L-Pod Welcomes a New Arrival!

Baby L-110 comes up for a peak at the world. L-103 (born in 2003) on the far left, and L-7 (born in 1961) in the center.

I'm absolutely over the moon to hear that the above baby orca was born two weeks ago to L-Pod, which is the pod of whales that I got to see when I was in Victoria. I am especially thrilled that he/she was born so close to when I saw his/her family off San Juan Island! The marine biologist identified the whale I saw, below, as "L-41/Mega", who was born in 1977. Maybe he's the new baby's father, cousin or uncle!!I think orcas are adorable; they always look like they are smiling, just like dolphins. Which isn't surprising since the orca whale is actually the largest member of the dolphin group. If you have a moment, check out the Center for Whale Research. http://www.whaleresearch.com/thecenter.html

FRIDAY HARBOR, Wash. -- The Center for Whale Research reports a baby orca whale, believed to be about two weeks old, has been sighted off San Juan Island.

The center's director of development and outreach director says the orca's birth was confirmed Sunday when the entire Southern Resident killer whale population swam in to look for food on the west side of San Juan Island on Sunday evening.

Kelley Balcom-Bartok says he was among researchers who went out in a 19-foot boat and saw the new whale.

The new birth puts the Southern Resident population -- the J, K and L pods -- at 87 whales. The new whale belongs to L pod, a family group.

Balcom-Bartok was among researchers who went out in a 19-foot boat and saw the new whale.
The new birth puts the southern resident population -- the J, K and L pods -- at 87 whales. The new whale belongs to L pod, a family group.

The gender of the baby is unknown, but researchers are confident its mother is L83, who was born July 27, 1990. The baby has been named L110.

Balcomb-Bartok said there are 43 orcas in L pod, 25 in J pod and 19 in K pod. The birth had been reported about two weeks ago by reliable observers along the southern coast of Vancouver Island, he said.

The resident orca pods returned to Puget Sound waters in July after being in the Pacific Ocean since late last year. L pod spent most of the winter off the West Coast. Members of K pod were spotted off San Francisco during the winter. J pod can be spotted in the Puget Sound area almost any time of year.