Meet the Whales!

WHALES FREQUENTLY SEEN IN THE SAN JUAN ISLANDS

Bigg's / Transient Killer Whale

Transient Orca whales pass through the islands frequently, feeding on seals, sea lions and fish. They measure up to 32 feet in length and weigh up to 11 tons. They are also referred to as "Bigg's Killer Whales" in honor of Dr. Michael Bigg (1939-1990), a Fisheries and Oceans Canada scientist, one of the primary modern researchers on Killer Whales.

Southern Resident Orca Whale

3 resident pods (J, K & L pods) live in the region year-round and primarily feed on salmon, cod and herring. They can measure up to 32 feet in length and weigh up to 11 tons. These whales have a distinct, matriarchal culture, including their own language and the oldest female in each pod is the leader.

Minke Whale

A baleen whale measuring 24 feet in length on average and weighing about 4-5 tons.

Humpback Whale

Large baleen whale measuring up to 52 feet in length and weighing up to 40 tons, these giants are known for their spectacular breaches.

Gray Whale

Gray whales measure up to 50 feet in length and weigh up to 40 tons, and are often seen early and late during our whale watching season as they migrate past Washington state.

Dall's Porpoise

With black and white coloring similar to Orca whales, these porpoises measure up to 8 feet in length, weigh up to 500 pounds, and primarily eat small fish.


RESPONSIBLE WHALE WATCHING – The Facts & Our Focus

We have been practicing responsible whale watching for over 30 years, following all state and federal guidelines, and as member of the Pacific Whale Watching Association we adhere to rules that exceed these guidelines. Our captains undergo annual training to stay up-to-date on rules and research being done to protect these magnificent creatures.

  • We are 100% focused on the health of the whales and science-based solutions that best support their current and future well-being.
  • Research has shown that the vessel speed is directly related to vessel noise – science has shown that reducing vessel noise offers more benefits to whales than moving vessels further away from whales. Go-slow zones greatly reduce vessel noise, down to the noise level of ambient rainfall.
  • Over 90% of Southern Resident Orca Whale sightings reported to researchers and enforcement agencies flow from the Pacific Whale Watching Association members.
  • Other whale species are thriving in the exact same ecosystem and soundscape of the Southern Resident Orca Whales – 2018 was a record year for Bigg’s / Transient orca whale sightings, and more than 400 individual Humpback whales were spotted in the Salish Sea.
  • Whale watching boats serve as stewards on the water, modelling best practices, alerting other vessels on the water when whales are in the area, and urging those vessels to slow down.

BIGG’S (TRANSIENT) KILLER WHALES

Bigg’s killer whales (also known as transient orca whales) live in the waters along the west coast of the United States and Canada, usually travelling in small groups. Their diet is primarily seals, sea lions, dolphins and harbor porpoises, along with a variety of other marine mammals. They even feed on sea birds, although these aren’t considered to be a substantial food source for them. In recent years we have seen these whales more often than Southern Resident Orcas, usually in the San Juan Islands or Haro Strait, but occasionally in waters close to Bellingham, including Bellingham Bay and Rosario Strait.

SOUTHERN RESIDENT ORCA WHALES

This resident group of 74 whales (as of September 20, 2021) consists of J, K and L pods (pods are family groups of 24, 16, and 33 whales respectively). They live most of the time in the coastal and inland waters of Washington State and lower British Columbia, although at times they go as far south as California or north to Alaska.

 

