Each Day with the Whales is Special
Watching from Shore
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Two family groups of K Pod started off this month with two days of the K12 and K13 families spending time along the west side of San Juan Island before they headed back out to the ocean. Since then, K and L pod whales have been seen by researchers off the outer coast.
Two days after the K Pod whales left the Salish Sea, J Pod came in from the open ocean and they stayed. They have spent just about all their time off the west side of San Juan Island. From breaches to spyhops, family groups, and more, it has been an exciting time to watch J Pod! Along with that excitement is a concern for their health. Are they getting enough food? When seeing the whales using one area for many days, one would think they are finding enough to eat. In addition, by staying in an area covering a few miles, they are likely saving energy, the energy they need to chase down their meal.
Watching the whales from shore at Lime Kiln Pt. State Park and listening to the live-streaming hydrophones, gives the opportunity to see/hear and interpret what is occurring. One example is that of the J16 family of four. On this occasion, they were the only whales in the area of the Park. The others were a few miles away and not in the hydrophone range. Mike (J-26) was away from the rest of his family foraging on his own. His mother, Slick (J-16), and his sisters, Alki (J-36) and Echo (J-42) foraged together. At one point Slick was waiting at the surface. It looked like she was logging (taking a nap). However, Alki and Echo, seen by their surface actions, were actively foraging. The scene then changed from mom resting to Alki and Echo surfacing, coming directly toward their mother. All three dove and surfaced together a few minutes later. In other words, they appeared to have been cooperatively foraging. That is just one example of the many observations made by many people, all just during the first half of July.
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Each day is different. Our best efforts will hopefully make the SRKWs' world a better place: a place where there is an abundance of salmon, quieter seas, and less disruption as they go about their days. A big shout out to Soundwatch, on the water boater education, to Straitwatch (the Canadian counterpart to Soundwatch), and to WDFW (Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife), for keeping a safe perimeter for the whales. Also, the Port Authority of Vancouver continues the ECHO program for the vessel slowdown of large ships which also helps quiet the seas. In these challenging times, there have been fewer tourist boats watching the whales and fewer private pleasure craft in these waters. This too has made for quieter seas in close proximity to the animals. The whales are so much like us. They tend to their families, socialize, forage, and rest. We want this endangered population of whales to recover. The Salish Sea is their summer home and we are glad some of the community are here. It is the responsibility of all entities to do all they can to help the Southern Residents survive and eventually thrive.
It is wonderful to see them in this sea of changing times.
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Maintaining a Holding Pattern
Missing our Visitors
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According to the Instrument Flying Handbook, a standard "holding pattern" - the path your flight might take if it can't land due to weather, congestion, or calamity - consists of 4 right turns and a duration of approximately 4 minutes to complete. This defined route keeps the plane circling nearby so when the issue is resolved it can land quickly. That said, depending on the situation, a plane may be caught in this holding pattern for an indefinite amount of time - the runway tantalizingly just out of reach.
I hope the parallel to our current situation is obvious. As our State and County continue to do everything they can to ensure our safety during the pandemic, the museum must continue to keep its exhibit hall doors closed for now. The situation has evolved several times as reopening phases are paused, extended, or reversed - but we're ready to go when we get the official OK. To carry the tired metaphor, we're merely waiting for the go-ahead from the tower to land.
As we've said before - we're eager to welcome you back. And, as soon as we get the word, you'll be the first to know!
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Ways to Support The Whale Museum
Our Mission, Our Focus
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Available as a Virtual Background
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Be a Virtual Stand Out!
As virtual meetings have become a part of all of our daily lives, we're offering background images to help you stand out in your next virtual meeting.
With a four-month closure, the museum is struggling financially, especially since we can't open our doors nor hold in-person fundraisers.
Make a $10 donation and we'll show our appreciation by sending you a background image as a free gift!
View Online
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With so much shopping moving online, we want to remind folks that AmazonSmile makes donations to nonprofits from each order.
Do your shopping using AmazonSmile and Amazon will donate 0.5% of the net purchase price to The Whale Museum when you select the museum to support.
Simply sign in to your smile.amazon.com account and go to your settings. Type ‘The Whale Museum’ in the box under ‘pick your own charitable organization', and select us.
That’s it! Every time you shop using smile.amazon.com, Amazon will donate to The Whale Museum. Thank you!
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Shop to Support The Salish Sea!
The Whale Museum's Online Gift Shop
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Glass Mug:
Raven Fin Killer Whale
Double Walled Glass Mug-Raven Fin Killer Whale by Haida artist Darrel Amos, holds 12 oz.
View online
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Sculptures in Traditional Styling
Two Sizes of Orca and a Seal
Made in Canada
The Inuit carved small sculptures of animals and human figures depicting everyday activities and the animals that make up an integral part of their lives.
Large orca approximately 9" x 4"
Small Orca approximately 5" x 2.125"
Small seal approximately 4" x 2"
View Online
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Get to Know Calypso L-94
Orca Adoption Program
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Meet Calypso (L-94). With two offspring and an interesting close-knit family travel group, Calypso is a quiet hero. To see other orcas available for adoption, click here. Eco Adoptions are paperless, delivered via e-mail to the designated e-mail address. By purchasing an Orca Adoption, you help support our mission to promote stewardship of whales and the Salish Sea ecosystem through education and research.
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The Whale Museum: promoting stewardship of whales and the Salish Sea ecosystem through education & research.
In the Pacific Northwest of the United States lives the Southern Resident Community of Orcas, an endangered population of orcas, also referred to as "killer whales".
The Whale Museum, located in beautiful Friday Harbor, Washington, opened to the public in 1979 as the first museum in the country devoted to a species living in the wild. Today, our museum continues to promote stewardship of whales and the Salish Sea ecosystem through education and research.
Help support the Southern Resident orcas by making a donation, adopting an orca, or becoming a member of The Whale Museum. Or, simply pay us a visit! Our Gallery of Whales is a great way for individuals, students, and families to receive a personal introduction to the whales of the Pacific Northwest. The museum can re-open in Phase 3. Pre-purchase admission tickets online.
The Whale Museum
PO Box 945
Friday Harbor, WA 98250
p: (800) 946-7227 ext. 30
(360) 378-4710
e: info@whalemuseum.org
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