Humpback Whales are still high on the sightings list while we are getting a few more sightings of Transient Bigg's Orca. Some active Pacific White Sided Dolphins and Dall's Porpoise are around in not overly large groups, but the little Harbour Porpoise is still so easy to miss. With the nasty weather bearing down on us for this weekend, we don't anticipate many people will brave the downpours and wind to scan the waters from beaches. Hopefully some of you may still be lucky enough to spot and report some whale activity from a cozy shore based location. Stay safe. Reminder that every sighting report is valuable!
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
Transient Bigg's Orca on the hunt off Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal.
Ashley Keegan, Wild Whales Vancouver, BC
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Society News & Events
Our team of Volunteers continue to do a great job in making sure all your reports are mapped and published each week.
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Sightings Update
SIGHTINGS MAP 2016-035
Jump to: Biggs Orca | Orca | Humpback Whales | Minke Whales | PWS Dolphins | Dalls Porpoise
TRANSIENT BIGGS KILLER WHALES
Wed Oct 12 2016
12:32 • 2 Biggs Orca heading South off of the North-West tip of Texada Island heading towards Marshall Point, Georgia Strait. One big fin observed.
Micheline Macauley, Texada Island, BC
Tue Oct 11 2016
17:44 • est. 7-9 Biggs Orca mid-channel, just out from Francisco Point, Sutil Channel. No real direction.
16:54 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ heading North just North of Rendezvous Islands almost to Hole in the Wall, Calm Channel.
Jerry Weldon, Eagle Eye Adventures
08:51 • 5 Biggs Orca off of Breton Islands and Rebecca Spit, Sutil Channel.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Mon Oct 10 2016
15:32 • Biggs Orca heading West off Center Islet North-West of Subtle Islands, Sutil Channel. Travelling towards Viner Point, Read Island. ▫ Second Hand
Jen Furst, Campbell River Whale Watching
Sun Oct 09 2016
17:39 • Biggs Orca heading West passing Raza Point, Calm Channel.
Jerry Weldon, Eagle Eye Adventures
17:00 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ heading East off West Redonda Island toward Deer Passage, Pryce Channel.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
14:38 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ heading North at Coulter Island, Sutil Channel. Heading toward the East side of the Penn Islands. ▫ Leaving the Scene
12:26 • est. 3 Biggs Orca heading North between Marina Island and Heriot Bay, Sutil Channel. Heading toward Viner Point.
10:51 • Biggs Orca heading North from Qualicum Bay, Georgia Strait. Small group. One big fin. Observed by commercial fisherman. ▫ Second Hand
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
Fri Oct 07 2016
18:42 • 4-8 Biggs Orca moving slowly, heading South 4 km South of Epsom Point West coast of North Thormanby Island, Georgia Strait. Moving through the gap area between South and North Thormanby Islands, about 2-km offshore.
John Hawthorne
17:33 • 6 Biggs Orca heading South at Race Point, Discovery Passage. ▫ Leaving the Scene
17:08 • 6 Biggs Orca heading South in Seymour Narrows, Discovery Passage.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching
15:49 • Biggs Orca heading North at Browns Bay, Discovery Passage. Heading back North and seem to be committed to North.
15:00 • Biggs Orca heading South at Browns Bay. Close to Vancouver Island shore out from green marker.
Jerry Weldon, Eagle Eye Adventures
Wed Oct 05 2016
11:51 • est. 8 Biggs Orca spread out, heading East passed Powell River heading toward Vivian Island, Malaspina Strait.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins B.C.
11:30 • est. 3 Biggs Orca heading North-West Powell River, Malaspina Strait.
Liz and Ted Douglas, Powell River, BC
11:30 • 5-7 Biggs Orca heading North-West Powell River.
SIGHTING MEDIA
SIGHTING MEDIA
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Bigg's Killer Whales off Powell River.
Wed, 5 Oct 2016 - 5 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Bigg's Killer Whales off Powell River.
