It wasn't until this summer that I learned there is a third type of killer whale in the Pacific Northwest. I was familiar with transients (those seal-eating loners) and the Southern Residents (the salmon-eating pods near Seattle). But I didn't realize there were killer whales who stayed way out to sea and eat sharks for breakfast! The offshore killer whales often get mixed up with transients. In reality they are believed to be more closely related to the residents due to their appearance and vocalizations. Little is actually known, in fact they weren't even discovered until 1979. As their name indicates, they remain far away from shore and so can't be seen from land.
While watching the Northern Resident orcas in Vancouver, B.C. on live web cam, I was trying to draw the individuals. It was through the sketches that I really started to examine each whale more closely. I got to know the curve of their dorsal fin and the shape and color of their saddle patch (the white spot behind their dorsal). Identifying them individually is a skill that will definitely take a lot more practice, but it is fun to start to look at some of the patterns by type.
It reminds me of when I first started birding. Prior to that, I would have told that we only have a couple of birds that visit our yard and that they are plain and brown. Then I stopped to really notice them and look at each one. Now I know that there are over 20 varieties of birds that pass through my front yard every single day ... and in fact, most of them are not even brown. They were there all along, but now I am fascinated by them every chance I get to see them.
Behind the Scenes
References
- NOAA Fisheries - Killer Whale Overview - Populations
- NOAA Fisheries - Killer Whale Ecotypes Poster
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - Salish Sea Report - Southern Resident Killer Whales, June 2021
- Jean-Michael Cousteau Ocean Adventures - Call of the Killer Whale - In Depth: Orca Pods - PBS
- Orca Network - Transient Orcas
Other Related Activities
- Live Webcams and Hydrophones from OrcaLab in Vancouver, B.C. by Explore
- During summer, the Northern Residents are frequent visitors. You can see and hear them live. There is even an underwater camera to watch them visit the rubbing beaches.
- During fall, Stellar Sea Lions come in as the orcas head south.
- Wyland Foundation - Northern Pacific Orca Buddies - Art & Activity - Free Download
Supplies
(These are the supplies I use and recommend from my experience. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases):
- Strathmore Vision Mixed Media Pad
- Westcott Grid Ruler
- Zebra Zensations Brush Pen, Super Fine
- Pentel Pocket Brush Limited Edition (Black Ink)
- Uni-Ball Signo Gel Pen (White)
- Faber-Castell Kneaded Eraser
- Computer & photo editor