Orca tours Bremer Bay are currently departing as we enjoy the start of Autumn here in Western Australia with our oceans apex predators. It has been a change of season as we move out of the summertime into the cooler months and with this change we often observe the Orca varying their hunting areas and movements. It is an exciting time to observe these changes and watch for the first of our baleen whales who will soon start to make their arrival along our coastline in the weeks ahead. Today it was all about Alki and her family as they greeted us in The Patch on our arrival and moved consistently throughout the day. It was foraging time and we watched on as they methodically worked through the hunting grounds in search of their next meal. Gracie and Helen were keeping up with everyone well as these young calves learn from their mum all about the foraging patterns and locations Orca need to locate food in these waters.
Training takes many years for a young calf to understand the tactics, patterns and areas of the grounds they will work over their lifetime. Like any good fisherman they will become masters of their fishing grounds and this knowledge is passed down from one generation to the next. Matriarchs play a very important role in this process as they lead the family, instigating the hunt and foraging throughout each day. The family learn from them and it takes the entire pod to make a successful hunt and kill. Slater is growing so much and his dorsal fin is much more noticeable as he is now in his sprouting phase and is starting to fill out. Nani and Slater will both make for an impressive sight as the young males of this family pod still have much growing to do in the next few years ahead. Food was lacking today for the Orca but not for the plentiful tuna who were making the most of their baitfish foraging as they leapt clear of the ocean below. The winds started to roll in during the early afternoon as they ruffled the once calm surface but with the Steep Point moving efficiently we were back in the harbour before the wind front arrived. Our sleepy Australia Sea Lions were relaxing in the sun making the most of the warmth before the rain and wind arrives tomorrow.
