There are many Humpback Whales holding much farther North than expected this time of year. We feel that many will stay throughout the Winter months, which is both a blessing and a curiousity. As someone once told me, "Why go South if you can hang out with friends and continue to feed". With the likelihood that we had one Humpback calf born in the upper Georgia Strait this year, and that the Humpbacks have even been doing some singing up here, it is possible that we will continue to see them year round. Please continue to report every sighting.
We had a couple of reports of some Orca, but staying away from the Humpbacks or vice versa. Whereas the Pacific White Sided Dolphins have jumped on the Humpback band wagon of feeding with them as well as harassing them. The larger groups of Dolphins did head farther South, but that may have been due to Orca, which we have had to list in our generic catagory since we did not have any confirmation of Resident (fish eaters) or Transient Bigg's (meat eaters).
We will manage to publish one more report just before Christmas, but in this issue we have our amazing NEW WOWs Archive Explorer maps - see below. In the meantime - we'd like to wish you all the best for the holidays!
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
We had a couple of reports of some Orca, but staying away from the Humpbacks or vice versa. Whereas the Pacific White Sided Dolphins have jumped on the Humpback band wagon of feeding with them as well as harassing them. The larger groups of Dolphins did head farther South, but that may have been due to Orca, which we have had to list in our generic catagory since we did not have any confirmation of Resident (fish eaters) or Transient Bigg's (meat eaters).
We will manage to publish one more report just before Christmas, but in this issue we have our amazing NEW WOWs Archive Explorer maps - see below. In the meantime - we'd like to wish you all the best for the holidays!
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
Humpback Whale, BCX0565 Nick, showing off its tail by Harwood Island
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
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NEW! WOWs Sightings Archive Explorer
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Dive into over 5,000 Cetacean Sightings, images, videos and audio recordings reported in our Sightings Updates with the WOWS Sightings Archive Explorer
Archive Explorer takes readers into the Cetacean world of the BC Coast. Easily view all Cetacean sighting reports together with all sighting photos and videos:
• View species such as Humpback, Grey Whale or Dalls Porpoise
• Follow the endangered Southern Residents Orca in the Salish Sea
• Search for encounters with T002C2 Tumbo
• Goto Port Alberni to watch a close-up video of Orca in the harbour
• Track the T010s Transients as they hunt and travel the inside passage
• Check-Out "KC", the ever popular Humphack and track his whereabouts this past August
• Goto one of 12,000 named locations on the BC and WA State coast
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Explore this powerfull new research tool with the Archive Explorer Help page
Note: The Cetacean Sightings Archive is also available in database format together with sighting photo and video links for viewing, query and download here
Send your Comments and Questions to: Archive Explorer Feedback
Dive into over 5,000 Cetacean Sightings, images, videos and audio recordings reported in our Sightings Updates with the WOWS Sightings Archive Explorer
Archive Explorer takes readers into the Cetacean world of the BC Coast. Easily view all Cetacean sighting reports together with all sighting photos and videos:
• View species such as Humpback, Grey Whale or Dalls Porpoise
• Follow the endangered Southern Residents Orca in the Salish Sea
• Search for encounters with T002C2 Tumbo
• Goto Port Alberni to watch a close-up video of Orca in the harbour
• Track the T010s Transients as they hunt and travel the inside passage
• Check-Out "KC", the ever popular Humphack and track his whereabouts this past August
• Goto one of 12,000 named locations on the BC and WA State coast
• Print custom sighting reports and maps (Coming Soon)
Explore this powerfull new research tool with the Archive Explorer Help page
Note: The Cetacean Sightings Archive is also available in database format together with sighting photo and video links for viewing, query and download here
Send your Comments and Questions to: Archive Explorer Feedback
DONATE
to the non profit wild ocean whale society
Sightings Update
ISSUE SIGHTINGS MAP 2016-039
Jump to: Orca | Humpback Whales | PWS Dolphins
UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES
Sun Dec 04 2016
15:45 • est. 10-12 Orca breaching, heading East just West of Texada Island, Georgia Strait. There were 2 pods with 5-6 animals in each one. There also appeared to be two young calves with them and they were breaching as well. Full out of the water breaching.
