Drama on the West Side
Hello Everyone,There has been kind of a mystery taking place on the west side of San Juan Island for the last two days. My favorite orca and allot of other people’s favorite, Ruffles, J-1, has been traveling up and down the west side, alone, making the same vocalization constantly. While this isn’t a single event that is unprecedented, it is highly unusual to have him here so very far away from the rest of J pod, ( no known location of the whereabouts of J pod). My other concern is Ruffles is close to 60 years old, quite a bit older than the average male orca lifespan. Due to his older age, perhaps he is experiencing a “senior moment” or maybe he was off on his own on his own mission.
There is some speculation as to the behavior and specific vocalization he is demonstrating. But right now it is a waiting game to the outcome. It’s common to see transient orca males alone. However having a single resident orca traveling alone is concerning and mystifying.
I have added a link to Ruffle’s calls that were recorded yesterday. <http://orcasound.net/wholistener/lk/detections/raw/2010/01/27/PWRAveDb113_01_27_2010_11_31_37.mp3>, hopefully you can listen to it. Or you can go to <www.orcasound.net> and listen live periodically throughout the day today.
Tom Averna
Deer Harbor ChartersRuffles, taken during a summer trip
