SR3’s Dr. Holly Fearnbach and Dr. John Durban from Southall Environmental Associates (SEA) have had an extremely successful year of aerial photogrammetry, producing quantitative health metrics on two killer whale populations in the Salish Sea: endangered Southern Resident killer whales (SRKWs) and Bigg’s transient killer whales. The team uses a remotely controlled octocopter drone to collect high resolution images that are analyzed to measure size and track the body condition of individuals.
Aerial image of an adult female (J35) with her newborn calf (J57) from the endangered Southern Resident killer whale population. This image was collected in October 2020 using a remotely-piloted octocopter drone that was flown >100ft above the whales under NMFS Research Permit #19091.
In 2020, Holly and John extended their research efforts to include monitoring throughout the year, in an effort to provide greater resolution on if and when body condition changes. This is especially important for informing management decisions that aim to ensure adequate access to the SRKW’s primary prey, Chinook salmon, throughout the year.
The team was able to collect aerial images of 70/74 SRKWs known to be alive in the population and 35 individual Bigg’s killer whales. A number of SRKW females were identified as being pregnant, based on measurements of body profiles, and two of these whales successfully gave birth in September (see photos of both moms, J35 and J41, with their new calves right and below). These data extend a 13-year time series of health research to support recovery management of SRKWs and to compare their health to the increasing population of Bigg’s killer whales.
Aerial image of an adult female (J41) with her newborn calf (J58) from the endangered Southern Resident killer whale population. This image was collected in October 2020 using a remotely-piloted octocopter drone that was flown >100ft above the whales under NMFS Research Permit #19091.