West Seattle, Washington
14 Thursday
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.
For a second day, Kersti Muul tips us, Southern Resident Killer Whales are in central Puget Sound and headed our way. She says they’ve just been reported off Carkeek Park and are traveling southbound “at a good clip.” No guarantee they’ll make it this far – Kersti says they turned around yesterday before getting this far south – but we’re always committed to giving you a heads-up when we get an alert! Let us know if you see them.
If you’ve got good rain gear and binoculars – or a window with a good view of the water – you can look for a dozen or so orcas headed this way. Kersti Muul says they were southbound off Richmond Beach at last report. And they’re likely Southern Resident Killer Whales. Let us know if you spot them!
Thanks to Kelly for the photo and caption! The big blue cover at Colman Pool gave a Great Blue Heron a spot to hang out tonight. While the pool wasn’t open today, it has two more post-season weekends to go – September 14-15 and 21-22.
(Pearl the harbor seal [front], with her pup Minnie Pearl [middle], sharing their favorite rock with another large adult seal)
The photo and update are from David Hutchinson for Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network:
Seal Sitters is now entering what has historically been our busiest months. Harbor seal pups, born June-September in our area, and weaned after only 4-6 weeks, are now showing up on local beaches. Our Hotline received 2 calls late Thursday evening about pups hauling out at different West Seattle beaches. Thanks to Kelly and Amy for taking the time to call when they came upon these vulnerable, young seals. Unfortunately, back on August 29th, we also received a report from a Seattle Parks’ security officer at Alki Beach of a small pup that was frightened back into the water by a group of people. The majority of these pups are on their own and struggling to survive, with only 50% making it through their first year.
Please remember that all marine mammals are protected by federal law. If you see one on a beach, please keep back, keep other people and pets away and call your local NOAA-affiliated stranding network. In West Seattle, that would be Seal Sitters MMSN at 206-905-7325. If you are not in West Seattle, our Hotline operators can refer you to the appropriate group.
Just a reminder that dogs are not allowed on Seattle Parks’ beaches, off or on a leash.
Big event ahead for West Seattle-headquartered The Whale Trail. Just announced:
Erich Hoyt, internationally renowned author and marine conservationist, is returning to deliver a new series of talks about orcas and marine conservation. ‘Orca Tour 2019’ follows the sell-out 2014 and 2015 tours and will focus on Erich’s efforts to protect marine mammal habitats worldwide and how they might support the conservation of orcas in the North Pacific. The talks, as well as the release of Erich’s expanded new edition of “Orca: The Whale Called Killer,” are especially timely given the recent loss of three southern resident orcas.
“Orca: The Whale Called Killer” charts Erich Hoyt’s adventures and conservation work, which began with killer whales off the B.C. coast and was followed by two decades of orca research in Kamchatka, Russia. As co-chair of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Marine Mammal Protected Areas Task Force, and policy lead for the Healthy Seas program of the U.K.-based Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC), Erich co-directs a 10-year project to map the habitats for 130 species of marine mammals across the world’s oceans. His book, “Marine Protected Areas for Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises,” has helped set the standard for marine biodiversity conservation work.
“This is a rare chance to hear from Erich in person,” said Donna Sandstrom, Executive Director of The Whale Trail and a member of Governor Jay Inslee’s Task Force on Southern Resident Killer Whale Recovery. “Erich has been thinking about how to protect orcas as long as he has been writing about them, starting in the 1980s when he contributed to the successful effort to protect Robson Bight, a critical habitat for the northern resident orcas. Erich’s talk will inspire and inform our efforts to protect J, K and L pods, here, where his work began.”
Erich added: “It’s special for me coming back to the Northwest to celebrate this new edition of my book—the work that set me on a life path. In my talks, I will introduce a global context for addressing threats and supporting marine habitat conservation. Much has changed for the orcas here. People know the individuals and their families and appreciate their precarious existence—especially the endangered southern residents. We all want to do more to help them.”
The Orca Tour is organized by The Whale Trail and local sponsoring organizations. “Orca: The Whale Called Killer” and Erich’s other books will be on sale at each event. A Q &A and book signing will follow each presentation.
