In between finalizing this Sightings issue, we have also been assisting the whale disentanglement team through Dept. of Fisheries ensuring they have updated information on the extremely well known Humpback Whale known as Kelp Creature or 'KC' for short who spends much of his time in the Discovery Pass - Sutil Channel area. He had been struck by a vessel in Baker Pass about 5 years ago and has now found himself entangled in some prawn gear. We cannot stress enough to boaters and those of you setting traps to be aware and use care! This year we have already had a number of Humpback Whales struck by boats and just over a week ago, I personally spent over three hours searching for another entangled Humpback Whale, never to be found. It is unknown if that whale managed to free itself or has drowned. KC has become such a fixture for us every year that it would be a huge loss. We will publish updated information in our next report.
Prawn and Crab traps: Do NOT use polypropylene or nylon line! It floats and risks entanglement for whales and boat propellers. The regulations are clear about this and there are valid reasons for using a line that sinks. The line will stay in a vertical position in relation to the trap and its float. When a boat passes the float, the line will not be drifting away from the float thereby allowing clear passage. Any animal that swims past the line - float - trap is less likely to become entangled since the line is vertical rather than just drifting around with loose loops of danger that could easily wrap around the animal. You can see in the photos submitted by Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours, that KC has poly line around him. There was word that he may have had some in his mouth as well which would have come from his food swimming by the floating line as he ate. This is truly an avoidable situation!
Our report, apart from the huge number of Humpback Whales, covers some Transient Biggs Orca who have come by Campbell River and gone, but the feeling is not far. Similar to the Northern Resident Orca who have shown themselves in the upper Johnstone Strait and, in this report were last seen heading back out Queen Charlotte Strait.
Pacific White Sided Dolphins are in their usual reaches of Nodales and their numbers have been slowly increasing. It is unusual that we have so few reports of any Porpoise, and not one of Dall's Porpoise. We do have another report of what is considered unusual in our inner waters of a Sea Otter still by Marina - Cortez Reef. These are not to be confused with the frequently seen River Otter.
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
Prawn and Crab traps: Do NOT use polypropylene or nylon line! It floats and risks entanglement for whales and boat propellers. The regulations are clear about this and there are valid reasons for using a line that sinks. The line will stay in a vertical position in relation to the trap and its float. When a boat passes the float, the line will not be drifting away from the float thereby allowing clear passage. Any animal that swims past the line - float - trap is less likely to become entangled since the line is vertical rather than just drifting around with loose loops of danger that could easily wrap around the animal. You can see in the photos submitted by Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours, that KC has poly line around him. There was word that he may have had some in his mouth as well which would have come from his food swimming by the floating line as he ate. This is truly an avoidable situation!
Our report, apart from the huge number of Humpback Whales, covers some Transient Biggs Orca who have come by Campbell River and gone, but the feeling is not far. Similar to the Northern Resident Orca who have shown themselves in the upper Johnstone Strait and, in this report were last seen heading back out Queen Charlotte Strait.
Pacific White Sided Dolphins are in their usual reaches of Nodales and their numbers have been slowly increasing. It is unusual that we have so few reports of any Porpoise, and not one of Dall's Porpoise. We do have another report of what is considered unusual in our inner waters of a Sea Otter still by Marina - Cortez Reef. These are not to be confused with the frequently seen River Otter.
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
Entangled Humpback Whale 'KC' July 29, 2017
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Society News & Events
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Connect to our first installation mounted at Beach Gardens Marina click on our YouTube Channel Live Link. Please bear with us as we work on the transmission problems causing the intermittent bouncy images. Even with the bouncy images, we still managed to have a couple of whale sightings. The hydrophone (underwater listening) installation will follow.
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Sightings Update
ISSUE SIGHTINGS MAP 2017-023
Jump to: Biggs Orca | NRKW Orca | Humpback Whales | PWS Dolphins | Dalls Porpoise | Harbour Porpoise | Other Species
TRANSIENT BIGGS KILLER WHALES
Fri Jul 28 2017
21:08 • Biggs Orca heading south abeam Francisco Point, Quadra Island, Sutil Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
19:18 • Biggs Orca ◦T035; T036As◦ at Quadra Island Scallop Farm below Heriot Bay, Sutil Channel. T035A's and T036A's.
