#ca163

[californiatransients]

4/3/19 - Emma’s pod, the CA140′s, return to Monterey Bay in preparation for the gray whale migration season.

Video by Monterey Bay Whale Watch

[southpoles]

California transients!

[cetuselena]

Lil Bee's sketch compared to the rest.

[thelonelywhale]

Some stippling practice with CA163 Liner!

[californiatransients]

4/3/18 - CA140′s traveling closely with CA180 and N25!

From front to back: CA163 Liner, N25, CA180, CA140 Emma, CA140B Louise.

Photo by Kara Hall with Monterey Bay Whale Watch

[californiatransients]

5/25/17 - From back to front: CA140B Louise, CA140B2 Little Bee, and CA163 Liner.

Photo by Michael Sack

[californiatransients]

4/1/17 - Emma’s pod, the CA140′s and CA163 Liner, make their return to Monterey Bay. Along with them was a new baby!! Congrats to CA140B on her second calf!

Photos by Daniel Bianchetta [x] [x]

[californiatransients]

Gray Whale Predation in Monterey!

Predation alert! Approximately 20-30 orcas made a kill on a gray whale yesterday in Monterey Bay, and continue to feed on the carcass today! Matrilines and individuals include the CA27′s, CA140′s (with CA163), CA20′s pod (presumably with CA54, CA177, and their offspring), and CA49B. Pictures and confirmed IDs are pending.

Additionally, two humpback whales appeared yesterday and today in an attempt to disrupt the feeding, but the orcas were generally unperturbed.

Gray whale hunts are highly important in CA transient orca culture, as they not only serve as a food source for many whales but as a social event as well. Gray whale kills will feed multiple pods for several days, and mothers will use the opportunity to teach their calves valuable hunting skills. Kills also feed other ocean scavengers, and ultimately nourish the ocean floor as the carcass sinks.

Updates on the event can be found on Monterey Bay Whale Watch’s Facebook page.