K20 & K38

K20 & K38
South of False Bay, SJI
June 7, 2009
Photo by Capt. Jim Maya

June 7
Photos from this evening (6/7) of K20 & 38 (see above) at 5:40 ish, headed S, 2.5 M. south of False Bay, San Juan Island.
Capt. Jim Maya, Maya's Westside Charters

And a comment on Jim Maya's post from yesterday, about these rare instances of several Resident orcas traveling alone:
I read your post on Orca Network regarding K-20 and her calf and your obvious concern for their current situation. Her separation from K pod is not entirely unprecedented. In 1998 (maybe 99) J-22 (Oreo) gave birth to J-34 (Doublestuff). We would find her miles and miles from J pod, traveling at a higher than normal rate of speed every time we saw her, for at least ten days, maybe longer. Eventually, she rejoined J pod without any obvious negative impacts to her or her calf.
All we could think of while watching J-22 and her newborn do laps around San Juan County at 10 knots, was she was a very young mom for an orca in the wild, she was approximately 11 years old. Perhaps she was uncomfortable with this new baby and didn't know how to be a mom.
Whatever the case, both mom and calf appear to be doing well today. J-34 is very very close to the hearts of those who were out there in those days. That little guy had to apply the afterburners at the very start of his life. He showed us a will to survive. We all thought he wasn't going to make it and maybe mom was trying to loose him. None of us ever saw J-22 stop or slow down long enough to nurse, feed herself or rest. She was constantly on the move.
However, seeing K-20 and K-38 by themselves and many miles away from the rest of K pod is troubling and very concerning. Two weeks ago a few of the L- 12's were traveling by themselves, now K-20 and her calf. In addition, J pod being gone for 10 days plus, is something that I don't remember happening during early June.
Tom Averna, Deer Harbor Charters

June 7
I left K20 and K38 2.5 miles S. of False Bay headed in a Southerly direction at 6:30 this evening.
Capt. Jim Maya,
Maya's Westside Charters,
San Juan Island

June 7
Jeff Hogan called to relay he had heard reports of K20 & K38 in the San Juan Island area again today (6/7), still with no other orcas present.