Have You Seen Any of These?

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Killer Whales Popping Up, Dolphins and Porpoise


As we post our Sightings Update and Maps there are more reports of Transient Bigg's Killer Whales by Campbell River including T087 who appears to have joined up with another six whales while another group is a bit farther along. We will post the reports and photos in our next update. There were rumours of Northern Resident Orca, but nothing was ever confirmed. We have had a number of Pacific White Sided Dolphins and Dall's and Harbour Porpoise, but what is missing from the central to Northern Georgia Strait are the Humpback Whales.
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society

Society News & Events

Our Earth Day Fundraiser held in Powell River was a great success and together with the funds we raised last year, has provided enough to obtain the equipment needed for our first Real Time Monitoring Station slated for Grief Point in Powell River. Well done volunteers and all those who donated!

Are you the type of volunteer interested in Cetacea and mapping, who would be willing to spend some time with our growing Society network?

Review our current Volunteer Job Postings

Summer 2016 Raffle: This year our draw will be on Canada Day, July 1st. Great prizes include Pacific Coastal Flight, Eagle Eye Adventure Tour, Stubbs Island Whale Watching Tour, BC Ferries Pass, Campbell River Whale Watching Tour, I'Hos Cultural Tour, Discovery Marine Safaris Tour, and Beyond the Road Desolation Sound Cruise. Tickets are $5. each and can be ordered through our Add To Cart button.

Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
We are the non-profit Wild Ocean Whale Society
Call 1-877-323-9776


Sightings Update
SIGHTINGS MAP 2016-010
SIGHTINGS LOCATIONS MAP


TRANSIENT BIGG'S KILLER WHALES

Mon Apr 25 2016

17:16 • Bigg`s Orca heading West and South out of Active Pass. ◦T49s◦
Aaron Nagler, Vancouver, BC


Sat Apr 23 2016

13:30 • 5 Bigg`s Orca by Steep Island, Discovery Passage. ◦T101s, T102◦ Two males, three females. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours


Wed Apr 20 2016

16:10 • 7 Bigg`s Orca heading South-West between the north end of Gambier Island and the north end of Woolridge Island, Howe Sound. ◦T124s◦
Aaron Nagler, Vancouver, BC



SOUTHERN RESIDENT KILLER WHALES

Mon Apr 25 2016

17:16 • SRKW Orca heading South at the Northern end of Haro Strait. ◦J-pod◦
Aaron Nagler, Vancouver, BC


Tue Apr 19 2016

11:05 • 3 SRKW Orca travelling, heading South-West off East Point on Saturna Island, Boundary Pass. A large fin (male) was seen. ▫ Observed from Shore
Shirley Sparks, East point



Southern Resident Killer Whales
Tue Apr 19 2016 - 1 Images / Media Files
Shirley Sparks, East point


Southern Resident Killer Whales
Tue Apr 19 2016 - 1 Images / Media Files
Shirley Sparks, East point





UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES

Tue Apr 26 2016

10:15 • 12 Orca heading North off of Qualicum Beach heading towards Denman Island, Georgia Strait. One adult seemed to be teaching a calf to breach or tail slap. Hard to distinguish. Adult doing full breach.
Jack Yensen, Parksville



Unidentified Killer Whales
Orca off Qualicum Beach
Tue Apr 26 2016 - 2 Images / Media Files
Jack Yensen, Parksville



Unidentified Killer Whales
Orca off Qualicum Beach
Tue Apr 26 2016 - 2 Images / Media Files
Jack Yensen, Parksville



08:35 • Orca likely off of Bates Beach closer to Vancouver Island, Georgia Strait. Ferry is angled towards Bates Beach but whale can not be seen from Powell River. ▫ From Ferry
Aaron Webber, Campbell River Whale Watching


Mon Apr 25 2016

09:38 • 4-5 Orca heading South passed Myrtle Rocks in the center of Malaspina Strait. Two bulls and two calves observed in the group.
Jim Southern, Powell River

07:59 • 3-4 Orca heading South in front of Powell River, Malaspina Strait. They were observed from the Westview Ferry Docks. ▫ Observed from Shore
Barry Pennell, Powell River


Sun Apr 24 2016

12:24 • 1+ Orca heading North-West past Dinner Rock angling towards the east end of Savary Island, Malaspina Strait. Centre of strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
11:40 • 1-3 Orca heading North off of Sliammon North of Powell River, Malaspina Strait. In lumpy seas. ▫ Observed from Shore
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins B.C.

