EncDate:27/05/22 

Enc#:9

ObservBegin:06:19 PM

ObservEnd:08:04 PM

Vessel:Orcinus

UAV ID:Columbia

Pilot:Michael Weiss

Operators:Mia Lybkær Kronborg Nielsen

Other Observers:Rachel John

Pods:J

LocationDescr:Haro Strait

Start Latitude:48 30.41

Start Longitude:123 09.24

End Latitude:48 30.47

End Longitude:123 09.24

 

EncSummary:

J pod had come down the west side of San Juan Island during the afternoon, and the team decided to try for a quick drone observation encounter while the weather was relatively clear. They left the dock at 17:51, and arrived on scene with spread out J pod whales between False Bay and Eagle Point at 18:19.

The whales were very spread out and foraging. The team first observed J51 and J58, taking long deep dives and only doing brief surface sequences. They next moved in shore towards Pile Point, and found J35 searching for prey while J57 goofed off around her, doing lot of percussive behaviours and even some breaches. There was a young humpback whale nearby, clearly not pleased about being surrounded by killer whales.

The team kept moving up island, passing up J38, before finding J31 and J56, doing the same kind of searching/foraging behaviour the rest of the whales were doing, and trending slowly down island. The team stayed with them for a bit before calling the encounter at 20:04 and heading home.