the WHALE Report
September // 2022
CWR Member News // Published Quarterly
Sea Change
For five decades, Center for Whale Research staff and supporters have witnessed profound transformations in the Southern Resident orca population. In this issue of the WHALE Report, we look at some history, the current seascape, and what lies ahead.
CWR’s Mark Malleson captured this shot of two Southern Resident orcas swimming near a massive freighter in the Strait of Juan de Fuca (Encounter #37, July 9, 2022).
Photographs and videos are taken under Center for Whale Research Federal Permits NMFS #21238 / DFO SARA 388.
in this issue of
the WHALE Report
QUOTABLE // from the SCIENCE Desk—Sea CHANGE Q & A
2022 SIGHTINGS update // SRKW NEWS
All photographs, videos, and information on WhaleResearch.com are Copyright © 2022 Center for Whale Research.
QUOTABLE
Generally, [J59] looks healthy: she’s active, she’s social, and she’s with her mom. Everything about her, from what we can see, looks good, looks promising. We’re letting ourselves feel a little hopeful even though we know that there’s still a long uphill battle ahead to try to get to the root causes of the whales’ decline.
Center for Whale Research’s (CWR) Research Director Dr. Michael Weiss spoke with FOX13 Seattle’s Matthew Smith about J pods newest calf and the future of the Southern Resident orcas. Read Smith’s online story: Excitement surrounds baby Southern Residents, as scientists fear ‘dried up twigs’ on family tree and watch the accompanying video featuring Dr. Weiss and CWR’s Dave Ellifrit.
Dave ELLIFRIT
Senior Staff/Photo ID Specialist
Dr. Michael WEISS
Research Director
Mark MALLESON
Field Biologist
Katie JONES
Education/Outreach Manager
from the SCIENCE Desk
Sea Change Q & A
Center for Whale Research staff answer questions about some of the most dramatic—positive and negative—changes they’ve experienced during their decades of studying and observing the Southern Resident (SRKW) orca population.
Q. How much has the Salish Sea habitat changed during the five decades of the ORCA SURVEY?
A. Ken Balcomb: The chinook runs have been fished out. At the beginning of the ORCA SURVEY, there were two million Chinook salmon caught in Washington State, and probably at least that number caught in British Columbia destined for Salish Sea rivers (WDFW 1980 Annual Report). The Chinook salmon distribution and migratory patterns have changed, and this has changed the SRKWs’ foraging patterns; they follow the fish after all: NO FISH, NO BLACKFISH. Shipping traffic has greatly increased in size and number, increasing low-frequency noise pollution and contamination. Climate has changed and has warmed ocean conditions. And the human occupation of the regional environment has greatly increased.
At the beginning of the ORCA SURVEY, there were two million Chinook salmon caught in Washington State, and probably at least that number caught in British Columbia destined for Salish Sea rivers (WDFW 1980 Annual Report). The Chinook salmon distribution and migratory patterns have changed, and this has changed the SRKWs’ foraging patterns; they follow the fish, after all: NO FISH, NO BLACKFISH.
— Kenneth C. BALCOMB, CWR Founder/Principal Investigator
Q. How have the threats to the Southern Resident population changed during the past five decades?
A. Ken Balcomb: The threat of extinction of Southern Resident orcas (SRKW) primary food supply has not improved in recent times. It has worsened and probably will not significantly improve in the near future under the current political/economic regime.
Q. Sonar and weapons used during U.S. and Canadian Navy exercises, inside and on the periphery of the Salish Sea, were previously deadly to L112 in 2012. Ten years later, are naval activities less of a threat to the Southern Residents?
A. Ken Balcomb: Sonar initiates a flight response in marine mammals (avoidance), particularly with exposure to high-intensity military sonar. The orcas’ terrifying responses sometimes lead to lethal results (stranding, brain trauma, social dispersal). This threat will not get better. The Navy has initiated awareness programs for their personnel, but awareness and sensitivity to the issue must be learned. Accidents will continue to happen.
Read all of the Sea Change Q & A questions and responses.
SIGHTINGS update
2022 Encounter summary
L105 executing a full Breach.
