us for a meet and greet at Whidbey Wifire Community Space on Tuesday, February 28th at 11am. We will have experienced volunteers, board members, and staff available to answer all of your questions about our many programs and how you can help. Just bring your curiosity and passion for whales! This is a no-host event, meaning we will be meeting and using the community space that is available. We will have volunteer applications and and materials on hand.

ARTICLES

Fisheries Department to shut 15 salmon farms off B.C.’s coast to protect wild fish by Dirk Meissner

“'From my perspective, because wild salmon are iconic for British Columbians, First Nations and non-First Nations alike, and that there are those cumulative pressures on wild salmon, I have to not only do everything I can to protect wild salmon through reducing fisheries and rebuilding habitat, I also need to eliminate the risk of additional stressors from salmon aquaculture,' said Murray.” Read more here.

Puget Sound Orcas are Starving. Is the Solution Shutting Down Alaskan Chinook Fisheries? by Dan Chasan

“An estimated 97 percent of the Chinook caught by that Alaskan fishery spawn outside Alaska. Many of those fish might normally nourish the Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKWs) – our Puget Sound orcas. These orcas have been listed as endangered since 2005 and are generally thought to be starving.” Read more here.

Council acknowledge inherent rights of SRKW by Kelley Balcomb-Bartok

The proclamation recognizes “the survival of SRKW is dependent upon healthy and functioning ecosystems,” and values the ability of the SRKW “to have the right to life, culture, free and safe passage, adequate food supply and freedom from conditions causing physical, emotional, or mental harm.” The Council proclaimed that on Feb. 7 the County ‘urges the State and Federal governments to deepen their commitment to restoring the bounty of the Salish Sea, and gratefully supports actions taken by State, Federal and Tribal governments that secure and effectuate the rights of the Southern Resident Killer Whales and of the ecosystems upon which they depend.’” Read more here.

Lonely tunes: Humpback whales wail less as population grows by Christina Larson

“As whale numbers dramatically rebounded following the end of commercial whaling—one of the world's great conservation success stories—she noticed something unexpected. ‘It was getting more difficult to actually find singers," said Dunlop, who is based at the University of Queensland in Brisbane. "When there were fewer of them, there was a lot of singing—now that there are lots of them, no need to be singing so much.’” Read more here.

Sun, Feb 19 - San Juans (J Pod)

J26 Mike

photos by Kat Martin, February 19, 2023

-

Look who showed up outside Friday Harbor this afternoon, on World Whale Day no less? J-Pod!

They ended up heading back north towards the southern Gulf Islands, but it was sure nice of them to finally pay us a visit during daylight hours after many nighttime passes. It's typical this time of year for J-Pod to spend a lot of time in the Salish Sea, much of it in the Strait of Georgia where they can (rather amazingly for a group of 25 whales) go undetected/unreported for days at a time. After a brief foray out west at the end of January and beginning of February, we believe J-Pod has been in the Salish Sea consistently since February 9th. Their last confirmed location was heading north up Trincomali Channel on the evening of February 21st.

Orca Behavior Institute

J26 Mike

photos by Monika Wieland Shields, February 19, 2023

-

In case anyone is wondering where Js ended up last night, thanks to another community sightings page like this one [WSSJI] in the Gulf Islands, we can confirm that Js went north in Swanson Channel yesterday evening!

Orca Behavior Institute

-

13:23 - Confirmed J-Pod. Looks like all 25 of them.

Sam Wallace

-

13:41 - Moving up north along Yellow Island.

12:58 - Exhales visible through binoculars at Reuben Tarte. Still along Shaw.

Tamara Kelley [WSSJI]

-

13:00 - Slow trend north from Js, mostly on Shaw side in a large group with a few individuals including J27 on the San Juan side.

12:41 - It’s J Pod, mostly milling on the Shaw side.

Monika Wieland Shields, Orca Behavior Institute [WSSJI]

-

11:25 - Spotted a foraging orca from the ferry, just west of the Friday Harbor ferry dock. Too distant for photo or ID. Looked like a tall dorsal fin, I only saw one. No direction, diving and surfacing.

Rebecca Berg

-

11:19 - Donna Sanders, WSF Marine Ops, emailed at 11:20 to report: Captain reports 6 Orca heading North in San Juan Channel - SAMISH@1119.

Tue, Feb 14 - Dodd Narrows

J-Pod wowed lucky viewers near Nanaimo when they went north through Dodd Narrows! A big thank you to Ana Theresa for sharing this special video [Link to FB video]. Dodd Narrows is only a few hundred feet wide and 70 feet deep, resulting in powerful currents running up to 9 kts. It's not a place we've typically documented Southern Residents, but they did go north through Dodd last year as well, in the month of March. Perhaps this will become a new late winter pattern for them?

Orca Behavior Institute

screen grab from video by Ana Theresa, February 14, 2023

Sat, Feb 11 - Strait of Georgia (J Pod)

Excerpt from Center for Whale Research Encounter #3:

"After about 10-15 minutes we got a call on the radio from “Helen” saying they had found whales heading northerly about midway up Galiano Island. We headed that direction and got on scene at 1035. It was J pod and they were very spread out from closer to the Galiano shoreline to mid-Georgia Strait...."

