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Youth Area Watch - Killer Whale
Identification Cruisies
May 17-19,1999:
Youth Area Watch students had the opportunity
to accompany Craig Matkin of the North Gulf Oceanic
Society on one of his killer whale ID trips. Three
groups of students were scheduled to work with
Craig on three separate days as he began ID cruises
for 1999.
Craig Matkin and his
partner, Eva Saulitius have been keeping track of
the Prince William Sound killer whale population
for over 15 years. By photographing each whale's
dorsal fin and saddle patch, (the light area
immediately behind the dorsal fin) Craig and Eva
can identify each whale and match them up with
whales seen in previous years. Through this method,
(called "photoidentification" ) the team has been
able to maintain a highly accurate database of the
killer whale population.
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The three
day-long cruises originated from Seward
and whale sightings ranged from
Resurrection Bay to Rugged and Chiswell
Islands.
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On the first cruise, Seward Youth Area Watch
students were treated to about one hour of
interaction with a pod of three transient killer
whales designated AT2, AT3, and AT4. Students
learned that killer whales of the northern Gulf of
Alaska can be divided into two major groups. These
groups are referred to as "resident" and
"transient". Though the resident whales do have
smaller ranges than the transients, both groups
will roam over 500 mi. up and down the coastline.
The biggest difference between the groups seems to
be behavioral. The transient whales feed
exclusively on marine mammals while the residents
consume only fish. The transients tend to quietly
slink along shorelines in search of harbor seals
and porpoises. Anyone who observes them for a
period of time can tell that they are on the hunt.
The resident whales travel in larger groups and
vocalize often. They churn the ocean into a froth
as they lunge in pursuit of fat salmon.
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Thankfully, the
three transients that we encountered on
the first day hung around long enough for
Craig and Eva to identify them and get
photographs for their records. About one
hour after we first sighted them, AT2,
AT3, and AT4 disappeared to continue their
hunt.
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Students from Tatitlek, Nanwalek and Seldovia were
scheduled to spend the second day out on the boat
with Craig and Eva but a dense low ceiling
prevented their arrival by light plane. This was
especially frustrating for those of us on the
ground as the sea was calm and inviting that
day.
On the third day, the
weather cleared and students from Whittier, Chenega
Bay and Valdez arrived to accompany us on another
adventurous day. We set out at about 8:45 on the
morning of the 19th and soon we encountered the
same three transients that we had seen two days
before. We shadowed them for a while and then
headed out toward the gulf to track down reports of
a pod of resident whales there. After about an hour
of searching, we found what would be identified as
the AD resident pod.
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This group of
whales was spread out over several square
miles catching early king salmon. We spent
the rest of the morning and part of the
afternoon traveling from whale to whale
getting ID photographs and periodically
stopping to listen to their vocalizations
with a hydrophone.
The group had the
opportunity to see transient as well as
resident whales in the same day. Many
students commented on the marked
differences in behavior between the two
groups. Craig was able to take advantage
of the teaching opportunity to explain
some of what is known about the two
different groups. Through genetics work,
they have been able to determine that the
residents and the transient whales have
not interbred for thousands of years. They
seem to be distinct populations that
inhabit the same waters.
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At the end of the
day students were treated to the rare
sight of the entire pod grouped up and
traveling together. OOO'S and AHHH'S were
the norm as a dozen or more killer whales
repeatedly surfaced for air off our
starboard side. It was a fitting end to a
spectacular three days with two of the
premiere killer whale biologists in the
world.
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It should be noted that this project is
conducted by trained biologists. They have years of
experience with these animals, and a special
permit. It is unlawful to approach within 100
yards, or to pursue killer whales in any
fashion.
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