JULY 1, 2009 AFTERNOON J pod traveling east in Boundary Pass and Happy Canada Day!

Departure time: 1348

Vessel: Five Star Charter's Fastcat

Sighting #1: Southern 'Resident' fish eating killer whales (Orcinus orca)
Sighting time: 1515 - 1550
Start location: Java Islets, Saturna Island, BC
Behaviour: groups spread and travelling
End location: east of Java Islets, Saturna Island
Individuals identified: J pod

Cool fact about this species
Males grow to an average of 27 feet and 9,000 pounds (more at Orca Sightings Network fact sheet)

Links
Center for Whale Research killer whale fact page, photo ID and matrilines
Orca Adoption Program at Friday Harbour Whale Museum
Orcasound online hydrophone network
Orca Sightings Network
American Cetacean Society fact sheet

Looking back from the top deck stairs in Baynes Channel off Oak Bay

Kid`s camp accomodation as we pass through John`s Pass on the way to Boundary Pass

The crazy offshore wind from Saturna Island!

J pod making their way through the whitecaps off Saturna Island

J1, Ruffles (estimated to be born in 1951!) making his way along the Saturna Island shoreline

Sighting #2 Harbour Seals (Phoca vitulina)
Time: 1555
Location: Java Islets, Saturna Island, BC
Behaviour: animals hauled out on rocks and swimming

Links

Vancouver Aquarium harbour seal fact page

Above 2 photos: Harbour seals hauled out at Java Islets near Saturna Island

Looking east down boundary past toward Mount Baker, Washington

SIMPLE WAYS TO HELP SAVE THE WHALES AND THEIR ENVIRONMENT
To learn some ways how you can help save the whales and the oceans they live in see the Whale Nerds Unite blogpost for June 27, 2009!