Read more here at Center for Whale Research Encounter #3

Wed, Feb 15 - Rosario Strait

Sent via form submission from Orca Network

Name: Suzette Lamb

Date of Sighting: 2/15/2023

Time: 3:30 PM

Species seen: Orca

Number of animals seen: 2

Where seen: Near the Pea Pod Islands between Doe Bay and Sea Acres

Direction of travel : NE at moderate pace

Behaviors observed: traveling

If orcas, any males?: at least 1 large male

Any unusual markings?: none seen

Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: It appeared to be one large male and at least one other smaller orca

Photos available?: No

Tue, Feb 14 - Rosario Strait

14:46 - John Miller, WSF Marine Ops emailed to report: SAMISH Whale Report, 2/14/2023 Vessel reports via 800MHz three unidentified whales in Rosario Strait, 2 NM south of the ANAC>SJI route path, approx. 1 NM east of James Island.

-

15:30 - I have to leave now, a few other people made it there to watch, last seen trending north.

14:27 - I do believe after staring for a while and checking the map multiple times they are just hunting near Boulder Island [corrected to Bird Rocks].

14:19 - Still no confirmed direction of travel, still hunting in the same area. They do appear to be somewhat drifting still south, and towards Washington Park.

14:08 - I found a spot where I can view them and have service. I am at the point, and I can see them still in the general area visible with the naked eye if you know where to look; still in the same area, but drifting a little farther south. I am almost positive that there are four with one very large male.

Silver Hubble

-

13:40 - Silver Hubble called and is at Washington Park [Anacortes] and saw a group of transient orcas hunting, trending north to the direction of the Islands [approx. 48.503175, -122.766178].

Tamara Kelley

Fri, Feb 17 - Puget Sound

14:00 - Just letting you know that somebody claimed to see a group of 3 orcas just south of Edmonds fishing pier about 30 minutes ago. He was waiting for them to come by but they didn’t turn up. Could be going any direction.

Michael Anthony Casanova

Tue, Feb 14 - California Coast

Location: 26.1968568, -111.3264625, Off Coronado Island.

Dale Jellison & Bernie Shoemaker

photos by Dale Jellison & Bernie Shoemaker, February 14, 2023

Tue, Feb 21 - Puget Sound

13:05 - Looks like a humpback north of the Narrows Bridge, east side of the passage heading northbound. 2 blows & a dive. Seen as I was crossing the bridge.

Jason Cook

Fri, Feb 17 - Possession Sound

11:20 - Tom Nowak called to report seeing two whales, he says are humpbacks (dark in color little dorsal) in Possession Sound between Mission Point mid Hat Island. Traveling then milling around SE end of Hat, 4 miles from Mission Beach/2 miles from Hat. Now traveling NW at the moment. We mentioned the presence of grays there but he said these were not grays.

Wed, Feb 22 - Possession Sound

10:30 - I’m observing one gray whale between Howarth Park in Everett and the ship moored off of Everett. One mile offshore. Slow eastbound direction of travel.

Ryley Fee

Tue, Feb 21 - Saratoga Passage

07:28 - Gray feeding off of Hidden Beach [Whidbey Island].

Nancy Culp Zaretzke

Tue, Feb 21 - Puget Sound

12:53 - Laurie Baker, WSF Marine Ops, emailed at 13:22 to report: 1253hrs: ISSAQUAH reports they have come to all stop at the Fauntleroy terminal after spotting a single grey whale located in front of the terminal. Whale is headed South.

Sun, Feb 19 - Possession Sound (CRC53 Little Patch)

08:45 - Gray whale off north end Hat Island, heading northwest towards Whidbey Island.

screen grab from video by Mark David Hanson, February 20, 2023

Sat, Feb 18 - Possession Sound (CRC22 Earhart)

17:13 - The gray whale is just circling around in same general area as 17:00 update.

17:00 - Gray is circling back, now northbound, closer to Jetty than image.

16:55 - I moved to Hibulb Lookout at mouth of Snohomish River but the whale (or another) is now to the south off southeast Hat moving slowly southbound [approx. 47.999771, -122.273065].

16:00 - Gray (possibly CRC22 per earlier report) still feeding in the Snohomish Delta off Priest Point [approx. 48.022887, -122.230299].

Alisa Lemire Brooks, Orca Network

-

At 13:44, Cindi reports a gray [CRC22 Earhart] near Priest Point. 

CRC22 Earhart

photos by Cindi Crowder Rausch, February 18, 2023

-

10:15 - Gray whale 50 yards off the marina entrance [NE Hat Island]. Just emerged further out heading a bit south. 

Kelly Brown Dukes [HIWS]

Fri, Feb 17 - Possession Sound

07:50 - Report of a gray whale earlier this morning mid way northeast side of Hat Island heading southbound.

