On May 8, 2023, I witnessed a large pod of orcas during a predation event here on the Oregon Coast. The footage of the group of killer whales attacking a mother gray whale and its calf is intense, so please be advised.
I feel the mama whale's loss for her baby. It was gut wrenching to watch but it is nature's way. You portrayed it with empathy and awe. Thank you for sharing.
As a photographer I feel your bittersweet moment. It is heartwarming to see a mother have a strong instinct rule her actions. Your dialogue is heart wrenching! Thank you for sharing a difficult moment. You were right to post this. You gave warning to not watch if one didn't want to see it. Great job as a photographer to convey a time so few of us ever see.
@@iamjakz This is both heartwrenching and heartwarming at the same time. I can only imagine your internal conflict of feeling both lucky and unlucky to witness this event. Your commentary is spot on. Thank you so much for sharing.
@@bits-of-bass thank you! I have had so many conflicting emotions over this, but as difficult as it was to witness and then produce this video, I’m grateful I had the opportunity.
@@manrodstrupe7312 its a shame that your mother didnt guard you like this wale cos clearly you have been droped on the head and banged the floor.several times
A sincere thank you for sharing this. It concerns me that people would question the decision to share something like this. Sheltering people from the realities of the world does not do them any favors in the long run... Thank you very much for your very eloquent explanation as well
You are correct. This is “the circle of life”. It’s always hard to watch especially when it’s violent. You did a wonderful job. (National Geographic needs to get you to do their narration. 😉)
@@anthonymercado8126 when you figure that out, you let me know. My father is fighting lung cancer and is the best man I’ve ever known. Anything that is “born” will die. And that’s all I will say about your reply.
Wonderful work, Jakz. Astonishing photography and thoughtful commentary. Thank you for sharing this to help people understand the complex and intricate web of life in the ocean.
Good Job‼️🤩 This is award winning nature film material. When I was your age we rarely saw whales and orcas were a myth. The rebound in marine mammals since hunting them is illegal allows us to witness and be in awe of nature. At 67 this is the first year I’ve seen orcas in my home town, swimming in and out of Yaquina bay
Thank you! It’s been incredible to see the orcas on our coast recently! I was able to photograph them from the jetty in March when they came into Yaquina bay. Such a privilege to see them here!
I saw a similar event about twenty five miles out at sea several years ago. At the time I couldn't really believe my eyes. Seeing your drone footage really tied it together . Great video. I love the way you bring emotion into what you were seeing but still stay objective.
Thank you for sharing...I know it is bitter sweet. The ocean is a beautiful place, and your video brings knowledge and understanding to the world around us. Thank you for filming, thank you for sharing, and thank you for your honest reaction.
From one Oregonian to another, *Thank you* for sharing and especially for narrating your video so articulately and compassionately. You totally got me when you said (and the way you said) “It’s our world.” You said it in the same spirit the whale mother surely negotiated her experience: in the fullness of love and tragedy. Wonder-ful!
As sooo many have already said, as I feel the exact same - thank you for sharing this.... as hard as it is to watch, I am grateful to have seen it. As a mother myself, my heart aches so intensely for this Mom. She really didn't stand a chance, but the exceptional intelligence of this pod of Orca is really something to behold. The Killer Whale has been my favorite animal since before I can remember, according to my Mom. I'm curious @Jakz did you hear of the Orca that carried and pushed her dead calf for two and a half weeks and more than 1600 kilometers. Even more remarkable, when Mom was exhausted other members of her pod stepped in to carry the baby so she could rest. That.....THAT IS WHAT FAMILY IS ABOUT, RIGHT THERE! Us humans could take a lesson or ten from the other animals around us. The calf was born alive and appeared "healthy" at the time of its birth. It appeared to have passed away several days after birth. Thanks again for posting. ❤
Thank you for taking time to watch this and be able to see the good in it, despite how painful the footage is. I did see the story if the mother orca with her deceased little one. It broke my heart, and helped me to keep a different perspective even as I filmed this. They may be predators, but they are also caring members of families who feel grief, too.
Thank you for your beautiful insight and perspective of this incredible footage. My young daughter is focused on marine biology and marine conservation. I can share this with her and I'm grateful to you .
