First Orcas of 2020
“Transient Orcas in Elliot Bay!” Those are the only words needed to send me running for the car, camera and binoculars in hand, and Dudley in tow. Initial report received from Orca Network were of “6 killer whales just north of Harbor Island in Elliott Bay, probably females and juveniles, traveling east and close to shore”. I hopped in the car and headed for Alki, thinking of where my best vantage point would be.
First stop: Seacrest Park Cove. It didn’t take me long to locate the group of killer whales in Elliott Bay. Blows and dorsal fins could be seen through binoculars as the killer whales moved along the shoreline and were now located off Colman Dock. At least 4 killer whales were sighted with lots of tail slapping and splashing, presumably on a kill. They slowly meandered along the Seattle Waterfront, likely unnoticed by all those enjoying the views of the Olympics and the splendor of The Seattle Great Wheel. Those visiting the Seattle Aquarium probably had no idea that the real show was taking place just beyond the outdoor seal and sea lion enclosures. The T124As were skulking along the shore in search of their next meal. As members of the Bigg’s (Transient) killer whale population, they feed on marine mammals such as seals, sea lions, and even other whales. Bigg’s killer whales were renamed in honour of the late pioneer killer whale researcher Dr. Michael Bigg who discovered at least two types of killer whale that inhabit the coastal waters of British Columbia (B.C.) and discovered that killer whales could be individually identified by their unique saddle patches, dorsal fin shapes, and nicks, scratches and scars. Bigg’s killer whales roam over large areas of the British Columbia coast and beyond in smaller groups, having much looser social structure than resident killer whales and do not usually form large kinship groupings (daughters usually break off into their own matrilineal group when they begin to have their own calves). From time to time, these smaller groups will gather together in what have affectionately been termed T-parties to socialize, mate and maybe catch-up on what they’ve been up to since their last gathering.
Next stop: Olympic sculpture park. I made the split second decision to drive through early rush hour traffic, brave the waterfront frenzy, and dodge sightseers for just a glimpse of the killer whales as they continued on their path along the Seattle waterfront. After scanning east to west and then west to east, I finally spotted blows. The in bound Bainbridge to Seattle ferry had to change course for the orcas, thrilling those lucky enough to be on the port side of the ferry. As they approached Elliott Bay Park and neared Smith Cove Waterway, an unknown member of the pod spy-hopped (see photo below), presumably just to get a peak at what was happening above the surface of the bay. As the light faded I headed back to my car and reveled in the idea, that only 7 days into the new year and a new decade, I had my first of many more killer whale encounters to come.