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L105 Full Breach
Encounter #39 with J, K, and L pods // July 11, 2022
(Photograph by CWR’s Dave Ellifrit).
Encounter Location: Boundary Pass and Haro Strait
Part of Encounter Summary:
As K34 headed offshore, we saw another active group that included the L72s, L91s, and K27. K34 soon joined them. These whales were social, milling, and non-directional at the time. L105 was particularly active and was doing half breaches repeatedly. We left this group to check out a smaller group to the north of them and this was all three of the L86s traveling together.
Watch a spectacular video of Encounter #39 shot by CWR’s Lodie Gilbert Budwill.
SIGHTINGS
MAP
See WhaleResearch.com
2022 Encounters for a complete description of the Encounters.
Encounters in 2022 (June 11-Sept 8):
25 ORCA SURVEY Encounters
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Southern Resident killer whale (SRKW) Encounters: 14
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Bigg’s (Transient) killer whale Encounters: 11
Southern Resident Killer Whale Population: 73*
J pod = 25, K pod = 16, L pod = 32
Encounters with orcas in inland waters from June 11-September 8 are marked on the map. ORCA SURVEY Encounters with Southern Residents are marked with blue locator dots and Bigg’s (Transients) with black locator dots. Numbered locator dots are active links to the full Encounter Summary (desktop version only).
With the births of J59 and K45, the loss of K44, and L89 missing, the Southern Resident killer whale population as of July 1, 2022, was 73 whales.
*The official annual count of Southern Resident orcas is reported on July 1 and December 31. CWR’s Ken Balcomb explains why there are two counts in this YouTube video.
SRKW NEWS update
Photograph: New K pod calf, K45, with at its mom’s, K20 (Encounter #55 on September 8, 2022).
Video: CWR researches ID’d new calf J59 as female (UAV Encounter #8 on May 26, 2022).
New calves in J and K pod are doing well
The newest members of the Southern Resident orca population are both doing well. CWR’s Dave Ellifrit first saw J59 on March 1 (Encounter #13). She’s the first calf born into J Pod since September 2020, when J41 gave birth to J58 (female). K45, K20’s new calf, was seen and photographed by CWR’s Mark Malleson on July 9 (Encounter #37). Let’s hope K45 is female, too. Learn more about Baby Orcas.
K44 is missing and presumed deceased
Eleven-year-old K pod male K44 is missing and presumed dead. He was absent when CWR field staff saw K pod for the first time in 2022 on July 9 and wasn’t with his pod during subsequent encounters on July 11 and August 13. CWR staff last saw the young male orca in late November 2021. Every other member of K pod has been documented since then. K44 was the only living calf of K27. His father was L78 (1989-2021).
Diesel spill offshore of Center for Whale Research’s home base
On August 13, a commercial fishing boat sunk off the west side of San Juan Island near Sunset Point and the Center for Whale Research’s research offices. The 49-foot fishing vessel, the Aleutian Isle, carried approximately 2,600 gallons of diesel oil. Fortunately, J, K, and L pods didn’t reach the fuel spill area, averting a potential disaster. CWR Field Biologist Mark Malleson and his crew had an “epic” five-plus hour encounter with the Southern Residents along the south shore of Vancouver Island earlier in the day (Encounter #49). The Southern Residents turned around before reaching the life-threatening spill situation. The following morning, Malleson was on board the MV Coho ferry en route from Victoria to Port Angeles and saw at least 30 SRKWs swimming westward in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. CWR is confident all of the 60-plus whales seen on August 13 avoided the diesel spill.
Aleutian Isle Sinking Spill Management Update
Global NEWS BC’s video coverage of the August 13, 2022, diesel oil spill in Haro Strait offshore of San Juan Island; the Coast Guard cutter Osprey watches response operations on September 2 (NOAA photograph).
During Encounter #34 on June 23, 2022 (Photograph by CWR’s Dave Ellifrit).
L25 & L113 Swimming in Haro Strait
getting to KNOW THEM: SRKWs
In each issue of the WHALE Report, we feature one or more members of the Southern Resident killer whale (SRKW) community. See the Orca Survey SRKW ID GUIDE for left and right side identification photographs of J, K, and L pod members, including their alpha-numeric designation, sex, birth year, family members, and matriline illustration.
