(Southern Residents during pre-Thanksgiving visit, photographed by Trileigh Tucker)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Four months after the most recent news of Southern Resident Killer Whale deaths, we’ve had no further losses – but no gains, either.

So the endangered resident orcas’ population remains at 73, attendees were reminded at The Whale Trail‘s Winter Gathering this past week.

TWT executive director Donna Sandstrom gathered supporters and experts at C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor) both to celebrate the season and to review the whales’ status and what action you can take to help. Here are the highlights:

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(Added: Photo posted in comments by James Riley)

10:27 AM: During The Whale Trail‘s event Tuesday night (our report is still in progress), local researcher Mark Sears predicted orcas would be back in this area “any day now.” Alki Point resident Gary Jones, who has shared photos here many times over the years, reports a sudden sighting this past hour – and after a period of activity including breaches, they vanished again. They were “moving slowly southbound” and close to this side at the time. If you see them pop up anywhere, let us know!

10:46 AM: Just got a text that they are in view off Alki Beach, in the Starbucks vicinity (Alki/61st).

11:02 AM: Jeff Hogan from Killer Whale Tales confirms orcas off Alki – he has them in view off 63rd/Alki. They’re transient orcas, not southern residents, adds Kersti Muul.

(Brother J44 and sister J53, photographed by Mark Sears, permit 21348)

J-Pod’s recent return to our part of Puget Sound might have you wondering – how are the Southern Resident Killer Whales doing? In a week and a half, The Whale Trail will present your chance to find out. The announcement:

Whale Trail Winter Gathering featuring SRKW Research Updates by Dr. Brad Hanson”

When: Tuesday December 10, 7:00 – 8:30
–Doors open at 6:30
Where: C&P Coffee Company, 5612 California Ave. SW
Cost: $5 suggested donation; kids free
Advance tickets: brownpapertickets.comm

The southern resident orcas return to the central Sound each winter, following chum salmon runs. With just 73 individuals in the population, these endangered pods are nearing their historical low. What current research is underway, and how will it help protect J, K, and L pods?

Join us for the Whale Trail Winter Gathering featuring updates from Dr. Brad Hanson, NWFSC Lead Killer Whale Researcher, and field researchers Mark and Maya Sears. TWT Director Donna Sandstrom will discuss the conclusion of Governor Inslee’s Task Force on SRKW Recovery, and actions you can take to protect the southern residents now.

Come early and get your holiday shopping done too! We’ll have great gifts for the whale fans on your list, including signed copies of Erich Hoyt’s newly released edition of Orca The Whale Called Killer.

Buy tickets now to reserve your seat. And hurry – this will likely sell out!

About the Speaker

Brad Hanson joined the Northwest Fisheries Science Center in April of 2003. Previously, Brad worked as a Wildlife Biologist at the National Marine Mammal Laboratory in Seattle, WA. Brad received a Ph.D. from the University of Washington where he worked on the development of improved tag attachment systems for small cetaceans. He also holds an M.S. in Fisheries from the University of Washington and a B.A. in Zoology also from the University of Washington. Brad is an ecologist and is currently studying foraging and habitat use of Southern Resident killer whales and health assessment of harbor and Dall’s porpoises.

About The Whale Trail

The Whale Trail is a series of sites to view orcas and other marine mammals from shore. Our mission is to inspire appreciation and stewardship of whales and our marine environment.

Through our current sites and signs, including two on every Washington State ferry, we reach more than 50 million people each year. The Whale Trail is led by a core team of partners including NOAA Fisheries, Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary and washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Many members of the team first met on the successful effort to return Springer, the orphaned orca, to her pod.

The Whale Trail was founded and is directed by Donna Sandstrom. Donna served as a member of Governor Jay Inslee’s Southern Resident Orca Recovery Task Force. The Whale Trail is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, registered in Washington State. Join us!

Here’s our coverage of The Whale Trail’s event back in September, featuring Erich Hoyt.

Spyhopping (above) and breaching (below), Southern Resident Killer Whales put on a show as they passed West Seattle again late today, headed northbound after this morning’s southbound pass. Thanks to Trileigh Tucker for sharing the photos.

Thanks to Trileigh, Kersti Muul, and everybody else who provided orca-sighting reports today! Text or call 206-293-6302 with breaking news – that include whales! – any time.

Orcas are in the area again. Southbound off Fauntleroy and spread out, reports Kersti Muul.

9:17 AM: Thanks for the tips! Orcas are in the area again today – headed southbound off Fauntleroy a short time ago per Kersti Muul and now in view off The Arroyos per a texter – murky so not ideal viewing, but since they’re southbound, they’ll eventually have to head back this way.

