The whales

I've never seen a harbor seal out of the water in the immediate boston area. Even the ones on the cape seem to stick to the water. They hunt the fish and come back to check on their pups. I only saw the one pup in a looong stretch of beach. It's nat'l seashore so they're very protected. In Wellfleet I saw about 8 together near a strip of sandbar, none got out the water while we sat watching. I think the other seal type might be grey seals.

http://www.able2know.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=9863

Seals and the East Coast


very good k...gold star!

{bllleeeep}

Yeah! Good thing I could recall the name, I took the boat trip last year. Now, should I move those links?

The spot in Wellfleet where we saw the seals was at Billingsgate Island - a bit of sand and pebble:

"Great Island begins at the mouth of the Herring River and extends four miles into Wellfleet Harbor. At the tip is Jeremy Point. At low tide, you may be able to walk out past the point to Billingsgate Island."

You know, now that I think about it, my whale watch out of PTown mentioned Orcas....forgot about that till now.

I've never heard anyone speak about orcas of cape cod. And people have spoken to me of the seals of cape cod only recently. I guess I never asked.

Subject: Stranding: False Killer Whale Summary

http://whale.wheelock.edu/archives/info97/0255.html

Inside Cape Cod

http://www.insidecapecod.com/main-whale.htm

I went whale watching for the first time in my life last year on my cruise to South America. We went out from Punta Ballerna, Argentina, out of Puerto Madryn. It was awesome watching a mother and baby swim around in the cove. c.i.

Heres an article about what the marine resaerch people at Woods Hole said about why the Orcas are now in Fundy. Tuna was always here, we fish for them and they are regulars , however, my feeling is that the seal explosion is more responsible for the new pods of Orcas.

http://new-brunswick.net/new-brunswick/whales/orcas.html

Piffka, we have a Beal Island 40, its a style of lobster boat with a deep water capability and sleeping for 6 (not really comfortably for 2 however) I bought the boat as a wreck and had it totally restored with me doing a lot of decorative woodwork. Its a "picnic" style with a deisel jet drive and a shallow draft (18") which is great for these waters. We will normally go 100 miles or so offshore. 2 summers ago we went to Sable Island in a rising gale. It was like a Perfect Storm and we were, quite concerned , but, shes a great b eamy thing that really settles the water in front.
We also have a little 22 ft runabout for shopping and errands. You can buy boats up here for nothing and turn them around and sell them back home for a nice profit. I usually buy a runabout each summer and take it home at seasons end and the kid fixes it and sells it for his education in the business world. Hes done a great job at restoring naugahyde. I have no idea where he got that skill from cuz I always sent them out. Hes also turning into a right smart small engine mechanic. , and hes not 16 yet.


We will, in August, set out for a long trip to the Madelaines Islands in the Gulf of St Lawrence, we want to go nature photoing. Ill probably be off line for about 2 weeks as we slowly plod . I need to get some additional survival suits and gear for the safety stores . everyone is anticipating the trip. Well be like Vikings theyve reported icebergs in the Gulf this year.

Your big boat sounds good -- I like a beamy boat. 100 miles offshore is v. impressive to me! Be safe on your trip & good luck to your son on his next project. I'd love to hear about your voyage!

About the orca-eating seals. In WA we had a pod of ocean-going orcas come in the Puget Sound for eight weeks this spring and eat a huge number of harbor seals. That, was reported to be their diet, as opposed to the native J, K, and L orca pods native to the sound and San Juan Islands, who eat salmon almost exclusively. Orcas seemingly follow the food.

Ive heard that the orcas in Fundy will also eat tuna. The tuna are all over. Sometime theyre so close to shore that people gather at the docks in eastport and Black Harbour to just gawk. These are huuuge fish (500lb or more) and they move like torpedos .
When you mention an alpha code for various pods of orcas, how do they assign these letters? aret they a family group that stays cohesive? or do they splinter off and just gather at certain times of the season?
We want to see some Belugas when we go up to the Madelaines , they are fairly common in Gulf of St LAwrence and Northumberland waters, as well as Chaliur

Wow! I'd love to see some tunas swimming! About your questions, my understanding WAS that on the west coast, the A-I pods are based in California and Oregon and I ASSUMED that the pod designations continued with M, etc. through Canada and into Alaska. (edited: I've since checked, and I had it backwards... the A-I pod designations begin in Alaska and go south.)

Here's some information about the pod designations & identifications from a website which I've since misplaced:



T-designations are given to the "transient" whale populations.