Kelly Brown Dukes [HIWS]

Wed, Feb 15 - Saratoga Passage (CRC53 Little Patch)

13:40 - He's still here at [Langley] Seawall, closer to Camano now. I think traveling north [approx. 48.059510, -122.394747].

Kayla Wallace

-

12:47 - Marilyn Armbruster had to leave, but she messaged with one last report, that gray whale is CRC53 Little Patch and he's feeding back and forth along Langley Seawall Park. She hasn't seen a 2nd whale.

-

12:20 - Board member Fred called to report on the gray whale(s) hanging out just off Whale Bell Park, Langley. He thought there were two?

-

CRC53 Little Patch

12:12 - Out from Pizzeria and Doghouse.

12:00 - Skirting, feeding along shore and nearing Dog House, looks like Little Patch.

11:40 - Gray is feeding just west of Langley Seawall.

back of camera photos by Marilyn Armbruster, February 15, 2023

-

11:20 - I think this may be the same whale. We are watching a whale from the shores of Langley right now. Beautiful! Approx. 100 yards off shore just to the west of town, now headed further out towards Camano.

photos by Simone Shook Bower, February 15, 2023

-

08:10 - Looks like it might have just been passing through but got to see a few tail waves. 

07:53 - Saw a whale between Baby Island and Fox Spit [all private], heading east. Just saw it spout, and tail again.

Erin McCloskey Flynn

Tue, Feb 14 - Crescent Harbor

12:00 - Grey whale in Crescent Harbor going back and forth feeding.

Anya Sika

Tue, Feb 14 - Saratoga Passage

15:40 - Just saw a blow out a few miles from Whidbey shoreline, mid Baby Island Heights. Cannot tell if direction yet. He was pretty far away and looked like he was heading north and away from us.

Marilyn Armbruster

Fri, Feb 17 - Puget Sound

Sent via form submission from Orca Network

Name: Elysha Ryan

Date of Sighting: 2/17/2023

Time: 3:20 PM

Species seen: Minke

Number of animals seen: 1

Where seen: Ruston, close to shore near the Point Ruston boat

Direction of travel :

Behaviors observed: I only just caught it coming up for a breath about 15-20 minutes ago. But the fin looked like a minke.

If orcas, any males?:

Any unusual markings?:

Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?:

Photos available?: No

-

Sent via form submission from Orca Network

Name: Andrew Gordon

Date of Sighting: 2/17/2023

Time: 3:15 PM

Species seen: Minke Whale

Number of animals seen: 1

Where seen: Ruston Point, Washington State.

Direction of travel : North/Northwest

Behaviors observed: Breached surface for a second. Possibly hunting.

If orcas, any males?: N/a

Any unusual markings?: No

Is there anything else you'd like to share about your encounter?: I honestly, did not think any large whales could enter the Puget sound like that.

Wed, Feb 15 - Puget Sound

16:52 - Minke whale right off Browns Point headed south into Commencement Bay.

Kevin Porter [PSWS]

Thu, Feb 9 - Puget Sound

08:30 - Bob Rosenbladt sent a report and images of a whale in Nesika Bay off of Keyport, Poulsbo. By the time he got his camera and ran outside the whale had moved pretty far away. Follow up: “We didn't ever see the whole length of the animal but it was fairly wide, perhaps 4 to 5 feet. We did not see any visible exhalation. The first sighting [approx. Lat/Lon: 47.70423,-122.60613] was close to the eastern side of the bay, rather close to our place. I saw it break the surface twice, surfacing and submerging quietly. Between the two surfacings, I could see the water being disturbed by its motion underwater. The length of time between these two was probably 30 to 60 seconds. I never saw any tail slabs or porpoising. I grabbed my camera and ran outside. When it surfaced again, several minutes later it was in the position of the second star [approx. Lat/Lon: 47.69430,-122.61308] [see map]. It was heading south and now on the west side of the bay. It was moving in the direction of Brownsville. I did not see it again. This occurred at about 8:30 am on Thursday February 9.” 

Bob Rosenbladt

photos by Bob Rosenbladt, February 9, 2023

Fri, Feb 17 - Possession Sound

13:40 - Found whales! Not sure what kind but 2 or 3 spouting and breaching in Possession Sound. Watching from Mission Beach, closer to Everett marina.

Anna Poetzl [CWW]

Fri, Feb 17 - Central Puget Sound

11:55 - Humpback surfaced 100 yards south of Dash Point Pier. FOLLOW UP: Looking back at pic on your site could definitely be a minke - definitely had a prominent enough fin as my first glance thought ‘orca’ in my head. Only surfaced once, no pic. Traveling south towards Tacoma.

Laura Clementson-Elgar

Sat, Feb 18 - North Puget Sound

06:53 - Just saw a small whale breaching right next to my boat. It was really cool. It showed up out of no where. White under belly, light gray top. About 10 feet long. Super active little guy. Between President Point and Point Jefferson. [Direction of travel] South I think. But before it came up to the boat I believe it was traveling north. Kind of all over. Really cool to see.

Ryan Johnson