A wildlife photographer has captured footage of a pod of orcas in South Ronaldsay, Orkney, teaching a calf how to catch seabirds. Graham Campbell was alerted to the pod’s presence below him in the water and spent three hours tracking and recording their activities, including hunting, breaching and spy hopping. The orcas were observed taking a variety of birds, including guillemots, cormorants and shags.
Campbell said he was used to seeing orcas in Orkney but that each sighting was “always amazing and each sighting was different”. While orcas typically hunt seals, he had not previously seen the whales hunting seabirds. The orca population in Orkney is known as the 64s pod.
The orca, commonly referred to as the killer whale, is the largest member of the dolphin family and can weigh up to six tonnes. Orcas are found in most oceans and eat a variety of prey, including fish, seal and squid. The species is highly social and communicates with a complex system of clicks and whistles.
Commercial whaling severely reduced orca populations in the 20th century, but the species continues to face threats, including chemical pollution and climate change. Campaigners have voiced concern over the impact of shipping traffic on orcas and called for more controls on vessel speeds.
Campbell’s video and photos of the orcas were described as “amazing” by the BBC Scotland journalist who spoke to him. His footage can be viewed on his website as well as his YouTube channel, Graham’s Wild Adventures
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