SIGHTING MEDIA
SIGHTING MEDIA
Jos Krynen, Eagle Eye Adventures
SIGHTING MEDIA
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Tranisent Bigg's Killer Whales at the Quadra Island Scallop Farm below Heriot Bay
Fri, 28 Jul 2017 - 8 items
Jos Krynen, Eagle Eye Adventures
SIGHTING MEDIA
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Tranisent Bigg's Killer Whales at the Quadra Island Scallop Farm below Heriot Bay
Fri, 28 Jul 2017 - 8 items
Jos Krynen, Eagle Eye Adventures
16:58 • Biggs Orca heading south in Whale Passage, Sutil Channel.
Jerry Weldon, Eagle Eye Adventures
15:00 • Biggs Orca ◦T037s◦ travelling, heading south-west close to Raza Island, Deer Passage.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
14:00 • Biggs Orca moving slowly, heading east along Raza Island pointing at Deer Passage, Calm Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
12:58 • Biggs Orca ◦T037s◦ in Raza Passage. Leigh on scene. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Jos Krynen, Eagle Eye Adventures
11:57 • 4 Biggs Orca travelling, heading east off Port Neville.
Aaron Webber, Campbell River Whale Watching
10:23 • Biggs Orca south of Rendezvous Islands, Sutil Channel.
Andrew Rice, Campbell River Whale Watching
10:13 • Biggs Orca at Rendezvous Islands, Drew Passage. Message too broken to catch species.
Radio, overheard or call out
Jump to: Biggs Orca | NRKW Orca | Humpback Whales | PWS Dolphins | Dalls Porpoise | Harbour Porpoise | Other Species
NORTHERN RESIDENT KILLER WHALES
Thu Jul 27 2017
13:54 • NRKW Orca ◦A30s; I15s◦ heading west off Foster Island north of Malcolm Island, Queen Charlotte Strait.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching
Jump to: Biggs Orca | NRKW Orca | Humpback Whales | PWS Dolphins | Dalls Porpoise | Harbour Porpoise | Other Species
HUMPBACK WHALES
Fri Jul 28 2017
20:21 • 2 Humpback Whales travelling, heading south-west at Center Islet toward Rebecca Spit, Sutil Channel.
SIGHTING MEDIA
SIGHTING MEDIA
Jos Krynen, Eagle Eye Adventures
SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Two Humpback Whales at Centre Island, heading towards Rebecca Spit
Fri, 28 Jul 2017 - 6 items
Jos Krynen, Eagle Eye Adventures
SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Two Humpback Whales at Centre Island, heading towards Rebecca Spit
Fri, 28 Jul 2017 - 6 items
Jos Krynen, Eagle Eye Adventures
15:40 • 2 Humpback Whales travelling, heading north just south of Carrington Bay, Cortes Island, Sutil Channel. Shallow dives. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Jim Rogers, Campbell River Whale Watching
15:30 • 1 Humpback Whales off Harwood Island Spit, Malaspina Strait.
SIGHTING MEDIA
SIGHTING MEDIA
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
A Humpback Whale off of Harwood Island Spit
Fri, 28 Jul 2017 - 5 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
A Humpback Whale off of Harwood Island Spit
Fri, 28 Jul 2017 - 5 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
14:19 • 2 Humpback Whales close to red can at Cortez Reef, Georgia Strait. Putting on a show.
Andrew Rice, Campbell River Whale Watching
13:55 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north between Center Islet and Evans Bay, Sutil Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching
12:43 • 1 Humpback Whales playing, south of Hill Island, Sutil Channel.