Wed, 5 Oct 2016 - 5 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
09:33 • Biggs Orca spread out, heading North by Black (Albion) Point, Malaspina Strait. Many Orca.
Bill Taylor, Powell River, BC
09:23 • 3-4 Biggs Orca heading North below Myrtle Rocks on the other side of the strait closer to Texada Island, Malaspina Strait.
Nina Falls, Powell River, BC
Mon Sep 26 2016
12:01 • 3 Biggs Orca moving slowly, heading South off Blueback Beach North of Nanaimo, Georgia Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
SIGHTING MEDIA
SIGHTING MEDIA
Pat Beaton, North Nanaimo, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Three Transient Bigg's Killer Whales off of Blueback Beach
Mon, 26 Sep 2016 - 1 items
Patrick Beaton, Nanaimo
SIGHTING MEDIA
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Three Transient Bigg's Killer Whales off of Blueback Beach
Mon, 26 Sep 2016 - 1 items
Patrick Beaton, Nanaimo
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Bigg's Killer Whales T36As and T65Bs off of Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal
Mon, 3 Oct 2016 - 7 items
Ashley Keegan, Wild Whales Vancouver, BC
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Bigg's Killer Whales T36As and T65Bs off of Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal
Mon, 3 Oct 2016 - 7 items
Ashley Keegan, Wild Whales Vancouver, BC
Jump to: Biggs Orca | Orca | Humpback Whales | Minke Whales | PWS Dolphins | Dalls Porpoise
UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES
Thu Oct 06 2016
13:09 • Orca heading East towards Earls Cove in Jervis Inlet. Spotted near the overhead wires. Observed from the Ferry. ▫ Second Hand
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Jump to: Biggs Orca | Orca | Humpback Whales | Minke Whales | PWS Dolphins | Dalls Porpoise
HUMPBACK WHALES
Wed Oct 12 2016
18:31 • 1 Humpback Whales lunge feeding, a bit South of Francisco Point, Georgia Strait. Almost coming right out of the water. Very cool!.
18:20 • 3 Humpback Whales lunge feeding, very close to Francisco Point, Sutil Channel.
Jerry Weldon, Eagle Eye Adventures
11:53 • 2 Humpback Whales doing circles, working the back eddy at the Cape Mudge Red Can Buoy, Georgia Strait.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
10:06 • 2 Humpback Whales by the Cape Mudge Red Can Buoy.
10:06 • 2 Humpback Whales closer to the Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy, Georgia Strait.
Jerry Weldon, Eagle Eye Adventures
09:30 • 4 Humpback Whales moving slowly, heading South-West South of Savary Island, Malaspina Strait. At one point 3 were inside Stadioti Reef!.
Amanda Sutherland and Verne Rosenberg, Savary Island, BC
09:12 • 4 Humpback Whales at the Cape Mudge Red Can Buoy, Georgia Strait.
08:48 • 3 Humpback Whales at the Cape Mudge Red Can Buoy.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching
08:40 • 2-3 Humpback Whales at Cape Mudge Red Can Buoy.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Tue Oct 11 2016
17:59 • 2 Humpback Whales 1/2 mile South of Francisco Point, Georgia Strait.
Jerry Weldon, Eagle Eye Adventures
10:08 • 2-3 Humpback Whales heading East between Savary Island and Harwood Island, Malaspina Strait.
John and Joan Treen, Powell River and Savary Island, BC
08:51 • 2 Humpback Whales off of Chatham Point angling towards Nodales Channel, Discovery Passage.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Mon Oct 10 2016
17:52 • 2-3 Humpback Whales between Rebecca Rocks and Texada Island, Georgia Strait.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins B.C.
16:00 • 1 Humpback Whales moving slowly, heading East off of St. John Point on Hornby Island, Georgia Strait. Cruising East below the bluffs in Helliwell Park accompanied by several large Stellar sea lions. It turned South when it reached Flora Islet. ▫ Observed from Shore
Don Peterson, Hornby Island, BC
12:10 • 1 Humpback Whales heading West between Francisco Point and Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy, Georgia Strait.
