Guaranteed whale watching tours puget sound express. Whale watching tours in washington state that provide responsible whale watching. This article was prepared as part of the 2015 puget sound fact book produced by the university of washington puget sound institute. Memorial day through late august we offer whale watching at sunset. The dozen or so gray whales familiar with the area come back every year to feed on the sound s. The hanke family has been operating whale watching tours with puget sound express for 30 years. With 3 generations of family dedication and experience, we guarantee youll see whales or your next trip is free. This nonprofit organization is dedicated to tracking the health of orca whales in the puget sound as. The scenic flight offers views of seattle, puget sound, the olympic peninsula, the cascades including mt. Go whale watching at point defiance southsoundtalk. Seaworlds decision to shut down its killer whale breeding program and to stop making orcas perform tricks was met with excitement by puget sound orca advocates. This week, washington state ferries will be the first to use the whalereport alert system throughout puget sound, which will alert captains to credible whale sightings in the area. We boast more than 100 years of combined experience in the islands and have led excursions for hundreds of thousands of satisfied guests over 24.
In the high season for whale watching, they usually do well. Field identification guide to northern puget sound gray whales 2 mb pdf file cascadia research has been conducting photoid research on gray whales in n puget sound since 1990 as a part of a larger study of gray whales in the pacific northwest. Washingtons 20192020 fishing regulations now available. Port townsend 4hour whale watching tour puget sound express. This saves money, time, and gives you two beautiful ferry rides in addition your puget sound whale watching tour. This article focuses on the pelagic habitat within the puget sound.
Today we found t7 pod killer whales out near smith island, and we also spotted the first gray whale to return to puget sound this winter. Alisa lemire brooks july 8 l12s and l22s were resting off of bellvue pt. Puget sound express whale watching puget sound express. Puget sounds endangered killer whales continue decline. A small group, known as the sounders, are drawn to the abundant ghost shrimp of puget sound where they feed before continuing on their journey. They range from southeast alaska to california, but over the last 15 years more members of. They might be seen from whale trail locations in central puget sound october through february. The plane arrives in time to enjoy the town for friday harbor and its many shops and restaurants. Seattles first halfday whale watch tour by puget sound. If you wish to see the pnw, id suggest playing on either sj or orcas islands, with my personal preference, sj. Jun, 2018 that said, when i was asked to participate in a whale watching tour with puget sound express, i couldnt refuse. Seattles first halfday whale watch tour by puget sound express jets you up in highspeed comfort to where the whales play by rosemary ponnekanti staff writer june 06, 2015 12. The 82 endangered whales are fat and sleek, and several appear to be.
Seattle whale watching with puget sound express seattle. Elephant seals come ashore in winter for pupping season. Killer whale miscarriages linked to low food supply. The purpose of orca networks whale sighting network and education project is to encourage observation and increase awareness and knowledge about the southern resident community of orcas j, k and l pods, and foster a stewardship ethic to motivate a diverse audience to take action to protect and. So i, along with a few other visit seattle staff members, made my way about 20 minutes north to the port of edmonds for a morning excursion. Gray whale watching near seattle, washington island adventures. Cruise and whale watching excursion its early in the morning and as we stride onto the deck of the san juan clipper for our seattle gray whale watching trip, the crew happily. Puget sounds endangered killer whales continue decline this article is more than 5 years old number of whales drops to 78, a figure not seen since 1985, with two deaths this year and no new. Mark malleson the center for whale research and others will confirm that indeed all 82 wild orcas, of jkl pods came in. Species and food webs, mammals, marine habitat, implementation strategies, disease, killer whales, monitoring, species of concern, salish sea currents magazine. Our team of highly qualified crew set us apart from the competition.
Our 2017 season kicked off with decent weather, but excellent whale sightings. Orca numbers in decline the dorsal fin of one orca whale is seen as another swims behind in puget sound at sunset as seen from seattles west seattle neighborhood, oct. This past weekend marks the start of the gray whale migration to puget sound. Sometimes the action gets started before we even leave the dock as this bald eagle posed nicely. The 2017 whale watching season is underway puget sound. Whale watching in washington state orca whale watching in. While plenty of commercial tours will charter you around the sound, whale watching does not always require a boat. Still, the terrain is beautiful, there is other wildlife to experience we saw seals, a bald eagle, lots of cool jellyfish, some waterfowl, interesting seaweed and kelp and the majestic scenery is breathtaking.
Mar, 2017 this past weekend marks the start of the gray whale migration to puget sound. San juan island is where the southern resident killer whales live about six months out of the year, from midapril to october. See orcas, humpback whales, minkes, and all the majestic wildlife in the san juan islands departing just 15 minutes north of downtown seattle. Whale watch tours in the san juan islands island adventures. In a youtube video posted on may 22, the whale is first seen lunging up through a large school of fish. Puget sound whales for sale significantly succeeds the former blackfish in breadth and depth. Our 4hour whale watching cruise departs port townsend both in the morning 10am and in the afternoon 2. At this time of year in the pacific northwest the sun does not set until approximately 9. An insiders guide to seattle gray whale watching the. Best time to whale watch in seattle seattle forum tripadvisor. The long history of killer whale capture and captivity is coming to and end with the announcement that seaworld will no longer display these animals. Its the only halfday 45 hours, guaranteed whale watching trip in seattle. With cold water and plenty of prey like salmon to feed on, puget sound is the goto place for whale watching, meaning seattleites dont have to travel far to get a glimpse of these majestic mammals that call the sound their home.
