J-pod observed traveling north into
Swanson Channel, Sept. 9, 2007
photo by Dave Ellifrit. This photo was taken under MMPA permit #532-1822.
Sprouting male J26 surfaces for air in a tidal rip while traveling north in Haro Strait Sept. 9, 2007.
photo by Dave Ellifrit. This photo was taken under MMPA permit #532-1822.
J42, the newest member of J-pod, surfaces between it's mother J16 and older sibling J36 during Encounter #60, Sept. 9, 2007.
photo by Dave Ellifrit. This photo was taken under MMPA permit #532-1822.
J42 surfaces providing an excellent example of the patchy skin condition observed in nearly every young killer whale within it's first year of life. Though J42 was born with smooth skin, it's skin began to peel and look patchy near the end of July, at about three months of age. This condition can be expected to continue for another year, or so, and is quite common among young Killer whale calves. This skin condition makes photo-identification of young whales particularly difficult, as it may take several years before a really reliable photograph of the saddle patch may be obtained. For this reason, eyepatch photographs are often much more reliable when identifying young individuals.
Encounter #060-1
September 9, 2007
J pod
Platform: Orca
Departed Snug Harbor: 2:20 p.m.
Begin Encounter: 2:30 p.m.
Start Lat: 48° 35.48 N
Start Long: 123° 12.44 W
End Encounter: 3:58 p.m.
End Lat: 48° 43.67 N
End Long: 123° 15.56 W
Returned to Snug Harbor: 5:00 p.m.
Observers: Dave Ellifrit.
Center for Whale Research senior staff-member Dave Ellifrit began Encounter #60 on Sept. 9, 2007, with members of J-pod off Kellett Bluff, Henry Island. The whales were traveling northbound, with groups and individuals spread out over several miles. The whales continued north into Swanson Channel, where Dave left them and returned to Snug Harbor.