As far as I know, the local pods are very cohesive though they are often broken up into sub-pods, which are most like families. Researchers, both professional and amateur, know them by sight and keep close tabs on individuals. Here, for example, is a recent list of pod members:

______________________________________________________

Puget Sound Orca Sub-pod Relationships and Year of Birth -
updated July 2003
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

J pod - 22 Whales

J2 Granny * 1911 (Piffka note -- I can't believe this orca is this old!)
J1 Ruffles 1951 (possible brother or son of Granny)
J14 Samish 1974 (likely grand daughter of Granny)
J30 Riptide 1995 (son of Samish)
J37 Hy'Shqa 2000 (offspring of Samish)

J8 Speiden* 1933
J19 Shachi 1979 (possible grand daughter of Speiden)
J11 Blossom 1972 (possible grand daughter of Speiden)
J27 Blackberry 1991 (son of Blossom)
J31 Tsuchi 1995 (daughter of Blossom)
J39 2003 (offspring of Blossom)

J22 Oreo* 1985
J32 Rhapsody 1996 (niece of Oreo)
J34 Doublestuf 1998 (son of Oreo)
J38 2002 (offspring of Oreo)
J17 Princess Angeline* 1977 (possible cousin of Oreo)
J28 Polaris 1993 (daughter of Princess Angeline)
J35 Tahlequah 1998 (daughter of Princess Angeline)

J16 Slick* 1972
J26 Mike 1991 (son of Slick)
J33 Keet 1996 (son of Slick)
J36 Alki 1999 (offspring of Slick)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
K pod - 19 Whales

K12 Sequim* 1972
K22 Sekiu 1987 (daughter of Sequim)
K33 2000 (offspring of Sekiu)
K28 Raven 1994 (daughter of Sequim)
K31 Tatoosh 1999 (son of Sequim)

K7 Lummi* 1910
K11 Georgia 1933 (possible daughter of Lummi)
K13 Skagit 1972 (daughter of Georgia)
K20 Spock 1986 (son of Skagit)
K25 Scoter 1991 (son of Skagit)
K27 Deadhead 1994 (daughter of Skagit)
K34 2001 (offspring of Skagit)

K18 Kiska* 1948
K21 Cappucino 1986 (son of Kiska)
K40 Raggedy 1963 (likely daughter of Kiska)

K14 Lea* 1977
K26 Lobo 1993 (offspring of Lea)
K16 Opus 1985 (sister of Lea)
K35 2000 (offspring of Opus)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
L pod - 43 Whales

L32 Olympia* 1955
L87 Onyx 1992 (son of Olympia)
L85 Mystery 1991 (possible nephew of Olympia)
L22 Spirit 1971 (likely daughter of Olympia)
L79 Skana 1989 (son of Spirit)
L89 Solstice 1993 (son of Spirit)

L25 Ocean Sun* 1928 (last surviving member of her family group; often seen with L12's)
L12 Alexis* 1933
L41 Mega 1977 (possible grand son of Alexis)
L77 Matia 1987 (sister of Mega)
L94 Calypso 1995 (sibling of Mega)

L2 Grace* 1960
L67 Splash 1985 (daughter of Grace)
L98 Luna 1999 (son of Splash - currently living alone in Nootka Sound, BC)
L101 2002 (offspring of Splash)
L78 Gaia 1989 (son of Grace)
L88 Wavewalker 1993 (son of Grace)

L26 Baba* 1956
L92 Crewser 1995 (grand son of Baba)
L71 Hugo 1986 (son of Baba)
L90 Ballena 1993 (daughter of Baba)

L57 Faith 1977 (last surviving member of his family group; often seen with L7's)
L7 Canuck* 1961
L53 Lulu 1977 (daughter of Canuck)
L43 Jelly Roll* 1972 (possible sister of Canuck)
L72 Racer 1986 (daughter of Jelly Roll)
L95 Nigel 1996 (son of Jelly Roll)

L27 Ophelia* 1965
L55 Nugget 1977 (possible sister of Ophelia)
L82 Kasatka 1990 (daughter of Nugget)
L102 2003 offspring of Nugget
L86 Surprise 1991 (sister of Nugget)

L21 Ankh* 1950
L47 Marina 1974 (daughter of Ankh)
L83 Moonlight 1990 (daughter of Marina)
L91 Muncher 1995 (offspring of Marina)

L3 Oriana* 1950 (Missing 2003)
L74 Saanich 1986 (son of Oriana)
L84 Nyssa 1990 (grand son of Oriana)
L5 Tanya* 1964 (possible sister of Oriana)
L58 Sparky 1980 (son of Tanya) Missing 2003
L73 Flash 1986 (son of Tanya)

L54 Ino* 1977
L100 2001 (offspring of Ino)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Sub group leaders

New calves: J38 (Oreo's calf)
J39 (Blossom's calf)
K35 (Opus' calf)
L101 (Splash's calf)

There was a very good programme on our ITV this evening, entitled "The Ice Whales".

Here is a link:

http://www.angliatv.com/survival/

"Ice Whales

In the freezing ocean you will find three extraordinary marine creatures living at the edge of the north polar ice cap. The Bowhead whale, the Beluga and the closely related Narwhal spend their lives in these inhospitable waters and as bitterly cold conditions descend on the Arctic realm, the whales disappear into their own dark world of mystery and intrigue. Now, with the aid of new innovations in underwater technology, we discover the amazing secrets of how this remarkable trio has conquered the killing cold of these Arctic waters, they are the Ice Whales.

The challenging environment of the Arctic in winter, covering six million square miles, is home to a large diversity of marine and mammal life. ...."

McT

Thanks McTag!