A Whaley Great Day on the Water
April 23, 2025
Bigg’s T016s and T049As
J38
J40 and J63
Bigg’s T019s
J59
Breaching J pod male, J26 or J27
On April 23, 2025 our team hit the water with news J pod was in TIU,IL,ES (Tumbo Channel). We transited through Boundary Pass, and on the way came across the T019s and members of the T049As who had been hunting porpoise together. We stopped briefly at a distance to take a few ID photos for our records and continued west to the Southern Residents.
When we arrived at TEḴTEḴSEN (East Point, Saturna Island) we saw J pod far out in the Strait of Georgia, heading South East towards Rosario Strait. We watched them from afar and suddenly they turned South West, changing course towards Boundary Pass. This day, J pod spent most of the day, from 9am-~6pm in the vicinity of TIU,IL,ES and Boundary Pass. J pod split up around 11am, some continuing in Boundary Pass, and others returning to TIU,IL,ES. Eventually they all reconnected late in the afternoon. We ended our time with them at Turn Point as they headed South. This was an extraordinary and unique encounter with J pod, as we often are familiar with their routine travel patterns and can predict their movement, on April 23 they kept us on our toes and engaged in movement we have not yet seen before!
This special encounter included a glimpse at the newest SRKW calf, J63, with her mama J40 at PEN,ÁW̱EṈ, (Patos Island). We wish them full bellies, quietness, health, and longevity.
On this day, we flew our whale flag and actively intercepted 4 recreation and commercial vessels from getting too close, engaging in whale watching, or having an unintentional encounter with J pod.
All photos are taken with a 200-600 zoom lens.