鈥淲ow鈥� is a common word used by whale watchers, but the wow factor of this encounter was greater than most.
A pod of Southern Resident orca whales passed so close to the shore, bystanders along Galiano Island could have reached out and petted them.
鈥淚 could have put my hand in and touched one, but I respect them so much I would never want to interfere with their natural tradition,鈥� said Rachelle Hayden, who was standing along the edge of the shore in the video.
Hayden, a Galiano Island resident had gotten a phone call from a friend who gave her the heads up the pod of whales were heading through Active Pass. She ran out with her husband who took the video as whales breached right off the shore.
鈥淵ou will see J46, Star, a female orca actually looks right at me and stops and stares at me,鈥� Hayden continued. 鈥淚 felt like she was trying to communicate鈥� all I could do as a human was wave but I felt like there was a communication.鈥�
Hayden, who runs a had seen whales before, but never that close and remembers being so excited with the encounter she has since watched the video 1,000 times.
鈥淚t was incredible I was so happy, it has brought happiness to other people watching it (too),鈥� she said.
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