Neil Pukesh, Powell River, BC
Sat Nov 26 2016
09:02 • est. 3-4 Orca travelling, heading South off Secret Cove, Malaspina Strait. One hundred feet from the shore. ▫ Observed from Shore
Christian Allen, Secret Cove, BC
Jump to: Orca | Humpback Whales | PWS Dolphins
HUMPBACK WHALES
Wed Dec 07 2016
13:15 • 1 Humpback Whales out from Blubber Bay on Texada Island, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
13:02 • 3 Humpback Whales close to Powell River Mill (Pulp & Paper), Malaspina Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
10:31 • 1 Humpback Whales off Coho / Kiddie Point, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
10:31 • 1 Humpback Whales close to Powell River, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Tue Dec 06 2016
13:40 • Humpback Whales moving slowly, off Sandy (Tree) Island North of Denman Island, Georgia Strait. Seen from Point Holmes in Lazo. There was a group of Sea Lions and in the distance near Tree island, I saw a Humpback. Unsure of how many but it surfaced a few times, just briefly for air. ▫ Observed from Shore
Tara Woods, Lazo, BC
Mon Dec 05 2016
10:00 • 2 Humpback Whales lunge feeding, heading South close to shore in front of Hidden Harbour, Campbell River, Discovery Passage. ▫ Observed from Shore
Jeanne Ralston, Campbell River, BC
Sun Dec 04 2016
16:11 • 2 Humpback Whales tail slaps, heading East near the ferry crossing route from Comox to Powell River Ferry terminal, Georgia Strait. Normal blow hole activity and also noticed what appeared to be spy hopping.
Neil Pukesh, Powell River, BC
12:20 • 2 Humpback Whales off of Harwood Island and Rebecca Rocks, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
08:09 • 3 Humpback Whales moving slowly, heading North in the area of Van Anda, Malaspina Strait.
Candi Little, Texada Island, BC
Fri Dec 02 2016
15:21 • 2 Humpback Whales off Coho / Kiddie Point, Texada Island, Malaspina Strait. Surrounded by a group of Pacific White Sided Dolphins. ▫ Observed from Shore
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
Thu Dec 01 2016
15:18 • 2 Humpback Whales heading North East of Denman Island, Georgia Strait.
12:52 • 2 Humpback Whales midway between Parksville and False Bay, Georgia Strait. Saw a couple of spouts.
Graham Evans, Stowaway Adventures
12:10 • Humpback Whales off Blubber Bay on Texada Island, Malaspina Strait. Viewed with Micheline Macauley from Texada shoreline. ▫ Observed from Shore
Candi Little, Texada Island, BC
11:30 • 3 Humpback Whales near Vivian Island, Malaspina Strait. In area from 11:30 until after 13:30.
11:30 • est. 2 Humpback Whales between Harwood Island and Texada Island, Malaspina Strait. Whales remained in the area for about two hours.
Micheline Macauley, Texada Island, BC
09:44 • 3 Humpback Whales on the Powell River side of Rebecca Rocks, Malaspina Strait. Long way out. ▫ Observed from Shore
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Wed Nov 30 2016
13:58 • 2 Humpback Whales heading East half way between Westview and Rebecca Rocks, Malaspina Strait. Seen from the Viewpoint. ▫ Observed from Shore
Barry Pennell, Powell River, BC
12:02 • Humpback Whales heading North tight to shore near Myrtle Rocks, Malaspina Strait.
Jim Southern, Powell River, BC
11:51 • 2 Humpback Whales heading South off Grief Point, Powell River, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
11:51 • Humpback Whales in front of Powell River, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
11:28 • 2 Humpback Whales below Myrtle Rocks, Powell River, Malaspina Strait. Close to shore. ▫ Observed from Shore
Nina Falls, Powell River, BC
10:08 • 2 Humpback Whales to the right of Rebecca Rocks, Malaspina Strait. Observed from Powell River. ▫ Observed from Shore
10:08 • 3 Humpback Whales close to Blubber Bay, Texada Island, Malaspina Strait. Observed from Powell River. ▫ Observed from Shore
Janet Southcott, Powell River, BC
09:40 • 3 Humpback Whales tail slaps, halfway to Rebecca Rocks from Powell River Viewpoint, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
SIGHTING MEDIA
SIGHTING MEDIA
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Three Humpback tail slapping out near Rebecca Rocks off of Powell River
Wed, 30 Nov 2016 - 6 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Three Humpback tail slapping out near Rebecca Rocks off of Powell River
Wed, 30 Nov 2016 - 6 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
09:24 • 4 Humpback Whales in line with Rebecca Rocks, Powell River, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
09:04 • Humpback Whales off Powell River, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
Janet Southcott, Powell River, BC
--:-- • Humpback Whales between Harwood Island and Texada Island, Malaspina Strait. Humpbacks were observed during the afternoon from Texada Island. They were in several groups. ▫ Observed from Shore
Candi Little, Texada Island, BC
Tue Nov 29 2016
21:38 • 2 Humpback Whales out front of Westview, Malaspina Strait.