11:12 • Orca heading South in Lewis Channel.
Curtis, Coast Wild Fishing


Sat Apr 23 2016

15:52 • 2 Orca heading North off the ferry terminal at Powell River, Malaspina Strait.
Barry Pennell, Powell River

12:57 • 2 Orca heading South in Seymour Narrows, Discovery Passage. Two big fins.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours

11:00 • Orca at Race Point, Discovery Passage. Orca groups from earlier passed each other going in different direction. No interaction at all.
10:01 • 3 Orca heading South at Browns Bay, Discovery Passage. Small fins fighting the tide.
09:33 • 5-6 Orca heading North at Cape Mudge Lighthouse on Quadra Island, Georgia Strait. One large male was observed.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching


Thu Apr 21 2016

12:30 • 7-8 Orca heading North near Comox, Baynes Sound. Turned towards Powell River/Texada Island. Nothing overly exciting. Possibly chasing fish. They did not go in a straight line!.
Blair Smith, Courtenay



Unidentified Killer Whales
Thu Apr 21 2016 - 2 Images / Media Files
Blair Smith, Courtenay



Unidentified Killer Whales
Thu Apr 21 2016 - 2 Images / Media Files
Blair Smith, Courtenay



11:47 • 5 Orca off Gartley Point, Baynes Sound. One big bull in the group. They were heading into the bay. ▫ Second Hand
Bill Coltart, Pacific Pro Dive


Wed Apr 20 2016

16:00 • 3-5 Orca breaching, heading South between Cortes Island and Copeland Islands, Malaspina Strait. They hung around my boat for 20 mins swimming super close. ▫ On Scene
Chris Murdock, Cortes Island



Unidentified Killer Whales
Close Encounter
Wed Apr 20 2016 - 3 Images / Media Files
Chris Murdock, Cortes Island




Unidentified Killer Whales
Close Encounter
Wed Apr 20 2016 - 3 Images / Media Files
Chris Murdock, Cortes Island





PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS

Mon Apr 25 2016

15:00 • PWS Dolphins in Frederick Arm. ▫ Second Hand
Radio, overheard or call out


Sat Apr 23 2016

14:24 • 15 PWS Dolphins milling, at McMullen Point, Discovery Passage.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours


Fri Apr 22 2016

13:33 • 12 PWS Dolphins near Hardinge Island, Nodales Channel. ▫ Second Hand
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours

09:02 • 20 PWS Dolphins heading North passing Myrtle Rocks, Malaspina Strait.
Jim Southern, Powell River


Thu Apr 21 2016

19:30 • 5 PWS Dolphins milling, about half a mile off of Brew Bay South of Powell River, Malaspina Strait. They were observed for 10 minutes or so. Because of their behaviour and being such a small group , I thought they were harbour porpoises; a closer look with a scope showed that they were Dolphins. ▫ Observed from Shore
Robert Johnson, Powell River

10:51 • 12 PWS Dolphins foraging, off Copper Bluffs on the West side of Quadra Island, Discovery Passage.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching


Wed Apr 20 2016

15:15 • 15 PWS Dolphins playing, heading North in Deepwater Bay, Discovery Passage.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours



DALL'S PORPOISE

Mon Apr 25 2016

15:00 • Dall`s Porpoise in Frederick Arm. ▫ Second Hand
Radio, overheard or call out


