Have You Seen Any of These?

Monday, December 22, 2014

Wishing You a Whale of a Time During the Holidays!

All of us at Whales and Dolphins BC / Wild Ocean Whale Society (WOWs) would like to wish you and yours the very best for the Holidays. An extra huge thank you to all who report sightings and help support our efforts. We couldn't do it without you!

There have been few reports and even those of us who are constantly on the look out have seen minimal activity. It is a big ocean but these whales, dolphins and porpoise are out there ... somewhere. These huge tides have been producing a fair bit of debris in the water. The debris occasionally looks like a possible sighting from a distance. Watching for a few moments for a blow or movement usually clarifies if it's just debris or a resting animal.

In the report below we have a good example of why every report is valuable. One person may only see one or two animals where another person sees six or seven. We're often told, after the fact, that someone must have already reported the sighting, which isn't always the case. This makes attempting to get identification of specific animals difficult. Another bit of information, which can sometimes help us determine who the animals are, is any distinctive markings or number of big dorsals (adult male Orca) versus small ones in the pod. We also like to hear when animals change direction. This is helpful in understanding current foraging habits. For most of these Cetaceans it is about the food as they transit areas. For Resident Orca, it's fish; for Transient Bigg's Orca, it's about meat; for baleen whales such as Humpback and Minke Whales, it's krill and small fish; for Dolphins and Porpoise, it's fish as well as staying clear of Transient Bigg's who hunt them as well as seals or sea lions. As you can understand, every report is valuable!
Susan MacKay & Lynne Cracknell, Whales and Dolphins BC
 
Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
Call 1-877-323-9776 or Email your report.
Every sighting report is valuable!

UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES
(presumably Transient Bigg's)

December 17:
8:52 am We've just seen 3 Orca heading south. Just off from Myrtle Rocks.
John & Wendy Heathcote, Powell River

Dec 17:
9:00 am: 6-7 Orca including 2-3 big males southbound by Myrtle Rocks, Powell River. They're just steadily on the move. One big male was in the lead quite a bit ahead of the others.
Jim Southern, Powell River.


HARBOUR PORPOISE
December 13:
12 pm As we often do see, five or six Harbour Porpoise foraging in the rip between the Hump (south of Cape Mudge) and Willow Point.
Bill Kennedy, Campbell River

LINKS

Information on previously undocumented acoustic exchanges between Humpback whales, and how they cooperate with each other when searching for food in the dark:

Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
1-877-323-9776 or Email your report.
Every sighting report is valuable!
We are the non-profit Wild Ocean Whale Society


Monday, December 15, 2014

Southern Resident Orca J-Pod, Unidentified Killer Whales, Humpback Whale and Dead Dall's Porpoise

The majority of activity since our last update has been surrounding J32 'Rhapsody' the pregnant Southern Resident Orca and her calf found dead by Bates Beach, just above Comox on Dec. 4th. Unfortunately we are not sure if the Unidentified Killer Whales by Powell River were some of the Southern Resident population or Transient Bigg's Killer Whales (most likely) passing through. Reports of at least one Humpback Whale in the Lund area have also dwindled since December 6th.

The initial necropsy reports of J32 and her calf indicate that: the calf appeared to be full term, the calf was female and predeceased her. It appears that since the calf predeceased J32 she could not expel the fetus thereby causing a great amount of toxicity in her body leading to her death. Her blubber layer was also thinner than expected causing concern about her overall health possibly causing some health issues in her ability to deliver the calf. Further tests and results will take more time. Parts of her have been sent to various locations for CT scans and testing. It is planned to have her cleaned bones put back together for display much later. We have included many links below from news reports and a preliminary necropsy report link. On our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/WhalesDolphinsBC we have, behind a warning page of graphic content, posted necropsy photos. Although these photos are not for everyone, they are made available for purposes of study to those of you interested or considering Marine Biology.
Susan MacKay & Lynne Cracknell, Whales and Dolphins BC
Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
Call 1-877-323-9776 or Email your report.
Every sighting report is valuable!