Tragic? For the mother whale, for sure. For the Orcas, not so much. Thank you for sharing this amazing footage. It's important for people to understand nature as best we can. It's not cruel, unforgiving, maybe. Amazing, absolutely.
Wow, what a phenomenol video you made. Your narration was perfect, not too excited, not too maudlin, personal but to the point. Amazing footage and you were chosen to be there at that moment, capture it, and share it. You are so lucky! Orcas are my favorite and I will one day see them either up where you are or in Iceland or Norway. Thank you so much!
Witnessed similar instance like this surfing the south coast of oregon .when a pod of orcas were hunting sealions . When you put your head under water you could hear them all communicating during the attack. Thank you for sharing your experience . Cheers
I had heard whales were having problems, in other parts of the world, coming from the BC coast, I thank you for documenting. Mother's love does reach more than humans. We are connected.
I love this- sad and heart-wrenching as it is. Love, empathy, loyalty, sorrow, a mothers love are emotions we share with the other creatures that inhabit our world with us. We are not the only ones capable of complex and beautiful emotions. I loved your narration. National Geographic should pick you up girl!
I think the creatures around us deserve far more credit than we give them. Thank you for your kind words, working with National Geographic would be an absolute dream come true.
Working for NatGeo would be disgusting, unless you like hiding and manipulating the research and findings. Well, most people don't care any more for honesty and truth so maybe you guys would be very happy at NG. I prefer what RU-vidrs post than many NG videos.
so well presented. you managed to communicate the bitter sweet event that was unfolding in front of you with alot of open heartedness. thank you for posting..
What a wonderful Soul you are! Outstanding presentation and footage! Truly World Class! May Spirit and the Universe provide your needs and pave your way to reach the masses! Very well done young Lady!
I’m so sad! Incredible footage yes. But tragic for the gray mom and baby. How she fought to try to save her baby and didn’t want to leave it to be torn apart!
Jakz…….The footage is stunning. It shows nature taking it’s true course. The compassion you showed when speaking on the issue is real & you can hear it in your voice. Thank you for sharing this with all of us. Stay safe & God bless.
The circle of life is tough to watch sometimes. But that's life, it happens everyday on different levels. Great job on the video, the footage and editing was great. Thank you for sharing.
Wow, quite possibly the best film and documentation I've ever seen and heard. Your words and observations are so well articulated. Very heart felt. Your connection to this world is evident and intense, also gentle and loving. You deserve an award-winning acknowledgment from the world itself. You have a gift. You are a gift!!! As is this world. You are connected. Rare. Stay blessed! and Thank You
Thank You for Sharing. If you pay attention when encountering nature - even outside your door in the city - so so many creatures demonstrate love for their young. Your understanding and sensitivity explaining this event is spot on. Thank you again.
I fully agree, the most common of creatures around us demonstrate love continually. We just have to be willing to see it! I see this with my crow friend and its family daily. Thank you for taking time to view my story.
you did a fine job relating a heartfelt story young lady, it is incredible to watch as well as saddening, you have a good soul and I thank you for sharing your experience
Years ago, I just missed seeing a pod of Orcas that were ripping apart a baby whale calf. You could see lot of blood in the water. My heart sank. I kow that it is the cycle of life but I have always loved and have been fascinated by the gray whales. The video footage you got shows exactly how those Orcas hunt,
Thank you for sharing this tragically beautiful moment in time. As an Oregon native I can remember going out on my grandpa's boat just to see the whales and basking sharks or to catch crab. Those are some of my best memories. That was out of Newport, Oregon 5 decades ago. It was the commercial boat THE DEB DEB
Great footage I can’t imagine the motions you was going through catching that. I just got my first sighting with my drone and I am blown away by it. Nothing like yours but still feels good.great job.
thank you so much, your presentation of this video was fantastic, such a powerful event that hopefully increases our understanding of them. full marks to you. I was out of Depot Bay/Fogarty Creek on my kayak for 4+ hours fishing on May 11 and I had been hoping to see some of the Orcas, my role being that of a quiet, peaceful visitor to their home, but it sounds like they were seen north of there that day.