Fri Apr 22 2016

15:38 • 2 Dall`s Porpoise East of Rendezvous Islands, Drew Passage.
Jos Krynen, Eagle Eye Adventures



HARBOUR PORPOISE

Fri Apr 22 2016

12:40 • 3-5 Harbour Porpoise zig zagging, heading North-East about 2.5km south-east of Point Atkinson and 2.5km south-west of West Bay, Burrard Inlet. Was paddling back from Lighthouse Park to False Creek when just about 20min from Lighthouse Park I saw the porpoises come up for air. ▫ On Scene
Nima Mostaghimi, Vancouver

12:20 • 2-3 Harbour Porpoise heading North off Whytecliff Park in West Vancouver, Queen Charlotte Channel. I was able to see them through binoculars. ▫ Observed from Shore
Ivan Ng, North Vancouver


Wed Apr 20 2016

14:30 • 4 Harbour Porpoise travelling, heading South by the park in Whytecliff in West Vancouver, Queen Charlotte Channel. The porpoises surfaced about 50 m from the shore. ▫ Observed from Shore
Ivan Ng, North Vancouver

SIGHTINGS HEAT MAP 2016-010
SIGHTINGS HEAT MAP


The Magazine
REGIONAL & WEST COAST

Blue Ocean Whale Watch



Three gray whale cow/calf pairs cruising together through the kelp forest beneath the cliffs of Big Sur, chaperoned by a bottlenose dolphin.


Breitbart News, CA




The Orca attack on a large pod of Common dolphins was captured on video by a whale-watcher with Sanctuary Cruises near Moss Landing Harbor, CA. The video shows the dolphins swimming away and leaping in desperation, causing a flurry of waves as they scatter to safety, and then follows the Orca pod sharing the meal among the pod and their young.


News OK, OK


Federal biologists have temporarily stopped tagging endangered killer whales in Washington state's Puget Sound after a dead orca was found with pieces of a dart tag lodged in its dorsal fin.

Researchers use a dart projector to fire the small satellite-linked transmitters into the animals to track where they go in the winter and how they find food. An initial exam ...


CANADA

CBC News, NS


These marine behemoths may have their own distinct dialects and cultures — and prefer other whales that are most like themselves, according to a marine researcher at Dalhousie University in Halifax.

After analyzing 30 years of underwater recordings, PhD candidate Mauricio Cantor has found sperm whales learn to communicate from their peers and relatives, in much the same way that humans do.


Hakai Magazine


This in depth article looks at how lost fishing gear keeps on doing the job it was designed for long after its owners are gone, entangling and trapping marine mammals ...


INTERNATIONAL

Science World Report


Researchers are highlighting the role of dolphins as an animal sentinel in identifying a public health hazard. This article looks at recent research in Florida, that has found similar mercury levels among human poulations in the viscinity of dolphin pods identified with high mercury levels.



Giant Blue-Finned Tuna - Killer Whale - BBC Animals
BBC Animals




A BBC film available online looks at Orca outsmarting fishermen in the Mediterranean.


Submissions
The WOWs Magazine welcomes reader submissions of links to Published Articles and Media. We also welcome submissions of original: Articles, Letters, Notices, Photography, Video and Audio.

In the Desktop viewer, please look for the Magazine Submissions Button at the bottom of the page and in the top sidebar

Original Material Guidelines:
Notices: max. 100 words; Letters & Articles: max. 500 words. You or your organization must be the Authors of the work and are solely responsible for its content.
The WOWs Magazine gives no assurance material submitted will be published.

Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
We are the non-profit Wild Ocean Whale Society
Call 1-877-323-9776

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Killer Whales and the Humpback in Vancouver Still Top our Report


A Humpback Whale seems to have found some good food, presumably herring, to feed on in the Vancouver area still. Our volunteer Ivan was kayaking and managed a short video clip for us, while Kristy Wright managed to get video of the whale breaching. Once the big rumblings of earthquakes stopped, more whales and dolphins have made their way into the upper Georgia Strait. We've had a number of Transient Bigg's Killer Whales T023s who appear to be following larger groups of Pacific White Sided Dolphins and some Dall's Porpoise. The Resident Orca pods seem to be staying outside of Georgia Strait. On a sadder note, heartbreaking for the endangered Southern Resident Orca population, the two Orca that died within the last two Sightings Reports were both Southern Residents.
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society


Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Photo by Michelle Pennell, Powell River


Society News & Events

We're gearing up for our Earth Day Buffet Fundraising Event this Friday, April 22 in Powell River at Beach Gardens Resort and Marina. This will be the first in the series of locations for our Real Time Monitoring Stations coming soon to your internet. This fundraiser should do the trick to finalize our in house financing of this project. We will keep you posted on our progress.

We are always looking for volunteers interested in Cetacea and mapping, who would be willing to spend some time with our growing Society network.

Would you like to Volunteer and be a part of our growing Society? 
Review our current Volunteer Job Postings

We are also starting our 2016 Summer Raffle with another batch of great prizes! This year the draw will be on Canada Day, July 1st..fewer tickets better odds of winning...we are ready to go...with the focus on our Earth Day Event, there will be more details in the next update.

Our GoFundMe Campaign to help us out with our series of Real Time Monitoring Stations can be accessed at: Keep Wild Ocean Whale Society Live
Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
We are the non-profit Wild Ocean Whale Society
Call 1-877-323-9776


Sightings Update
SIGHTINGS MAP 2016-009
SIGHTINGS LOCATIONS MAP


TRANSIENT BIGG'S KILLER WHALES

Tue Apr 19 2016

12:00 • 3 Bigg`s Orca West of Kinghorn Island, Lewis Channel. Lost Them.
Jos Krynen, Eagle Eye Adventures



Transient Bigg' s Killer Whales
Tue Apr 19 2016 - 5 Images / Media Files
Jos Krynen, Eagle Eye Adventures






Transient Bigg' s Killer Whales
Tue Apr 19 2016 - 5 Images / Media Files
Jos Krynen, Eagle Eye Adventures



11:09 • 3 Bigg`s Orca coming up to Mary Point on Cortes Island, Malaspina Strait. ◦T002c family◦ ▫ On Scene
10:41 • 3 Bigg`s Orca on the East side of Twin Islands, Malaspina Strait.
10:03 • 2 Bigg`s Orca off Hernando Island, Baker Passage. ▫ Radio Report
Jos Krynen, Eagle Eye Adventures


Mon Apr 18 2016

15:03 • Bigg`s Orca heading North at Five Finger Island just north of Nanaimo, Georgia Strait. Reported from Simon on Wild Whales Vancouver. ▫ Second Hand
Aaron Nagler, Vancouver, BC


Sun Apr 17 2016

19:33 • Bigg`s Orca heading South near Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait. ◦T023s◦ Two pods grouped up near Mitlenatch Island. They scared a pod of around 30 dolphins and swam by sea lions off Mitlenatch. Moving slowly southbound. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours



Transient Bigg' s Killer Whales
Sun Apr 17 2016 - 10 Images / Media Files
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours











Transient Bigg' s Killer Whales
Sun Apr 17 2016 - 10 Images / Media Files
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours



18:34 • Bigg`s Orca heading North Grief Point, Powell River, Malaspina Strait.
Liz and Ted Douglas, Powell River

18:10 • 2 Bigg`s Orca heading North Black (Albion) Point, Sunshine Coast, Malaspina Strait.
Nick Gregory, Powell River, BC

16:34 • 7 Bigg`s Orca heading South past the Cape Mudge Lighthouse on Quadra Island, Georgia Strait. They seem to be heading south mid-channel again. ▫ Leaving the Scene
16:27 • 7 Bigg`s Orca heading South past the Cape Mudge Lighthouse on Quadra Island. Both Orca groups.
Jerry Weldon, Eagle Eye Adventures

