After the flurry of activity in our last report, the Pacific White Sided Dolphins seem to have regrouped into slightily smaller groups and have been reported foraging and moving quickly, with no confirmed evidence of them being chased by Bigg`s Killer Whales. But some of the Killer Whales, although being seen in a few areas, also seem to vanish quickly.
Humpback Whales are still in the inside waters, and we feel that some are in the more remote inlets of the upper Georgia Strait. Humpbacks don`t tend to stay in close proximity to Orca or Dolphins. Perhaps due to Orca and Dolphins communicating in a much higher pitch than Humpbacks.
It`s great to hear about some Harbour Porpoise to round out this report. These shy Porpoise are not as easy to spot as they do not produce some of the spectular leaps that Dolphins do. With their numbers felt to be in the decline, we appreciate the reports. Every report is valuable so keep your eyes open and give us a call or email.
Are you enjoying our new WOWs Archive Explorer maps? We'd love to get some feedback from you.
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
Humpback Whales are still in the inside waters, and we feel that some are in the more remote inlets of the upper Georgia Strait. Humpbacks don`t tend to stay in close proximity to Orca or Dolphins. Perhaps due to Orca and Dolphins communicating in a much higher pitch than Humpbacks.
It`s great to hear about some Harbour Porpoise to round out this report. These shy Porpoise are not as easy to spot as they do not produce some of the spectular leaps that Dolphins do. With their numbers felt to be in the decline, we appreciate the reports. Every report is valuable so keep your eyes open and give us a call or email.
Are you enjoying our new WOWs Archive Explorer maps? We'd love to get some feedback from you.
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
Pacific White Sided Dolphin and Sea Lion travelling together off the Powell River Ferry Terminal
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Society News & Events
Real Time Monitoring Station Update:
The weather, co-ordinating equipment and volunteers, and the holiday season caused a variety of delays in the installation of our first live system. Although it's not up and running yet, it is being worked on, albeit a bit slower than anticipated. Thanks to some great volunteers, the specialized camera mast has been fitted, but not secured yet, our electrical components have had a few modifications that were not anticipated, and the work continues. The hydrophone, underwater listening device, will be installed as soon after the camera as possible with co-ordination of the divers. We can hardly wait and will keep you posted.
Our team of Volunteers continue to do a great job in making sure all your reports are mapped and published regularly. Would you like to join us?
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Sightings Update
ISSUE SIGHTINGS MAP 2017-002
Jump to: Orca | Humpback Whales | PWS Dolphins | Harbour Porpoise
UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES
Fri Jan 13 2017
11:39 • 5 Orca off Lund, Malaspina Strait.
Eric Green, Powell River CCG
Mon Jan 09 2017
13:00 • 3-4 Orca heading north of Grief Point, Malaspina Strait. Mid-Strait.
Pam Futer, Powell River, BC
12:50 • 8-10 Orca heading north in front of Powell River Viewpoint, Malaspina Strait. One big male, at least one sprouter and one young calf in the mix. ▫ Observed from Shore
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
12:45 • 3 Orca heading north from Grief Point toward Powell River Viewpoint, Malaspina Strait.
SIGHTING MEDIA
SIGHTING MEDIA
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Unidentified Killer Whales
Three Killer Whales heading North off of Grief Point
Mon, 9 Jan 2017 - 5 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Unidentified Killer Whales
Three Killer Whales heading North off of Grief Point
Mon, 9 Jan 2017 - 5 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
09:51 • 3 Orca taking long dives, below light at Blubber Bay closer to Texada Island, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
09:20 • 3 Orca heading south out from Powell River Viewpoint angling towards Blubber Bay, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
Sat Jan 07 2017
15:32 • Orca heading south at Cape Mudge, Georgia Strait.
Jen Furst, Campbell River Whale Watching
Fri Jan 06 2017
--:-- • Orca milling, between Gabriola Island and Nanaimo Harbour, Georgia Strait. They have been hanging around for a few days. ▫ Second Hand
Angela Prive, Gabriola Island, BC
Jump to: Orca | Humpback Whales | PWS Dolphins | Harbour Porpoise
HUMPBACK WHALES
Sun Jan 15 2017
11:30 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south between Lang Bay and Texada Island, Malaspina Strait. Off Mahood Beach. Just blowing and surfacing backs.
