Siesta time with the Northern Residents

It was Siesta time on the water today as a large pod of Northern Resident Orca spent the afternoon snoozing as they slowly traveled along the shores of Malcolm Island. One of our guests described the behaviour as sleep walking which seemed to fit perfectly.

While the whale sleeps, one part of their brain rests while the other stays awake in order for them to be able to breathe. Imagine not being able to slip into an unconscious deep sleep like us humans can. Often the large male orca is on the outside of the resting line keeping the younger animals safe. They don’t have a bedroom to slip into or a blanket to wrap around them so instead they surround themselves with their family.

Other sightings that thrilled our guests today was a look at the huge fluke of a deep diving Humpback whale. An Osprey was seen flying from one side of the Plumper Islands to the other, its flashy white wings beating gently under the rich blue backdrop of sky.
A river otter was sighted, swimming up an entrance to a nearby stream, as we drifted silently passed. Throughout our day we witnessed Bald Eagles sitting on tops of tall cedars, like stars and ornaments atop of Christmas trees. They truly appear to be the ‘king of the mountains’ as their presence is powerful. We caught a glimpse of the juvenile bald eagle sitting up on the edge of the nest. It flapped its wings vigorously, practising for the time when it will fledge and fly for the first time.

The day was chockablock full of exciting encounters, all appreciated and enjoyed by our local guests who were visiting from down island, some of them experiencing the splendid North Island for the first time