Whale researchers on Saturday spotted orcas that are part of the endangered Southern  Resident pod back in the Puget Sound.

Northwestern Washington's beloved Southern Resident Killer Whale population has dropped. Researchers say the drop is unfortunately what they have come to expect in recent years.

The three pods that make up the southern resident killer whales lost two adult males and a male calf, according to a census by the Center for Whale Research in Washington state.

Southern Resident orcas mainly feast on Chum salmon in Puget Sound around fall and early winter, whale experts say.

Puget Sound is a key foraging area for Southern Residents in the fall. They regularly travel into this region pursuing Chum salmon, which make up a large majority of their diet during the fall and early winter.

Southern Resident orcas mainly feast on Chum salmon in Puget Sound around fall and early winter, whale experts say.

For the first time this fall members of the endangered Southern Resident orca population were spotted in Puget Sound.