ORCAS: Big weekend for whale sightings

10:37 AM: If you’ve seen the orcas passing west-facing West Seattle this morning, Kersti Muul of Salish Wildlife Watch tells us those are transients. But on Saturday, there was much buzz about Southern Resident Killer Whales making their first appearance this fall in central Puget Sound. Donna Sandstrom of The Whale Trail told us last night that they almost got this far south – her group was standing by with shareable binoculars but they turned around and headed back north. Great time of year for whale watching – let us know if you see any!

10:53 AM: Kersti says today’s transient group – the T65Bs – are now “milling about” off Alki.

Kersti Muul October 6, 2024 (11:06 am)

Jpod made it into the Bay proper yesterday around 6:30 PM on the Seattle side. Just as the beautiful sunset was manifesting across the west with those amazing clouds. They were foraging successfully all day on some good sized coho salmon. So surface active in the golden water.So good to spend the day with them ❤️

Beachcombover October 6, 2024 (11:33 am)

A couple dozen hopeful whale watchers on beach drive at Alki Point right now. Way more than enough parking for ALL – as it has been all summer for these orca visits.

Rob October 6, 2024 (11:54 am)

Orcas far out in channel just north of Blake Island

Rob October 6, 2024 (12:18 pm)

Now off Lincoln Park at Colman pool

Kersti Muul October 6, 2024 (1:24 pm)

The 65bs have passed brace point east in channel still, being pursued by multiple boats for over an hour.They are now off Seola beach milling and non-directional

Donna, The Whale Trail October 6, 2024 (2:24 pm)

We’re sorry J pod didn’t make it to Alki last night, but we had a great time connecting with old friends and new while waiting for them!

I want to be sure that everyone is aware of Whale Alert (whalealert.org). This is a free, downloadable app that shows where orcas and other whales have been spotted. The sightings come from Orca Network and other trusted observers (as well as the public), so the data is timely and reliable. I use it a lot.

Whale Alert was originally developed to protect right whales on the east coast, by helping boaters know where they’d been seen, and avoid ship strikes. The app was recently customized for the Salish Sea, including adding the ability to report and show different orca ecotypes (Biggs and southern residents.)

In January, Washington State law will require that all boaters stay 1000 yards away from southern residents. We think that this app will play a key role in helping boaters know where southern residents are, so they can avoid them. Check it out!

Neighbor 2 October 6, 2024 (9:42 pm)

This sounds great, Donna! I have a hard time with just text alerts and haven’t signed up for another option as a result. What you’re talking about sounds much more in my wheelhouse.
- Donna, The Whale Trail October 7, 2024 (9:37 am)
  
  Glad to hear it Neighbor 2! We think it is a really good solution because it is free, reliable, and available to everyone. It’s not perfect – there are some changes we’d like to see, but the development team is very engaged and responsive to feedback.
  
  Another plus is that the sightings become part of a data set that can inform research and management – not siloed off into private channels. I hope you give it a try!

Kersti Muul October 6, 2024 (5:01 pm)

T137s are now off Fauntleroy ferry lanes SB West in channel

anonyme October 7, 2024 (6:59 am)

It sounds like some are using the alerts to swarm the whales. Is there something that can be done so that law enforcement can stop this right away before these idiots do damage? Also, I heard on the radio yesterday that the southern resident count is down to 71 members. Is this accurate/recent? Whom (yes, they’re people) did we lose?

WSB October 7, 2024 (9:39 am)

The Center for Whale Research’s official census this summer was 73, and the recent L-pod calf would make it 74.
https://www.whaleresearch.com/orca-population

What group was quoted as saying 71?
- anonyme October 8, 2024 (12:19 pm)
  
  I heard it on KUOW, not sure which, if any, group was being quoted. I made a mental note of it as the last number I’d heard was 73, as you stated.
  - WSB October 8, 2024 (12:34 pm)
    
    I subsequently found the Seattle Times story from which KUOW’s story might have springboarded. The references to 71 were the references to the historic lowest #; the CWR’s census of 73 (not counting the new L Pod baby, who is 74) is definitely the newest. No one’s been lost since then. Here’s hoping for an upward trajectory – TR
Donna, The Whale Trail October 7, 2024 (10:14 am)

Anonyme, real-time whale sightings have been published in this area for more than a decade, through private and public social media channels.

As the impact of noise on southern residents has become more clear, we’ve passed laws to protect them. Boaters need to know where southern residents are so they can comply with the law, and avoid them. Whale Alert is one tool that can deliver that information neutrally and reliably. We think most boaters will use it the way it is intended: to help the whales.

Violators can and should be reported, and we agree that enforcement is critical. Southern residents are in this area an average of 20 times per year between October and February. We’d like to see WDFW Enforcement with them 100% of daylight hours, or as close to that as they can get.

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