Nik Coutinho, Pacific Yellowfin Charters
11:57 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north between Whaletown and Subtle Islands, Sutil Channel. Toward Plunger Pass.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
10:51 • 1 Humpback Whales north of Subtle Islands, Sutil Channel. Some surface activity. ▫ Leaving the Scene
10:13 • 2 Humpback Whales ◦BCX0565 Nick; BCX Notcho◦ resting, south of Viner Point, Sutil Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Tenacious3 (Boat), Discovery Marine Safaris
10:12 • 2 Humpback Whales doing circles, south of Cape Mudge Red Can Buoy off Wilby Shoals, Georgia Strait. ▫ Leaving the Scene
David Gauci, Campbell River Whale Watching
09:54 • 2 Humpback Whales heading towards Viner Point, Sutil Channel. Two pair of Humpbacks parted ways.
09:54 • 2 Humpback Whales heading towards Plunger Passage, Sutil Channel. Two pair of Humpbacks parted ways.
09:44 • 2 Humpback Whales travelling, heading south-west north of Subtle Islands towards Viner Point, Sutil Channel.
Andrew Rice, Campbell River Whale Watching
Thu Jul 27 2017
16:45 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south just south of Subtle Islands, Sutil Channel.
15:10 • 2 Humpback Whales heading east off Denham Islet, Dent Rapids.
Andrew Rice, Campbell River Whale Watching
14:32 • 1 Humpback Whales heading north off Davis Point, Sonora Island, Nodales Channel. Right on shore.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
14:00 • 2 Humpback Whales ◦BCY0057 Niagara; BCY0291 KC◦ in Quartz Bay, Cortes Island, Sutil Channel.
Jen Smalley, Campbell River Whale Watching
13:43 • Humpback Whales breaching, Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy, Georgia Strait. ▫ Second Hand
Geord Dunstan, Discovery Marine Safaris
13:33 • 2 Humpback Whales ◦BCX Notcho; BCX0565 Nick◦ doing circles, between Penn Islands and Von Donop Inlet, Sutil Channel.
Jen Smalley, Campbell River Whale Watching
12:36 • 2 Humpback Whales approaching the NW tip of Cortes Island, Sutil Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
12:36 • 2 Humpback Whales off Jane Islet, Carrington Bay.
Bradden Kiley, Painters Lodge, Campbell River
12:32 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north between Cortes Island and Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
12:32 • 1 Humpback Whales heading west between Cortes Island and Mitlenatch Island.
Peter Hamilton, Lifeforce
11:43 • 4 Humpback Whales, Von Donop Inlet.
Bradden Kiley, Painters Lodge, Campbell River
11:35 • 2 Humpback Whales doing circles, heading south between Francisco Point and Baker Passage, Georgia Strait. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
11:14 • Humpback Whales moving slowly, heading north off April Point, Discovery Passage. Tight to beach, moving slowly in the tide. ▫ Leaving the Scene
John Lewis, Discovery Marine Safaris
11:12 • 1 Humpback Whales heading north just north of Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait. Heading for Desolation Sound. ▫ Second Hand
Andrew Rice, Campbell River Whale Watching
11:01 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north-west off Chatham Point, Discovery Passage. Then, the Humpbacks stalled at the green light. Info from Mario. ▫ Second Hand
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures
10:46 • Humpback Whales travelling, heading north between Campbell River, Anchor Inn and Cape Mudge Village, Discovery Passage.
John Lewis, Discovery Marine Safaris
10:01 • 2 Humpback Whales off Marina Reef, Sutil Channel.
Jerry Weldon, Eagle Eye Adventures
10:00 • 3-4 Humpback Whales spread out, between Cortez Reef and Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures
09:39 • Humpback Whales bottom of Cortes Island, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
Wed Jul 26 2017
19:17 • 3 Humpback Whales on the west side of Marina Reef, Sutil Channel.
Bill Coltart, Pacific Pro Dive
17:27 • 2 Humpback Whales off Marina Reef.
17:27 • 2 Humpback Whales about one-quarter mile off Cortez Reef, Georgia Strait.
Robin Peers, Painters Lodge, Campbell River
15:45 • 4 Humpback Whales heading north off the red can at Cortez Reef in the middle of Sutil Channel.
Dean Parsonage, 50 North Aventures
15:44 • 1 Humpback Whales south of Bartlett Islet, Calm Channel.