Dustin Luchak, On A Dime Outdoor Adventures
09:58 • Humpback Whales off Viner Point at the South end of Read Island, Sutil Channel. Reported from Cortes Island Ferry. ▫ Second Hand
Kurt Staples, Eagle Eye Adventures
Sun Oct 09 2016
17:00 • 2 Humpback Whales heading towards Savary Island, Georgia Strait.
15:59 • 1 Humpback Whales at Grant Reefs, Georgia Strait. At marker.
Peter Hamilton, Lifeforce
13:39 • 1 Humpback Whales ◦BCY0291 KC◦ taking long dives, heading South in front of Cape Mudge Village, Discovery Passage.
13:00 • 2 Humpback Whales breaching, heading North near the ferry dock in Campbell River, Discovery Passage. One large and one small, possibly mother and calf. We also observed them from Tyee Spit. ▫ Observed from Shore
Al & Trina, Campbell River, BC
10:51 • Humpback Whales heading South approaching Cape Mudge Lighthouse, Discovery Passage. Seeing blows.
Roger McDonell, Discovery Marine Safaris
10:15 • 2 Humpback Whales breaching and spy-hopping, heading South off the Quadra Island Ferry, Discovery Passage. One large and one small, possibly mother and calf. Besides breaching, they were spy-hopping and rolling around.
Al & Trina, Campbell River, BC
10:04 • 2 Humpback Whales heading South at Horn Point, Dent Rapids.
09:32 • 1 Humpback Whales half way between Marina Reef and Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy, Sutil Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching
09:03 • 2 Humpback Whales at Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy, Georgia Strait.
09:02 • 2 Humpback Whales between Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy and Marina Reef, Sutil Channel.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching
Sat Oct 08 2016
09:36 • 2 Humpback Whales at the mouth of Okisollo Channel.
09:35 • 2 Humpback Whales at the East entrance of Hole in the Wall.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching
Fri Oct 07 2016
12:49 • 1 Humpback Whales moving slowly, heading South at Cape Mudge Lighthouse, Georgia Strait.
Jordan McLean, Painters Lodge, Campbell River
11:38 • 1 Humpback Whales bucking tide, heading South at Cape Mudge Village on Quadra Island, Discovery Passage. Small Humpback.
11:19 • 1 Humpback Whales heading South at Whiskey Point, Discovery Passage. Close to Quadra shore.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
09:35 • 2 Humpback Whales at Seymour Narrows, Discovery Passage.
09:05 • 1 Humpback Whales ◦BCY0291 KC◦ South of Yellow Island, Discovery Passage. Pointed at Yellow Island.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching
Thu Oct 06 2016
11:34 • 2 Humpback Whales at Francisco Point, Sutil Channel. No real direction.
Jordan McLean, Painters Lodge, Campbell River
09:34 • 2 Humpback Whales heading North travelling towards Quadra Island Scallop Farm below Heriot Bay, Sutil Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
09:00 • 2 Humpback Whales between the Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy and Francisco Point, Georgia Strait.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching
Wed Oct 05 2016
16:50 • 3 Humpback Whales foraging, at Greensea Bay, Discovery Passage.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching
15:10 • 3 Humpback Whales heading North approaching Chatham Point, Discovery Passage. Two adults and a calf.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
13:43 • 3 Humpback Whales at Eagles Cove, Discovery Passage.
Radio, overheard or call out
11:53 • 1 Humpback Whales breaching, between Rebecca Rocks and Texada Island, Malaspina Strait.
11:53 • 1 Humpback Whales blow, farther out past Rebecca Rocks, Georgia Strait. Towards Vancouver Island.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins B.C.
