SEATTLE (AP) — A group of orcas swam near the coastline and captivated spectators in Seattle by offering whale watchers the rare sight of the apex predators hunting a bird.
The pod of Bigg’s killer whales visited Elliott Bay and appeared to be hunting beneath the surface near Seattle’s maritime industrial docks. The pod left the bay near the West Seattle area opposite downtown, where people were gathered to see them.
Kersti Muul, who runs a WhatsApp whale alert system for the Seattle area called “ Salish Wildlife Watch,” recorded footage as the whales appeared just below a lookout point.
One of the whales was seen capturing a bird and taking it below water, provoking gasps from spectators.
It was “a once-in-a-lifetime experience for West Seattle. Not only in the whales’ proximity, but also witnessing a rarely seen behavior – chasing and catching the grebe,” Muul said in a text. “My eyes darted back and forth taking in the community’s reactions and the orcas right below our feet, visible underwater.”
Bigg’s killer whales, known as orcas, primarily hunt marine mammals like sea lions and porpoises. Occasionally, they visit the waters near Seattle, where both devoted and casual whale watchers follow them during their exploration. The pod observed on Sunday has entered the Seattle waters multiple times in the last month.
“It’s definitely a bonding experience for the community,” Muul said. “And my hope is always that these moments inspire awe and awareness of the urban wildlife in our backyards.”