Maria Glaze, Powell River, BC
Wed Jan 11 2017
16:09 • 3 Humpback Whales heading north above Myrtle Rocks closer to Texada Island, Malaspina Strait. Mom, calf and escort. ▫ Observed from Shore
Jim Southern, Powell River, BC
11:10 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north just past Campbell River Fishing Pier, Discovery Passage.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Thu Jan 05 2017
08:14 • 2-3 Humpback Whales milling, between Nanaimo and Gabriola Island, Georgia Strait. From Sundown Diving. Been in the area for three days. ▫ Second Hand
Bill Coltart, Pacific Pro Dive
07:45 • 2 Humpback Whales by Protection Island, Nanaimo Harbour. ▫ From Ferry
Mike Reid, Gabriola Island, BC
--:-- • 2 Humpback Whales milling, between Gabriola Island and Nanaimo Harbour, Georgia Strait. They have been hanging around for a few days.
Angela Prive, Gabriola Island, BC
Wed Jan 04 2017
09:43 • 2 Humpback Whales in Lund, Malaspina Strait. Observed whales surfacing in Lund harbour while going to help Lund Hotel gas dock customer. Initial sightings off end of Lund Hotel Long Term dock, second sighting 20-30 meters off end of Hotel dock, and further sightings around north end of breakwater until about 0949. Further few sightings approx. 0955 as whales were closer to Finn Bay shore and appeared to be heading in a northerly direction. Will upload what few photos I was able to get, but I counted at least 6 and up to approx. 10-12 instances of surfacing during this time. ▫ Observed from Shore
SIGHTING MEDIA
SIGHTING MEDIA
Jason Law, Lund, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Two Humpback Whales in and around Lund
Wed, 4 Jan 2017 - 2 items
Jason Law, Lund, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Two Humpback Whales in and around Lund
Wed, 4 Jan 2017 - 2 items
Jason Law, Lund, BC
--:-- • 2 Humpback Whales off Gabriola Island, Georgia Strait.
SIGHTING MEDIA
SIGHTING MEDIA
Angela Prive, Gabriola Island, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Two Humpback Whales off of Gabriola Island during sunrise
Wed, 4 Jan 2017 - 2 items
Angela Prive, Gabriola, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Two Humpback Whales off of Gabriola Island during sunrise
Wed, 4 Jan 2017 - 2 items
Angela Prive, Gabriola, BC
Jump to: Orca | Humpback Whales | PWS Dolphins | Harbour Porpoise
PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
Sat Jan 14 2017
15:45 • est. 100 PWS Dolphins off the north tip of Hornby Island, Georgia Strait. Long way off.
Micheline Macauley, Texada Island, BC
11:46 • est. 100 PWS Dolphins frolicking, heading north off the north tip of Hornby Island.
SIGHTING MEDIA
SIGHTING MEDIA
Candi Little, Texada Island, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
About a hundred Pacific White Sided Dolphins heading North past Hornby Island
Sat, 14 Jan 2017 - 1 items
Candi Little, Texada Island, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
About a hundred Pacific White Sided Dolphins heading North past Hornby Island
Sat, 14 Jan 2017 - 1 items
Candi Little, Texada Island, BC
Tue Jan 10 2017
16:05 • PWS Dolphins foraging, going back and forth, between Powell River Viewpoint and Grief Point, Malaspina Strait. Close to shore. A boat ran into the middle of the pod.
Madeline Lockstead, Powell River, BC
14:53 • 150-200 PWS Dolphins between Westview and Harwood Island, Malaspina Strait.
Candi Little, Texada Island, BC
13:21 • est. 30 PWS Dolphins heading south by Powell River Viewpoint, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
13:21 • est. 60 PWS Dolphins heading north from Grief Point, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
13:19 • 6-8 PWS Dolphins close to Harwood Island, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
Heather Harbord, Powell River, BC
12:39 • 25-40 PWS Dolphins heading north off Grief Point, Powell River, Malaspina Strait.
John and Joan Treen, Powell River and Savary Island, BC
12:39 • 25-40 PWS Dolphins heading north off Grief Point, Powell River.