16:02 • Bigg`s Orca heading South Cape Mudge Village on Quadra Island, Discovery Passage. East side of the channel out from the white church heading towards the lighthouse.
Mark Howell, On A Dime Outdoor Adventures

15:47 • Bigg`s Orca heading South Discovery Harbour Marina, Campbell River, Discovery Passage.
Jerry Weldon, Eagle Eye Adventures

15:00 • Bigg`s Orca at Sydney Island, Jervis Inlet. ◦T011As◦
Aaron Nagler, Vancouver, BC

14:52 • 10 Bigg`s Orca Race Point, Discovery Passage. ◦T023s◦ Both groups together now (7 + 3). Later photo IDs were of the T023s. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching



Transient Bigg' s Killer Whales
Sun Apr 17 2016 - 3 Images / Media Files
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching




Transient Bigg' s Killer Whales
Sun Apr 17 2016 - 3 Images / Media Files
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching



14:10 • 7 Bigg`s Orca heading South Seymour Narrows, Discovery Passage. These are more Orca than the previous report.
14:07 • 3 Bigg`s Orca approaching Browns Bay, Discovery Passage.
13:52 • 2 Bigg`s Orca heading South at Deepwater Bay, Quadra Island, Discovery Passage.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching

13:09 • 2 Bigg`s Orca heading North almost to Myrtle Rocks, Sunshine Coast, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Second Hand
Nick Gregory, Powell River, BC


Sat Apr 16 2016

??:?? • Bigg`s Orca in English Bay near Howe Sound, Burrard Inlet. ▫ Second Hand
Aaron Nagler, Vancouver, BC


Sat Apr 09 2016

13:48 • Bigg`s Orca heading South near Hole in the Wall, Calm Channel. ◦T002Cs◦ ▫ Leaving the Scene
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours



UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES

Wed Apr 20 2016

08:45 • 5-7 Orca travelling, heading North-East off Passage Island near Bowen Island, Queen Charlotte Channel. We spotted the orca whales from our balcony on Dorman Point, Bowen Island and watched them in our binoculars as they travelled past the house on their way up towards Howe Sound. ▫ Observed from Shore
Terri John, Bowen Island


Sun Apr 17 2016

13:30 • 4-5 Orca heading North off Powell River, Malaspina Strait.
Mike Filewich


Sat Apr 16 2016

20:00 • 7-9 Orca heading South off Roberts Creek, Georgia Strait.
18:00 • 8-9 Orca heading South off the pier at Roberts Creek. The Orca were headed towards Vancouver Island. They were swimming back and forth around the strait, splitting off in small groups and then meeting back up. At times, swimming fast and breaching, and at times, they were all in one spot in a tight group (eating?). It seemed like 2 large males and some females and babies.
Brandi Mladenich, Roberts Creek

11:37 • 4-5 Orca heading South from Browns Bay, Discovery Passage.
Geord Dunstan, Discovery Marine Safaris



Kayaking with Humpback Whale in Vancouver
Video by Ivan Ng



Kayaking with Humpback Whale in Vancouver
Video by Ivan Ng


HUMPBACK WHALES

Mon Apr 18 2016

10:45 • 1 Humpback Whales breaching, in English Bay off of Vancouver, Burrard Inlet. We observed the whale for about 20 minutes from a power boat. It was milling around and surfacing regularly for a while. Then, the whale started to breach at at distance; it breached about 10 times. ▫ On Scene
Ivan Ng, North Vancouver


Sun Apr 17 2016

20:30 • 1 Humpback Whales foraging, off Spanish Bank in Vancouver Harbour, Burrard Inlet. The whale was lunge feeding.
Aaron Nagler, Vancouver, BC


Sat Apr 16 2016

12:50 • 1 Humpback Whales travelling, heading East 500m off Spanish Banks, Burrard Inlet. Seen from Kayak. ▫ On Scene
Eric Schwartz, Vancouver


