Rogues Blog #11:
Beginning in 1970 the pioneer in orca research, the late Dr. Michael Bigg, began what would become by far the most important tool in field research on killer whales - photographic identification of individuals. He named the "stable" groups, known as pods, residents... and those "ratty little groups" (as Bigg called them) "transiting" the area as transients. The former eat fish, the latter eat mammals.
Last week Ruffles - the whale believed believed to be the oldest male orca among the resident J, K, and L pods (Puget Bay and surrounding area) - went missing and is believed dead. Researchers believe he was about sixty years old. A sad day! Here's a link to a video of Ruffles: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJHA79h__QM
No estimate of his size was given, though most males are in the 4-6 ton range. The rogue killer whales in "Rogues" are 20x that size... and they're coming your way!
On a separate note... if you haven't seen the documentary "I AM" I highly recommend it... incredible film. Here's a link: http://iamthedoc.com/
Until next week...
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Rocks of Ages...
Rogues Blog #10:
The photo below doesn't do justice to literally thousands of works of art (in my opinion) which wash up every day on the shores of the Salish Sea (Strait of Juan de Fuca) - rocks of all shapes and sizes with marvelous colors, texture, and character. Running to nearby North Beach several times each week, I have accumulated quite a collection for my writing retreat in Port Townsend (who says it never snows here?). North Beach, by the way, is the setting for the chaotic finale to "Rogues."
The photo below doesn't do justice to literally thousands of works of art (in my opinion) which wash up every day on the shores of the Salish Sea (Strait of Juan de Fuca) - rocks of all shapes and sizes with marvelous colors, texture, and character. Running to nearby North Beach several times each week, I have accumulated quite a collection for my writing retreat in Port Townsend (who says it never snows here?). North Beach, by the way, is the setting for the chaotic finale to "Rogues."
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| North Beach - Port Townsend |
Sunday, March 6, 2011
How Do You Capture A 6-Ton Killer Whale...
Rogues Blog #9:
... well, legally you don't. And that's a good thing! But in "Rogues" a conniving, "greed-is-good" billionaire (Mitchell Chandler) blackmails a feisty commercial fisherman (Zora Flame) to do just that. And what kind of vessel does it take? I found precisely the boat for the job at Platypus Marine in Port Angeles, a 45-minute drive west of Port Townsend. She's a 58' Delta seiner which boat guru - and columnist for "Peninsula Daily News" - David Sellars explained might be the toughest boat on the water. "Bullet proof" he called her. David has been extremely helpful in explaining to this landlubber the ins and outs of boating. That's him in the picture with Platypus's Dan O'Keefe during a tour they gave me of the facility. Impressive place! The middle pic is of the big seiner (rigged with seine nets, thus the name), and as you can see they are like icebergs: a lot more below surface than above. So Zora leases a seiner like the one below and the adventure begins. The other vessel pictured was once owned by a struggling entrepreneur named Aristotle Onassis. Zora/Zorba? Hmmm...
... well, legally you don't. And that's a good thing! But in "Rogues" a conniving, "greed-is-good" billionaire (Mitchell Chandler) blackmails a feisty commercial fisherman (Zora Flame) to do just that. And what kind of vessel does it take? I found precisely the boat for the job at Platypus Marine in Port Angeles, a 45-minute drive west of Port Townsend. She's a 58' Delta seiner which boat guru - and columnist for "Peninsula Daily News" - David Sellars explained might be the toughest boat on the water. "Bullet proof" he called her. David has been extremely helpful in explaining to this landlubber the ins and outs of boating. That's him in the picture with Platypus's Dan O'Keefe during a tour they gave me of the facility. Impressive place! The middle pic is of the big seiner (rigged with seine nets, thus the name), and as you can see they are like icebergs: a lot more below surface than above. So Zora leases a seiner like the one below and the adventure begins. The other vessel pictured was once owned by a struggling entrepreneur named Aristotle Onassis. Zora/Zorba? Hmmm...
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| Dan O'Keefe and David Sellars |
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| Northwind |
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| 58' Delta seiner |
Sunday, February 27, 2011
The Shed Boys...
Rogues Blog #8:
The story is told of a group of slow-talking singer-songwriters who drifted into Port Townsend awhile back from parts unknown (west Texas some say). These good ole boys were full of piss and vinegar and when they weren't jammin' on street corners for nickels and dimes they were out courting rich, lonely old widows. A few of the wealthier ladies opened their homes, their bedrooms, and eventually their bank books to these crooning rascals. They became known as "The Shed Boys"... and legend has it they're still around, perhaps hanging out at the Better Living Through Coffee Coffeehouse like the group of pickers pictured below. In "Rogues" one of these rapscallions - wearing his "Love A Curmudgeon" t-shirt - has his world rocked when the heroes of the book (five, 100-ton killer whales) make an appearance in Port Townsend Bay (fifty feet from the window). And the Best Picture Oscar goes to... "The King's Speech."
The story is told of a group of slow-talking singer-songwriters who drifted into Port Townsend awhile back from parts unknown (west Texas some say). These good ole boys were full of piss and vinegar and when they weren't jammin' on street corners for nickels and dimes they were out courting rich, lonely old widows. A few of the wealthier ladies opened their homes, their bedrooms, and eventually their bank books to these crooning rascals. They became known as "The Shed Boys"... and legend has it they're still around, perhaps hanging out at the Better Living Through Coffee Coffeehouse like the group of pickers pictured below. In "Rogues" one of these rapscallions - wearing his "Love A Curmudgeon" t-shirt - has his world rocked when the heroes of the book (five, 100-ton killer whales) make an appearance in Port Townsend Bay (fifty feet from the window). And the Best Picture Oscar goes to... "The King's Speech."
