(Sunday photo taken from Southworth by Terry Wittman)
So far, we haven’t seen any speculation on the IDs of the orcas who traveled between West Seattle and West Sound shores last Sunday (WSB coverage, with video, here) … so we don’t know if these whales were among them .. but the Orca Network reports today that photos taken the day before, near Port Townsend, reveals 2 orcas accompanying a brand-new baby. See the photos by going here. So far, the baby’s known as L-113, and brings the “southern resident” orca population to 86. Meantime, more news from Orca Network – they shared this photo taken near their south Whidbey Island HQ on Saturday, with info for all orca-watchers:

They forwarded news of a new study that relies on quick reports of sightings – read on:

Orca Sightings Wanted for new Research Study

After spending most of the summer in the San Juan Islands, our Resident orca pods will soon be venturing south into inland waters for the fall and early winter months, traveling down Admiralty Inlet chasing blackmouth and chum salmon runs into lower Puget Sound.

Since the Federal listing of the Southern Resident Orcas under the Endangered Species Act, Orca Network has been assisting NOAA Fisheries, the Center for Whale Research and the Whale Museum in conducting research to track the winter travels of the Southern Residents both in Puget Sound and along the coast. Through our Whale Sighting Network’s toll free number (1-866-ORCANET), whale sightings are collected and shared with researchers, agencies, and the public through our website ( www.orcanetwork.org) and Whale Sighting Email list. Whale sightings from the public provide critical information about the travels of the whales, and timely reports enable Orca Network to alert researchers who can then obtain photo identification, prey and fecal samples from the whales during their visits into Puget Sound.

This year our efforts are intensified as Orca Network is working with the Whale Museum, Beam Reach, SMRU Ltd. and the Port Townsend Marine Science Center to conduct a marine mammal monitoring project in Admiralty Inlet as part of the Snohomish PUD’s tidal energy pilot project. Sightings of Southern Resident orcas, Steller sea lions, and other marine mammals between Admiralty Head, Ft. Flagler, and Pt. Wilson are especially important for this project. We will be undertaking scheduled land observations, as well as deploying boats in the study area when Southern Resident orcas are present to obtain photo identification, acoustic and diving information. Speedy reporting by the public can very much help make this research a success – orca sightings anywhere in Puget Sound are of interest. More information about the tidal power study can be found at: http://www.snopud.com/PowerSupply/tidal.ashx?p=1155 .

You can help by calling in any whale sighting immediately, so research boats can be deployed and land observers can get out to track and photograph the whales while they are in the study area and/or Puget Sound. Whale reports may be called in to our toll-free number: 1-866-ORCANET, or you may email reports to info@orcanetwork.org.

Please provide us with the species, location, time, direction of travel, approximate number of whales, and if there are any adult males (with large five – six foot dorsal fins). Also include any behaviors you may observe (breaching, spy-hops, feeding, etc). If you are able to obtain photographs, please send those to the email address above.

This time of year offers wonderful opportunities to observe the orcas from the many miles of shoreline on Whidbey Island, the Kitsap and Olympic Peninsulas, and the inland waters of Puget Sound. Orca Network encourages shore-based whale watching, or watching for whales while commuting on Washington State Ferries. We offer a website and email list of recent whale sightings to increase opportunities for seeing the whales – it always helps to know when they are in the neighborhood! The Whale Sighting Network and Orca Network website also provide up to date information on the latest research and issues related to orcas and their habitat.

If you would like to be on our Whale Sighting Network Email List to receive whale sighting information to improve your chances of observing whales off our shorelines, sign up on our website: www.orcanetwork.org . A map of recent whale sightings and reports as well as archived reports may also be found on our website “Sightings” page.

Thank you for your help in keeping track of our whale neighbors – we are very fortunate to live in a place where we can look out our windows and see those majestic black fins parting the waters!
Susan Berta and Howard Garrett
Orca Network