Beam Reach

Some orcas extend their stay in Puget Sound; others visit capture site for first time in years – Puget Sound Institute Endangered species k C E Some orcas extend their stay in Puget Sound; others visit capture site for first time in years By Christopher DunaganPublished November 7, 2024 Comments Closed Southern Resident killer whales have been hanging out in Puget Sound much longer than normal this fall, probably be...

We’re very excited about this OBI/CWR collaboration near the Orcasound - Listen for Whales hydrophones in Puget Sound!

Earlier this week we were on the water doing an equipment test for a brand new project we are undertaking in partnership with the Center for Whale Research! This is a project Monika and Michael have long dreamed about and we're excited it's finally happening: our goal is to pair localized hydrophone recordings with drone observations of Southern Resident killer whales to see if we can link any specific vocalizations with key behaviors such as prey-sharing or nursing. If so, this could vastly expand the insight from passive acoustic monitoring efforts to gain knowledge not only about where whales are, but about what they're doing in those areas.

Our first dedicated field effort starts in just over a week when we will be relocating to Puget Sound in hopes of spending time with Southern Residents in their typical fall range. Thus far, anecdotal reports have been that chum salmon are abundant this year, and if the whales are any indication, that seems to be true, as J-Pod has been down in Puget Sound for almost a week straight as of today! Fingers crossed the whales and weather cooperate; we can't wait to share updates from the field on this exciting new venture.

This month, join us in taking 17 days of action for SRKWs = Southern Resident Killer Whales!

A new tidal turbine design may be coming to Rosario Strait… https://salish-current.org/2024/05/13/opalco-proposes-to-harness-tidal-power-for-san-juans/

4th Gear Flyer Surfmats The best high-performance surfmats in the world

After spending a week up in the Strait of Georgia, J-Pod made their way back south towards the San Juan Islands this morning. It feels a little like the good ol' days to have them around in early May!

On Friday, a commercial fishing vessel ran aground and sunk in Haro Strait off Henry Island. Thankfully, unlike with the Aleutian Isle two years ago, this vessel settled in shallower water and responders were able to remove most of the 400+ gallons of fuel on board yesterday. The local emergency response department reported that they believed the environmental risk was greatly diminished by the time J-Pod transited the area today.

As they passed Lime Kiln Lighthouse heading south, most of J-Pod was in one tight group fairly close to shore. I thought I'd share some love for one of the members who gets featured a little less often: here's J39 Mako who gave us a lovely pass.

We are sad to hear there is another diesel spill in the core critical habitat of the SRKWs = Southern Resident Killer Whales. Yesterday the a 48-foot commercial fishing vessel sank off the southwest side of Henry Island around 6 am (3 May 2024). The U.S. Coast Guard rescued a crew member & his dog, observed a 100' sheen, and estimates the Chief Joseph has 400-500 gallons still aboard.

https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/3765320/coast-guard-other-agencies-respond-to-sunken-vessel-near-henry-island-washington/

Happy Earth Day! Here's a new dashboard that mashes up orca and salmon data the same way SRKWs = Southern Resident Killer Whales mash up Chinook from the Fraser and Columbia rivers.

https://salmonorca.fly.dev/

Congrats to volunteer Zoe Liu for winning the *2023 Best Visualization of Ecosytem Data* across all open source projects of the Orcasound - Listen for Whales community!

Read more about this new Earth Day tool and inspiring volunteer on the Beam Reach blog -- https://beamreach.blue/2024/04/22/an-orca-salmon-dashboard-for-the-endangered-southern-resident-killer-whales/

Hydrophone tech position in BC!

Exciting news! We are seeking to hire a field technician to join our collaborative BC Hydrophone Network team!

Are you a tech savvy person that is comfortable in remote, rugged, coastal marine environments? Are you ready to make a tangible impact on marine conservation efforts? Do you know someone who is?

We are currently accepting applications for a field technician to join the BC Hydrophone Network team. This is a pivotal role in our coast-wide collaboration between NGOs and First Nations communities working together to better understand whale habitat usage and the impacts of ocean noise on the underwater soundscapes of BC. As a Field Technician, you will play a crucial role in installing and maintaining hydrophone systems and the equipment that supports them, and will work very closely with our lead hydrophone system engineer.

This role is a combination of in-person and remote support. For a full description of the opportunity and how to apply, please visit bcwhales.org/opportunities or head to the link in our bio.

Application deadline is THIS FRIDAY March 15th! Please share this opportunity with anyone you feel would make a great fit.

Date: January 29, 2024
Center for Whale Research Statement: Killer whale calf J60 missing

The Center for Whale Research is sad to report that the youngest member of J pod, J60, was missing during our most recent encounter with the pod. On January 27, CWR researchers conducted a photo ID survey of J pod in San Juan Channel (Encounter #8). During the encounter, photos were obtained of all other members of the pod, including all potential mothers for J60, but J60 himself was not seen. Given his young age, it is extremely unlikely that J60 was off on his own for the entire duration of the encounter. While our protocols require at least three full censuses of the group to confirm mortality, we now believe that J60 is likely deceased.

Given the calf’s association patterns and the pregnancy status of J pod females in late 2023, J42 was the calf’s most likely mother, however given the calf’s varied social partners in early life this will enter our dataset as a “probable” relationship.
Female J46 was also heavily pregnant in late 2023, however she was not as consistently associated with the calf as J42. This would have been the first observed calf for either female.

The mortality rate for young calves, especially those born to first time mothers, is very high in the southern residents. This is due both to the generally poor nutritional status of southern residents, and the transfer of toxins from mother to calf during gestation and lactation. The southern residents need abundant, large Chinook salmon if they are going to be able to raise their calves to maturity, and keep the population going.
Read more https://www.whaleresearch.com/2024-8

2024 summer field op!

**INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY**

The Center for Whale Research (CWR) is seeking applications for two research interns for the summer of 2024. This is a three-month position, working with the CWR research and education staff on San Juan Island, Washington, to conduct on-the-water field work, catalog and analyze data, and communicate scientific information to the public. The successful applicants will be provided with housing,
training by CWR research and education staff, and a $1,000/month subsistence
stipend.

For more information, follow the link to the full position description: https://www.whaleresearch.com/internship2024

To apply, fill out the application form: https://forms.gle/2KbKKRh7yqQLvYPS7

Deadline to apply is February 15, 2024 at 11:59 PM, Pacific time.

**Photo of calf L126 and L77, taken under federal permits**

Our latest episode just dropped and in it we welcome back who tells us all about the huge collaborative effort to rescue T051 and T049A2 from Barnes Lake in SE Alaska. This is the same lake that some offshore killer whales became stuck in back in 1994!

Thanks for joining us again, Jared, and a huge thanks to you and everyone involved in getting those whales out of the lake.

📸: , of T051 from 2017.

Don't miss this talk on Wednesday eve about humpbacks, as well as the growing monitoring power of community scientists and AI!

Shout out to Happywhale and Whale Alert for helping Orcasound - Listen for Whales learn more about .