(Seattle, WA)  --  The critically endangered southern resident orcas are back home in the Salish Sea after what whale researchers are calling an unprecedented absence.  The Seattle Times reports researchers spotted whales from the J, K and possibly L pods Friday near San Juan Island in Washington state.  The Center for Whale Research says the whales were gone for all of June and only showed up once in May.  Researchers believe the whales may be branching out to search for food as chinook salmon remains scarce in the Puget Sound region.