Shirley Randall, Beacon B&B, Powell River, BC
10:30 • 4 Humpback Whales off Rebecca Rocks, Georgia Strait. Four more blows centre strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
09:45 • est. 2 Humpback Whales ◦BCY Chinook◦ breaching, in front of Powell River, Malaspina Strait. Off the viewpoint. Two breached at the same time; possibly more than two. ▫ Observed from Shore
SIGHTING MEDIA
SIGHTING MEDIA
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Two Humpback Whales in front of Powell River
Tue, 29 Nov 2016 - 3 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Two Humpback Whales in front of Powell River
Tue, 29 Nov 2016 - 3 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
08:45 • est. 2 Humpback Whales in front of Powell River. Lots of blows close to Texada ferry route; possibly more than two. ▫ Observed from Shore
Janet Southcott, Powell River, BC
Mon Nov 28 2016
16:23 • 4 Humpback Whales toward Vivian Island, Malaspina Strait. Amazing numbers. Estimated that we had 8 or 9 whales on the Malaspina Strait side and another 6 or so on the Georgia Strait side around Rebecca Rocks.
16:19 • 2 Humpback Whales by Harwood Island closer to Powell River Ferry terminal, Malaspina Strait. Sealions porpoising while whales blow closer to shore.
16:19 • Humpback Whales out from Rebecca Rocks, Malaspina Strait. Number of blows.
15:12 • 3-5 Humpback Whales off Coho / Kiddie Point, Texada Island, Georgia Strait. Toward Vancouver Island.
14:54 • 2 Humpback Whales ◦BCX0565 Nick◦ just above Eagle Cove, Texada Island, Malaspina Strait. East side, tight to shore. ▫ On Scene
SIGHTING MEDIA
SIGHTING MEDIA
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whale, BCX0565 Nick, by Harwood Island close to the Powell River ferry terminal
Mon, 28 Nov 2016 - 10 items
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whale, BCX0565 Nick, by Harwood Island close to the Powell River ferry terminal
Mon, 28 Nov 2016 - 10 items
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
09:10 • 4 Humpback Whales off Powell River, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
Steve & Susan Grover, Powell River, BC
09:09 • 3-4 Humpback Whales ◦BCX0380 Zed◦ between Rebecca Rocks and Harwood Island, Malaspina Strait. Powell River side. ▫ Observed from Shore
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
--:-- • 2-3 Humpback Whales foraging, heading towards Vivian Island, Georgia Strait. Spotted from land at Kiddie Point, Texada Island. The Humpbacks dove when Pacific White Sided dolphins were swimming near them. Also observed by Candi Little. ▫ Observed from Shore
SIGHTING MEDIA
SIGHTING MEDIA
Micheline Macauley, Texada Island, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
One Humpback Whale by Clam Bay between Powell River and Westview
Mon, 28 Nov 2016 - 1 items
Micheline Macauley, Texada Island, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
One Humpback Whale by Clam Bay between Powell River and Westview
Mon, 28 Nov 2016 - 1 items
Micheline Macauley, Texada Island, BC
--:-- • 1 Humpback Whales between Powell River Mill (Pulp & Paper) and Westview, Malaspina Strait. Seen from Clam Bay, Texada Island. Also observed by Candi Little. ▫ Observed from Shore
Micheline Macauley, Texada Island, BC
Sun Nov 27 2016
14:48 • Humpback Whales tail slaps and blows, between Rebecca Rocks and Harwood Island, Malaspina Strait. Observed from Powell River shore.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
11:15 • est. 1 Humpback Whales moving slowly, heading North-West just off Tyee Spit, Campbell River, Discovery Passage. Seen offshore of the Campbell River Spit heading north...blowing and moving slowly , 2 - 3 minutes between sightings. ▫ Observed from Shore
Kathleen Sharpe, Campbell River, BC
09:27 • est. 4 Humpback Whales breaching, Vancouver Island side of Rebecca Rocks, Malaspina Strait. At least four. Observed from Powell River shore.