Pam Futer, Powell River, BC
12:22 • PWS Dolphins heading south in front of Powell River Viewpoint, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
SIGHTING MEDIA
SIGHTING MEDIA
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins in front of the Powell River Viewpoint
Tue, 10 Jan 2017 - 9 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins in front of the Powell River Viewpoint
Tue, 10 Jan 2017 - 9 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Fri Jan 06 2017
14:00 • est. 200 PWS Dolphins frolicking, heading south-east between Mystery Reef and Atrevida Reef, Malaspina Strait. 3 groups of dolphins all headed south-east came in couple waves to play in boat wake as we were headed south from Atreveda marker to Mystery reef area. Hung out for a bit, surfing bow wake in groups of 8-20. Then, traded spots continuously till we got to about second beach area when they left . ▫ From Power or Sail Boat
Bill McKinnon, Powell River, BC
--:-- • PWS Dolphins milling, between Gabriola Island and Nanaimo Harbour, Georgia Strait. They have been hanging around for a few days. ▫ Second Hand
Angela Prive, Gabriola Island, BC
Thu Jan 05 2017
16:13 • PWS Dolphins foraging, just north of Grief Point near Powell River, Malaspina Strait. Dolphins were with sea lions. ▫ Observed from Shore
Madeline Lockstead, Powell River, BC
15:48 • est. 300 PWS Dolphins playing and foraging, between Powell River Ferry terminal and Willingdon Beach, Malaspina Strait. Dolphins were with sea lions. ▫ Observed from Shore
SIGHTING MEDIA
SIGHTING MEDIA
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins travelling with a Sea Lion between the Powell River Ferry Terminal and Willingdon Beach
Thu, 5 Jan 2017 - 6 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins travelling with a Sea Lion between the Powell River Ferry Terminal and Willingdon Beach
Thu, 5 Jan 2017 - 6 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
15:00 • PWS Dolphins bow riding, heading south between Sliammon Creek and Harwood Island, Malaspina Strait. Many dolphins playing around the bow of travelling boat with some ahead and behind the boat. ▫ Observed from Shore
SIGHTING MEDIA
SIGHTING MEDIA
Joanne Kirk-Southworth, Powell River, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins between Sliammon Creek and Harwood Island
Thu, 5 Jan 2017 - 2 items
Joanne Kirk-Southworth, Powell River, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins between Sliammon Creek and Harwood Island
Thu, 5 Jan 2017 - 2 items
Joanne Kirk-Southworth, Powell River, BC
14:42 • PWS Dolphins by Gibsons Beach near Powell River, Malaspina Strait. Joining another group. ▫ Observed from Shore
13:52 • PWS Dolphins heading south by Gibsons Beach near Powell River. ▫ Observed from Shore
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Wed Jan 04 2017
15:20 • est. 25 PWS Dolphins moving quickly, heading north-west off Gibsons, Georgia Strait. Observed from beach along Ocean Beach Esplande. The dolphins were a long ways out and heading towards Roberts Creek. They were later seen (by other people) closer to shore going by Trail Islands (Sechelt). ▫ Observed from Shore
Karen Holland, Gibsons, BC
Jump to: Orca | Humpback Whales | PWS Dolphins | Harbour Porpoise
HARBOUR PORPOISE
Sun Jan 15 2017
12:09 • 6 Harbour Porpoise foraging, near Marshall Point on the west side of Texada Island, Georgia Strait.
Micheline Macauley, Texada Island, BC
NEW! WOWs Sightings Archive Explorer
Recommended for desktop browsers and newer mobile devices
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
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
The Magazine
REGIONAL & WEST COAST
NOAA Fisheries, West Coast Region
The end of 2016 was a difficult time for endangered Southern Resident killer whales with the disappearance of several individuals leaving the population at only 78. As we start a new year, we appreciate the efforts of all or our partners to contribute to ongoing research and conservation programs for the Southern Residents. Below are updates on a few of NOAA's recent actions.
For more details:
• 5-year Review for Southern Resident Killer Whales
• NOAA Invites Input on Proposed Killer Whale Protection Zone
• NOAA Completes Review of Exposure to a Mixture of Toxic Chemicals
• 5-year Review for Southern Resident Killer Whales
• NOAA Invites Input on Proposed Killer Whale Protection Zone
• NOAA Completes Review of Exposure to a Mixture of Toxic Chemicals
CANADA
Phys.org
The annual migration of some beluga whales in Alaska is altered by sea ice changes in the Arctic, while other belugas do not appear to be affected.
A new study led by the University of Washington finds that as Arctic sea ice takes longer to freeze up each fall due to climate change, one population of belugas mirrors that timing and delays its migration south by up to one month. In contrast, a different beluga population, also in Alaska, that migrates and feeds in the same areas doesn't appear to have changed its migration timing with changes in sea ice.
The paper was published Dec. 21 in the journal Global Change Biology.
"The biggest take-home message is that belugas can respond relatively quickly to their changing environment, yet we can't expect a uniform response across all beluga populations," said lead author Donna Hauser, a postdoctoral researcher at the UW's Polar Science Center.
INTERNATIONAL
Hakai Magazine
Blue whales are the largest animals on the planet and yet curiously invisible to people, with sometimes deadly consequences.