Ryan Eisen, Sonora Resort
15:31 • 2 Humpback Whales ◦BCY0291 KC◦ heading north off Rendezvous Islands, Calm Channel.
15:10 • 1 Humpback Whales milling, in Frances Bay.
15:10 • 2 Humpback Whales milling, off Toba Mountain, Raza Passage.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
15:09 • 4 Humpback Whales doing circles, between the red can at Marina Reef and the red can at Cortez Reef, Sutil Channel. Grouped in two pairs.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures
14:17 • Humpback Whales in Ramsay Arm. ▫ Second Hand
SIGHTING MEDIA
SIGHTING MEDIA
Jos Krynen, Eagle Eye Adventures
SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whale breaching clsoe to Cortez Reef in Baker Passage
Wed, 26 Jul 2017 - 8 items
Jos Krynen, Eagle Eye Adventures
SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whale breaching clsoe to Cortez Reef in Baker Passage
Wed, 26 Jul 2017 - 8 items
Jos Krynen, Eagle Eye Adventures
13:39 • 2 Humpback Whales milling, in Raza Passage. ▫ Leaving the Scene
SIGHTING MEDIA
SIGHTING MEDIA
Jos Krynen, Eagle Eye Adventures
SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Two Humpback Whales milling about in Raza Passage
Wed, 26 Jul 2017 - 8 items
Jos Krynen, Eagle Eye Adventures
SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Two Humpback Whales milling about in Raza Passage
Wed, 26 Jul 2017 - 8 items
Jos Krynen, Eagle Eye Adventures
13:39 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south two miles north of Francisco Point, Sutil Channel.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
13:35 • 2 Humpback Whales a few miles off the quarry on Texada Island, Georgia Strait. ▫ Leaving the Scene
12:51 • 2 Humpback Whales one mile off the Canadian Forces Base Comox, Georgia Strait.
Peter Hamilton, Lifeforce
11:59 • 1 Humpback Whales south of Penn Islands, Sutil Channel.
Jen Furst, Campbell River Whale Watching
11:51 • 1 Humpback Whales close to Cortez Reef in Baker Passage. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Jos Krynen, Eagle Eye Adventures
11:33 • 3 Humpback Whales resting, between Cortez Reef and Marina Reef, Sutil Channel.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
11:12 • 3-4 Humpback Whales one mile south of Viner Point, Read Island, Sutil Channel. Lady Hawk and T3 on the scene. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Jim Rogers, Campbell River Whale Watching
11:10 • 4 Humpback Whales heading south between Rebecca Spit and Centre Islet in the middle of Sutil Channel. The whales grouped up.
Jen Furst, Campbell River Whale Watching
10:51 • 2 Humpback Whales fluking, heading north off Hill Island towards Whale Passage, Sutil Channel.
Erik Blaney, IHos Cultural Tours
09:59 • 1 Humpback Whales one mile south of Viner Point, Read Island, Sutil Channel.
09:52 • 2 Humpback Whales just south of Centre Islet, Sutil Channel.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures
09:43 • 1 Humpback Whales heading east in Baker Passage.
Bradden Kiley, Painters Lodge, Campbell River
09:30 • Humpback Whales between Willingdon Beach and Harwood Island, Malaspina Strait.
Wendy Heathcote, Powell River, BC
09:23 • 1 Humpback Whales moving slowly, heading west southeast of Penn Islands, Sutil Channel.
08:37 • 3 Humpback Whales about 2 miles off Cortez Reef towards Francisco Point, Sutil Channel.
Robin Peers, Painters Lodge, Campbell River
Tue Jul 25 2017
18:19 • 2 Humpback Whales between Shelter Point Regional Park and Hornby Island, Georgia Strait.
Micheline Macauley, Texada Island, BC
16:12 • 1 Humpback Whales resting, south of Marina Reef, Sutil Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
15:57 • 2 Humpback Whales out from red can at Marina Reef. ▫ Leaving the Scene
15:08 • 2 Humpback Whales ◦BCX0565 Nick◦ south of Viner Point, Read Island, Sutil Channel.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching
14:54 • Humpback Whales milling, in front of LaFarge near Beale Cove, Texada Island, Georgia Strait. Group of Humpbacks at location since July 21st.
