West Seattle, Washington
25 Thursday
(L41, Northwest Marine Fisheries Center photo)
Just days after West Seattle whale-watchers enjoyed multiple orca visits, sad news: Another Southern Resident Killer Whale is missing. In its newest report on an “encounter” with resident orcas, the Center for Whale Research notes that L41 was not with his podmates and hasn’t been seen since August: “Given his age and that he looked a little thin in our January 2019 encounter, we fear he may be gone and will consider him missing unless he shows up unexpectedly in an upcoming encounter.” As noted in a WSB report four years ago, L41 has been a prolific patriarch among the SRKWs. He was born in 1977. If he has indeed died, that would bring the SRKWs’ number down to 72, just one above the historic low of 71. (Thanks to Kersti Muul for the tip.)
(Texted photo)
2:16 PM: More orcas! Kersti Muul tells us two groups of transients are in the area – one off the east side of Vashon Island, one headed up Colvos Passage on the west side. Let us know if you see them!
3:06 PM: Texter says a small group is in view off The Arroyos, still NB.
3:13 PM: More like 10 whales, that texter updates!
3:41 PM: Watchers are now congregating across from Me-Kwa-Mooks.
4:02 PM: From there, using binoculars, we just saw a group of four!
4:26 PM: The viewers have moved north, to the west end of the Alki promenade.
4:43 PM: Photos are coming in! This is from Gary Jones:
5:07 PM: More photos – these next two are from Rick Rasmussen:
And one more from Gary:
6:07 PM: Even more photos! This one is from DerbyPhotography:
Next, from Monica Zaborac:
Thanks to everyone for sharing those sights (as well as updates)! This was the third day in a row with orcas in our area.
FIRST REPORT, 9:20 AM: The whales are back! Southbound south of Fauntleroy, Kersti Muul tells WSB. We’ll update this post with any additional info throughout the day.
12:12 PM: Kersti says another “large pod” is headed this way, currently southbound, mid-channel, off Bainbridge Island, “spread out.”
Through the morning and afternoon, we published updates on Southern Resident Killer Whales in the area, first southbound, then northbound before sunset. Tonight, some photos! Thanks to David Hutchinson for the first and third photo, Kersti Muul (today’s original tipster) for the one directly below:
Kersti says members of all three resident pods were in the area today; her photo above shows Onyx (L87) and Nugget (L55).
We just missed the whales by the time we got to Alki to have a look, but Donna Sandstrom of The Whale Trail was there, assisting with land-based viewing, which is one of TWT’s missions.
8:28 AM: Southbound orcas, south of Fsuntleroy, with “more coming,” reports Kersti Muul. Let us know if you see them!
9 AM: Kersti says a NB group is heading out of Colvos Passage (west side of Vashon).
2:16 PM: The now-NB orcas, mentioned by Kersti in a comment, are passing Three Tree Point south of here, but visibility on the water is poor as the rain/fog persists.
2:40 PM: Kersti is on the shore just south of Fauntleroy and says they ARE visible, even without binoculars, as they continue heading slowly north.
3:39 PM: Donna Sandstrom from The Whale Trail says they’re south of Alki Point now, putting on the best show in a long time!
1:24 PM: Thanks to Donna Sandstrom from The Whale Trail as well as Kersti Muul for the tips – resident orcas from J-Pod should be in view off West Seattle soon – they are southbound off Discovery Park on the north side of Elliott Bay. Donna will be at Constellation Park just south of Alki Point shortly to assist would-be whale-watchers. Let us know if you see the orcas!
1:45 PM: The whales have turned around so you WON’T be seeing them unless you’re north of Elliott Bay. We’ll update if that changes!
ORIGINAL REPORT, 11:43 AM: Early warning this time – Kersti Muul sends word that orcas are off Golden Gardens (Ballard), southbound, so could be visible from here before long. Let us know if you see them!
12:07 PM: Update from Kersti – they’re off the north tip of Elliott Bay.
12:47 PM: Update from Donna Sandstrom of The Whale Trail – they are in view from Constellation Park – residents!
1:27 PM: Along with the updates in comments, we just received email from Russell, saying they are in view from Pt. Williams at Lincoln Park.
6:09 PM: Photos added – top of the story and above this line, by Jamie Kinney. Thank you!
(Photo added – orcas & MV Issaquah, by Trileigh Tucker)
9:31 AM: Thanks for the tips! Orcas are in view from Alki as they head this way, southbound. Kersti Muul says there’s at least six. Let us know if you see them!
9:54 AM: Kersti says they’re now south of the Bremerton ferry lanes and appear to be residents.
10:55 AM: Now passing Fauntleroy.