Orca Tour – WEST SEATTLE
Who: The Whale Trail presents “Orca Tour 2019” with Author and Conservationist Erich Hoyt, sponsored by Sound Community Bank
What: Presentation and talk given by Erich Hoyt on “Healthy Seas for Whales and Dolphins” and book signing of new edition of “ORCA: The Whale Called Killer”
When: Thursday, September 19, 7 PM
Where: Hall at Fauntleroy, 9131 California Ave SW, West Seattle
Tickets: $15 General Admission • $10 Students/Seniors/Kids under 12
Advance Tickets: erichhoyt.brownpapertickets.com
We’ll admit we were getting a little worried after a stretch without a West Seattle Turkey sighting report. And then Lauren Bissett sent this photo, explaining: “If anyone’s been missing the West Seattle Turkey, he/she’s been spending a few days off and on in my backyard, hanging out with my chickens and ducks! We’re near 40th and Hanford.” It’s been four months now since The Turkey turned up in West Seattle.
Beautiful day for whale-watching! Kersti Muul sends word that the T-137 transient orcas are “milling” off Alki Point – “no direction” so hard to tell which way they’re headed next. Let us know if you see them!
Jeff Hogan from Killer Whale Tales just texted to say orcas are in view off Alki, headed south. We also have another texted report of a sighting from Me-Kwa-Mooks. Let us know if you see them!
Unusual incident aboard the state ferry Issaquah on the Fauntleroy-Vashon-Southworth this morning. WSF spokesperson Ian Sterling confirmed, when we inquired after a tip, that a crewmember was bitten by a bat. He says the crewmember picked up what he though was debris on the car deck around 8:30 am – and it turned out to be a bat. The crewmember stayed in place until the ferry docked and animal control retrieved the bat, “apparently alive,” according to Sterling, and then went to a clinic for treatment.
Those beautiful tail feathers belong to a young Cooper’s Hawk. The photos are from Vlad Oustimovitch, who explains:
The Urban Raptor Conservancy has been banding Cooper’s Hawks as part of a study for several years. This juvenile male was banded this morning by Jake, a volunteer from the conservancy. It is one of four offspring from a nest next to our Gatewood property in the Orchard Street Ravine.
The URC explains that ongoing study here, saying that Seattle is one of several major cities where Cooper’s Hawks are studied, after they began expanding their range into urban areas a quarter-century ago. The URC summarizes, “Since 2012, the number of nesting pairs has increased each year, with high nest success rates, high fledgling productivity, little evidence of migration, strong site fidelity, and mostly short post-fledging dispersal distances.” Last year they documented “46 nesting attempts, 40 successful nests, and 145 fledglings” in Seattle; the year’s full report is here (including some West Seattle photos).
On a quiet Saturday night, turkey sightings to share:
That photo was sent by Monica Zaborac, who spotted The West Seattle Turkey (aka Admiral Belvidere) atop a car. The Turkey seems to have a taste for dandelions, as noticed by West Seattle visitor Tommy Jamison:
Tommy is visiting from Auxtin, Texas; friend Dan Ciske forwarded the photo. Another round of dandelion snacking was caught on video by Rob Braby:
The turkey’s origins remain a mystery, after 3 1/2 months of sightings.
(November 2018 photo by Trileigh Tucker – resident orcas being observed by licensed researchers)
The Center for Whale Research says the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whale population is down to 73. CWR has announced:
We are saddened to report that three adult killer whales (orca) are missing and presumed dead as of July 1, 2019. These whales are from the extremely endangered Southern Resident killer whale population, that historically frequent the Salish Sea almost daily in summer months. Due to the scarcity of suitable Chinook salmon prey, this population of whales now rarely visit the core waters of its designated Critical Habitat: Puget Sound, Georgia Strait, and the inland reach of the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
The missing whales are J17, K25, and L84.
J17 is a 42-year-old J pod matriarch and mother of Tahlequah (J35), who carried her dead calf for an unprecedented 17 days last year. We reported that J17 was not in good body condition last winter, perhaps from stress. She is survived by two daughters and a son, J35, J53, and J44, respectively.
Also missing is 28-year-old, K25, an adult male in the prime of his life who was not in good body condition last winter. He is survived by two sisters and a brother, K20, K27, and K34, respectively.
And, lastly, 29-year-old male, L84, has been missing all summer in encounters conducted by our Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans colleagues along the west coast of Vancouver Island. L pod has not come into the Salish Sea yet this summer. L84 was the last of a matriline of eleven whales, ten of whom died previously.
73 is just two above the population’s historic low, 71. And the numbers don’t represent the entire picture of their plight, as explained during The Whale Trail‘s April featured lecture in West Seattle.
