JULY 2, 2009 AFTERNOON K and L pods head to Haro Strait to meet up with J pod...SUPERPOD!

Departure time: 1400

Vessel: Five Star Charter's Fastcat

Sighting #1: Southern 'Resident' fish eating killer whales (Orcinus orca)
Start Time: 1433 - 1540
Start location: South of Victoria waterfront, off Beacon Hill Park
Behaviour: travelling fast
End location: Beaumont Shoals, Haro Strait, BC
Individuals identified: J, K and L pods - L41, L79, L89, L22, J16, J42, J36, K26

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

Above 2 photos: L41, Mega, a 32 year old male travelling east with the Victoria skyline in the back ground

Above 2 photos: L79, Skana, a 20 year old male killer whale

L pod whales travelling east in the Strait of Juan De Fuca with the Olympic Mountains in the Background

L22, Spirit, the 38 year old mother of L79

Sighting #2 Harbour Seal (Phoca vitulina)
Time: 1536
Location: Beaumont Shoals, Haro Strait, BC side
Behaviour: swimming

Links

Vancouver Aquarium harbour seal fact page

Young harbour seal...didn`t seem sure of what to do when the large group of killer whales swam past!

J16, Slick, a 37 year old female with J42 her 2 year old daughter

K26, Lobo, a 16 year old `sprouting` (maturing) male killer whale

J16, Slick travelling with her daughters J36, Alki (10 years old) and J42, Echo, 2 years old

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!