L11 matriline
The six living orcas of the L77 and L94 matrilines comprise the L11 matriline. The L11 matriline, like the L4 matriline, links two sisters together because they travel with each other far more often than not. L41 (adopted name, Mega) was a member of the L11 matriline (1977-2020). DNA tests identified L41 as the father of twenty Southern Resident orca calves.
The following explanation is a bit complicated; read it a few times, and you’ll get it. The L11 matriline is part of what makes up the L12s. L12 was the possible mother to L11, but the L11s are not the only part of the L12s. The L12s are made up of the L11s (L77 and L94 matrilines), L25, L22, and L85. L87 is still technically a member of the L12s, although he now travels with another part of L pod (L4s). We don’t assume L87 will be there when we encounter the L12s, but he and L22 (if they are traveling together) now make up what’s left of the L32s. Eventually, the extra whales around the L11s (L22, L25, L85, and L87) will die out, and there will be no more “L12s,” only the L11s, which may split up into their own matrilines.
L25 is the oldest living member of the SRKWs. She is not related to the other matrilines that make up the L12s.
L77 // Female
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Born in 1987
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Mother was L11; father unknown
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Mother of L114 (2010-2010, sex unknown), L119 (born 2012, female), and L124 (2019)
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Siblings: L41 (1977-2020, male), L42 (1973-1994, male), L64 (1985-1985, sex unknown), and L94 (born 1995, female)
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Identified by:
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Dorsal Fin: Noticeable nick
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Saddle Patch: Left side - Open / Right side - Closed with “finger”
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L94 // Female
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Born in 1995
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Mother was L11; father unknown
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Mother of L113 (born 2009, female) and L121 (born 2015, male)
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Siblings: L41 (1977-2020, male), L42 (1973-1994, male), L64 (1985-1985, sex unknown), and L77 (born 1987, female)
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Identified by:
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Dorsal Fin: Slight nick 1/3 of the way down
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Saddle Patch: Left side - Open, wavy diagonal scratch / Right side - Closed with “finger”
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L113 // Female
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Born in 2009
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Mother is L94; father unknown
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Sibling is L121 (born 2015, male)
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Identified by:
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Saddle Patches: Closed with a “finger” and black spine on both sides
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L119 // Female
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Born in 2012
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Mother is L77; father is L78
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Sibling is L124 (born 2019, sex unknown)
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She is a fun and active whale
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Identified by:
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Dorsal Fin: Rounded tip
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Saddle Patch: Left side - Closed / Right side - Closed
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L121 // Male
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Born in 2015
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Mother is L94; father unknown
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Sibling is L113 (born 2009, female)
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Identified by:
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Dorsal Fin: Pointy
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Saddle Patch: Left side - Closed / Right side - Closed, small “finger”
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L124 // Sex Unknown
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Born in 2019
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Mother is L77; father unknown
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Sibling is L119 (born 2012, female)
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Identified by:
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Dorsal Fin: Short, white scars giving it a “barcode” look
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Saddle Patches: Left side - the most distinctive saddle of the SRKWs: Open and half of the back part of the saddle is missing / Right saddle - Closed with a small thick “finger.”
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Photo Gallery - L11 matriline
L25 is the oldest living Southern Resident orca and regularly travels with the L12s.
L25 // Female
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Born in 1928 (est.)
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Adopted name: Ocean Sun
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Probable mother of L23 (est. 1952-1982, female)
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Probable grandmother of L14 (est. 1972-1989, male) and L49 (1979-1980, sex unknown)
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Identified by:
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Dorsal Fin: Unique with rounded tip
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Saddle Patch: Left side - Open with distinctive arch / Right side - Wavy closed with thick “finger.”