Micheline Macauley, Texada Island, BC
14:49 • 1 Humpback Whales ◦BCY0057 Niagara◦ south of Penn Islands, Sutil Channel.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching
14:06 • Humpback Whales south end of Marina Reef, Sutil Channel. In a group.
Andrew Rice, Campbell River Whale Watching
12:40 • 2 Humpback Whales One quarter mile southwest off Marina Reef. ▫ On Scene
Robin Peers, Painters Lodge, Campbell River
11:35 • 1 Humpback Whales between Penn Islands and Plunger Passage, Sutil Channel.
11:25 • 2 Humpback Whales milling, between Plunger Passage and Hill Island, Sutil Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Jerry Weldon, Eagle Eye Adventures
11:03 • 2 Humpback Whales heading from Raza Point to Toba Mountain, Calm Channel.
10:19 • 1 Humpback Whales heading north close to the rocks at Raza Point, Raza Island, Calm Channel.
Ryan Eisen, Sonora Resort
09:35 • 1 Humpback Whales heading west at red buoy off Cortez Reef, Georgia Strait.
Bradden Kiley, Painters Lodge, Campbell River
09:34 • 2 Humpback Whales quarter mile north of Subtle Islands and Centre Islet, Sutil Channel.
08:46 • 1 Humpback Whales a few miles north of Mitlenatch Island headed for Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy, Georgia Strait.
Robin Peers, Painters Lodge, Campbell River
08:46 • Humpback Whales above Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
Mon Jul 24 2017
17:44 • 2 Humpback Whales doing circles, off the red can at Cortez Reef, Georgia Strait.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures
17:37 • 2 Humpback Whales heading towards the red can at Marina Reef, Sutil Channel.
Josh Grin, Eagle Eye Adventures
16:15 • 1 Humpback Whales off Toba Mountain, Raza Passage. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Ryan Eisen, Sonora Resort
15:57 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north just south of the Quadra Island Scallop Farm below Heriot Bay, Sutil Channel.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
15:20 • 1 Humpback Whales ◦BCZ Apollo◦ resting, off Toba Mountain, Raza Passage. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Jen Smalley, Campbell River Whale Watching
15:18 • 2 Humpback Whales ◦BCX0565 Nick; BCX Notcho◦ heading towards Marina Island in the middle of Sutil Channel.
Jos Krynen, Eagle Eye Adventures
15:16 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south towards Church House, Calm Channel.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
15:01 • 1 Humpback Whales ◦BCZ Apollo◦ heading south off Toba Mountain, Raza Passage.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching
14:36 • 1 Humpback Whales at the start of Bute Inlet.
Aaron Webber, Campbell River Whale Watching
13:40 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south off Viner Point, Read Island, Sutil Channel.
Jen Smalley, Campbell River Whale Watching
11:41 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south off Von Donop Inlet on the west side of Cortes Island, Sutil Channel.
11:35 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south just passing Quartz Bay towards Carrington Bay, Sutil Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
10:54 • 2 Humpback Whales moving slowly, heading south along the west shore of Cortes Island just south of Von Donop Inlet, Sutil Channel.
10:10 • 2 Humpback Whales south of the red can off Cortez Reef, Georgia Strait.
10:10 • 1 Humpback Whales between Marina Reef and Cortez Reef, Sutil Channel.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures
10:02 • Humpback Whales heading north towards Stuart Island, Calm Channel.
Ryan Eisen, Sonora Resort
09:26 • 1 Humpback Whales moving slowly, heading north about 1.5 miles south of Stuart Island off Hole in the Wall, Calm Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Robin Peers, Painters Lodge, Campbell River
Sun Jul 23 2017
20:51 • 6-8 Humpback Whales between Harwood Island and Powell River, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
20:47 • Humpback Whales off Harwood Island, Malaspina Strait. Seeing blows over by Harwood Island.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Jump to: Biggs Orca | NRKW Orca | Humpback Whales | PWS Dolphins | Dalls Porpoise | Harbour Porpoise | Other Species
PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
Fri Jul 28 2017
17:10 • est. 80 PWS Dolphins travelling, heading south just north of Davis Point, Sonora Island, Nodales Channel. Heading out of Nodales Channel.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures
13:12 • PWS Dolphins in Frederick Arm.