Bigger and more numerous ships are plying the coastal waters off western North America, unloading goods at increasingly busy ports, notably Oakland and Long Beach, California. The problem? The ships’ routes overlap with blue whale foraging spots. Each year, an average of two blue whales are struck by ships in the California Current, though that is only documented cases and the reality is likely higher.
To help the situation, researchers from Oregon State University and the University of Maryland have been working with the fisheries department of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to build WhaleWatch, a new forecasting tool to alert ship captains to the presence of these endangered whales. It’s the first system to provide monthly maps of projected blue whale hotspots off the US west coast.
WhaleWatch combines location data from 104 blue whales tagged from 1994 to 2008 along with current and historical environmental
Custom-designed detection algorithms were run on 57,000 hours of underwater ocean noise to find the songs of endangered blue whales, rather than listening for each whale call. Most animals produce species-specific calls. Eavesdropping on their calls therefore provides a unique way to monitor them. This is completely rewriting our understanding of their population recovery.
Two new blue whale populations migrating off the east coast of Australia werer discovered using this technology. This is important news as the blue whale has been slow to recover after being hunted to the brink of extinction. How can the largest animal that has ever lived, the Antarctic blue whale, swim undetected just off the coast of Sydney?
It is remarkable that we have only now discovered them there. It is possible that they only started using this route recently, or perhaps they have been there all along and we have missed them.
Fortunately for us, blue whales sing, allowing us to detect them using arrays of listening devices spanning sites across the Indian and Pacific oceans. However, the frequency of their song is so low that humans can't hear it.
Blue whales produce different calls and these calls possibly reflect different subspecies. Their different songs help the International Whaling Commission manage the recovery of these subspecies...
San Francisco Chronicle
Bottlenose dolphins are moving north from their warm-water haunts in the ocean waters off Southern California, and seaside observers are spotting more and more of them as far north as Mendocino.
Some seem to be taking up temporary residence inside San Francisco Bay, while others appear to be commuters from distant waters, marine biologists say.
Whether their movements mark another signal of a changing climate is still unknown, but the phenomenon is more than a curiosity, and the scientists are tracking the marine mammals closely.
m.phys.org
Researchers from Murdoch University- in partnership with Duke University - studied the spinner dolphins of Hawaii Island, finding they display a unique daily behavioural schedule.
"The dolphins mainly rest between 10.00 and 16.00 upon their return to sheltered near shore habitats. We also observed that socialising behaviour occurred mainly in the early mornings and late afternoon within bays," said Dr Julian Tyne from the Murdoch University Cetacean Research Unit.
"Reinforcing social bonds and social cohesion between the dolphins may be important for success of their cooperative night-time foraging activities.
"We are not aware of any other cetacean species that partitions its behavioural activities in such a temporally ....
Stuff, NZ
New Zealand is home to more than half of the world's whale species, and each beaching is a lesson to be learnt, says marine expert Anton Van Helden.
With 42 species and two subspecies in New Zealand waters, nearly half of the world's species of whales, dolphins and porpoises live off our coasts.
Despite this, less than one per cent of our oceans have 'no take' protection from fishing and extractive industries, which disrupt and harm marine animals, Forest & Bird marine mammal expert Anton Van Helden said.
YouTube
A 2011 Video encounter with a pod of Sei whales spotted as the R/V Thomas G. Thompson conducted magnetic surveys of the ocean floor about 150 miles from Wake Island.
SEI WHALE SPECIES PROFILE
Common name: Sei Whale
Latin name: Balaenoptera borealis
Status under SARA: Listed as Endangered for the Pacific Population and Data Deficient for the Atlantic Population in a 2003 assessment.
Range: Sei Whales have a largely unknown geographic distribution, as their wintering grounds have not yet been identified. However, Sei Whales can be found in oceans in the sub-polar latitudes in each hemisphere during the summer months, and in sub-tropical waters during the colder months.
Life span: The oldest recorded age is 74 years in the wild.
Size: Females are slightly larger than males. These whales average 15-19 tonnes, and have an average length of 15m.
Population estimate: With the lack of recent data collection, the global population is estimated at 57 000.
The Sei Whale’s Canadian range encompasses both coasts, and they are sometimes spotted along the coast of British Columbia and in the waters off of Newfoundland. While this species is found worldwide, it is largely restricted to deep waters in the temperate latitudes between the poles and the tropics, as they are sensitive to overly cold and overly warm waters. Once a female is pregnant, she will begin her migration north to her feeding grounds. After 10.5-12 months of gestation, she will give birth to a single live baby whale called a calf. Her calf is weaned after 6 months but she will continue care for it closely and will not become pregnant for another 2-3 years.
Source: Nature Canada
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