Encounter 37 - December 22, 2021

Amazing encounter with the CA51s, "The Friendly Pod", Santa Barbara Channel! At 1030, Island Packers (Capt. Joel Barrett) encountered four orcas off Santa Cruz Island, outside Prisoner's Cove. The females killed a California sea lion and harassed a rhinoceros auklet. Condor Express Whale Watching arrived at 1158. Photographer Adam Ernster identified this Bigg's transient matriline as the CA51s; photos confirmed adult female CA51 Star, adult male CA51C Bumper, female CA51E Comet and calf CA51F. At 1210, they began hunting a female sea lion; CA51 and CA51E breached on it multiple times, then it swam under the Condor Express and hid for about an hour as whales circled the boat. They became boat friendly - especially CA51E, who did four spyhops. CA51 and calf CA51F nuzzled a lot. CA51C did multiple tail slaps.The whales repeatedly did a very unusual behavior: lined up side by side facing the boat, lifted heads above the water, and stared at passengers for minutes! At 1251, CA51B Orion arrived with sister CA51A Aurora, her offspring (CA51A2 Andi, CA51A3, and calf CA51A4 Eclipse), and adult male CA50B, and all 10 whales became very active. CA51A2 emitted a raspberry-like vocalization; another whale did a higher pitched call. Several spit water from their mouths at the surface, making "fart sounds". They sat in the jet wash bubbles. Then CA51A2 did a spectacular back flip! Multiple whales were breaching, tail slapping, and sculling with pectoral flippers while swimming on their backs! They found another smaller sea lion, which hid under the Condor Express. As the boat left at 1157, the calves began wake riding - and so did the smaller sea lion, and a few whales breached at least 10 feet out of the water! At 1440, Evan Brodsky relocated them closer to Santa Cruz Island. They were calm and made eye contact; one calf chased and killed at least one seabird. At 1650, the whales started chasing a large pod of common dolphin, but it was too dark to see if they caught any. The encounter ended at 1700.
*Encounter summary by CWR Lead Research Biologist Alisa Schulman-Janiger. CA216s and CA140Bs! A fisherman reported to whale watching captains that 8-10 killer whales were between the Moss Landing Harbor entrance and the open water buoy, to the SW. Captain Danny Frank (Discovery Whale Watch) got on the radio and spread the word. It took Don Baccus (Fast Raft) about 30 minutes to reach them in heavy seas. He encountered 5 Bigg's transient killer whales at 1130, about 2 miles off Moss Landing: pale gray leucistic calf CA216C1 "Frosty" with mom CA216C, and "Frosty's" aunt, CA216B "Jagged" with her offspring CA216B1 and CA216B2. Birds were circling over an unidentified kill. After about 15 minutes, the whales took off in rough seas. At 1345, Kate Cummings of Blue Ocean Whale Watch relocated these five killer whales about 5 miles off Moss Landing, traveling with five other whales: CA140B "Louise", CA140B1 "Stinger", CA140B2 "Bee", CA140B3 "Buzz", and CA23A2. They were cruising east, staying down about 4-5 minutes. The whales headed to a "stinky slick" (unknown prey kill), started making longer dives (7-10 minutes), and became more elusive, They passed close to the boat once, then took off and headed west shortly after 3pm.
NOTE: The CA216s were last seen between oil Platform Gail and East Anacapa Island on 12 December (Santa Barbara Channel).
Encounter summary by CKWP Lead Research Biologist Alisa Schulman-Janiger.
Photos by Kate Cummings (Blue Ocean Whale Watch):
1, 2 (L to R): CA216B Jagged, CA216C1 Frosty, CA216C, CA140B3 Buzz, CA140B Louise
3. CA140B3 Buzz, CA216C1 Frosty
4. CA216C, CA216C1 Frosty Santa Barbara Channel: more than 9 Bigg's transient killer whales! The Islander (Island Packers) was returning from Santa Cruz Island when they spotted killer whales at 1600, just west of oil Platform Gail heading slowly northeast, ignoring nearby hauled-out sea lions. These included 3-year-old pale gray leucistic calf CA216C1 "Frosty" with mom CA216C, and CA216C's sister CA216B "Jagged" with her offspring CA216B1 and CA216B2. Wavy-finned adult male CA45B and eleven-year-old female CA138B were with them, but soon moved a few hundred yards away and started displaying mating behavior. "Frosty" and mom moved ahead, while the others flanked the boat. They converged and split again; CA45B and CA138B moved off and resuming mating behavior. Adult male CA138A and adult female CA45 stayed several hundred yards away with a few others. When the boat left at 1635, CA45B and CA138B stayed behind (mating behavior), while the others slowly spread out eastward toward Arch Rock (East Anacapa Island).
NOTE: this CA216 subgroup, including "Frosty", was resighted in Monterey Bay on 22 December: watch for our next post!
Encounter summary by CKWP Lead Research Biologist Alisa Schulman-Janiger. Thanks to all who sent us images!
Photos by Mark O'Brien (1, 3, 4); Dustin Harris, Island Packers (2):
1. CA216C1 "Frosty" with mom CA216C; 2: CA216B "Jagged" with calf CA216B2; 3, 4: male CA45B and young female CA138B, mating!