SOUTHERN RESIDENT KILLER WHALES

J32 'Rhapsody' – RIP
Aug. 27, 2014 photo
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Bear Tours

December 12:
Great day on the water. Spend the day watching the majority of Jpod booking it West 5 km off Sooke BC. They were spread out across Juan de Fuca Strait and traveling at 12 knots. Also had three humpback whales traveling and socializing in tight formation. Brisk day but nice to be out on the water.
Josh McInnes, Victoria

Dec 4:
With word of a dead Orca on the beach near Bates hotel tonight I loaded up my camera gear, tape measure and lights and was off as soon as I could. Arriving on scene was a surreal experience. I drove right down a boat launch ramp and as my headlights swung around and she came into view I was utterly blown away. I first heard reports of a possibly 10-12ft animal....seeing right away it was full grown I was amazed. I immediately got my lights set up and went to work taking photos for ID purpose and documenting everything I could find. Measurements showed it to be approx 16ft in length. I first thought sprouter (juvenile still growing it's dorsal) male until studying the belly longer. Was determined to be a female. I went through my Transient ID Catalogue, Northern Resident Catalogue and soon realized we were possibly looking at a Southern Resident Orca. Thank you to Simon Pidcock and Jared Towers, of DFO for the ID's and confirmation. (That she was J32 'Rhapsody' of the Southern Resident Killer Whales.)
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions

December 3:
According to a resident near the Bates Beach Resort in Royston, several Orca had been seen offshore at some point during the day. This would likely be J pod, who are often seen in the Strait of Georgia during the winter months.

J32 'Rhapsody' – RIP
Aug. 27, 2014 photo
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions

UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES

Dec 5:
8:23 am: Three to four Orca northbound off the Powell River Sea Walk. They're quite tight into shore.
9:00 am: Five or six Orca now on the move, and out of sight as observed from the Westview Harbour. I'd grabbed my camera hoping to get at least a couple of photos, but they were just too far away now. I only saw small dorsals, no big males.
Steve Grover, Powell River.

HUMPBACK WHALES

December 6:
12:00 pm: The Humpback whale is still here in Rasmussen Bay today, December 6th. The Sea Lions were by, but not feeding with it today, so far...
Mary Tilberg, Lund

December 5:
9:30 am- 10:30 am: This morning the Humpback whale came into Rasmussen Bay itself (south of the Copeland Islands) and was feeding for quite some time. I only looked out around 9:30 am and saw it then, along with an entourage of Stellar Sea Lions, all very active. I had to leave for town around 10:30 am and they were still feeding back and forth in the bay.
Mary Tilberg, Lund

DALL'S PORPOISE

December 13:
Everyone's heart dropped at the report of a small Orca washed up on the beach in the San Juan Islands after J32's death. It turned out to be a Dall's Porpoise and the photos clearly show how they sometimes are mistaken for small Orca. This animal, it appears may have died of old age, based on the teeth having been ground down over years of foraging. The necropsy is being handled in the US and should be started by December 15th. Cher Renke stood guard and provided photos, until Ken Balcomb and other researchers could arrive.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC


Ken Balcomb with Dall's Porpoise on South Beach, San Juan Islands
Dall's Porpoise
December 13, 2014 – 2 photos
Cher Renke, Friday Harbour

LINKS

We have very sad news this report with the death of Southern Resident Orca J32, also known as “Rhapsody.” Rhapsody was just 18 years old, and was pregnant at the time of her death, a double blow for the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whale populations.
Two other whales from the same population, L100 and L53, are thought to have died sometime this summer, while the calf L120 died two months ago. The southern resident population now stands at 77 members. We have several links to news stories concerning J32's death, as well as some preliminary findings from the necropsy. Please be aware that some of the photographs taken during the necropsy are extremely graphic and may be upsetting for some.





