WHALES: Sightings in our area
Two reports from Kersti Muul: Transient orcas, northbound, about half an hour ago, and a gray whale, also northbound. Both sightings were reported north of the north end of Vashon Island. Let us know if you see them!
ORCAS: Last captive Southern Resident Killer Whale, Tokitae, has died
(WSB photo from 2015 Alki ‘Free Lolita’ rally)
There will be no homecoming for the last Southern Resident Killer Whale in captivity. The 57-year-old orca known as Tokitae (previously Lolita) has died. She was estimated to be four years old when captured 53 years ago off Whidbey Island. The Miami Seaquarium announced her death on social media, saying in part:
Over the last two days, Toki started exhibiting serious signs of discomfort, which her full Miami Seaquarium and Friends of Toki medical team began treating immediately and aggressively. Despite receiving the best possible medical care, she passed away Friday afternoon from what is believed to be a renal condition.
The Seaquarium stopped making her perform two years ago. Recent plans to try moving her back to Puget Sound were still being developed – as we noted back in April – after years of protests and other advocacy, here and elsewhere, demanding she be brought home.
WHALES: Three humpbacks off West Seattle
6:56 PM: Thanks for the reports! We’ve received word of at least two humpbacks seen heading northbound off The Arroyos and Fauntleroy.
8:04 PM: Three whales! John and Jan caught their spouts on video:
WHALES: Seen off West Seattle
From Gary Jones, this sighting less than an hour ago: “At least two whales, most likely humpback heading south just north of Alki Point, well east of mid-channel.”
WHALES: Orcas and humpbacks in the area
7:51 PM: Just texted by Kersti Muul, orcas are northbound, midchannel, approaching the Fauntleroy ferry lanes – so if you’re up for sunset whale-watching, head to the shore with your binoculars!
8:32 PM: Kersti says two humpbacks are in the area too, southbound off Bainbridge.
WHALES: Two new Southern Resident orca babies!
Last week we noted reports of a new arrival in L-Pod, one of the three groups that comprise the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whale population. Now there’s word of two, from the Center for Whale Research – here’s their announcement:
The Center for Whale Research (CWR) can confirm two new calves in the endangered Southern Resident killer whale population: L126 (mother L119) and L127 (mother L94). CWR researchers encountered the two calves during a survey of a group of whales containing members of J pod and the L12 subgroup in the Strait of Georgia on June 30, 2023.
L126 is L119’s first calf, while L127 is L94’s third. We estimate that both calves are at least two months old, and neither shows any immediate signs of illness or abnormality.
Both calves were very active and social while we observed them. The sex of the calves is still unknown, but CWR staff will attempt to get additional images of both calves in the coming days.
These are the first calves born in L pod since 2021 and the first calves born in the L12 subgroup since 2018. The first year is challenging for young whales, but we hope that both calves and their mothers can survive and thrive well into the future.
You can see photos on the CWR website (we’ll add one here if and when we get permission).
ORCAS: Whales headed this way
Kersti Muul sends word that orcas are headed this way. A group is milling, slowly southbound, off Bainbridge, just across and north of Alki. Let us know if you see them!
ORCAS: The Whale Trail celebrates a ‘sea change’ in support for protection
(March photo by David Hutchinson, Southern Residents seen from Constellation Park)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
News of what’s believed to be a newborn Southern Resident Killer Whale didn’t emerge until after The Whale Trail‘s summer gathering four nights ago.
Nonetheless, it was an optimistic, even jubilant gathering just the same, with an update on the resident orcas from their spring visits and the new laws meant to “give them space” on the water.
The gathering filled C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) last Thursday night, with The Whale Trail’s founder/executive director Donna Sandstrom first providing an update on her organization, which is now educating people from California to Canada about the orcas (and other sea life) with more than 130 interpretive signs installed so far, including four in West Seattle, “to connect people more deeply to the place they’re at.” Almost half those signs are in British Columbia, where the newest one – in Saturna – was just dedicated, with a special audio feature so that visitors can hear local First Nations people’s songs about the whales.
Read More
WHALES: Orcas passing West Seattle
4:10 PM: Just in from Kersti Muul, word of northbound orcas off West Seattle’s western shore – seen off Lincoln Park.
4:21 PM: Kersti says some are now in view off Constellation Park.