The photo and report are from David Hutchinson of Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network:
Seal Sitters Marine Mammal Stranding Network had a surprise visitor this week.
“Pearl,” an adult female harbor seal, who gave birth and nursed her pup for weeks along the West Seattle shoreline in 2018, returned with a new pup this season. She was identified by comparing new photos of the spots on her fur with similar photos taken last year. The 2018 pup was nicknamed “Jam”, as they were first spotted the day after the Alki Sub Pop concert. This year’s pup has been named “Minnie Pearl” in keeping with the entertainment theme – although you probably would have to be of a certain age to get the connection.
It is very unusual to have the opportunity to observe a nursing mom and pup in busy West Seattle. Newborn harbor seals rely exclusively on their mother’s milk, so it’s extremely important that Pearl not be frightened away and possibly abandon her pup. Pups remain with their mothers for only 4 – 6 weeks before having to survive on their own. Seals this young don’t have the strength to swim for extended periods or an adequate blubber thickness for warmth. They need every opportunity to haul out of the water to rest and warm up. Their first year mortality rate is approximately 50%.
All marine mammals are protected by federal law. Any observed violations are referred to NOAA’s Office of Law Enforcement for investigation. It’s now “pupping season” in south Puget Sound. If you come across Pearl & Minnie Pearl, or any other seal on the beach or on a nearby offshore rock, we’re asking you to give them plenty of space, keep others and pets away, and call the Seal Sitters’ Hotline at 206-905-7325. To learn more about harbor seals and other local marine mammals, please visit our website at www.sealsitters.org
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Yes, in month 4 on the peninsula, The West Seattle Turkey is still roaming southeast of Admiral. A revisit to Rose De Dan‘s home office resulted in the video above – Rose calls The Turkey “Admiral Belvidere” for the area(s) it’s adopted. As you can see on the video, The Turkey’s visit included a clash with crows. Rose tells the story here.
(Photo by Lynne Barre, NOAA Fisheries)
Though West Seattleite Donna Sandstrom, founder and executive director of the nonprofit advocacy/education organization The Whale Trail, served on Gov. Jay Inslee‘s orca task force, she hadn’t met him until he visited one of the stops along the “trail” earlier this month. She shared the photo and explains:
We met him, First Lady Trudi, and their grandson Brody at West Beach in Deception Pass State Park, along with other Whale Trail partners from NOAA Fisheries, Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary, WDW Enforcement and Washington State Parks.
We talked about land-based whale-watching and its role in orca recovery. And spotted some seals too!
A big day for The Whale Trail, started in West Seattle a little over a decade ago, and inspired by watching orcas from Alki.
You can read the governor’s report on the visit here. See the full list of 100+ Whale Trail sites, from Southern California to British Columbia, by going here.
Three months have now passed since WSB readers first reported spotting what we simply call The West Seattle Turkey – which quickly made its way from southwest West Seattle to the Admiral area, and has been there ever since. Tonight, the best pic yet – texted by someone who says The Turkey showed up at their home near Hiawatha and made friends with their chicken. Video too:
The Turkey’s origins remain a mystery. It appeared three years after another never-explained turkey made local rounds.
Just got word from Kersti Muul that orcas were seen northbound off north Vashon about half an hour ago.
Just got a tip – six orcas “with a baby” in view northbound passing the Vashon ferry dock as of a short time ago. Still a good half-hour of light if you’re up for whale-watching!
10:21 AM: Two humpback whales are in the area, reports Kersti Muul. “East of shipping channel, off Alki,” but no direction determined yet. Let us know if you see them! (Not sure you’d know what humpbacks look like? Here’s their page in The Whale Trail‘s species guide.)
1:58 PM: And now orcas are in our area too, Kersti reports – a group of transients southbound off Bainbridge.
Thanks to Kersti Muul for the tip: Orcas are visible from West Seattle. Currently, midchannel southbound, north of Elliott Bay. Let us know if you see them!
On this patriotic holiday, we note that the turkey has a unique American history – you can read about it here and here (among other places). So, it’s a great day for an update on The West Seattle Turkey, now in its third month on the peninsula. The top photo was texted to us this week; the next one, sent today by Christine:
The Turkey does enjoy finding new perches, as Joy discovered outside the West Seattle High School wood shop earlier this week:
Thanks to everyone for the ongoing photos and sighting reports. While we just call it The West Seattle Turkey, several have given it names – Rose, for example, has named it “Admiral Belvidere,” appropriate given the area in which The Turkey has settled.
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