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New Calf in L pod! L119

We encountered J,K,and L pods coming in together from the Pacific Ocean to the Salish Sea yesterday  for the first time this year. J and K pods have come in to these

interior waters several times earlier this spring; but, this is the first time that all of surviving members of L pod have been encountered in interior waters in 2012. All three pods were moving slowly toward San Juan Island with a new calf in tow.  One of the adult females in L pod, twenty-five year old L77, has a new calf, designated as L119, who looks to be only a few weeks old. The sex is not yet known. The new calf appeared healthy and vigorous, and we are hopeful that this one will make it. Her previous calf in 2010 was only seen for one day, and it is not known whether she has had other calves that did not survive to be documented.  We will be providing more updates on the new calf as well as our superpod encounter  in the next few days.

Article on Ken Balcomb and the investigation of L112's Death

Click the link to read a KUOW article on Ken:
http://earthfix.opb.org/flora-and-fauna/article/the-man-and-the-orcas/

SRKW's off Westport WA, April 29th

While on a survey out of Westport, Washington, Cascadia Research Collective encountered a southern resident killer whales including individuals from both K and L pods. From the photos sent to the Center for Whale Research, we were able to ID 36 whales.  This is not a complete census.  Cascadia was able to photograpg many, but not all of the whales present. Here's a list of the whales we were able to ID from the photos: K12, K13, K14, K20, K25, K26, K27, K34, K36, K37, K38, K42, K43, K44, L5, L25, L27, L41, L53, L55, L72, L79, L82, L84, L85, L86, L89, L91, L94, L103, L105, L106, L109, L113, L116, and L118.
Photograph of L105 by Greg Shore.

Recent update on killer whales from NOAA Fisheries

Below is some recent information on killer whales from NOAA Fisheries Northwest Region 

Did you know?A recent review of photos by DFO scientists have confirmed that Southern Resident killer whales were sighted in Chatham Strait, Southeast Alaska, back in June 2007. Southern Residents were previously thought to range as far north as the Queen Charlotte Islands, B. C. This sighting extends their known range about 200 miles to the north.

L112 stranding investigation progress reportThe investigation into the death of Southern Resident killer whale L112 continues. We posted a progress report on our website at http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/Marine-Mammals/Whales-Dolphins-Porpoise/Killer-Whales/upload/L112-Prgrs-Rpt.pdf. We’ll continue to provide updates as we get the results from outstanding analyses and generate a final report.

Update on satellite tagging project
The Northwest Fisheries Science Center has updated website information on the three-day deployment of a tag on J26: http://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/research/divisions/cbd/marine_mammal/satellite_tagging.cfm.

Canadian marine mammal regulationsAs the federal department responsible for the protection of marine mammals, their habitats, and their migration routes in Canadian waters, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has finalized a set of proposed amendments to the Marine Mammal Regulations (MMR) of the Fisheries Act. The amendments are designed to provide enhanced protection for marine mammals against human disturbances.

The proposed regulatory amendments were published on March 24, 2012, in the Canada Gazette, Part I. The Canada Gazette is the official newspaper of the Government of Canada. See it online at:  http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2012/2012-03-24/html/reg2-eng.html. The public has 60 days from the publication date to provide comments on the proposed amendments.

L112 washes up in Long Beach, WA

- The following is copied from an email message from NOAA:

"On Feb. 11, 2012, a stranded killer whale washed up just north of Long Beach, Wash. Photographs of the dorsal fin and saddle patch were matched to catalogs of known killer whales by biologists from NOAA Fisheries and the Center for Whale Research.

The whale has been identified as a member of the Southern Resident L Pod known as L112, a female calf of L86. A full necropsy was conducted on Feb. 12.

Samples were taken for a variety of analyses. Processing of samples could take several weeks or months, and will hopefully provide insight into the origin of the traumatic injuries or other factors that may have contributed to the death of this whale. More information is available on the Cascadia Research website at:

http://www.cascadiaresearch.org/examination_of_dead_killer_whale-12Feb2012.htm

"

L90 Update: September 11, 2011

L90 in Haro Strait, September 11- Photo by Dave Ellifrit

L90:
We have been episodically monitoring L90 - taking respiration rates, surfacing/ 

dive intervals/traveling speed, and videotaping , as well as taking good-quality close-up photos of her melon, etc. 

She continues to consistently trail the other whales and  is breathing at frequent intervals ranging from 20 sec-120 sec, with  

most in 30 second range. Her dives are typically shallow (often visible underwater at about 60'), and when observed the in calm water near East Point on September 20th, she was making brief  vocalizations between breaths. At the time, she was lagging behind the other whales by about one and a half miles. Her surfacing posture  is unusual - when logging she "bobs" for each breath, and when traveling she surfaces horizontally and then dives rather  "stiffly", as if there is a problem with her spine. She has been doing this since July 6, before the alleged vessel strike. 

We recently noted her surfacing about 100 feet behind a yacht wake  and she appeared to be thrown off balance from the wake. She was also observed rolling on her side going through kelp. She does not show evidence any emaciation. The most notable aspect of all of this, and it is also notable for other ailing/trailing whales we have monitored in the past: there is little to no obvious care-giving behavior exhibited by the other whales. Presumably she is eating, otherwise she would show evidence of emaciation.  

We all have concerns for the fate of this whale, but there is very little that anyone can do but observe. This has happened before, and it will happen again.