Help washington state ferries track whales in puget sound with. In the past six months, tacoma residents who know what to look for out in the murky waters have seen a pod of orcas and a few humpback whales from a couple of locations in point defiance. The public can download the whalereport app and report sightings to commercial mariners within 10 nautical miles of the whales to help avoid. Get up close with the orca whales off the san juan islands near seattle on this 4hour whalewatching cruise. Gray whales return to the puget sound to feed along their 10,000mile journey from mexico to alaska. Puget sounds killer whales looking good the seattle times. Our 4 hour port townsend whale watching tour is the perfect trip for visitors and travelers with a busy schedule. The whale trail is a true collaboration that has its roots in a rare conservation success the successful return of the orphaned orca springer. Jan 03, 2017 granny, worlds oldest known puget sound orca whale, missing and presumed dead at 105. Upon arrival, we met up with pete, sherri, sarah, and christopher hankethe family that owns and operates all puget sound express tours. Orca population in puget sound falling with two new deaths this year and no new calves since 2012, the population of endangered killer whales in the puget sound continues to decline. Tours require a minimum of 15 passengers for departure. The san juan islands are considered the jewel of the pacific northwest, located in the puget sound.
Puget sound whale watchers accused of loving endangered. Soundwatch has been run by the whale museum twm during the whale watch season may through september in the haro strait region of. Jun 24, 2014 making liberal use of interviews, correspondence and newspaper accounts, as well as less intensive use of legislative, governmental, and nonprofit records, pollard constructs an easily digestible narrative for lay individuals curious about the hunting of puget sound s northern and southern resident killer whale groups between 1965 and 1976. In 2015 with support from dnr, cascadia conducted expanded dedicated surveys, photoid, initial tag deployments to examine feeding behavior, and. Were blessed to live in whats been called the american serengeti, with some of the highest concentration of whales and dolphins and sea life anywhere in the world including our totem species. Our guides and naturalists work to create educational, fun, and engaging tours that.
Whale watching faqs what is the best time of the year to see orca whales. Jun 12, 2017 a local drone operator captured footage of a humpback whale feeding in south puget sound. Officially known as west coast transients but increasingly referred to as biggs killer whales, these marine mammaleating orcas orcinus orca are spending increasing time in the salish sea to consume their marine mammal prey including harbor seals, steller sea lions, and harbor and dalls porpoise. Anglers can also stay up to date with regulations by downloading the fish washington mobile app on their smartphone. Theres nothing quite like seeing puget sounds largest and most. The charismatic killer whale, or orca, is the totem species of northwest washington and coastal british columbia. They really dont migrate through puget sound since puget sound is a dead end.
The vaccination program raises the possibility of using vaccines to prevent disease among puget sound s southern resident killer whales, but no specific steps have been taken so far. Puget sound san juan island yacht charters pacific. Whale watching from land whale watching is a favorite activity in and around puget sound. Granny, worlds oldest known puget sound orca whale. Puget sound express launches its seattle whale watching tours out of edmonds they also host whale watching trips out of port townsend, which is technically 18 miles from downtown. Hi everyone, please post about the 2016 season for puget sound, wa in this. Granny, worlds oldest known puget sound orca whale, missing and presumed dead at 105.
Each spring march, april, may provides one of the best whale watching opportunities in washington. This book is a wise addition to the storyline, telling us how it all. For puget soundarea residents, the right place in the winter is. While we have wonderful boat tours that give you a great perspective, sometimes the whales schedule doesnt exactly match tour schedules. We found a playful, active humpback on saturday, just north of saturna island in the canadian gulf islands, and sunday was orca whales lots and lots of orcas jpod on the west side of san juan island. Guaranteed whale watching tours from port townsend olympic peninsula and seattleedmonds direct to the san juan islands. Puget sound express familyrun whale watching tours.
Seattle, washington 98112 northwest fisheries science center. Gray whale psm 24093 the whale skeleton is an immature male gray whale that was found dead near the mouth of the columbia river near chinook, washington in march 1973. The best orca whale watching is from friday harbor, san juan island, just an easy day trip adventure from downtown seattle. Whale watching from land whidbey and camano islands. Anyone can do that by downloading the whale report app on a. Mar 25, 2017 gray whales return to the puget sound to feed along their 10,000mile journey from mexico to alaska. Island adventures holds the industrys highest success rate and was the first company to guarantee whale sightings on every tour.
Want an amazing whale watching experience, but dont have all day to spend on the water. Any boat within a halfmile of the whales must also reduce speed to 7 knots or less. Two decades ago, there were hundreds of killer whales and now barely 80. Statistics show that the the killer whale population in puget sound has worryingly declined. We head out towards the san juan islands, or to wherever the whales are on the red head, our comfortable and fast, 40seat tour boat.
