Sometimes I just get this feeling, this feeling that I’m supposed to be somewhere. I had been thinking about going on a boat tour of the park on my day off for a while, but rain seemed to be chasing me. Last Wednesday I got that feeling, the feeling that I should go on a boat tour, even though rain was forecasted (a bad thing for me, with all my camera gear and being prone to sea sickness).
I have been fascinated with Orcas since I can remember, and have taken an interest on reading up on research and keeping up with films made on them. Until now, films were my only outlet to see these creatures. But when I boarded the ship, I talked to my KEFJ ranger Friend Deb, and she shared that there had been reports of Orcas all the way in Resurrection Bay. I got excited, but tried to keep my cool. You never know with wildlife, they could move out at any second. When the captain started to change her pre-planned route, I knew we were heading in. And it was more than I could have ever imagined.
I was dumbfounded with an hour and a half of Orcas. We saw a very rare beahavior, only one family group is known to do it here- scratching of bellies on the shallow shoreline pebbles. Then continue to watch the group as they slapped their tails (a fishing tactic perhaps, maybe a form of communication?) and met up in the sunset of Ressurection Bay. A large male breached not only once, but twice in the setting sun in front of our eyes. I can not be more thankful for such an incredible first wild encounter with the animals I have admired for so long. I hope you all get to see them in all their glory one day, because it very well might change you.
Kaiti Grant 