Who is That Killer Whale?

Title page of Pacific Search Magazine “Who is that Whale?” article on the orca pods of the Salish Sea

A lot of my work with collectors involves sifting through magazines. In the case of this yellowed 1977 Pacific Search magazine (a nature-oriented magazine about the Pacific Northwest that was published in the 1970's and 80's), it featured the Salish Sea’s famous orcas on the cover. The photos were taken and the article co-written by legendary whale researcher Dr. Ken Balcomb who founded the Center for Whale Research in 1976. Flipping through the magazine, an unforgettable experience immediately came to mind: spending the day with these whales.

Gallery of orca dorsal fins with identifying features annotated

In the 80's my sister, Dad, Ken and I went out to the waters off San Juan Island in a small boat to see the whales--Ken was doing his regular recording of whale activity and we joined him. I think we even skipped school to do this. (My dad and Ken wrote a book together, which is another story). Ken has since passed away but left a profound mark on whale science globally and in this part of the world. Northwesterners are proud and protective of our special killer whales.

I included a card with the magazine when I sent it to the Center for Whale Research for their archive: “That day is one of my most treasured memories; Ken was the whale whisperer and the whole of J pod seemed to come out to see him.”