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
09:07 • Humpback Whales off Rebecca Rocks.
SIGHTING MEDIA
SIGHTING MEDIA
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whale between Rebecca Rock and Harwood Island
Sun, 27 Nov 2016 - 1 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whale between Rebecca Rock and Harwood Island
Sun, 27 Nov 2016 - 1 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Sat Nov 26 2016
16:16 • 6-7 Humpback Whales lunge feeding, below Van Anda, Texada Island, Malaspina Strait. Back and forth by the quarry.
15:39 • Humpback Whales passing Van Anda heading towards Eagle Cove, Malaspina Strait.
SIGHTING MEDIA
SIGHTING MEDIA
Micheline Macauley, Texada Island, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whales heading towards Eagle Cove
Sat, 26 Nov 2016 - 4 items
Micheline Macauley, Texada Island, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whales heading towards Eagle Cove
Sat, 26 Nov 2016 - 4 items
Micheline Macauley, Texada Island, BC
14:58 • 3-4 Humpback Whales heading North close to East side of Texada Island, Malaspina Strait. Across from Armour Road right now.
Lorna Rutledge, Powell River, BC
14:00 • 2 Humpback Whales heading West heading towards Myrtle Rocks, Malaspina Strait. Off Whalen Road. One animal in the centre of the strait, and one much closer to Texada Island.
Liz Kennedy, Powell River, BC
11:43 • Humpback Whales at Grief Point, Powell River, Malaspina Strait.
Anne and Ron Baker, Powell River, BC
10:15 • 4 Humpback Whales milling, heading North to lighthouse at Dryad Point, Seaforth Channel. We watched from our boat these 4 Humpbacks yesterday and today milling about in Seaforth Channel between Dryad Pt. and Dumas Pt. Probably feeding - saw the backs and blows several times, then the flukes. Then nothing for 10-15 minutes; pattern repeated many times over an hour or so. ▫ On Scene
Vic Gladish, Bella Bella, BC
Jump to: Orca | Humpback Whales | PWS Dolphins
PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
Wed Dec 07 2016
16:23 • est. 200 PWS Dolphins milling, 2 nautical miles North of Gabriola Island, Georgia Strait.
Bradden Kiley, Painters Lodge, Campbell River
Sat Dec 03 2016
13:13 • PWS Dolphins in large group split, some heading up in Jervis just above Captain Island and the others towards the entrance to Skookumchuck Narrows, Jervis Inlet. ▫ From Ferry
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
Fri Dec 02 2016
15:21 • PWS Dolphins off Coho / Kiddie Point, Texada Island, Malaspina Strait. They were around a few Humpbacks. ▫ Observed from Shore
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
Wed Nov 30 2016
13:35 • 6-8 PWS Dolphins playing, between Nanaimo and Horseshoe Bay, Georgia Strait. Waves of 6-8 playing around the Nanaimo to Horseshoe Bay ferry half-way across the Strait. Kept coming from the South for 10 minutes. ▫ From Ferry
Brian Fentiman,
Mon Nov 28 2016
--:-- • est. 50 PWS Dolphins heading towards Vivian Island, Georgia Strait. Jumping and swimming near 2-3 Humpback whales. Spotted from land at Kiddie Point, Texada Island. Also observed by Candi Little. ▫ Observed from Shore
Micheline Macauley, Texada Island, BC
Sun Nov 27 2016
09:13 • 150-200 PWS Dolphins foraging, between Powell River, Eagle Cove, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
09:07 • PWS Dolphins by Texada Island, Malaspina Strait. Lots of dolphins.
SIGHTING MEDIA
SIGHTING MEDIA
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins between Powell River and Eagle Cove
Sun, 27 Nov 2016 - 2 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins between Powell River and Eagle Cove
Sun, 27 Nov 2016 - 2 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Sat Nov 26 2016
08:00 • est. 30 PWS Dolphins heading South off Powell River, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
SIGHTINGS HEAT MAP 2016-039
Society News & Events
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The Magazine
REGIONAL & WEST COAST
Times-Colonist, Victoria
I earn my living introducing people from all over the world to the majestic beauty of the West Coast and its wildlife. Every day, I watch as tourists are blown away by encounters with wild killer whales, and I’m told how lucky British Columbians are to have such magnificent creatures and unspoiled natural beauty right in our backyard.
But for how much longer will we be able to say that?