11:24 AM: Kersti reports in comments that some of the southbound whales are headed back northbound.

9:01 AM: Texter says Southern Resident Killer Whales are off Fauntleroy, northbound.

10:01 AM: Donna Sandstrom from The Whale Trail just called to say they’re now passing Discovery Park, so out of our viewing range.

It’s getting late to catch them tonight but as tipster Kersti Muul points out, you might see them in the morning: Southern Resident Killer Whales from J-Pod were passing Bainbridge Island, southbound, shortly before sunset.

Again today, orcas are in the area! Kersti Muul tells us several whales have been seen in Elliott Bay, near the Port of Seattle’s offices on the downtown waterfront. No word yet if they are transients or residents.

Up for some early-morning whale-watching before work? Just heard from Kersti Muul, who says Southern Resident Killer Whales are again visible off west-facing West Seattle, southbound, seen from Constellation Park south of Alki Point.

12:48 PM: Thanks to Kersti Muul for updates on the Southern Resident Killer Whales that started the day in the South Sound and are finally close to our area – she says the orcas are northbound in Colvos Passage (west side of Vashon Island) and likely to emerge around 1 pm. So have your binoculars ready and let us know if you see them!

1:24 PM: Kersti says in a comment that the whales are now visible from west-facing West Seattle if you look toward north Vashon – but they could go out of view for a while if they stay west of Blake Island.

11:57 AM: Thanks to Kersti Muul for word that Southern Resident Killer Whales are in the area again! Southbound off Bainbridge Island – still north of Elliott Bay – at last word.

1:35 PM: In comments, Robin Sinner reports: “1:15 pm, just saw two breaches from Constellation Park in West Seattle, southbound to red buoy.”

(Added: Photo by Monica Zaborac)

1:03 PM: Thanks for the tip – if you haven’t seen the Southern Resident Killer Whales yet on their latest visit to central Puget Sound, today might be your day. They are reported to be off West Point on the north side of the entrance to Elliott Bay, southbound. Let us know if you see them!

3:45 PM: Thanks for the updates – in view off west-facing West Seattle at last report!

Thanks to Trileigh Tucker for the report: A humpback whale is in view from Lowman Beach, north of the north end of Blake Island across the Sound. Let us know if you see it!

(Spyhopping orca in Elliott Bay, photographed by Eric Lemar)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

A day that began with orcas in view off West Seattle ended with a discussion about protecting them, locally and worldwide.

The Whale Trail presented author Erich Hoyt, as he launches a tour to promote a new edition of his seminal book “Orca: The Whale Called Killer.”

And after he spoke to a rapt audience at The Hall at Fauntleroy, attendees got a bonus – some observations from local orca researcher Mark Sears, who spent three hours on Puget Sound this morning with the Southern Resident Killer Whales.

The night began with an introduction from Donna Sandstrom, the West Seattleite who founded The Whale Trail in 2008, just three years after the SRKWs were declared endangered. Its purpose is to make it easier to watch them from shore and also – via TWT’s interpretive signs – to “tell their story when they’re not around.” It started with 16 signs, and now stretches from British Columbia to California: “Now you can follow The Whale Trail from San Juan Capistrano to Prince Rupert, BC.” (And soon, she disclosed later, Mexico, too!) “Shore-based whale watching is now more than ever “a strategic act of conservation.” That’s one of the hot topics addressed by the Governor’s Task Force, of which Sandstrom is a member.

She said reading Hoyt’s book was her initiation into fascination with the whales and a desire to help them.

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9:38 AM: Donna Sandstrom from The Whale Trail says seven resident orcas are in view right now from Alki Statue of Liberty Plaza. They’ve been in the area for a while again this morning – here’s a photo Danny McMillin took:

10:08 AM: Whale watchers at Alki:

(That’s Donna in blue/pink at center.)

Tonight (Thursday, September 19th) The Whale Trail presents author Erich Hoyt at The Hall at Fauntleroy (details here). He’s here just in time for whale-watching – Kersti Muul sent the Wednesday sunset photos, explaining, “The Southern Resident Killer Whales were welcomed in grand style to West Seattle with a beautiful sunset providing backlit blows and a visit from Erich Hoyt and his daughter. Donna [Sandstrom, Whale Trail executive director] is in the picture next to her Whale Trail sign watching them go by. What a magical evening and a great intro to Erich’s book tour. The three-mile-away breach was still spectacular… just sharing the same air as them is humbling.”

Wednesday was the second consecutive day the SRKWs ventured into central Puget Sound.