12/28 Baby orca, quiet Sound, Southern Cal orcas, Canada jay

A newborn orca surfaces next to orca J40
in central Puget Sound on Dec. 26, 2023
[Maya Sears, under NMFS Permit 27052]

Newborn orca spotted near Seattle off Bainbridge Island
Beachgoers and whale researchers were excited to spot a newborn calf swimming with the Northwest’s endangered orcas on Tuesday near Seattle. On Wednesday, the Center for Whale Research confirmed that the baby orca is the newest member of J pod, one of the Northwest’s three family groups of the endangered killer whales known as the southern residents. Whale researchers Maya Sears and Mark Sears had seen the 25 members of J pod on the afternoon of Dec. 23, but no baby, meaning this 26th member was probably born on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. John Ryan reports. (KUOW)

It's getting quieter in Puget Sound and easier for orcas to find dinner
Orca conservation groups are thanking commercial ships and other big vessels for slowing down around endangered southern resident killer whales. They are asking vessels to voluntarily reduce their speeds in a section of Puget Sound where orcas are often present. It’s a 22 nautical mile long stretch that reaches from Port Townsend to Edmonds and Everett. Organizers are asking large vessels to reduce their speeds by 30-50%. Container vessels, vehicle carriers, and cruise ships are asked to drop speeds to 14.5 knots, while tankers and bulkers are asked to slow to 11 knots in the slowdown area. Natalie Akane Newcomb reports. (KUOW)

Orcas are flocking to Southern California waters. It’s for the hunting
Over the last three weeks, killer whales native to Mexico and Central America have been spotted dozens of times from Long Beach to the Palos Verdes Peninsula to Laguna Beach. The whales are eastern tropical Pacific orcas that frequent the warmer waters south of Los Angeles and are in the area in greater frequency because of an increased abundance of dolphins, a staple of their diet.  Andrew J. Campa reports. (Los Angeles Times)

The Naturalist and the Lovable, So Good, Very Bold Jay
Canada jays thrive in the cold. The life’s work of one biologist gives us clues as to how they’ll fare in a hotter world. Brian Payton writes. (The Tyee)

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Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  207 AM PST Thu Dec 28 2023    
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING    
TODAY  SE wind 10 to 20 kt. Wind waves 4 to 6 ft. W swell 14 ft  at 16 seconds building to SW 18 ft at 16 seconds in the  afternoon. Showers and a slight chance of tstms in the morning  then rain in the afternoon.  TONIGHT  E wind 10 to 20 kt rising to 15 to 25 kt after  midnight. Wind waves 5 to 7 ft. SW swell 17 ft at 15 seconds  subsiding to 10 ft at 14 seconds after midnight. Rain in the  evening then rain likely after midnight.

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"Salish Sea News & Weather" is compiled as a community service by Mike Sato. It is included as a daily feature in the Salish Current newsletter. Click here to subscribe. Questions? Email mikesato772 (@) gmail.com. Your email information is never shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.

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