ORCAS: Southbound whales in view from West Seattle (photos added)
3:41 PM: Just reported by Kersti Muul, southbound transient orcas are coming into view from West Seattle, headed across the mouth of Elliott Bay toward Alki Point.
3:59 PM: Update from Kersti – “First group has rounded Alki Point; a second group still back, super close to shore.”
8:05 PM: Thanks to Robin Sinner for sending photos!
ALSO ADDED: Photos from Jamie Kinney (you can see more here):
WHALES: Humpback in Elliott Bay
If this downpour ends any time soon, might be evening whale-watching again tonight – Kersti Muul reports there’s one, maybe two humpbacks in Elliott Bay right now.
WHALES: Orcas, humpback in nearby waters
2:21 PM: Two whale reports from Kersti Muul: First, southbound orcas off Bainbridge Island, visible from Alki, within this past hour; second, a humpback whale off Blake Island. Let us know if you see any of the above!
5:15 PM: Update from Kersti – the humpback is in Elliott Bay, headed toward Duwamish Head.
5:33 PM: From there, Kersti says, the humpback is heading toward downtown.
ORCAS: Get updates at The Whale Trail’s Summer Gathering
(J51 porpoising, photographed by Mark Sears, Permit 21348)
We haven’t seen them in West Seattle waters lately, but the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales are never far from many people’s hearts. Get updates and information at the Summer Gathering just announced by The Whale Trail:
Celebrate summer and the passage of a new law to protect the endangered southern resident orcas! The Washington State Legislature recently passed a bill requiring all boaters to stay 1,000 yards away from J, K, and L pods, starting in 2025. This milestone legislation will give the whales the space they need to find and catch their prey.
Join us for a special presentation by Dr. Julie Watson (Killer Whale Policy Lead, WDFW) and Captain Alan Myers (WDFW Enforcement). Learn more about background and need for the law, next steps, and how boaters in Puget Sound can help orcas today.
Featured speakers also include orca heroes House Majority Leader Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon and researchers Mark and Maya Sears. Mark and Maya will share updates about recent orca encounters in central Puget Sound, including rare encounters with J pod in April!
Hope to see you there! Get tickets now, before they sell out!
What: Whale Trail Summer Gathering: Celebrate Give them Space!
When: Thursday June 22, 6:30 to 8:30 PM
Where: C&P Coffee Company, 5612 California Ave SW
Cost: $5, Kids under 12 get in for free.
Advance tickets: brownpapertickets.com
ORCAS: Visible from West Seattle
4:21 PM: Thanks to Kersti Muul for the report: Transient killer whales are northbound, headed through the Southworth ferry lane at last report, visible from West Seattle (through whitecaps, since it’s a breezy afternoon).
4:55 PM: Now visible north of Blake Island, Kersti reports in comments.
UPDATE: Orcas off West Seattle
11:50 AM: Just got word from Kersti Muul that a group of transient killer whales is heading northbound, approaching the Fauntleroy ferry lane at last report, but trending toward the west side of the channel, so you definitely need binoculars. Let us know if you see them!
12:56 PM: Kersti says in comments that another group is headed this way from Burien.
WHALES: Orcas off Alki
11:34 AM: Transient killer whales are back in Elliott Bay right now, reports Kersti Muul. They’re in view off the promenade – we were just briefly in the area and while we didn’t see the whales, we did see the boats watching them.
5:31 PM: Thanks to Robin Sinner for the photos! Robin says, “Orca Network identified male orca T87, Harbeson, born 1962. Oldest known male Biggs transient orca.”
ORCAS: In view from West Seattle again
Another orca visit today – Kersti Muul reports whales are in view “straight out from Alki Point to the north”; they’ve been in the area a few hours and are engaged in a “predation event.”
WHALES: Orcas in the area!
10:13 AM: Transient orcas are back in nearby waters, southbound off south Bainbridge Island, reports Kersti Muul, “mid to east in the channel.” Let us know if you see them!
10:46 AM: As Kersti commented, they’re past Blake Island now, still southbound. (Watch comments for other updates.)
WHALES: Orcas off West Seattle again
9:23 AM: For a third day, transient orcas are off Seattle shores – just got word from Kersti Muul that the same groups are southbound, already past Discovery Park on the north side of Elliott Bay. Let us know if you see them!
9:27 AM: Kersti adds that they’re visible from Luna/Anchor Park, and the water’s calm, so the viewing conditions are good.
| 5 COMMENTS