An uncommonly large grouping of killer whales for Northern California—roughly two dozen killer whales--were spotted by a whale watching tour off the coast of San Francisco last month, likely to gather together to celebrate a successful hunt for sea lions or seals.
“It was really, really special,” Michael Pierson, an Oceanic Society naturalist leading the tour, said in an interview Wednesday.
The big group of whales was seen on May 7 near the Farallon Islands, about 28 miles west of San Francisco. Killer whales are more commonly found around the deep ocean canyon beneath Monterey Bay--about 75 miles south of the city--and can be spotted anywhere from the coastline to just 5 miles off shore, according to Nancy Black, a marine biologist and owner of Monterey Bay Whale Watch. It’s easier for whale-watching tours to see them in Monterey Bay because the canyon is so close to the beach, while the Farallon Islands require a miles-long boat ride from San Francisco, and the water still may not be deep enough there, Black said.
The Oceanic Society regularly does tours to the Farallon Islands--which include collecting data for scientists and conservationists--and spring is a migration season. Pierson and the boat’s captain, Jared Davis, decided to try a different route on May 7 to head out over deeper water. When spotted during Farallon Islands tours, killer whales are usually in a family group of three to six whales. They typically range from Baja California up the West Coast and Canada to Alaska. Last month, however, the tour came across several family groups gathering together, for a total of 20 to 24. They were likely near the islands because it’s where pregnant sea lions and seals give birth this time of year.
While the adult males, with their distinctive 6 feet-tall (2-meter) dorsal fins (背鳍), were “definitely a showstopper,” Pierson said the mothers and their calves were also a big hit.
【小题1】Where can killer whales most frequently be seen?| A．28 miles west of San Francisco. | B．75 miles south of Monterey Bay. |
| C．5 miles off the shore of San Francisco. | D．Close to Monterey Bay around the deep canyon. |
| A．By following the typical migration path of killer whales. |
| B．By checking on regular Farallon Islands tours. |
| C．By attempting an unusual course to deep waters. |
| D．By tracing pregnant sea lions and seals. |
| A．The scenes of male whales are impressive. |
| B．The show is completely stopped by male whales. |
| C．Female whales are not as distinctive as male whales. |
| D．Mother and calf whales are suddenly hit by male whales. |
| A．A Significant Discovery on Killer Whales. |
| B．A Precious Tour to Observe Killer Whales. |
| C．A Rare Scene of Large Groups of Killer Whales. |
| D．A Successful Hunt on Sea Lions by Killer Whales. |
