in Puget Sound.
Naturalists had a whale of a time over the Easter weekend spotting four different pods of Bigg s killer whales in the Salish Sea, including two orcas known for their standout appearance.
Whale watchers also spotted the Southern Resident orca J-pod swimming against the outgoing tide up the east coast of San Juan Island. In all, the Pacific Whale Watch Association reported seeing 56 orcas over the weekend.
Among a group traveling up Haro Strait, which is the boundary waters between the U.S. and Canada, was a Bigg’s killer whale named “Chainsaw.” The orca got its nickname from the large, distinct notches in the top of his fin that make it look like a large saw blade.
VICTORIA Whale researchers in the Vancouver Island region say Easter weekend was “hopping” with orca activity, with 56 killer whales spotted in the waters of B.C. and northern Washington state. Naturalists reported four separate pods of transient Bigg’s killer whales in the Strait of Georgia, Haro Strait, Puget Sound and San Juan Islands, as well as members of the J pod of southern resident orcas. The Pacific Whale Watch Association says 32 Bigg’s orcas were sighted on Saturday, including “Chainsaw,” a well-known orca recognizable by his distinctive jagged dorsal fin. Another notable orca named “Tl’uk” was among the mammals identified this weekend. Tl’uk, named after a Coast Salish word for “moon,” has a distinctive grey and white colour pattern, according to researchers.
Gallery: 56 killer whales spotted in Salish Sea over Easter weekend KOMO News Staff UP NEXT
FRIDAY HARBOR, Wash. - Whale watchers were treated to a memorable show over the Easter weekend, with 56 killer whales spotted throughout the Salish Sea.
The Pacific Whale Watch Association reports four different pods of transient Bigg s killer whales were seen in the Strait of Georgia, Puget Sound and San Juan Islands. J Pod, part of the salmon-eating southern resident orca population, was also spotted over the weekend.
At one point, naturalists reported pods of Bigg’s killer whales straddling the San Juan Islands in both President’s Channel and Haro Strait cruising north into Canada, Bigg’s killer whales along the south end of Lopez Island cruising east, along with a report of a small pod of the mammal-eating killer whales in south Puget Sound.
56 orcas, including rare white one, spotted in Salish Sea over weekend KIRO 7 News Staff
More than four dozen orcas were spotted throughout the Salish Sea over Easter weekend, including two “celebri-whales” known for their unusual appearance.
The “J Pod,” which is part of the endangered Southern Resident killer whale population, was seen moving slowly up the east coast of San Juan Island, with the whales swimming in close social groups, the Pacific Whale Watch Association reported.
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Pods of Bigg’s killer whales, which are transient orcas, were seen among the San Juan Islands in both President’s Channel and Haro Strait heading north into Canada and along the south end of Lopez Island. There was also a report of a small pod of Bigg’s killer whales in south Puget Sound.
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