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<< Previous   of   Next >> (click to enlarge) Mokika Wieland is the author of "Orca Encounters: Images of Southern Resident Killer Whales." Wieland is scheduled to talk about orcas at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Everett Public Library auditorium, 2702 Hoyt Ave. Monika Wieland  (click to enlarge) A J-Pod whale's tail slaps in Haro Strait off the west side of San Juan Island.   ADVERTISEMENT   Listen to the orcas Vocalizing of three local orca pods. The pods have a total of about 25 call types in their repertories. Each pod uses a distinct subset of those calls. Recorded in summer 2007 off of San Juan Island.   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Tuesday, April 1, 2008 Feeding the fascination for orcas Orca authority Monika Wieland will speak Wednesday about the popular whale. By David Chircop Herald Writer Monika Wieland's facination with orcas was sparked during a family trip to Alaska when she was 12. A year ago, the 2007 graduate of Reed College in Portland, Ore., published her first book, "Orca Encounters: Images of Southern Resident Killer Whales." She is scheduled Wednesday to sign copies of her book and narrate a slideshow on the giant marine mammals at Everett Public Library. She plans to talk about what makes local orcas so revered and to share stories of recent research and sighting. Question: What's the average life expectancy, weight, length and range of travel? Answer: Males generally live into their 30s, and females several decades longer. The oldest females in the local population are estimated to be in their mid-90s. Females weigh 4 to 6 tons, and males 6 to 8 tons. Females are 20 to 25 feet long, and males 25 to 30 feet long. These whales can travel up to 100 miles in a day. Their range extends north from the Queen Charlotte Islands all the way down to central California, with their core summer range centering around the San Juan Islands. Question: What do they primarily feed on? Answer: The local orcas eat salmon almost exclusively. Question: What are some common orca myths? Answer: Orcas, also known as killer whales, often get the reputation for being the ferocious, terrifying predators of the sea. Many people believe that all orcas will grab seals off the beach as seen on nature documentaries, or fear that they will attack humans. It comes as a surprise to many that our local orcas are fish eaters. Just because they're eating salmon doesn't mean their hunting prowess isn't extraordinary, however. Question: How many calls do they have? Answer: The three local pods have a total of about 25 call types in their repertoire, with each pod using a distinct subset of those calls. Question: Why is San Juan Island such a good place to observe orcas? Answer: During the summer months, the orcas are feeding on salmon that are heading to spawn along the Fraser River near Vancouver, B.C. This means they spend a lot of their time traveling and foraging in Haro Strait off the west side of San Juan Island. This makes for excellent opportunities to view the whales either by boat or from shore. Question: What's the current condition of Washington's orca population? Answer: The Southern resident community of killer whales was listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act in 2005. Question: What is the biggest threat to these mammals? Answer: Declining salmon stocks and toxins in the water. Question: What are a few good resources where people can learn more about the whales? Answer: The Whale Museum in Friday Harbor on San Juan Island provides a lot of information on the local whales. Orca Network (www.orcanetwork.org) also provides a lot of up-to-date information on its Web site as well as an e-mail listserv where anyone can get e-mail updates on sightings or report sightings of their own. 'Thar they blow' Multimedia: to hear orca calls, go to the online version of this story at www.heraldnet.com. Event: "Orca Encounters" book signing and slide show When: 7 p.m. Wednesday Where: Everett Public Library, 2702 Hoyt Ave. Cost: Free

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