Wed Apr 13 2016

12:10 • 1 Humpback Whales milling, in English Bay off Vancouver, Burrard Inlet. The whale was surfacing regularly for about 10 minutes. It was in-between Jericho Beach and Kitsilano Beach. There were a few harbour seals and sea lions in the area too. ▫ From Kayak
Ivan Ng, North Vancouver


Sun Apr 10 2016

11:42 • 1 Humpback Whales heading North at Race Point, 50th Parallel Marker, Discovery Passage.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching

09:50 • 1 Humpback Whales heading North by the spit in Campbell River, Discovery Passage.
Jos Krynen, Eagle Eye Adventures


Sat Apr 09 2016

15:13 • 1 Humpback Whales still in English Bay off of Vancouver, Burrard Inlet. Looking through binoculars saw a few blows and part of the back of the whale.
Ivan Ng, Vancouver, BC


Fri Apr 08 2016

12:00 • 1 Humpback Whales in English Bay off of Vancouver. ▫ Second Hand
Ivan Ng, North Vancouver


Sat Apr 02 2016

13:00 • 1 Humpback Whales English Bay, Burrard Inlet.
Alison Palmer, Vancouver



PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS

Mon Apr 18 2016

15:03 • 100 PWS Dolphins heading North around Atrevida Reef heading towards Lund, Malaspina Strait.
Steve & Susan Grover, Powell River, BC

13:12 • PWS Dolphins in front of the wharf in Powell River, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC



Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Mon Apr 18 2016 - 8 Images / Media Files
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC









Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Mon Apr 18 2016 - 8 Images / Media Files
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC




Sun Apr 17 2016

19:33 • 30 PWS Dolphins heading South near Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait. Two pods of Orca grouped up near Mitlenatch Island. They scared a pod of around 30 dolphins and swam by sea lions off Mitlenatch. Moving slowly southbound. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours

12:39 • 15-20 PWS Dolphins heading South Horn Point, Dent Rapids. Very active.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching

12:26 • PWS Dolphins half a mile east of Vivian Island, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Second Hand
Jos Krynen, Eagle Eye Adventures


Thu Apr 14 2016

18:18 • 80-100 PWS Dolphins heading South spread out between Elk Bay and Okisollo Channel, Discovery Passage.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching

16:52 • PWS Dolphins heading South by Greensea Bay, Discovery Passage.
Radio, overheard or call out

16:33 • 20-30 PWS Dolphins at Hardinge Island, Nodales Channel.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching


Sun Apr 10 2016

14:50 • PWS Dolphins Howe Island, Nodales Channel.
Jos Krynen, Eagle Eye Adventures


Fri Apr 08 2016

10:00 • 6 PWS Dolphins hunting, heading North-East 100 feet off shore Davis Bay, Georgia Strait. Seen from the pier. ▫ Observed from Shore
Brian Blackwell, Sechelt


Thu Apr 07 2016

21:40 • PWS Dolphins off the point at the lighthouse in West Vancouver, Burrard Inlet.
Katie Huie



DALL'S PORPOISE

Tue Apr 19 2016

15:51 • 4 Dall`s Porpoise milling, off Marina Reef, Sutil Channel.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours


Mon Apr 18 2016

18:00 • 100 Dall`s Porpoise heading South just off Lighthouse Park in West Vancouver, Georgia Strait. Tough to tell for sure other than they were small and didn't surface much or high out of the water.
Noel Tetrault, Delta


Thu Apr 14 2016

16:33 • 6 Dall`s Porpoise in Denham Bay, Dent Rapids.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching

16:28 • 4-6 Dall`s Porpoise heading North half-way between Rebecca Rocks and Texada Island, Georgia Strait.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins B.C.