SIGHTING MEDIA
SIGHTING MEDIA
Jos Krynen, Eagle Eye Adventures
SIGHTING MEDIA
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins in Fredrick Arm
Fri, 28 Jul 2017 - 8 items
Jos Krynen, Eagle Eye Adventures
SIGHTING MEDIA
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins in Fredrick Arm
Fri, 28 Jul 2017 - 8 items
Jos Krynen, Eagle Eye Adventures
10:00 • est. 50 PWS Dolphins heading north-east from Howe Island heading into Nodales Channel. Call from Chatham Point. ▫ Second Hand
Jen Smalley, Campbell River Whale Watching
Thu Jul 27 2017
14:32 • est. 100 PWS Dolphins heading south-east going past Davis Point, Sonora Island, Nodales Channel.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
14:29 • PWS Dolphins doing circles, between Chatham Point and entrance to Nodales Channel.
Andrew Rice, Campbell River Whale Watching
13:17 • PWS Dolphins off Davis Point, Sonora Island, Nodales Channel. With ProDive. ▫ Second Hand
Jen Smalley, Campbell River Whale Watching
11:46 • est. 80 PWS Dolphins going back and forth, in Denham Bay north of Dent Rapids. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures
10:14 • est. 100 PWS Dolphins off Davis Point, Sonora Island, Nodales Channel.
09:45 • est. 50 PWS Dolphins in Horn Bay, Dent Rapids.
Bradden Kiley, Painters Lodge, Campbell River
09:39 • PWS Dolphins at Greensea Bay, Discovery Passage.
Radio, overheard or call out
Wed Jul 26 2017
16:00 • est. 100 PWS Dolphins milling, in Rock Bay, Johnstone Strait. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
13:52 • PWS Dolphins off Chatham Point in the middle of Discovery Passage. Reported by Lighthouse. ▫ Second Hand
SIGHTING MEDIA
SIGHTING MEDIA
Jos Krynen, Eagle Eye Adventures
SIGHTING MEDIA
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins off of Chatham Point
Wed, 26 Jul 2017 - 7 items
Jos Krynen, Eagle Eye Adventures
SIGHTING MEDIA
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins off of Chatham Point
Wed, 26 Jul 2017 - 7 items
Jos Krynen, Eagle Eye Adventures
Tue Jul 25 2017
14:14 • PWS Dolphins heading north from Horn Point in Denham Bay, Dent Rapids.
Ryan Eisen, Sonora Resort
11:30 • PWS Dolphins heading east into Nodales Channel.
Bradden Kiley, Painters Lodge, Campbell River
Mon Jul 24 2017
14:32 • PWS Dolphins moving slowly, heading east between Davis Point and Sonora Fish Farm, Nodales Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
11:55 • est. 75-100 PWS Dolphins heading north between Sonora Point and Davis Point, Nodales Channel. Heading into Frederick Arm. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
Jump to: Biggs Orca | NRKW Orca | Humpback Whales | PWS Dolphins | Dalls Porpoise | Harbour Porpoise | Other Species
DALLS PORPOISE
Thu Jul 27 2017
12:00 • 8 Dalls Porpoise behind Lee Islands, Nodales Channel.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures
Jump to: Biggs Orca | NRKW Orca | Humpback Whales | PWS Dolphins | Dalls Porpoise | Harbour Porpoise | Other Species
HARBOUR PORPOISE
Thu Jul 27 2017
15:33 • 5 Harbour Porpoise off Conville Point on the east side of Quadra Island, Hoskyn Channel.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
09:37 • 5-6 Harbour Porpoise heading south off Whytecliff Park, West Vancouver, Queen Charlotte Channel. ▫ Observed from Shore
Ivan Ng, North Vancouver, BC
Wed Jul 26 2017
12:04 • est. 10 Harbour Porpoise foraging, at Sentry Shoal, Georgia Strait.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
Jump to: Biggs Orca | NRKW Orca | Humpback Whales | PWS Dolphins | Dalls Porpoise | Harbour Porpoise | Other Species
OF SPECIAL NOTE
Thu Jul 27 2017
10:00 • 1 Other Species off Marina Reef, Sutil Channel. One Sea Otter.