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L41: Known and Probable Paternity
J Pod
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J34 (male/died 2016)
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J35 (female/born 1998)
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J36 (female/born 1999)
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J37 (female/born 2001)
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J40 (female/born 2004)
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J44 (male/born 2009)
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J45 (male/born 2009)
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Neonate (died 2013)
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J53 (female/born 2015)
K Pod
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K33 (male/born 2001)
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K34 (male/born 2001)
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K35 (male/born 2002)
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K36 (female/born 2003)
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K42 (male/born 2008)
L Pod
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L95 (male/died 2016)
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L100 (male/died 2014)
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L101(male/died 2008)
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L106 (male/born 2005)
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L112 (female/died 2012)
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L116 (male/born 2010)
T75Bs and T65Bs in Rosario Strait, Washington, during CWR’s 2022 UAV Encounter #1 on May 1, 2022). Part of the Encounter Summary: “They started working the shoreline, and made two seal kills in quick succession, doing a lot of sharing (including between matrilines) and socializing after each kill. We also observed T75B4 nursing, as well as at least investigating solid food.”
We include matrilineal information about Bigg’s (Transient) orcas that CWR has seen in the Salish Sea in each issue of the WHALE Report.
getting to KNOW THEM:
Bigg’s (Transient)
T75B matriline
The T75B matriline comprises five Bigg’s orcas. The larger T75 family—T75, T75A (her oldest son), and T75C—usually travel separately from the T75Bs. TheT75Bs and T75Cs travel with their calves. T75B has had three known offspring; T75B1 was last photographed by CWR in July 2013 but was missing by November 2013. See Orca IDentification and learn more about identifying individual whales.
Matriarch: T75B
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Female; born in 1995
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Four offspring: T75B1 (born 2007; missing in 2013 and presumed dead), T75B2, T75B3, and T75B4
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Mother is T75; siblings: T75A and T75C
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T75B is identified by the significant scratch in the middle of her left side saddle patch, black spine, and dorsal fin shape
Offspring: T75B2
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Female (suspected; recent drone video seems to confirm this); born in 2015
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Identified by its somewhat rounded dorsal fin and three rake marks well behind her left side saddle patch
Offspring: T75B3
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Male; born in 2017
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Identified by its skinny “neck” and the flat top to his saddle
Offspring: T75B4
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Female; born in 2021
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Identified by the multiple wide scratches on its faint right side saddle patch.
Photo Gallery - T75Bs
The young man pictured above was a Salish Sea School participant during the school’s visit to the Orca Survey Outreach & Education Center in August. He’s writing a letter to Washington State Governor Jay Inslee asking him to push harder for the immediate removal of the Lower Snake River dams. Read his words for Governor Inslee in the PHOTO GALLERY below.
CWR Taking ACTION
The Center for Whale Research advocates tirelessly and relentlessly for the Southern Resident orcas’ needs:*
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Executing our essential scientific research: ORCA SURVEY and Aerial Observation Study
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Advocating for the Southern Residents’ primary need, advising governments to take appropriate actions to satisfy the whales’ survival requirement of increased abundance of wild Chinook salmon. The most critical of these actions is for political leadership to order the breaching of the lower Snake River dams.
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Conserving salmon habitat in the Salish Sea (see Balcomb BIG SALMON Ranch) to support the long-term replenishment of the Southern Residents’ food supply.
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Speaking boldly in the media concerning the struggling Southern Residents.
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Delivering expert orca outreach and education to as many people as possible through published scientific research, WhaleResearch.com and social media, traditional media, involvement in multi-media productions (e.g., Florian Graner’s film: Elwha River Salmon Recovery), and the Orca Survey Outreach & Education Center in Friday Harbor.
*Your generous CWR Donations and CWR Membership makes these comprehensive efforts possible. Thank you.
CWR’s ORCA SURVEY Outreach & Education Center
Welcomed the Salish Sea School on August 10
On August 10, the Salish Sea School arrived in Friday Harbor for a lecture at the Orca Survey Outreach & Education Center. Five children of middle school age spent an hour with ORCA SURVEY Outreach & Education Center Manager Katie Jones, learning about orcas and what they, as young whale lovers, can do to help the critically endangered Southern Resident orcas. The kids’ activities included checking out CWR’s drone footage and learning how to identify individual orcas.