Wed Apr 13 2016

09:03 • 10-12 Dall`s Porpoise off Lund, Malaspina Strait. The porpoises were foraging and zipping around.
Gordie Coles, Lund, BC



HARBOUR PORPOISE

Tue Apr 19 2016

17:30 • Harbour Porpoise heading North from the Viewpoint in Powell River, Malaspina Strait. They were heading towards the Mill.
Barry Pennell, Powell River, BC


Sun Apr 17 2016

19:36 • 2 Harbour Porpoise between Salmon Point and Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours



Breaching Humpback Whale in Vancouver
Video by Kristy Wright



Breaching Humpback Whale in Vancouver
Video by Kristy Wright
SIGHTINGS HEAT MAP 2016-009
SIGHTINGS HEAT MAP


The Magazine
REGIONAL & WEST COAST

CBC TV Vancouver




Residents and tourists have spotted a humpback whale in English Bay since March, around Easter weekend, when it came incredibly close to a group of boaters.


National Observer


While the landmark Great Bear Rainforest conservation agreements have unfolded around them in a series of internationally-celebrated milestones over the last 15 years, Wray and her research partner Hermann Meuter have kept their eyes and ears to the sea. In the process they have tracked a remarkable ecological recovery and found themselves in front row seats at the epicentre of a nationwide pitched battle.


CTV News Vancouver


The Department of Fisheries and Oceans is investigating after a massive grey whale washed ashore near Tofino.
The young cetacean was discovered on a beach near the Wya Point Resort in Ucluelet earlier this week.
It’s unclear how the whale died, and no obvious signs of trauma can be seen. The DFO is now trying to determine how and why the animal died.




A gray whale yearling put on quite a show for those at the Redondo Beach Pier Wednesday afternoon, rolling in the surf and spouting as it came up for air.


Blue Ocean Whale Watch,
Monterrey bay, CA


Vancouver Sun


A recent study looked at the carcasses of more than 900 Alaskan mammals from seals to whales to look for the presence of domoic acid and saxitoxin, two common and potentially lethal algae-produced toxins.

Blooms of the algae that produce those toxins are increasingly common in California, where they regularly poison sea lions. Saxitoxin has long been present in shellfish in some parts of Alaska.

But a sea lion suffering from domoic acid poisoning, which causes seizures and death, had never been found north of California — until last year when one was found in Washington.....


INTERNATIONAL


Surfing Dolphins - Byron Bay - Australia
Sean O'Shea Art


The Guardian, UK


29 sperm whales stranded on shores around the North Sea. The results of the necropsies (the animal equivalent of autopsies) of 13 of those whales, which beached in Germany, near the town of Tönning in Schleswig-Holstein, have just been released. The animals’ stomachs were filled with plastic debris. A 13-metre-long fishing net, a 70cm piece of plastic from a car and other pieces of plastic litter had been inadvertently ingested by the animals, who may have thought they were food, such as squid, their main diet, which they consume by sucking their prey into their mouths.


BBC News


Scientists studying Scotland's resident population of killer whales have identified an individual animal which hit the headlines in the 1970s.
The orca swam up the River Foyle in Northern Ireland in November 1977.
Efforts to persuade it to return to the open sea failed, leading to it being dubbed "Dopey Dick" by journalists in Londonderry.


New Scientist


Bottlenose dolphins have been observed chattering while cooperating to solve a tricky puzzle – a feat that suggests they have a type of vocalisation dedicated to cooperating on problem solving.


Submissions
The WOWs Magazine welcomes reader submissions of links to Published Articles and Media. We also welcome submissions of original: Articles, Letters, Notices, Photography, Video and Audio.

In the Desktop viewer, please look for the Magazine Submissions Button at the bottom of the page and in the top sidebar

Original Material Guidelines:
Notices: max. 100 words; Letters & Articles: max. 500 words. You or your organization must be the Authors of the work and are solely responsible for its content.
The WOWs Magazine gives no assurance material submitted will be published.

Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
We are the non-profit Wild Ocean Whale Society
Call 1-877-323-9776