Peter Hamilton, Lifeforce
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
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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
The Magazine
WEST COAST
Hakai Magazine, BC
When eight endangered North Atlantic right whales turned up dead in the ocean off Nova Scotia this past June, scientists scrambled to find out why. Early data shows several of the whales had blunt force trauma consistent with a ship strike, with data still pending on others.
Ship strikes are a major cause of injury or death for whales. But why do they happen at all? The ocean is vast, and huge ships don’t exactly travel at freeway speeds—there should be enough noise, movement, and warning for a whale to get out of the way, right? Why whales may remain in dangerous proximity to ships is tough to study, but over the years, some clues have begun to emerge.
One reason is that whales may not know ships are dangerous. After all, as the biggest animals in the ocean, whales may not understand that there are things in the ocean larger and more powerful than they are.
“It’s not something they’re evolved to deal with,” says John Calambokidis, a research biologist at Cascadia Research Collective in Washington State. “It’s also something there’s very little opportunity to learn from. It’s not like you can get struck two or three times and then you know you should avoid them.”
Calambokidis is trying to better understand why whales get hit through his ongoing....
Global News, BC
An Alaska man says his boat was attacked by an orca during a fishing excursion with his 14-year-old son and two other people.
Victor Littlefield of Sitka says the killer whale repeatedly rammed the boat, yanked the anchor line and slapped the bow with its tail.
He said the 33-foot aluminum boat initially lurched to one side while it was anchored Sunday near Little Biorka Island.
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
Craig Capehart, SA
It was a rare clear, crisp, cold, winter day offshore Mbotyi in Pondoland, Eastern Cape province, South Africa (formerly Transkei)....
This video shows a humpback whale mother cow swimming with a calf. It shows an adult 40 ton whale on its back, slapping both its left and right fins on the water, then leaping entirely out of the water!
It seems that never before has a recording been made of an adult humpback whale leaping entirely out of the water! A very rare event, indeed.
Dolphins and even Great White Sharks have been seen flying out of the water, but this is a first for an adult humpback whale!
The Atlantic, USA
They called it the black song. For the humpback whales of eastern Australia, it was irresistibly catchy.
Back in the mid-1990s, those whales were singing a completely different tune—a melody known to researchers (for arbitrary reasons) as the pink song. But in 1995, a small number of humpbacks from the west of the continent made it over to the east, bringing a foreign tune with them. That tune—the black song—was a viral hit. Within three years, it completely replaced the pink one, which has never been heard again. It then dominated the humpback charts for another couple of years. It was remixed, creating the gray song. And it too was eventually ousted by another tune.
Michael Noad from the University of Queensland discovered these musical revolutions in 2000 by analyzing recordings of singing humpbacks...
Live Science
Sleeping dogs lie, but sleeping whales … "stand" on their tails? That was the scene recently glimpsed by a diver in the Caribbean, at least, when the photographer encountered a group of sperm whales napping together, all of them suspended tails-down in the water....
Researchers first saw this unusual sleep behavior in sperm whales in 2008, describing it in a study published in January of that year in the journal Current Biology. The scientists in that study found that sperm whales dozed in this upright drifting posture for about 10 to 15 minutes at a time, and the whales did not breathe or move at all during their naps, the study authors reported....
Mother Nature Network
A young humpback whale left Nauset Inlet in Cape Cod with a much lighter load after rescuers disentangled him from some unwieldy cargo.
The whale was spotted by a charter vessel just outside the inlet. The whale was towing two bright orange buoys, but still was able to dive and travel through the water. People aboard the charter vessel asked for rescue assistance.
