A Note from Your Conservation Chair
By Jeremy Lucas
Jeremy Lucas, Conservation Chair of Eastside Audubon
Since 2007, June has been celebrated as the month of the Orca in Washington State. Governor Christine Gregoire first designated June as Orca Awareness Month. In 2019, the month was renamed Orca Action Month. We knew then that the population of salmon-eating orcas in Washington State waters, known as Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW) needed help to survive as a distinct population.
In 2007, the total number of individuals in the SRKW population was 87. In 2019, the official number was down to 73 (https://www.whaleresearch.com/orca-population). The 2020 count should be released in July. What are our lessons learned here?
Like many people, my first real exposure to killer whales was in movies and going to Sea World. Watching these animals perform tricks in captivity was one of the highlights of my childhood. It was not until high school when I was exposed to the challenges SRKW faced, and the problems caused by environmental degradation in general.
Of the many challenges that face the SRKW population, finding the right food source is one of the most pressing. This population of killer whales overwhelmingly favors salmon as a source of food. More specifically, they target Chinook salmon, which makes up at least 80% of their diet. Unfortunately, Chinook salmon in Washington State are in trouble. A 2018 report found that Puget Sound Chinook salmon runs are generally in decline (https://stateofsalmon.wa.gov/exec-summary/).
The news is not all bad, however. First, it is important to remember that there still is a population of SRKWs out there that can be saved. They will need our help if they are to rebound and overcome the threat of extinction. In honor of Orca Action Month, I would like to ask all of you to become advocates for the orcas. I would encourage everyone to visit our friends at Orca Network to learn how you can help as individuals. As you bird in marine areas, please report any whale sighting by calling 866-ORCANET or email info@orcanetwork.org. I would also ask our members to challenge Eastside Audubon on how we can do more to speak out for salmon recovery, which will help feed our orcas.
Happy belated Orca Action Month to everyone. Even though June is over, we still have time to act and save these magnificent animals.