"Cautious Optimism". No wonder LPod came in to the Salish Sea yesterday, unusual for February as the Ks and Ls spend much of the winter off the outer coast. And guess who is inbound, JPod! - celebrating the birth of this wee one L129 Mum yet to be determined, travelling with the L55 Matriline ❤️
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PLK...
Southern Resident Orca video based on the Scientific American article posted below
As we celebrate the birth of K Pod calf K47 last week, this article shares the story of Southern Resident heroes Dr. Deborah Giles and her research team at SeaDoc Society, including Eba the incredible poop-sniffing dog!
True SuperPod in the Salish Sea. All member of J,K, and L pods were present travelling within a few kilometres of one another. The L-12 sub-group was sighted with Ocean Sun L25 (oldest living Southern Resident) and Onyx L87 in the mix! Newest calf J64 was not present and is presumed deceased 💔
After the heart breaking loss of Southern Resident Alki's J 36 new born calf this week, her sister J42 Echo was spotted with a newborn babe yesterday. The calf is doing well, tucked in alongside Grandmother J16 Slick and Uncle J 27 Blackberry ❤️
"Alongside grief, we find Joy .... " another loss for J Pod and the Southern Residents. Yet with sadness there is hope & optimism - evidenced based - as newest calves J62 and J63 are thriving ❤️
The last passenger pigeon died 111 years ago today and not a day goes by that I don't think about how their flocks numbered in the *billions*, that their roosts covered 100+ square miles, that they collapsed trees with their nests. America is incomplete without them
A new calf for J Pod - J63 with first time mum J40 Suttles. No wonder K pod came in to the Salish Sea yesterday and met with J Pod - Celebrating the birth of this wee one!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_le5...
I hope you realize your dream William. UBC has some wonderful researchers who care as much about the Southern Residents and you and I do - You may enjoy this chat I did about these beloved whales.
"If we lose the Southern Residents, it will be the first extinction where every individual's name was known".
Alexandra Morton, Killer Whale Researcher, Marine Biologist, Salmon Researcher, Environmental Activist.
Beautiful video of Beloved J Pod - New babe J62 doing well, alongside mum Eclipse J41. ❤️ During the Center's Feb 8 encounter, Talequah J35 was seen without her deceased calf and has been traveling with her sons Phoenix J57 and Notch J47.
From the Center for Whale Research: New babe J62 spotted swimming alongside Eclipse J41, Sxwyeqólh J59, and Nova J51.
new calf J62 travels alongside mum Echo J41
Hopeful yet Heartbreaking. From the Center for Whale Research whaleresearch.com Jan 10 J Pod: "New calf J62 appeared healthy as it traveled surrounded by family. J41 Echo is the likely mother. J35 Talequah was still carrying her dead calf, J61 and appeared to be trying to keep it from sinking"
Update on Talequah and her calf: The Center for Whale Research has received additional information that as of 1/1/25, J35 has been seen carrying the body of the deceased calf (J61) with her. This behavior was seen previously by J35 in 2018 when she carried the body of her deceased calf for 17 days 💔
The hope is a new babe was spotted with the J16s and J19s - reported by the Center for Whale Research - "New Year’s Eve 2024 was a day of extreme highs and lows. We have confirmation of another new calf in J pod, but sadly, this was combined with the devastating news that J61 has not survived" ❤️
The Center for Whale Research confirms the new Southern Resident Killer Whale Calf J61 is a girl and J35 Talequah is the mum! Photo taken by Maya Sears, NMFS/NOAA Permit 27052
More on Talequah's and new babe's story
www.chronline.com/stories/moth...
New calf for J Pod! "... seen travelling in the echelon position of J35 Tahlequah, ... suggests she may be the probable mother," said Tamara Kelley, Orca Conservancy. Researchers will confirm the maternity after three or more encounters with the calf" www.peninsulanewsreview.com/news/days-ol...
The size of this one is impressive - and 2 more for good measure!
The Orca Behavior Institute and the Center for Whale Research are collecting concurrent data to study the Southern Resident Killer Whales - annotating drone footage with hydrophone recordings ❤️ J46 Star, K27 Deadhead, J42 Echo, K43 Saturna, K45 Uhura, & K42 Kelp www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org
Windy day at Point Roberts WA ❤️
