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Fat Foraging Whales

It has been said by the locals that this is the largest run of Sockeye Salmon we've EVER had (at least in a lifetime). Everywhere you looked off the west side today, there were purseiners, fish jumping and orcas feeding. Fat and happy whales, they lolled about slowly, on long dives, taking their time, scooping up all of the salmon that would fit in their conically toothed mouths. Some of them must be eating for two. We can't see when an orca is gestating because they have a large...

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Long Distance Sightings

Victoria, B.C. with orca and ship. Photo courtesy of Jeanne Hyde

What is the measure of a whale watching adventure?  Well, today it was distance.  Capt. Mike decided that our options were to go big or stay home and staying home was not actually an option.  So, venturing further than prudence dictates, we sought out the orcas beyond the visible limits of San Juan Island.  Beyond even the limits of Victoria, B.C.

The water was calm and the sun was shining and lucky us we were...

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Does Granny Breach Less?

The oldest member of the Southern Resident Community is named Granny. She is estimated to be a 100 years old. She is also the matriarch of J-pod. Her cohort is a 60 year old male named Ruffles. Ruffle's dorsal fin is 5 to 6 feet tall, a common measurement for adult males, as compared to the 2 to 3 foot tall dorsal fin of the average female. A juvenile male is indistinguishable from a female with the exception of their ventral markings. A small black dot on each side of the ventral...

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People For Puget Sound Celebrates 20 Years of Protecting & Educating

WHAT'S YOUR 20TH ANNIVERSARY STORY? 2011 is People For Puget Sound's 20th birthday and we'd like to hear your story about Puget Sound and People For Puget Sound during the last 20 years” and looking ahead to the next 20.

Were you on the first Sound Voyage?

At the first Lobby Day in 1992?

Were you a Kid for Puget Sound? Did you volunteer during the early days of restoration and shoreline inventories?

Check out the stories and we'd love to hear from you.

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Touch of Grey

Fog is fascinating and something I miss about the Central Valley of California.  After driving in tule fog in the dark anything else seems like gravy.  (Meaning easy, not, as thick as.)  In the past few days though, the islands have delivered up some pretty good shows of fog.  Last night was absolutely surreal, what with us being on a boat floating around in something that resembled a dream since we could not see more than 100 yards in any direction.  Forget about seeing land.  It...

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Victoria AND the Olympic Penninsula

Today we left Friday Harbor and headed south down the east side of San Juan Island through Cattle Pass. Cattle Pass is known for torrential currents because both Haro Strait and the Strait of Juan De Fuca converge demanding to be let through. In the midst of Cattle Pass we saw stacked nests of Double Crested Cormorants on Goose Island, Harbor Seals hauled out on Whale Rocks and a Bald Eagle fishing on Long Island.

The snow capped peaks of the Olympic Penninsula were clearly visible...

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Moving up stream

What a beautiful day for a whale watch!  Sunny, warm and calm waters. The whales were reported to be off the west side of San Juan Island but by the time we were off and running they had made their way up to Saturna island. These whales were moving really fast! Captain Mike positioned us just ahead of the leaders and far enough away from other boats to lower our hydrophone (our underwater microphone). Wow they were really making a lot of noise! The tide was changing and the whales...

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"The Love Boat"

"Soon we'll be making another run.  The Love Boat..."

These orcas are all about peace, l0ve and fish these days.  They have been more active than I have ever seen them before with the percussive behaviors, the amorous behaviors and the feeding behaviors.  It is fantastic and exactly what we want to see from our small population of endangered marine mammals.

Today we spent time with L pod, and while they were not as active in the splashing and feeding departments, they made up for...

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Of Dolphins And Diamonds

Seeing the San Juan Islands is magical and seeing the orcas can be downright transcendental for some.  But, when you can pair those two things with a major milestone in a person's life it becomes a rare and unique moment that makes existence in this world a more glorious thing.  It also shines a light on one of the reasons why I have always chosen to live the impoverished lifestyle of a naturalist/wildlife rehabilitator/marine mammal rescuer/zookeeper.  Much as it is said that...

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Roly Poly Fish Heads

The amount of activity that we are seeing out of the orcas this season is amazing.  They seem far more acrobatic and aerially inclined than they were last year.  Of course that is undoubtedly just my generous heart making me see more than there really is, but I think it is spectacular.  Especially all of the aggressive feeding that we are able to watch day after day.  It suggests good things about the salmon run this year and means that all of our new moms will be well able to feed...

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