Transient orca T14 or "Pender" displays a large dorsal fin typical of a mature male. Near the base of his fin, along the leading edge are two "notches" scars from researchers attempts to fit a tracking device. |
Transient orca T20 displays a large bull orca fin type with a tear, in fact a missing portion, of his fin near the top. Transient bull T87 shares a similar feature and can be easily confused for T20. |
Transient Bull T20 "logs" on the surface near Victoria BC. Logging means that the animal is stationary at the surface - like a log! |
T14, "Pender" in strong current rounding Beachey Head near Sooke BC. Transients are often found traveling very close to the coastline as they search for seals and sea lion basking in the sunshine. |
T14, "Pender" as seen on the Victoria waterfront with Gonzales hill in the background. Pender is rarely seen in the company of other transient orca. |
Transient orca near Sooke BC, west of Victoria. |
Transient orca T20 "logging" near Victoria BC. |
Juvenile and a female transient orca enjoy relaxation after a successful seal kill. |
Transient orcas that are part of the T30 traveling group engage in some physical contact and the reconnection of social bonds near Hein Bank in the St. of Juan de Fuca. |
A juvenile orca displays a typical transient feature, a saddle patch that tends to be farther forward more under than behind the dorsal fin. |
Seals and sea lions spend more of their time out of the water as they conserve energy. Well aware of this habit transient orca travel along the shoreline in search of prey. |
Heading west and unltimately to Alaska within 3 weeks (this animal has a radio tag), this transient bull orca is approximately 10 m long and weighs about 5 tonnes. |
A female transient orcas dorsal fin displays the classic transient fin shape that tends to have a straighter back edge opposed to residents dorsals that have a more concave curve. |
A male, or bull, transient orca. |
Like resident orca, transients are can be individually ID'd by their saddle patches, the grayish pigmentation under and behind their dorsal fin. |
This sequence displays a tactic used by transients to subdue prey. In this case a sea lion is being pounced upon and kept from surfacing so it cannot breath. |
Transient hunting behaviour - sequence. |
Transient hunting behaviour - sequence. |
Transient hunting behaviour - sequence. |
Transient hunting behaviour - sequence. |
Transient hunting behaviour - sequence. |
Bull transient orca in Juan de Fuca Strait. |
Transient calf porpoising in Juan de Fuca Strait. |
Left-leaning dorsal fin of this bull should be noted in any attempt to individually identify this animal. |
Transient orca travel in much smaller groups than residents, with an average number of three animals per pod. |
Not all breaching behaviour is for social reasons. This orca is actively engaged in hunting. |
Classic transient orca fin shapes and saddle patches on display here allowing for an easy identification of population type. |
Female, or cow, transient orca traveling with calves will often be in the company of other mature females. |
Transient orca will move hundreds of miles per week moving to new hunting grounds. |
Transient orca are the apex predator of the sea, with some transients favouring great white sharks as prey items! |
Transient cow and calf will travel together for years, and possibly for life. |
T14, "Pender", is traveling with other whales, 5 females in fact, in this photo. This is a very rare thing to see this normally solitary male do. |
Transient orca share the busy waterways in our area with many humans - with no recorded attacks against people or boats ever recorded. |