11:11 • 2 Humpback Whales heading South between April Point and Quathiaski Cove, Discovery Passage. Five metres off Quadra shoreline.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
Jump to: Biggs Orca | Orca | Humpback Whales | Minke Whales | PWS Dolphins | Dalls Porpoise
MINKE WHALES
Sun Oct 09 2016
09:19 • Minke Whales in Baker Passage. Small Minke; only saw once.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours : Laker Two
Jump to: Biggs Orca | Orca | Humpback Whales | Minke Whales | PWS Dolphins | Dalls Porpoise
PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
Sun Oct 09 2016
10:04 • PWS Dolphins heading South at Eagles Cove, Discovery Passage. Large group. ▫ Second Hand
Fri Oct 07 2016
10:16 • PWS Dolphins at Cinque Islands, Discovery Passage. From Jordan. ▫ Second Hand
SIGHTING MEDIA
SIGHTING MEDIA
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching
SIGHTING MEDIA
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins by the Cinque Islands
Fri, 7 Oct 2016 - 2 items
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching
SIGHTING MEDIA
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins by the Cinque Islands
Fri, 7 Oct 2016 - 2 items
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching
Thu Oct 06 2016
09:45 • est. 75 PWS Dolphins at Greensea Bay, Discovery Passage.
Jordan McLean, Painters Lodge, Campbell River
Wed Oct 05 2016
16:51 • est. 200 PWS Dolphins heading South by entrance to Okisollo Channel, Discovery Passage.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching
15:10 • est. 75 PWS Dolphins heading South by Cinque Islands, Discovery Passage.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
09:10 • 25-30 PWS Dolphins foraging, at Eagles Cove, Discovery Passage.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching
Jump to: Biggs Orca | Orca | Humpback Whales | Minke Whales | PWS Dolphins | Dalls Porpoise
DALLS PORPOISE
Wed Oct 05 2016
10:30 • 6 Dalls Porpoise by Lee Islands, Nodales Channel.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
SIGHTINGS HEAT MAP 2016-035
The Magazine
REGIONAL & WEST COAST
The San Juan Islander
After more than 14,000 whale watch trips and numerous encounters this summer and early fall with the Southern Resident Community of orcas, Pacific Whale Watch Association (PWWA) crews are reporting that the kids are alright – the “Class of 2015,” as the fleet has dubbed eight killer whale calves born into the endangered population last year, appear to be healthy, active and thriving.
Before the baby boom came the gloom – grave concern arising from one of the lowest points in the history of the population. On December 4th, 2014 a pregnant 19-year-old whale named J32 or “Rhapsody” washed up on a beach at Comox, British Columbia, dead from an infection contracted while trying to give birth. The loss of this beloved ...
The National Observer
First responders are working quickly to contain a diesel spill in British Columbia's Great Bear Rainforest after a 10,000-tonne tanker barge and tug unit ran aground on the central Pacific coast around 1 a.m. on Thursday morning.
According to the region's Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre, the Nathan E. Stewart tug boat was hauling an empty fuel barge through the Seaforth Channel when both vessels crashed into Edge Reef near Athlone Island. The tug's seven-member crew was on board at the time of the accident, but no injuries have been reported so far and all have been safely evacuated.
Members of the Heiltsuk First Nation, who live in the community of Bella Bella near the crash site, immediately linked the accident to concerns about new pipeline projects and the current Liberal government's promise to implement a ban on tanker traffic on B.C.'s northern coast. They reported that the tug boat started to sink around 10 a.m., leaking thousands of litres of fuel into the Pacific Ocean....
National Observer
Two Canadian conservation powerhouses have formalized a partnership to protect marine life in British Columbia and promote sustainable economic prosperity along the northern Pacific coast.
The Gitga'at First Nation of Hartley Bay — a key negotiator of the renowned Great Bear Rainforest conservation agreements — and WWF Canada signed an agreement on Monday evening to lay a foundation for sustainable economic development in the community's traditional territory.
The territory encompasses more than 12,000 square kilometres of B.C.'s stunning Great Bear Rainforest - the largest coastal temperate rainforest left on Earth - and is home to some of the world's rarest creatures, including Spirit Bears, humpbacks, fin whales, and ...
