 Washington
State Whale Sightings
2004-2005
Commercial
whale watching in the San Juan Islands is roughly 15 years old.
Over the last decade the boats have become larger and faster,
and the captains have become better at predicting the location
of the whales on any given day. In 1990 whale watch vessels would
leave the docks with little more than a guess and a prayer that
they would see whales- today they leave with total confidence
that their search for the animals will prove fruitful.
How do
these captains have such confidence? Keeping track of the local
orca pods, which travel over 100 miles in a 24 hour period is
no easy task.
Well, over
the last 15 years an incredible network of whale-savvy people
have come together to keep daily tabs on these most remarkable
creatures:
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Land based professional spotters based in strategic locations
and using high-powered spotting scopes are on the job before
sunrise, scanning the waterways for telltale spouts and splashes.
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A variety of vessels plying the waters of
the Salish Sea have become educated about the movements of
the orcas. Tug boats, commercial fishing boats, ferries, pleasure
craft, and even the occasional freighter provide invaluable
information to the commercial whale watch fleet.
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Individuals with private homes near the water,
and lighthouse keepers are often the first to spot whales
in the morning and send out the call.
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Even airplane pilots have learned to keep
a "weather eye" out for whales as they fly over
the San Juan Islands.
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The members of the Whale Watch Operators Association
Northwest are always in close contact with each other, if
somebody finds the whales the information is shared by all.
All of
these individuals working together has resulted in the most comprehensive
knowledge of orca whale movements anywhere in the world. This
has been extremely beneficial to the scientific research community
as well. When anything unusual or interesting happens there is
generally someone on scene who can alert the researchers and get
them on scene rapidly.
These days
every company has a greater chance to see whales on any given
whale watch tour. There are even a few companies that are so well
informed, and so confident in their ability to find whales that
they guarantee sightings on every trip!
The graph
below was graciously provided by Island
Adventure Cruises in Anacortes, Washington. It
uses a map of the area that the whales frequent, and overlays
a record of whale sightings in the 2004 and 2005 seasons. Each
dot represents a whale encounter during their tours. This graph
clearly shows you how far the whales can move, and the importance
of choosing a company which can get you to them.
The 2005
season was very exciting. There were 6 new babies, many Humpback
whale sightings throughout the summer, and a Gray whale who stayed
in Rosario Strait, near Anacortes, from June 18th until October.
The weather was fantastic, sunny skies and calm water were the
norm.
To keep
track of the whales in the Salish Sea check out the Orca
Network website. This group will send you emails with
recent cetacean sightings for a minimal fee. It's great to be
part of the "inner circle" of whale people here in the
Pacific Northwest.
The Whale
Museum also has an adoption program that helps fund
their education program. Adopt a whale today and be part of the
process of protecting the most studied whale population in the
world.
The Whale
Watch Operators Association Northwest promotes research,
education, and responsible wildlife viewing. When you choose a
boat, make sure that they are members of this progressive organization.
Looking
for Whales Home Page
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