You may want to rethink that based upon 3 news videos I viewed on 5-25 about apparently there is a small school of orcas acting as a team off the coast of Spain that have been positively identified purposely attacking and in fact being responsible for sinking some sizeable vessels. The marine community is scratching their heads trying to get a handle on exactly why this is taking place. In the end, even though the brain of an orca is the only brain on earth larger than a human brain, they're still a wild animal and can be totally unpredictable and need to be handled with complete caution and respect for the power. Not a time to be impulsive or foolish, you usually don't get a second chance.
@@barryludwikowski989 nope, not something that I have any concern about, I'll continue to fish off the coast of Oregon from my kayak whenever conditions allow. I am still not aware of a single case where an Orca intentionally injured or killed a human in the wild. They are known to mess with humans on small boats but not attack them. Great whites on the other hand....
@@RogerEmigh Right, orcas are not renowned for 'attacking' boats. The following though goes way beyond 'messing' in case you think I'm bullshitting. ▶ Have You Heard About the Killer Whales Attacking Boats? Reuters May 25, 2023 'GCAPTAIN' ARTICLE LINK OMITTED MADRID, May 25 (Reuters) - Killer whales severely damaged a sailing boat off the coast of southern Spain, the local maritime rescue service said on Thursday, adding to dozens of orca attacks on vessels recorded so far this year on Spanish and Portuguese coasts. In the early hours of Thursday, a group of orcas broke the rudder and pierced the hull after ramming into the Mustique on its way to Gibraltar, prompting its crew of four to contact Spanish authorities for help, a spokesman for the maritime rescue service said. The service deployed a rapid-response vessel and a helicopter carrying a bilge pump to assist the 20-meter (66 feet) vessel, which was sailing under a British flag, he added. The Mustique was towed to the port of Barbate, in the province of Cadiz, for repairs. According to the research group GTOA, which tracks populations of the Iberian orca sub-species, the incident follows at least 20 interactions this month alone in the Strait of Gibraltar between small vessels and the highly social apex predators. In 2022, there were 207 reported interactions, GTOA data showed. Earlier in May, the sailing yacht Alboran Champagne suffered a similar impact from three orcas half a nautical mile off Barbate. The ship could not be towed as it was completely flooded and was left adrift to sink.
You know that you filming it wasn't making it happen. I know you know that of course but I'm a softie and many times I look away from something so it will stop but it doesn't stop it. I love the respect and the love that I could hear in your voice for all the whales. Most of the time when I see something like this the people that are in your place speak with that same respect and love. Maybe witnessing something so close in person when it's happening touches you deep inside. You're very lucky to live where you do. I live in Ohio, lol! We don't see anything like you do so even if you don't see the whales a lot, at least you do get to see them some. Thank you for sharing your footage and your story. All of it was beautiful.
Thank you for sharing. Nature is beautiful and yes violent. The coordination and skill is interesting. Pack animals have skill and coordination to ensure their survival. It touched my heart to see and feel the whale mothers loss. Your commentary is touching.. Again, Thank you for sharing.
I have a DJI AIR 2S drone, which I can barely fly, because there are so many FAA suffocating restrictions and he built in transponder (Remote ID) sends out information on everything I do in detail. Does your Mini have a built in transponder? What is he battery life on your drone?
FAA restrictions can be tough, and some places have way more no fly zones than others. I am registered with the FAA as a pilot, try to abide all restrictions and regulations, and encourage everyone to do the same, especially when filming wildlife. That being said, the Mini 3 Pro does not fall into a drone category, as it’s 249 grams. (250 grams upwards is what falls under FAA regulations.) They made it this weight purely to avoid limitations by the FAA. Batteries last about 40 minutes each, give or take wind conditions. I’ve been flying it since I product tested it for DJI before they released it last year, and absolutely love its capabilities.