San Juan Journal
According to Fisheries and Oceans Canada, a 20-year-old male killer whale, identified as L95 was found dead near Esperanza Inlet, B.C. on March 30. A necropsy was performed to determine the cause of the animal's death.
L95 was tagged by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration using a satellite-linked limpet-style tag approximately five weeks prior to his death.
On Oct 5, Fisheries and Oceans Canada released news that the necropsy report by Dr. Stephen Raverty, veterinary pathologist, concluded "a fungal infection contributed to the animal's death. There were several factors in this case that predisposed this whale to a fungal infection at the tagging site, including indications that the animal may have had a compromised immune system."
Whale activists like Ken Balcomb have long been opposed to tagging whales.
"I'm saddened that a whale died, and that it died due to human impact," said Baclomb, director for the Center for Whale Research. "I warned NOAA for years that this was a barbaric practice and eventually this [a whale would die] would happen."
The Southern Resident Killer Whales in the J and K pods have returned to Puget Sound.
According to the Orca Network, both pods crossed Admiralty Inlet last week, and continued south towards Point No Point, near Hansville.
Whale watchers said this move typically happens around this time of year.
That means people can usually spot the orcas off Whidbey Island, and from points around the Kitsap and Olympic Peninsulas.
This group includes one whale known as Granny, she's a great-great grandmother estimated to be more than 100 years old. She is also considered to be the matriarch of the Southern Resident orca community....
The Province, BC
In 1996, Mark Leiren-Young entered headlong into an unexpected love affair while innocently writing an expose on cetaceans in captivity at the Vancouver Aquarium. An interview with “whale warrior” Paul Watson (Greenpeace’s founding father) spurred the journalist to become entrenched in all things killer whale.
The Killer Whale Who Changed the World is the result of his two-decade relationship researching the blackfish, in particular, the icon of the species, Moby Doll. Moby’s introduction to the curious and still fearful public flipped the reputation of the killer whale into the softer, empathetic orca.
The Vancouver Aquarium was the first place to introduce a killer whale to the world and in tandem, became the first aquarium to declare it would no longer capture cetaceans in the wild. The 50th anniversary of the historic 1964 hunt that Leiren-Young dissects is a full circle chunk of human and orca history, whaling, the whale watching industry and the health of our oceans. In turn he illuminates the evolution of captive whales from entertainers to educators.
CANADA
CBC NS
A marine biologist and leading researcher of North Atlantic right whales has declared 2016 a banner year for the beleaguered Bay of Fundy.
Moira Brown, a senior scientist with the New England Aquarium and the Canadian Whale Institute, has been studying whales for more than three decades and says after five years of desert-like conditions, an unexpected richness and diversity of sea-life has returned to the bay.
'It really seemed like the bay was far more alive.'
- Moira Brown
"Last year we documented eight right whales during our surveys. This year it was just wonderful, we're up over 70 individual right whales for the season ...
CTV News
Six dolphins who stubbornly refused efforts to free them from a shallow bay in northern New Brunswick appear to have been finally coaxed back to open ocean.
"We don't see them anymore," fisheries spokeswoman Krista Petersen said Friday. "They are definitely in the deeper water outside the stranding area."
Petersen says rescuers tried new tactics Friday morning with the dolphins, who had been stranded near Lameque for more than a week and resisted days of rescue attempts....
INTERNATIONAL
All at Sea
“I’ve always been drawn to whales,” said the University of Miami School of Law graduate. Now, Barefoot is the executive director of Cet Law.
“Cet” is short for the word cetacean, a scientific category that includes whales, porpoises and dolphins.
Through Cet Law, Barefoot aims to combine her passions for cetaceans, law and environmental protection. “When people ask what I do, the easiest description is to say I am a whale lawyer.”
Barefoot established Cet Law in Key Largo in 2015 because it is near her network of contacts in Miami. But additionally, the quality of life, the ecosystem and tourism are interconnected here. “We live and breathe our marine environment. It is part of our life every day; sustainable tourism is the key.” ...
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