The children concluded their “whale day” by each authoring a handwritten letter to Washington State Governor Jay Inslee asking him to push for the immediate removal of the Lower Snake River dams. Read one of the letters to Governor Inslee in the PHOTO GALLERY below.
The Salish Sea School annually brings its ‘Guardians of the Sea’ summer program students to the Orca Survey Outreach & Education Center. This year, the stars aligned, and the students were thrilled to meet Center for Whale Research founder and senior scientist Ken Balcomb! One of the students proclaimed: “I am a little starstruck right now!”
ORCA SURVEY Outreach & Education Center: Attractions, Exhibits, and Activities
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Orca Education Stations. Watch drone videos of orcas taken by CWR field researchers. Learn how to ID individual whales. Find out which whales are females and males, their ages, and who’s related.
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Lectures with Experts. Learn about whales from CWR field researchers and guest lecturers.
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The Whale Skull. See a full-size, real-life orca skull.
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*ORCA GEAR. Shop for ORCA GEAR for yourself, family, and friends: unique orca t-shirts and caps, coffee mugs, whale stickers and magnets, greeting cards, and a Ken Balcomb co-authored book. Orca Gear proceeds support CWR research, education, and advocacy. *Not available online at this time.
Since its opening in the Summer of 2018, more than 15,000 people from North America and worldwide have visited the ORCA SURVEY Outreach & Education Center. Children and adults of all ages have experienced our attractions and activities. They’ve learned about killer whales from knowledgeable CWR staff and volunteers, familiarized themselves with orca biology, and found out how to help the struggling Southern Resident population.
The Outreach & Education Center provides our students with an in-depth lesson about the Southern Resident orcas, the issues they face, and what students can do to help. It helps tie our entire curriculum together while also showing the value of the enormous amounts of orca research and dedication from CWR over the years. It was an absolute joy and honor to introduce our students to Ken.
— Amy Eberling, Salish Sea School Executive Director
PHOTO GALLERY: The Salish Sea School group at the Orca Survey Outreach & Education Center during their August 10 visit.
MEMBERSHIP news
WATERLUST is donating 10% of the profits from Orca Conservation Leggings to CWR
“[WATERLUST] are ocean scientists and apparel experts that use clothing to educate, inspire, and support you in living a more environmentally sustainable life. Every purchase from this collection donates 10% of profits to the Center for Whale Research and advocates for orca conservation.”
Thank you, WATERLUST, for financially supporting the Center for Whale Research’s orca research, outreach and education, and conservation efforts.
The feedback about the WATERLUST Orca Leggings has been fantastic! I love mine! I’m particularly fond of the orca eyepatch pockets! So clever! — Lodie Gilbert Budwill, Center for Whale Research Community Relations Coordinator
I love my Orca leggings! When I go in the water, I feel like I’m one of the pod! They fit true to size, are thick enough for colder days, and are easy to wash and wear. — Karin Roemers-Kleven,
CWR Member and orca lover
Lodie Gilbert Budwill and Karin Roemers-Kleven wearing WATERLUST Orca Conservation Leggings on San Juan Island.
Book a stay in CWR’s POD Pad
A “whaley” getaway in the heart of Friday Harbor.
The POD Pad, a one-of-a-kind accommodation directly above CWR’s ORCA SURVEY Outreach & Education Center
in Friday Harbor, San Juan Island, is available exclusively for Center for Whale Research MEMBERS. Another perk for supporting CWR’s orca research, outreach and education, and conservation efforts.
The POD Pad is located near the ferry and close to dining, shopping, and entertainment—everything within walking distance. Take a video tour of the POD Pad.
The POD Pad features:
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Great Location: 185 S. 1st Street in Friday Harbor, above CWR’s ORCA SURVEY Outreach & Education Center
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Exclusive CWR photography grace the walls
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Sleeps two adults, Queen-sized bed
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Private Bath (shower), hairdryer, plush towels and linens
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Kitchenette (full-sized fridge/freezer, double burner hot plate, microwave, coffee maker, toaster)
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Netflix TV and WiFi
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Private Entrance
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Balcony seating overlooking downtown Friday Harbor
The POD Pad: Reservation DATES are still available in Fall 2022.
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