Ken Balcomb of the Center for Whale Research in the US has posted a preliminary necropsy report findings on J32;

May not be a Porpoise that lives right in our area of monitoring, but the Vaquita Porpoise is extremely endangered. This video clip is also something to consider for our Harbour Porpoise populations; they are considered "species of special concern" by Species At Risk Act (SARA).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wp3JGzvtdQQ

Study guages plastic levels in the ocean:


Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
1-877-323-9776 or Email your report.
Every sighting report is valuable!
We are the non-profit Wild Ocean Whale Society

Thursday, December 4, 2014

Dead Orca in the News and Cetacean Report Update

Hot off the presses (and in our Links below): A dead Orca was slowly drifting Northward and has been pulled up on the Bates Beach area just north of the Comox ferry terminal. There may be a connection to the November 28th sighting report of some Orca actually inside the Comox bar, although unconfirmed. In the news video clip below, there are some rake marks on the back of the whale that could potentially be from other Orca attempting to pull a stranded whale off the beach/bar. A necropsy is expected to be performed. It is still unknown if this was a Northern or Southern Resident or Transient Bigg's Killer Whale. Other reports below cover at least one Humpback Whale that was in the Lund area, but possibly now heading South. Photos submitted so far have only managed to eliminate some Humpbacks from the identification list. Pacific White Sided Dolphins round out the reports.
**Just prior to publishing this report, word came in that it appears to be a Southern Resident Killer Whale. What a huge blow to their population!
Susan MacKay & Lynne Cracknell, Whales and Dolphins BC
 
Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
Call 1-877-323-9776 or Email your report.
Every sighting report is valuable!
 

Humpback Whale by Lund Harbour
November 30, 2014
Gord Chouinard, Lund Seaside Inn

UNIDENTIFIED ORCA

Dec 3:
3:30 pm: We have a place on Quadra Island, at the south end looking at Marina Island and Cortez Island. I was about to leave today, around 3:30 pm, when I heard a blow. It looked like a male and two females, or two kids, cruising by, heading north. A few weeks ago we saw two males and probably 4-6 Moms and/or kids cruising by, going south. Anyway, it's always wonderful to see them.
David Brown, Chair, Haig-Brown Institute.

Nov 29: report of 2 Orca by Walkem Islands group in Johnstone Strait, also a large pod in Okisollo Channel in the last couple of days.
Fabien Minfray, Eagle Eye Adventures.

Nov 28:
11:30 am: We sighted Orca inside the Comox bar by Royston on Vancouver Island. It was a lovely calm day for a last boat run. Excellent visibility. Thought it was a sea lion or log at first till I saw the blow about a half mile south of Kingfisher. There were four moving two by two almost halfway between Kingfisher and Cone Bar buoy about 11:30 am. Thought I was in for a kill as porpoises on the other side of the boat. But after half hour, no sign. There they were on the inside of the harbour. Not much deep water there. Moved to close off Royston Wrecks, breaching, till 1pm. Also thought the sea lions might be hiding from them, as very close to the spit and together. However, no sign of anything but whales in the air over at the wrecks. They left very leisurely an hour before high tide. 15 foot tide 2pm, then headed out of harbour. All were smaller. No large males. Fins all smaller and curved back. Watched through binocs from boat near Comox marina. 3 sea lions close to Indian spit. Never seen Orca inside the bar before, lots of harbour porpoises though, at least ten on October full moon. Curious as to which way they came and left from Baynes Sound. They were all smaller whales, looking at fins curved back as well. Lucky you with Lund humpback! Thanx for your reply and your dedicated monitoring. I love whales! And have been surprised that there is very little reporting from our area. (additional email information and kind words has been merged with first email in above - SM)
Wendy Stevens, Comox area


HUMPBACK WHALES

December 4:
12 pm One big blow (Humpback is presumed from telephone description - SM) visible from the Grief Point area looking towards VanAnda. The whale is moving South down Malaspina Channel. Saw single large blows a couple of times then nothing more.
Eric Green, Powell River


Humpback Whale by Lund Harbour
November 30, 2014 – 2 photos
Gord Chouinard, Lund Seaside Inn

Nov 30:
10:19 am Humpback whale is between Lund and Savary Island – came up a number of times, looks like he is feeding.
Gord Chouinard, Lund Seaside Inn, Sevilla Island.

