04/15/2025
We had a great encounter with Nielsen (T49C) the other day as he was swimming north near Smith Island. Nielsen is one of the most recognizable whales we regularly see around Orcas Island and throughout the San Juan Islands archipelago.
We identify orcas in a few different ways—primarily by their saddle patch markings, but also by physical characteristics like nicks, cuts, and scrapes, which can serve as unique identifiers. Take a look at Nielsen’s dorsal fin—can you spot the distinctive nick? #