Saving Springer How NOAA helped an orca go home Lesson 3. Who’s that Whale? Mark Sears Global Research and Rescue.

Saving SpringerHow NOAA helped an orca go home

Lesson 3. Who’s that Whale?

Mark Sears

Mark SearsGlobal Research and Rescue

Who’s that Whale?

What will you learn?

What happened when Springer arrived in Puget Sound?

How to identify orcas

How Springer was identified

Mark Sears

Who's that Whale? Springer shows up

In January 2002 an orca calf appeared near Seattle Observed by ferry

captain

Very unusual for an orca to be alone

Mark Sears

Who’s that Whale? Early observations

Healthy except skin

Hunting catching fish

Playing with fish and logs

LonelyMark Sears

Who’s that Whale?

Everyone wondered…

Who’s that whale?

What pod is she from? Southern resident?

Northern resident?

Transient?

Why is she alone?

What is she doing in Puget Sound?

What would you do if you saw a baby orcaalone in Puget Sound?

What would you do if you saw a baby orcaalone in Puget Sound?

Who wouldyou call?

Who wouldyou call?

Mark Sears

Who’s that Whale?

How do we tell orcas apart?

Dorsal fin Saddle patch Vocalization

Mark Sears

All about orcas How do we tell orcas apart?

Dorsal fin

Male dorsal fin (J1) Female dorsal fin (J2)John Durban, NOAA John Durban, NOAA

Who’s that Whale? How do we tell orcas apart?

Saddle patch

Saddle patch - L7 (Male) Saddle patch - L7 (Female)

John Durban, NOAAJohn Durban, NOAA

All about orcas How do we tell orcas apart?

Vocalizations (calls)

Here is a southern resident

call…

Every pod has distinct calls

Every pod has distinct calls

Listen to a northern resident callListen to a northern resident call

Mark Sears

Who’s that Whale? Solving the mystery

Can we use her saddle patch to identify her?

Mark Sears

No, her skin is in very poor condition, can’t see her saddle-patch.

Who’s that Whale?

Solving the mystery

Vocalizations… Scientists recorded Springer’s calls

…a match with A4 calls! Northern residents

Who’s that Whale? It’s Springer!

Last seen with mother - September 2000 Traveled with G-pod - Fall 2001 By herself in Puget Sound - January 2002

Who’s that Whale? Now that we know who Springer is…

Why is she here? What should we do?

Mark Sears

Who’s that Whale? Community role

Reported sighting to NOAA Participated in identification process

Photos Acoustic recordings

Monitoring Volunteer researchers watched her every day

Who’s that whale? NOAA’s role

Scientists Research Identification Monitoring

Management Kept Springer safe Worked with community

Who’s that Whale? Today’s Activities

Thumbprints and saddle patches Make a whale call using balloons