The Marine Animal Entanglement Response team from the Center for Coastal Studies (CCS) in Provincetown arrived to free the whale. The rescuers discovered that the whale had heavy line looped through its mouth and twisted across its back. It also had tangled line and buoys that trailed about 100 feet behind its tail....
ABC News, AU
Researchers from the Marine Mammal Foundation (MMF) have discovered genetic similarities between the dolphins in Victoria's Gippsland Lakes and dolphins around Tasmania's Freycinet Peninsula.
The group believes a group of transient male dolphins have been swimming between Gippsland and eastern Tasmania to breed with two different populations of female dolphins.
MMF executive director and head researcher Kate Charlton-Robb said it would be the first time a migration of the kind has been recorded.
"What we are thinking is the same transient boys that are coming up every single year are potentially migrating from Tasmania to the Gippsland Lakes which would be the first time we have had that kind of a migration going on with a dolphin species," Dr Charlton-Robb said....
Animal Welfare Institute
Cartagena, Colombia—A workshop held today at this week’s International Congress of the Society for Conservation Biology (ICCB 2017) revealed that the ecological services that cetaceans (whales and dolphins) provide to the planet may be the key to saving it.
“The Role of Cetaceans in Ecosystem Functioning: Defining Conservation Policies in the 21st Century” explored the growing body of scientific evidence demonstrating that cetacean feces enhance marine productivity by fertilizing ocean waters, which, in turn, sequesters large amounts of carbon from the atmosphere. In addition, the workshop discussed how cetacean carcasses contribute to biodiversity and carbon sequestration on the ocean floor.
The workshop included presentations on the various ecosystem services provided by cetaceans and examined methods on how to economically quantify those services. Presenters and attendees also discussed how to integrate this value within decision-making, not only in regard to whale management, but within global conservation efforts generally, including ocean health and climate change policy.
“I’m thrilled to see that the ecological role of great whales is finally getting attention from policy-makers and conservationists,” said presenter Dr. Joe Roman of the University of Vermont, who leads research on the ecosystem services of whales. “We’ve long known the value of whales on the flensing deck, but this symposium allows us to think about the enormous value of cetaceans in the oceans. This work is essential as we see many species recover after centuries of relentless harvest.”...
The National, UAE
A group of humpback dolphins and a small calf have been spotted swimming in the Hudayriat channel just off Abu Dhabi.
While the species can be seen in the UAE waters, it is unusual for a whole pod to be caught on camera.
The spotting of the group is a positive sign for marine conservationists, indicating that the dolphins continue to thrive even in a congested shipping channel.
“Dolphins are good indicators of the condition of the overall marine environment they inhabit” said Rob Chinman, from the Jalboot Marine Network, which runs tours of the islands off the coast of the capital.
Mr Chinman was aboard one of the sightseeing cruise company's vessels when he filmed the dolphins almost two weeks ago.
“The dolphins were spotted in the channel running through the island, whilst one of our 40 passenger catamaran fast ferries was out on a private charter.
“I caught the footage on my smartphone, with a deckhand stepping out on the bow of the boat to get the best video possible”, he said.
The footage was shared with the UAE Dolphin Project, which researches the dolphin population along the UAE coastline.
The Guardian, UK
Hope, the name given to the Natural History Museum’s newly articulated blue whale, diving over visitors in a sublime spectacle, is already starting to look like a forlorn gesture. Last week, shortly after the exquisitely beautiful specimen was unveiled with determined optimism by Sir David Attenborough and the Duchess of Cambridge, news came in of the death of yet another North Atlantic right whale off the coast of Canada – the eighth carcass to be found since June.
This species is perhaps one of the most endangered animals in the world, with fewer than 530 individuals left alive. Such a toll may be unsustainable for the future of the right whale – especially if any of those eight individuals were breeding females. Many appear to have been hit by ships or become entangled in fishing gear: casualties of human activity. As one Canadian whale rescue team member, Jerry Conway, observed, this is an unprecedented event. “The number of deaths haven’t been seen like this since the days of whaling”.
The deaths of such huge animals – like the 29 sperm whales that died on North Sea coasts last year...
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