11:37 AM: Kersti says members of all three Southern Resident pods are here – J, K, and L!
(Southern Residents during pre-Thanksgiving visit, photographed by Trileigh Tucker)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Four months after the most recent news of Southern Resident Killer Whale deaths, we’ve had no further losses – but no gains, either.
So the endangered resident orcas’ population remains at 73, attendees were reminded at The Whale Trail‘s Winter Gathering this past week.
TWT executive director Donna Sandstrom gathered supporters and experts at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) both to celebrate the season and to review the whales’ status and what action you can take to help. Here are the highlights:
(Added: Photo posted in comments by James Riley)
10:27 AM: During The Whale Trail‘s event Tuesday night (our report is still in progress), local researcher Mark Sears predicted orcas would be back in this area “any day now.” Alki Point resident Gary Jones, who has shared photos here many times over the years, reports a sudden sighting this past hour – and after a period of activity including breaches, they vanished again. They were “moving slowly southbound” and close to this side at the time. If you see them pop up anywhere, let us know!
10:46 AM: Just got a text that they are in view off Alki Beach, in the Starbucks vicinity (Alki/61st).
11:02 AM: Jeff Hogan from Killer Whale Tales confirms orcas off Alki – he has them in view off 63rd/Alki. They’re transient orcas, not southern residents, adds Kersti Muul.
(Brother J44 and sister J53, photographed by Mark Sears, permit 21348)
J-Pod’s recent return to our part of Puget Sound might have you wondering – how are the Southern Resident Killer Whales doing? In a week and a half, The Whale Trail will present your chance to find out. The announcement:
Whale Trail Winter Gathering featuring SRKW Research Updates by Dr. Brad Hanson”
When: Tuesday December 10, 7:00 – 8:30
–Doors open at 6:30
Where: C&P Coffee Company, 5612 California Ave. SW
Cost: $5 suggested donation; kids free
Advance tickets: brownpapertickets.commThe southern resident orcas return to the central Sound each winter, following chum salmon runs. With just 73 individuals in the population, these endangered pods are nearing their historical low. What current research is underway, and how will it help protect J, K, and L pods?
Join us for the Whale Trail Winter Gathering featuring updates from Dr. Brad Hanson, NWFSC Lead Killer Whale Researcher, and field researchers Mark and Maya Sears. TWT Director Donna Sandstrom will discuss the conclusion of Governor Inslee’s Task Force on SRKW Recovery, and actions you can take to protect the southern residents now.
Come early and get your holiday shopping done too! We’ll have great gifts for the whale fans on your list, including signed copies of Erich Hoyt’s newly released edition of Orca The Whale Called Killer.
Buy tickets now to reserve your seat. And hurry – this will likely sell out!
About the Speaker
Brad Hanson joined the Northwest Fisheries Science Center in April of 2003. Previously, Brad worked as a Wildlife Biologist at the National Marine Mammal Laboratory in Seattle, WA. Brad received a Ph.D. from the University of Washington where he worked on the development of improved tag attachment systems for small cetaceans. He also holds an M.S. in Fisheries from the University of Washington and a B.A. in Zoology also from the University of Washington. Brad is an ecologist and is currently studying foraging and habitat use of Southern Resident killer whales and health assessment of harbor and Dall’s porpoises.
About The Whale Trail
The Whale Trail is a series of sites to view orcas and other marine mammals from shore. Our mission is to inspire appreciation and stewardship of whales and our marine environment.
Through our current sites and signs, including two on every Washington State ferry, we reach more than 50 million people each year. The Whale Trail is led by a core team of partners including NOAA Fisheries, Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary and washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Many members of the team first met on the successful effort to return Springer, the orphaned orca, to her pod.
The Whale Trail was founded and is directed by Donna Sandstrom. Donna served as a member of Governor Jay Inslee’s Southern Resident Orca Recovery Task Force. The Whale Trail is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, registered in Washington State. Join us!
Here’s our coverage of The Whale Trail’s event back in September, featuring Erich Hoyt.
Spyhopping (above) and breaching (below), Southern Resident Killer Whales put on a show as they passed West Seattle again late today, headed northbound after this morning’s southbound pass. Thanks to Trileigh Tucker for sharing the photos.
Thanks to Trileigh, Kersti Muul, and everybody else who provided orca-sighting reports today! Text or call 206-293-6302 with breaking news – that include whales! – any time.
(Added: Photo by Chris Frankovich)
8:05 AM: Just in from Kersti Muul: Southbound orcas off north Vashon Island. Let us know if you see them!
8:55 AM: Anne from Ventana Construction (WSB sponsor) reports seeing them off the Fauntleroy ferry terminal about 15 minutes ago.
