Last Saturday was a whale of a day in the Salish Sea

Last Saturday was a whale of a day in the Salish Sea, with confirmed reports of no fewer than 79 killer whales in the region!

These numbers included J- and K-Pods of the Southern Resident Community who went north through the Gulf Islands and into the Strait of Georgia, a total of 41 whales with the newest member J63 in tow.

Among the 38 Bigg's killer whales present were the T46Bs, with their own new calf in T46B3A. T87 Harbeson, though to be the oldest male killer whale who regularly visits the area, was also present with the T124As. And of course no bustling spring day in the Salish Sea would be complete without the presence of the T19s, T49As, and T99s.

With orcas able to travel 100 miles or more in a 24 hour period, it's impossible to predict who will be around when or where on a given day, but that makes each morning the start of a brand new puzzle. Thanks to contributions from hundreds of community scientists from Puget Sound to Campbell River, it's possible to piece together reports from north to south and compile impressive maps like this one!