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Memory's Vault...
Rogues Blog #7:
Fort Worden State Park is 443-acres of fir trees, winding trails, and long abandoned concrete artillery batteries with spectacular views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Named after Admiral John L. Worden, Commander of the Monitor in its Civil War battle against the Merrimac, the former Army post is now a popular recreation, artistic, and educational retreat. One section of the park - Memory's Vault - features poems by Sam Hamill... moving tributes to nature and the beautiful surroundings. My favorite is below. Alas it was the last poem Marine Biologist Katrina Kincaid would read in "Rogues."
Fort Worden State Park is 443-acres of fir trees, winding trails, and long abandoned concrete artillery batteries with spectacular views of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Named after Admiral John L. Worden, Commander of the Monitor in its Civil War battle against the Merrimac, the former Army post is now a popular recreation, artistic, and educational retreat. One section of the park - Memory's Vault - features poems by Sam Hamill... moving tributes to nature and the beautiful surroundings. My favorite is below. Alas it was the last poem Marine Biologist Katrina Kincaid would read in "Rogues."
"Black March Eclogue"
Although it is midsummer,
the great blue heron
holds the darkest winter in its hunched shoulders,
those blue-turning-gray clouds
rising over him
like a storm from the Pacific.
He stands alone in the black marsh
more monument than bird.
He watches the heart of things
and does not move or speak.
But when at last he flies,
his great wings cover the darkening sky,
and slowly,
as though praying,
he lifts
almost motionless
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| View of Mt. Baker from Fort Worden |
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| More Hamill at Memory's Vault |
Sunday, February 13, 2011
A Killer Called Hope...
Rogues Blog #6:
In 2002, the body of a female orca was found stranded on the North Olympic Peninsula in Washington State. Just offshore, a healthy, young male hovered close by, refusing gentle attempts to guide him into safer deep water. Although the male was saved, it was soon discovered that the female's body carried one of the highest loads of toxic chemicals ever tested, far outside the usual levels found. These were PCBs (lab created chemicals) and DDTs (first developed as pesticides).
The full skeleton of this magnificent 22 foot, 8,200 pound killer whale was dug up from a farmer's field recently and is currently being assembled at the Port Townsend Marine Science Center (where "Rogues" marine biologist Katrina Kincaid works), including 159 bones and the upper and lower jaws containing 22 and 24 conical teeth respectively. Students named her Hope. She is one of only five orca skeletons on display in the U.S. See pics below. Unfortunately, these high levels of pollution are happening in oceans around the world.
Learn... get involved in saving the oceans!
In 2002, the body of a female orca was found stranded on the North Olympic Peninsula in Washington State. Just offshore, a healthy, young male hovered close by, refusing gentle attempts to guide him into safer deep water. Although the male was saved, it was soon discovered that the female's body carried one of the highest loads of toxic chemicals ever tested, far outside the usual levels found. These were PCBs (lab created chemicals) and DDTs (first developed as pesticides).
The full skeleton of this magnificent 22 foot, 8,200 pound killer whale was dug up from a farmer's field recently and is currently being assembled at the Port Townsend Marine Science Center (where "Rogues" marine biologist Katrina Kincaid works), including 159 bones and the upper and lower jaws containing 22 and 24 conical teeth respectively. Students named her Hope. She is one of only five orca skeletons on display in the U.S. See pics below. Unfortunately, these high levels of pollution are happening in oceans around the world.
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| The Killer Whale Called Hope |
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| Hope's body loaded on flatbed |
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| Hope's lower jaw |
Sunday, February 6, 2011
A Proud and Ancient People...
Rogues Blog #5:
A few weeks ago I had the privilege of meeting several members of the Makah Tribe in Neah Bay, WA. The small fishing town sits on the western edge of the Olympic Peninsula bordered by the magnificent Strait of Juan de Fuca and the vast Pacific Ocean. Two characters in the book - Houdini and his sage The Old One - are Makah so it was great to see the village first hand and visit the Makah Museum, where elders June Williams and Kirk Wachendorf generously gave me a private tour. It's a fascinating culture!
This is a proud people who have lived on this land for 4,500 years, yet like all other Native peoples their lives were thrown into chaos by white settlers and the U.S. government. They have never recovered from that travesty. If you're interested in a fascinating learning experience, here's a link to the Makah website: http://www.makah.com/history.html
One interesting sidebar: I met a Makah fisherman, Dan Greene (in red below), who introduced me to his son (the little guy) and two crew members, all named Dan. Why? When they were given Anglo names it's the one they all liked the best. Go figure! Go Packers!
A few weeks ago I had the privilege of meeting several members of the Makah Tribe in Neah Bay, WA. The small fishing town sits on the western edge of the Olympic Peninsula bordered by the magnificent Strait of Juan de Fuca and the vast Pacific Ocean. Two characters in the book - Houdini and his sage The Old One - are Makah so it was great to see the village first hand and visit the Makah Museum, where elders June Williams and Kirk Wachendorf generously gave me a private tour. It's a fascinating culture!
This is a proud people who have lived on this land for 4,500 years, yet like all other Native peoples their lives were thrown into chaos by white settlers and the U.S. government. They have never recovered from that travesty. If you're interested in a fascinating learning experience, here's a link to the Makah website: http://www.makah.com/history.html
One interesting sidebar: I met a Makah fisherman, Dan Greene (in red below), who introduced me to his son (the little guy) and two crew members, all named Dan. Why? When they were given Anglo names it's the one they all liked the best. Go figure! Go Packers!
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| Four Guys Named Dan |
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| Skeleton of 30 ton gray whale in Museum |
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| June and Kirk |
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