What I have observed outside my front window in the last month should bust some myths about orca whales, but I doubt that it will. It seems as if nothing can put a dent in the orca orthodoxy.

Why don’t facts matter when it comes to our beloved whales?

Here’s what I’ve observed out my front window — what any objective person can see: Frolicking orca whales with their young are gorging themselves on tons of pink salmon while in the midst of the whale watching fleet surrounded by commercial fishing boats. How can this be?

The orca dogmatic faithful continue to repeat these false mantras: Our whales only eat chinook salmon and spit other salmon out. The orcas are starving. Pursuit and harassment by whale watchers is causing their extinction. It’s appalling! We need a half-mile-no-go zone now! (Except for the commercial and tribal salmon fishery). No kayaks!

If facts still matter, open your eyes and see the resilience of a species and their will to survive.

Gordy Petersen
San Juan Island