@@iamjakz I've been a Private Pilot of manned aircraft for 47 years, I follow the rules in real planes and with drones, but many of the drone rules are ridiculous. Purely created to stifle drone activity. Because the FAA categorized 250+ gram drones as AIRCRAFT, if you crash your drown into a tree in your backyard, you are required to file an NTSB crash report and theoretically, have to have NTSB come and do an investigation. I live in Nevada, a Par 5 from Death Valley and a grocery run from Las Vegas. MOST of the airspace within a 200 mile diameter of me is either National Park restricted, airports of various classes restricted, state park restricted, covered by the Class-B of McCarran, now Harry Reid or Nellis AFB, Mercury, Creech & Chong... It is insane to make a law to protect everyone from everything. Then there is the FINES. I understand a $500 fine, even a $1000 fine, but some of the FAA fines for drones are $5000, $25,000, $60,000 for fairly incidental and zero injury infractions.
@@DIZEMANPHOTO I agree, a lot of them are over the top! Especially, like you said, even if it’s stuck in a tree in your own yard you’re supposed to file a report. That’s awesome you’ve been a manned aircraft pilot, too! I appreciate hearing your perspective on drones, having been a pilot of other aircrafts.
Thank you for sharing. The ocean is an amazing place. It’s definitely incredible footage even though it is hard to watch. You did an incredible job narrating it.
I believe what you filmed and what you shared is important. Yes it hurts and is sad but, it is part of life. We all experience wrongs against us and loss, nobody is apart from those feelings and parts of life. It is a life lesson what you filmed and I'm glad you shared it. The way the Orcas worked together to provide for their young and themselves, is going on in daily life with humans and animals around our planet. It's bitter-sweet what you captured but honest and pure life truth. I like the way you presented it Dear. You have a very sensitive soul and more wisdom than many others. A very moving explanation. You have a gift for filming nature. I hope you pursue it, if you want to. And develop your natural ability. I would love to see your name on nature documentaries some time (if I'm still around 😁) You did the right thing in sharing it. Trust yourself and your instincts, ALWAYS. Blessed Be Darling💞🦋🌸🦚🌻 A Colorado Mountain Grandma USA 💜✌️🌍🌏🌎
Stunning footage. I grew up on the oregon coast and witnessed similar off pacific City 45-50 years ago. Thank you for sharing.. The Orca is my absolute favorite. . And although brutal it is part of this world.
Wow..... Well you are right it is the circle of life..... Your footage is very important to watch and understand... This video allows us as humans we need to respect nature... Well done and thank you keep up the great work...🫡 I am now a new subscriber to your channel. ... You are an amazing person 😊👍💛
As hard as it is to watch and as a mother, you can certainly feel her heartbreak and her persistence in trying to save her calf. I'm a huge lover of all whales but my absolute favorite is the Orca. They are the apex predator of the ocean and unfortunately, sometimes that includes other whales, hence the name "killer whale". I'm from Vancouver BC and we do have resident Orcas and unfortunately their food supply is strictly salmon and they're pretty much starving due to lack of salmon supply and pollution. It's sad all around and we absolutely need to do more to save these amazing creatures!! Thanks so much for sharing your experience and thoughts. I agree with you 💯!!
Thank you for sharing this incredible footage. I live in the Eugene area and was in a killer whale watching group live as this happened. I saw what people were capturing while on the coast, but there honestly were no good views at all, so I am extremely grateful to see this incredible footage you captured, so now I can really see exactly what happened. The footage is just amazing, and I am incredibly grateful you shared it!!
@@iamjakz it is definitely once in a lifetime footage. I also love the respect and compassion you showed when talking about the encounter. It is absolutely heartbreaking, but as you said, it is part of the circle of life. I am 66 and I have never ever seen such incredible footage of killer whales hunting. It was remarkable, and something I will never forget. Thank you again. Blessings 🙏
I appreciated your film and your commentery - it narrates my thoughts of this week with the orcas being so close to shore and hunting the gray whales that are normally the shoreline viewers favorites . . .
Thank you! It was such an incredible event to see the orcas, but those of us that love our grays had a lot more to sort out in our emotions and thoughts because of this.
Thank you for sharing. I feel so bad that the baby had to die and I feel very bad for the Mama whale, she tried tlso hard to save her baby and is now mourning the loss of her precious baby 😭
Although it’s fascinating footage, and you are an awesome story teller, I could not finish watching. But I wanted to acknowledge you and how brave you were to continue filming. Be Blessed sweet girl. ❤
I love orcas...they are my favorite animal for many reasons but this brought a tear to my eye😔These mammals are so much like us💯Thank you so much for sharing this.
