20th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Sidney’s Success

In this photo, T123 "Sidney" breaches out of the water, hitting a harbor porpoise that her and her family were actively pursuing. The porpoise landed on the other side of Sidney and was killed and eaten shortly after this leap. Sidney is the matriarch of the Bigg’s Killer Whale T123 matriline. She travels with her three offspring; Stanley, Lucky, and Darcy. 11 years ago, Sidney and her son Stanley became beached on a sandbar while hunting for seals south of Prince Rupert, Canada. They were fortunate to survived the many hours they were out of the water. The following year, Sidney gave birth to a calf, so she had been pregnant while she was stuck on the sandbar. And that is why we nicknamed her calf “Lucky,” as the calf had miraculously survived in the womb during this beaching event.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 10.2022
Date Uploaded: 11.2022
Photo Location: Friday Harbor, Washington, United States of America
Camera: ILCE-6500
Copyright: © Abigail Dahl