One of the telltale signs that spring is right around the corner here in Kodiak is not a groundhog seeing his shadow but rather our transient Orcinus Pod. What pray tell is an Orcinus you ask?? It is one of the largest dolphins in the dolphin family. But wait those pictures are of Killer Whales right?? Yes they are, but Killer Whales or Orcas are actually from the oceanic dolphin family and not a whale at all. OK, enough of the marine biology lesson for the day.
We had heard that the first sightings of the Orcas in the harbor happened the other day, so we have been anxious to see them and today we got a call that they were spotted again. Camera in hand, we rushed to the harbor just in time to get some shots. The pod that we have here every spring comes back year after year and are identified by distinct features. Whale biologists name pods by number so they can track them. This pod travels between Kodiak and the Kenai Peninsula, but little else is known of their movements throughout the year.
This one is distinguishable by its flopped over fin- this is usually caused by some kind of stress.
This is a calf traveling with the pod. Pods usually are between 2 and 6 Orcas.
The Sheep's Wife feels the need to continue the marine mammal lesson... There are three distinct types of orcas, those that feed on fish such as salmon (known as resident and oceanic orcas), and those that feed on marine mammals (transient orcas). The ones seen in Kodiak's harbor every year are the latter- they come in to feast on the many Steller's Sea Lions that reside here.
No comments:
Post a Comment