1:30 PM: Kersti says they’ve turned at Three Tree Point and are headed northbound again. She also says they’re J-Pod whales.
3:03 PM: Now reported south of Fauntleroy.
3:55 PM: We’re seeing them off the Vashon dock, looking from Emma Schmitz Overlook.
Orcas are in the area again. Southbound off Fauntleroy and spread out, reports Kersti Muul.
9:17 AM: Thanks for the tips! Orcas are in the area again today – headed southbound off Fauntleroy a short time ago per Kersti Muul and now in view off The Arroyos per a texter – murky so not ideal viewing, but since they’re southbound, they’ll eventually have to head back this way.
11:24 AM: Kersti reports in comments that some of the southbound whales are headed back northbound.
2:39 PM: Thanks to Kersti Muul for the tip – she reports southbound orcas off Bainbridge Island. She also notes this is at least the third consecutive year of orca sightings in this area on this date!
3:22 PM: Just heard from Donna Sandstrom of The Whale Trail. She says the orcas are off Blake Island, slowly heading south, visible from Me-Kwa-Mooks/Emma Schmiz Overlook (4500 block Beach Drive SW) if you use binoculars (she’s there now with some you can borrow!).
5:01 PM: Texter says they’re now northbound, passing Fauntleroy.
9:01 AM: Texter says Southern Resident Killer Whales are off Fauntleroy, northbound.
10:01 AM: Donna Sandstrom from The Whale Trail just called to say they’re now passing Discovery Park, so out of our viewing range.
It’s getting late to catch them tonight but as tipster Kersti Muul points out, you might see them in the morning: Southern Resident Killer Whales from J-Pod were passing Bainbridge Island, southbound, shortly before sunset.
(Photo courtesy NOAA Fisheries)
While a whale sighting can be a delight for ferry riders, it also poses a risk for the whales if the vessel’s too close. Washington State Ferries announced this week that it’s now using a regional alert system:
Washington State Ferries has initiated use of a whale alert app and web-based system this week that will provide ferry captains more accurate and updated location information for southern resident orcas and other whales throughout Puget Sound. Access to Ocean Wise’s Whale Report Alert System (WRAS) is only granted to the commercial maritime operators such as ferries, ships and tugs. It is not available for public use or for whale watch operators.
The WRAS relies on real-time sightings, reported by members of the public via Ocean Wise’s WhaleReport smartphone application, to inform commercial mariners of whale presence. The system is expected to provide ferry captains and other commercial mariners with better information about large marine mammal locations in the vicinity of their vessels so ferry captains can make decisions to change course or reduce speed to avoid disturbing or colliding with marine mammals.
Each alert also supplies other pertinent details such as the species observed, the direction of whale travel, the time of the report and the number of whales in the group. This desktop interface allows watch standers at WSF’s operations centers to monitor the location of whale sightings relative to fleet vessel positions and relay whale presence information to captains as required.
“Because we operate our 22 ferries on Puget Sound and manage 20 terminals on its shores, we have an obligation to ensure WSF is doing everything we can to protect our environment, including marine life,” said WSF Assistant Secretary Amy Scarton.
WRAS was developed by Ocean Wise with funding from the Government of Canada, the Port of Prince Rupert, and the Port of Vancouver’s Enhancing Cetacean Habitat and Observation (ECHO) Program,. WSF has been a member of the ECHO program’s Advisory Working Group since 2015 and helped in beta testing of WRAS.
Again today, orcas are in the area! Kersti Muul tells us several whales have been seen in Elliott Bay, near the Port of Seattle’s offices on the downtown waterfront. No word yet if they are transients or residents.
Up for some early-morning whale-watching before work? Just heard from Kersti Muul, who says Southern Resident Killer Whales are again visible off west-facing West Seattle, southbound, seen from Constellation Park south of Alki Point.
12:48 PM: Thanks to Kersti Muul for updates on the Southern Resident Killer Whales that started the day in the South Sound and are finally close to our area – she says the orcas are northbound in Colvos Passage (west side of Vashon Island) and likely to emerge around 1 pm. So have your binoculars ready and let us know if you see them!
1:24 PM: Kersti says in a comment that the whales are now visible from west-facing West Seattle if you look toward north Vashon – but they could go out of view for a while if they stay west of Blake Island.
11:57 AM: Thanks to Kersti Muul for word that Southern Resident Killer Whales are in the area again! Southbound off Bainbridge Island – still north of Elliott Bay – at last word.
1:35 PM: In comments, Robin Sinner reports: “1:15 pm, just saw two breaches from Constellation Park in West Seattle, southbound to red buoy.”
| 4 COMMENTS