See orcas, humpback whales, and all the majestic wildlife throughout the salish sea on our tour out of. A male gray whale that feasts on shrimp in the puget sound every year was spotted over the weekend, marking the start of an annual stay in washington state inland waters by a small but peculiar. Get up close with the orca whales off the san juan islands near seattle on this 4hour whale watching cruise. More than 20,000 gray whales migrate along the west coast each year. Three excellent options for puget sound whale watching or sea life viewing while in the seattle washington area. Three generations of our family have helped visitors have lifechanging experiences with some of the most majestic creatures on the planet. Why are grays and humpback whales returning to puget sound. See orcas, humpback whales, and all the majestic wildlife in. The marine habitat of puget sound can be divided up into nearshore, benthic associated with the sea floor, and pelagic open water habitats. San juan island 90 miles north of seattle is the best place for orca whale watching as we are located in the heart of salish sea. Seattle new technology could help ships and ferries navigate around.
Orca numbers in decline orcas in puget sound pictures. May 07, 2015 guaranteed whale watching tours from port townsend olympic peninsula and seattleedmonds direct to the san juan islands. Unfortunately sometimes literally, since a few end up washing up dead every year they migrate up the coast of the pacific ocean from mexico to the northern pacific and usually a few take a wrong turn and end up in puget sound for awhile. The best whale watching sites in puget sound you dont. Killer whale miscarriages linked to low food supply posted 07202016 by christopher dunagan new techniques for studying orcas have been credited with breakthroughs in reproductive and developmental research. A southern resident orca whale swims in puget sound in view of. At seattle orca whale watching in partnership with san juan safaris we take great pride in providing you with the best orca whale watching and wildlife tours in the pacific northwest. But gray whale season continues, so follow our orca network facebook page. When it comes to seeing whales, few, if any, think of tacoma and the viewpoints around point defiance park. Saving the southern resident orca center for biological. Sarah hank with the whale tour company puget sound express says the beloved whales are now in the puget sound, feeding. This intelligent, social predator is known to form lasting social bonds living in highly organized pods where everyone cares for the young, sick or injured.
Whales native to washington state include orca whales, gray whales and. Puget sound orcas getting a break from boaters at no. Page 1 of 3 puget sound, wa 2016 season posted in west coast. The metro area now has its firstever, halfday whale watching tour.
The jamal is an elegantly appointed 75foot luxury yacht skippered by a uscg licensed captain and certified crew who have over 25 years of experience together and puget sound is an amazing location to charter the jamal for just about any occasion. The 29 12 foot yearling female is confirmed to be the same individual sighted live in hammersley inlet on the 25th and. San juan island whale watching day trip from seattle, wa. To report whales please go to the orca network sightings report page, or email orca network. To get the whale home, we had to learn to work together across organizational and national boundaries. Gray whales return to puget sound for spring feeding. Yet, each year, our corner of wilderness along the puget sound has dozens of whale sightings. Restrictions on vessel traffic have helped keep more boaters farther from critically endangered southernresident killer whales, while not harming the whalewatch industry, a new study has found. Yesterday march 29th cascadia research and washington department of fish and wildlife marine mammal investigations, with assistance from sr3 and the mast center examined the humpback whale that was found dead in southern puget sound on tuesday. Puget sound orcas getting a break from boaters at no loss to whalewatch industry, study finds originally published december 25, 2017 at 6.
Take full advantage of whale watching season in the pacific northwest. Puget sound s orca episode 107 1m 1s susan bertha talks about the orca network and the efforts to enhance awareness of the southern resident orca killer whale community. Whale watching industry of greater puget sound a description and baseline analysis. Washington s 20192020 fishing regulations now available. Usually the peak whale watching season is may midjuly, however, it seems like the sightings are getting better and better as we get further into the summer season. The whaleplanner january a whale watching infographic whaletrips. Sarah hank with the whale tour company puget sound express says the. Results from examination of dead humpback whale in. From your own custom luxury vacation cruise and maybe a. She was slowly moving northwesterly up nisqually reach the last time i saw and heard himher at 5. Were blessed to live in whats been called the american. Fly back to seattle after the whale watch tour or stay the night and return the next day. In the winter, its total luck, said kari koski, who runs the boater education program for the whale museum in friday harbor.
A small group, known as the sounders, are drawn to the abundant ghost shrimp of puget sound where they feed before continuing on. North puget sound gray whale photoid and feeding study. The seattle metros only halfday whale watching tour. Puget sound, wa 2016 season west coast squid fishing. Resident gray whales return to puget sound the seattle times. The best whale watching sites in puget sound you dont need a. Puget sound orca advocates hail seaworlds decision to. Nov 09, 2015 its just another rainy day here in seattle, so what better way to enjoy it than searching for whales in puget sound. Puget sound, northwest straits, gulf islands and georgia strait sightings summaries archives sighting report.
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