AUGUST 9, 2009 MORNING L pod whales in the fog in Haro Strait

Departure time: 1003

Vessel: Five Star Charter's Supercat

Sighting #1: 'Resident' fish eating killer whales (Orcinus orca)Time: 1823
Start location: somewhere in the fog off San Juan Island, Haro Strait
End location: still somewhere in the fog off San Juan Island, Haro Strait
Behaviour: spread, foraging

Pods and Individuals identified: L and K - L5, L100, L108, L74, L87, K11?

Cool killer whale fact: The brain of an adult orca may weigh 12-15 pounds, or about four times the size of human brains

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

Swimming inverted or belly-up!

L5, Tanya, a female estimated to be born in 1964

Inverted tail lob!

...and some chin slapping!

L108, Coho, the 3 year old son of L54, Ino

L5

L87, Onyx, a 17 year old 'sprouting' (maturing) male