These are the Hooligans! The transients Tribe. I've watched them do this for years. It seems every year, one poor mom will get targeted with her calf. And Heaven pray for them both! It's a brutal scene. I LOVE Orcas, but this aspect, maybe not so much, because more often than not, it isn't about feeding. It's pure folly. And IF the mom whale makes it, she's just left there alone, and exhausted. Yeah this was a heavier video than I anticipated. But thank you. Hopefully, I'll be able to migrate BACK to Oregon soon, so I can finally breathe again. ✨🕊🐋Bless this poor Mama and her calf. I'm sorry, Little One.🌊✨🌙✨
I lived in Newport, Oregon in the late 80s, and at that time, there was a resident pod of Orcas on the central Oregon coast. Once 5 of them come into Yaquina Bay and grab sea lion's right off the docks. AMAZING!
We do have them travel through the area, none are residents. This happened north of Newport, Oregon. We’ve had sightings up and down our entire coast lately of different pods. Pretty cool!
Wow, what a brilliant video. What a tragic but beautiful thing . And your words put it all in place. I thank you for sharing even with tears streaming down my face
Hi Jakz, I live in Cannon Beach and I have seen Orca's go after seals in Nehalem bay. It was bloody and awful and awesome. Unforgettable. After the kill they headed up in front of my neighborhood and frolicked and played for several hours. Where did this occure? Just wondering if they're still in "the Neighborhood". Kate Loveland
This was north of Newport, and drones are legal in many locations. I know lots of places where they are restricted, too. I abide by flight restrictions, as I am an FAA registered UAS pilot. That being said, the drone I fly is underweight of the classification for drones in the US and technically does not have drone rules apply to it (but again, I abide by rules).
Thank You for sharing this. It does break your heart and is awe inspiring at the same time. The death of the one baby whale may have fed the orca's for several days allowing other mother's and their babies to pass. Nature is brutal I do feel the momma's pain. Who should die the baby gray whale or the orca babies. She is trying to do everything in her power to save her baby.
Yep. Wildlife is full of tragedies, this is why it's so hard for babies to grow into adults, and this is one of the reasons the Orcas are the apex predators of the Sea, they live as a family through their whole life, so their kids are always with their family. And even with all that protection is hard for them to grow up. It's obviously sad from one side, but from the other, a family of Orcas that could've been lookin for food for their babies for a long time finally has something to eat so they can continue their journey.
That’s the amazing thing about nature, seeing how it contrasts itself. In one scene we view, we see a reason to celebrate, a family of orcas is being fed, and yet, we also see a mother lose a child. The circle of life is beautiful but brutal.
Because it is real, we as humans are no different, we lose our babies too. I lost my son at a young age. It was preventable and at the same time inevitable. Watching the most vulnerable creatures in this world being taken still breaks my heart.
YOUR REPORT WAS VERY WELL ARTICULATED, WITH COMPASSION FOR THE LOSS OF LIFE, BUT ALSO FOR SUSTAINING LIFE. IT IS LIFE ALL AROUND FULL CIRCLE. THANK YOU
What amazing footage, wow! Such a privilege to be able to film this footage but also anguishing to watch. 🥺 Do you know why some of the whales' sprays look orangey in color?
What a thing to witness. It's a tragedy from the Grey whale perspective. It means life for the Orcas. I was on a hike recently when I found the head of a young fawn lying in the middle of a fire road. It was gruesome...felt bad for it, but somewhere there may have been coyote pups nourished by the catch.
It can be difficult from a human perspective to see these things. The sight of the fawn had to have been so sad, but choosing to see how it could have provided nourishment for other creatures is one way to find some good in it. Thanks for being willing to choose that perspective.
Once in a lifetime. 😊 Good job.. I once netted a hellbender in the mountains of NC. A monster salamander. Around 1995. I didn't realize how rare it was. Released it, but I wish I had taken video. I didn't have my GoPro in time. 😊😊😊😊
