Inverted tail lob
Photo by Erin Heydenreich


J36 spyhop
Photo by Dave Ellifrit


J42 and J16 in Active Pass
Photo by Erin Heydenreich


J17's, J22's and the J11's exiting Georgeson Pass
Photo by Erin Heydenreich

Encounter # 21 • June 1 • J pod

Observers: Dave Ellifrit and Erin Heydenreich
Vessel: Orca

Departed Snug Harbor: 9:23 a.m.
Begin Encounter: 10:16 a.m.
Start Lat: 48° 46.67 N
Start Long: 123° 19.31 W
End Encounter: 12:52 p.m.
End Lat: 48° 49.85 N
End Long: 123° 14.07 W
Returned to Snug Harbor: 2:15 p.m.

After receiving an early morning report from Jeanne Hyde of J pod calls on the Orca Sound hydrophone, we departed Snug Harbor and headed north. We encountered J's spread out in Swanson Channel, 2 miles north of Mouat Point, North Pender Island B.C. The whales were split into two groups. J1, J2, J8, the J14's, J16's, and the J19's went through Active Pass. The J17's, J22's and J11's went through Navy Channel to Georgeson Pass between Mayne Island and Samuel Island, adjacent to Saturna Island. To our knowledge, resident killer whales have not been previously observed taking this route. The encounter ended at the north end of Georgeson Pass at 12:52 p.m. The whales reportedly headed toward Point Roberts.