Nov 30:
There has been a Humpback whale hanging around our area for a couple of months now. I have a cabin right on the water (mainland) facing Savary and Hernando islands. Yesterday at about 3:30 pm the Humpback was right out in front. He was with a group (5 or so) of sea lions. They appeared to be working together to hunt fish. They were all so close together you couldn't tell which fin belonged to who. The Humpback would dive, then come up and spout making a big loud noise. The sea lions were going up and down all around him. The carried on for about half an hour, eventually working their way north out of my sight. Is this normal behavior? Sure was fun to watch, will write again if I notice any other strange behaviors.
PS: Apparently it was cruising the Lund breakwater with 2 sea lions yesterday as well, I also heard that someone had claimed to see two of them, I have only seen the one with my own eyes.
Wendy, Lund Harbour Wharfinger

Nov 29:
10:45 am: Sighted the Humpback whale again in the same area, around “Natalie's Island, a rocky islet at the south end of Copeland Islands, and had a great look at its tail. I just wasn't swift enough to take photos, but it was quite white underneath, like it's frosted, it was such a cold day that the description came easily to mind. I will keep looking. (I've noticed that Dolphins passing by like to explore around that little island also, must be good feeding). Then it headed north into Thulin Passage. However around 11:00 am I spotted a whale by its spouting off towards the west side of the first Copeland Island, east of Major Rock, so could be more than one whale here.
Mary Tilberg, Lund

Nov 28:
5:14 pm: My place is on Rasmussen Bay, just south of the Copeland Islands, north of Lund. Around 2:00 pm this afternoon, November 28th, I first caught sight of a spray. The water was very rough but I instantly thought, that had to have come from a whale. A few moments later there it was right off the little island at the bay (I call it Natalie's Island.) It was momentarily at the surface then lobbed its magnificent tail and went under. I followed its progress south towards Lund by its breathing sprays and caught sight of it several more times at the surface before it disappeared. Very thrilled! Perhaps it's been sleeping in the Copelands?
Mary Tilberg, Lund

Nov 28:
First seen on Nov 11, a Humpback whale off Dallas Road, Victoria, some tail waving and a couple of breaches. Again this morning (Nov 28), same pattern, swimming back and forth, tail waving and a breach. Just heard he has been spotted off Clover Point. Again, sorry, no photos, so no idea if it is the same whale or not.
Lesley Lewis.

Humpback Whale by Lund – Savary Island
November 30, 2014
not very clear, but a breach
Gord Chouinard, Lund Seaside Inn

PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS

Nov 26:
11:45 am-12:45 pm: We were watching four Pacific White Sided Dolphins slowly working their way back and forth in an easterly direction at the west end of the Trail Islands, in the Strait of Georgia. We saw a huge leap by one but mostly they were just keeping close to the surface along the flotsam as it was slack tide. There seemed to be one large one staying aside and three smaller ones staying close. One of the three may even be quite young.
Judy Marusiak, Sechelt

LINKS

In the News: Dead Orca near Comox / Bates Beach, Vancouver Island:

And the News clip from Chek TV:

Huffington Post piece on Orca Rescue with GoPro video clip:

Camera captures birth of killer whale at SeaWorld:

Update on the false killer whale calf rescued in July: “Chester”, as he is known, has grown so much that staff at the Vancouver Aquarium have moved him to a larger pool. Hopefully he will soon be strong enough to be reintroduced to the wild.



Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
1-877-323-9776 or Email your report.
Every sighting report is valuable!
We are the non-profit Wild Ocean Whale Society