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Orca Dinner Party

Posted July 14, 2011 in Learn More by Michael Mountain

(Eighth in the series Superpod One – Where It All Began)

Day Four: Further down the island, some of the J Pod are reportedly gathering for dinner. We’re all gathering for dinner, too, over at Candace’s house. But David Kirby can’t get enough of orcas and wants to go see them from the shore.

David Kirby (right) with Ken Balcomb

David is writing a book about orcas in captivity, SeaWorld, and the death of Dawn Brancheau. “They’re over at American Camp,” he tells me. “Want to come?”

American Camp is a grassy, mossy, rocky area of the island that looks out over several bays where orcas gather regularly to feed. In the 1850s, it was the site of a dispute that broke out between the Americans and the British, sparked by the shooting of a “British” pig by an American. The two countries almost ended up in yet another war before British Admiral Lambert Baynes advised the Governor of Vancouver Island that it would be unwise to “involve two great nations in a war over a squabble about a pig.”

American Camp on San Juan Island

Orcas, incidentally, seem to have learned to settle their disputes without fighting each other. That’s in part because modern orcas have been around for about 15 million years, while modern humans only appeared about 100 thousand years ago and our culture is still quite primitive.

It’s raining when we get to American Camp and walk a half mile or so down to the ocean where the J pod was last spotted by one of the boats. We immediately spot about a dozen of them, so close to the shore you could almost wade out and touch them.

It seems like they’ve found a shoal of salmon and are focused on getting the 200 pounds of food they each need every day. Salmon – specifically Chinook salmon – is the only food that the resident orcas will eat.

The orcas surface for a few seconds, then dive, then we see salmon flying in the air to avoid them, then the orcas surface again, then dive, and on it goes.

The orcas surface for a few seconds, then dive, then we see salmon flying in the air to avoid them, then the orcas surface again, then dive back down, and on it goes.

Then, after one of their dives, they don’t resurface. Nothing. They’ve just vanished. Most likely, Grandma J2 has called them all back together. “Time to move on, boys,” she’s told them.

Time for us to move on, too. Dinner is waiting at Candace’s house.

Plus it’s still raining, and we’re absolutely soaked.

Table of Contents

Superpod One – Where it All Began
In the summer of 2011, a group of scientists, journalists and former orca trainers met up on San Juan Island. Their week together would eventually lead to the formation of the Whale Sanctuary Project.

Off to the Island
On the ferry to San Juan Island everyone crowds onto the top deck for glimpses of dolphins, harbor seals, eagles and other animals.

First Sighting
At the Center for Whale Research, we see dorsal fins popping out of the water … just a second or two as the orcas come up for air.

Grandma J2’s Birthday Party
Grandma J2 has celebrated her 100th birthday. San Juan Island held a party in her honor. But how do they know she’d just turned 100?

T Is for Transient
As well as the “resident” pods, who spend most of their time around the islands, there are “transient” pods whose lifestyle is quite different.

Luna: the Orca Who Wanted to Be Friends
Orcas need each other’s company. So, when Luna got separated from his family, he started making friends with humans on their boats in Nootka Sound.

Out on the Ocean, Surrounded by Orcas
We’re headed out toward the open sound, and our captain is confident we’re going to see some orcas.

Orcas at the Other End of the World
The orcas line up and create a wave that will lift one side of the ice floe and tip the seal into the water.

Orca Dinner Party
The whales need 200 pounds of food every day, and Chinook salmon is the only food that the resident orcas will eat.

Super-Intelligence
Whichever way you look at orca brains, you have to conclude that these guys are super-intelligent.

Custody Battle Over a Captive Orca
An unseemly custody battle is going on between SeaWorld and Marineland over orca Ikaika, whom SeaWorld has “loaned” them.

We’ll Meet Again . . .
The group needs a name. I suggest “Superpod” in honor of what we’ve seen and shared this week. It’s agreed … and it’s just a beginning

Also on the Blog

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  • Orca Brains and Intelligence
  • A Deep Dive into Environmental Analysis
  • TEDx Talk “Whales Without Walls” by Charles Vinick
  • Whale Aid Russia

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