Kinder Morgan’s pipeline and tanker proposal threatens the survival of our iconic killer whale population and, as a result, it puts the multimillion-dollar whale-watching industry on the line ....
Grind TV
A day after a migrating gray whale appeared off Dana Point, heralding the start of another whale-watching season in Orange County, a killer whale megapod stole the spotlight.
The rare showing Wednesday of more than 50 offshore killer whales marked the first known appearance of this ecotype in Southern California since last January.
The timing coincides with the anticipated arrival of thousands of gray whales, sporadically over the next several weeks, as they migrate from Arctic feeding grounds to nursing grounds in Mexico ....
CBC News, BC
Humpback whales are returning to B.C. waters in the largest numbers seen in decades.
But some researchers believe the province's coast is becoming perilous for those returning humpbacks because of debris.
Back in mid-September, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) was able to free a whale from a line and anchor; but last week, another humpback whale died after getting tangled in fish farm equipment....
Vancouver Sun, BC
Researchers are using a drone to obtain samples from the blow sprays of humpback whales on the B.C. coast and analyzing the contents as a way to measure health.
Lance Barrett-Lennard, a whale scientist with the Vancouver Aquarium, said Saturday that a drone used last August off northern Vancouver Island flew three to four metres above humpbacks.
In an interview at a marine mammal symposium at the University of B.C., Barrett-Lennard said that the drone is flown off a small motorized research vessel, first conducting flights at an altitude of about 45 metres to obtain images of the overall health of the whales.
CANADA
iTech Post
Climate change affects everyone on Earth. Marine life is especially affected as the oceans also become warm. A study shows that whales might be vulnerable to this. Whales are affected as the climate warms and ice melts in the poles.
Whales who make the Arctic their home during the summer months are greatly affected. There is much study about ice in the poles slowly melting as the climate warms. The loss of habitat could very well disrupt whales as they try to adapt to a changing world....
CBC News
The food chain in Hudson Bay is drastically changing as killer whales take advantage of less sea ice and eat their way into Manitoba, a researcher in Arctic mammal populations says.
Steven Ferguson, a researcher with Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the University of Manitoba, will be presenting his findings in Winnipeg this week at ArcticNet 2016, the largest single gathering of scientists focused on the rapidly changing Arctic.
"We are seeing a lot more killer whale activity in Hudson Bay and they are a top predator. They are really a magnificent, interesting predator — highly efficient," Ferguson said......
Earth Touch News
In the summer of 2015, a research team from Canada's Dalhousie University sailed their boat near an oceanic region called the Flemish Cap, towing an underwater microphone behind them. There, in waters about 500 kilometres east of Newfoundland, the researchers recorded the telltale sounds of an unexpected animal: the northern bottlenose whale. At the time, the team was unable to spot the whales, so this past summer, they went back.
"This summer we sailed directly out there, and there they were," Hal Whitehead, whale researcher at Dalhousie, told CBC News. "They popped up around the boat, and once the fog moved off a little bit, we had a lot of whales, at least 50, more like 100 or 200 in the area."
Sighting over 100 whales in one spot would be exciting enough ...
INTERNATIONAL
orcanorway.info
Earth Touch News
The beautiful aerial footage was captured this week by YouTuber Kieran Donnelly. Humpbacks are some of the most commonly seen whales in the area as they move down south-west Africa biannually – but an aggregation this big is a rare sight! "We were about 1,900 metres offshore," Donnelly notes in the video description.
Horse & Hound, UK
A video has captured the “beautiful interaction” between racehorses and dolphins.
The footage was recorded by Charlotte Littlefield who is from Somerset, but is currently training racehorses in Melbourne, Australia.
Ms Littlefield was exercising horses on the beach on 26 October when the dolphins swam over to investigate.
“We train at the beach most mornings to relax the horses as well as aiding recovery after strenuous workouts,” said Ms Littlefield.
“The dolphins make occasional appearances and love the company of horses often trying to play with them.
“The connection you feel between the two animals is extremely unique and beautiful — it’s a real privilege.
Radio NZ
Fewer Bryde's whales are being hit in Auckland's Hauraki Gulf after a deal to make cargo and cruise ships go slower.
The voluntary protocol was introduced two years ago in a bid to better protect the whales, which are resident year-round in the waters around the north-east Auckland region.
The protocol was developed over a couple of years and involved scientists, shipping companies and the Ports of Auckland....
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