J-POD

K-POD

L-POD

On our tours we see J Pod most frequently, and they are the group whose 24 members are seen most often year-round in the Salish Sea. K Pod is the smallest resident group, with 16 whales, the oldest of which is K12 (about 49 years of age). The most recent calf, K44, was born in 2011. This group is the largest of the three resident pods with 33 members. L Pod had a new calf born in 2021, L-125!
J-16 (Slick) Female – Est. Born 1972
Mother of J-26 / J-36 / J-42 / J-50
Grandmother of J-52
K-12 (Sequim) Female – Est. Born 1972
Mother of K-22 / K-37 / K-43
Grandmother of K-33
L-22 (Spirit) Female – Born 1971
Mother of L-89
J-19 (Shachi) Female – Born 1979
Mother of J-41
Grandmother of J-51
K-14 (Lea) Female – Born 1977
Mother of K-26 / K-36 / K-42
L-25 (Ocean Sun) Female – Born 1928
J-22 (Oreo) Female – Born 1985
Mother of J-34 / J-38
K-16 (Opus) Female – Born 1985
Mother of K-35
L-54 (Ino) Female – Born 1977
Mother of L-108 / L-117
J-26 (Mike) Male – Born 1991
Mother is J-16
K-20 (Spock) Female – Born 1986
Mother is K-13
Mother of K-38
L-55 (Nugget) Female – Born 1977
Mother of L-82 / L-103 / L-109 / L-118
Grandmother of L-116
J-27 (Blackberry) Male – Born 1991
Mother was J-11
K-22 (Sekiu) Female – Born 1987
Mother is K-12
Mother of K-33
L-72 (Racer) Female – Born 1986
Mother of L-105
J-31 (Tsuchi) Female – Born 1995
Mother was J-11Mother to J-56
K-26 (Lobo) Male – Born 1993
Mother is K-14
L-77 (Matia) Female – Born 1987
Mother of L-119, L-124
J-35 (Tahlequah) Female – Born 1998
Mother was J-17
Mother of J-47, J-57
K-27 (Deadhead) Female – Born 1994
Mother is K-13
Mother of K-44
L-82 (Kasatka) Female – Born 1990
Mother is L-55
Mother of L-116
J-36 (Alki) Female – Born 1999
Mother is J-16
Mother of J-52
K-33 (Tika) Male – Born 2001
Mother is K-22
L-83 (Moonlight) Female – Born 1990
Mother is L-47
Mother of L-110
J-37 (Hy’Shqa) Female – Born 2001
Mother was J-14
Mother of J-49
K-34 (Cali) Male – Born 2001
Mother is K-13
L-85 (Mystery) Male – Born 1991
J-38 (Cookie) Male – Born 2003
Mother is J-22
K-35 (Sonata) Male – Born 2002
Mother is K-16
L-86 (Surprise!) Female – Born 1991
Mother of L-106, L-125
J-39 (Mako) Male – Born 2003
Mother was J-11
K-36 (Yoda) Female – Born 2003
Mother is K-14
L-87 (Onyx) Male – Born 1992
J-40 (Suttles) Female – Born 2004
Mother was J-14
K-37 (Rainshadow) Male – Born 2003
Mother is K-12
L-88 (Wave Walker) Male – Born 1993
J-41 (Eclipse) Female – Born 2005
Mother is J-19
Mother of J-51, J-58
K-38 (Comet) Male – Born 2004
Mother is K-20
L-89 (Solstice) Male – Born 1993
Mother is L-22
J-42 (Echo) Female – Born 2007
Mother is J-16
K-42 (Kelp) Male – Born 2008
Mother is K-14
L-90 (Ballena) Female – Born 1993
J-44 (Moby) Male – Born 2009
Mother was J-17
K-43 (Saturna) Female – Born 2010
Mother is K-12
L-91 (Muncher) Female – Born 1995
Mother is L-47Mother of L-122
J-45 (Se-Yi-Chn) Male – Born 2009
Mother of J-37, J-40, J-45
Grandmother of J-49
K-44 (Ripple) Male – Born 2011
Mother is K-27
L-94 (Calypso) Female – Born 1995
Mother of L-113 / L-121
J-46 (Star) Female – Born 2009
Mother is J-28
L-103 (Lapis) Female – Born 2003
Mother is L-55Mother of L-123
J-47 (Notch) Male – Born 2010
Mother is J-35
L-105 (Fluke) Male – Born 2004
Mother is L-72
J-49 (T’ilem I’nges) Male – Born 2012
Mother is J-37
L-106 (Pooka) Male – Born 2005
Mother is L-86

J-51 (Nova) Male – Born 2015

Mother is J-41

L-108 (Coho) Male – Born 2006
Mother is L-54

J-53 (Kiki) Female – Born 2015

Mother was J-17

L-109 (Takoda) Male – Born 2007
Mother is L-55

J-56 (Tofino) Female – Born 2019

Mother is J-31

L-110 (Midnight) Male – Born 2007
Mother is L-83

J-57 (Phoenix) Male – Born 2020

Mother is J-35

L-113 (Cousteau) Female – Born 2009
Mother is L-94

J-58 (Crescent) Female – Born 2020

Mother is J-41

L-115 (Mystic) Male – Born 2010
L-116 (Finn) Male – Born 2010
Mother is L-82
L-117 (Keta) Male – Born 2010
Mother is L-54
L-118 (Jade) Female – Born 2011
Mother is L-55
L-119 (Joy) Female – Born 2012
Mother is L-77
L-121 (Windsong) Male – Born 2015
Mother is L-95

L-122 (Magic) Male – Born 2015

Mother is L-91

L-123 (Lazuli) Male – Born 2015

Mother is L-103

L-124 (Whistle) Gender Unknown – Born 2018

Mother is L-77

L-125 Gender Unknown – Born 2021

Mother is L-86

 

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