Have You Seen Any of These?

Tuesday, August 8, 2017

Biggs and Resident Orca, Humpbacks, Dolphins, Plus

Humpback Whales are still the majority of our sightings reports as they spread out and group together for cooperative feeding and socializing. They still manage to stay mostly away from any of the Transient Biggs Orca that have also been through the inner waters.

Northern Resident Orca made their way into Johnstone Strait to rub on the beaches at Robson Bight Ecological Reserve, but limited reports of their movements and IDs are coming in.

Pacific White Sided Dolphins are still in a fairly large group of 100 or more in and around their favourite foraging areas with a few Dall's Porpoise showing up in the same vicinity. A few shy Harbour Porpoise reports and the Sea Otter popped up again.

Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society


Humpback Whale breaching off Marina Island



Society News & Events

Real Time Monitoring Station Update: We're LIVE!
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.

Thank You to all our hardworking volunteers and contributors!

Our team of online Volunteers continue to do a great job in making sure all your sightings reports are mapped and published regularly. Would you like to join us?
Review our current Volunteer Job Postings
Note to Safari browser users:
Apple software upgrades may prevent images from displaying on this site. To resolve the problem, please clear your Safari browser cache: On a Mac this is in Safari preferences. On iPad and iPhones, use the Settings app, Safari, Clear History and Website Data.




DONATE
to the non profit wild ocean whale society

Jump to:   MAP | SIGHTINGS | MAGAZINE



Sightings Update


ISSUE SIGHTINGS MAP 2017-025

ISSUE SIGHTINGS MAP


TRANSIENT BIGGS KILLER WHALES

Sun Aug 06 2017

18:54 • Biggs Orca at Hidden Harbour, Campbell River, Discovery Passage. ▫ Second Hand
18:30 • est. 2 Biggs Orca moving quickly, heading north just north of Hidden Harbour, Campbell River. ▫ Observed from Shore
Jeanne Ralston, Campbell River, BC

18:28 • Biggs Orca heading north out from Campbell River Fishing Pier, Discovery Passage.
Jerry Weldon, Eagle Eye Adventures

17:48 • 2 Biggs Orca travelling, heading north mid-channel between Shelter Point and Cape Mudge Red Can Buoy, Georgia Strait.
15:50 • 3 Biggs Orca heading south abeam Cape Mudge, Discovery Passage. Travelling at about 8 knots. ▫ Leaving the Scene
15:23 • 3 Biggs Orca heading south close to the ferry terminal at Campbell River, Discovery Passage.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours

14:57 • 3 Biggs Orca heading south off of the mill at Campbell River.
14:03 • Biggs Orca heading north approaching Steep Island, Discovery Passage.
Bill Coltart, Pacific Pro Dive

12:44 • 3 Biggs Orca heading north by Orange Point, Discovery Passage.
Radio, overheard or call out

09:57 • 4-5 Biggs Orca heading north at Willow Point, Georgia Strait.
09:14 • Biggs Orca heading west mid-channel off Robson Bight, Johnstone Strait.

Sat Aug 05 2017

12:16 • 4-5 Biggs Orca off the west side of Texada Island between Gillies Bay and Lafarge, heading towards Vancouver Island, Georgia Strait.
Micheline Macauley, Texada Island, BC



SIGHTING MEDIA
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Bigg's Killer Whale off the west side of Texada Island in the smoke
Sat, 5 Aug 2017 - 1 items
Micheline Macauley, Texada Island, BC


SIGHTING MEDIA
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Bigg's Killer Whale off the west side of Texada Island in the smoke
Sat, 5 Aug 2017 - 1 items
Micheline Macauley, Texada Island, BC


11:01 • Biggs Orca at the north end of Johnstone Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out


Fri Aug 04 2017

17:00 • 8 Biggs Orca heading north at Porteau Cove, Howe Sound, Howe Sound.

Thu Aug 03 2017

11:24 • Biggs Orca heading west off White Cliff Islets, Queen Charlotte Strait. Bill ran into the Transient Orca. ▫ Second Hand


SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Bigg's Killer Whales, T037s in Discovery Pass
Fri, 28 Jul 2017 - 5 items






SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Bigg's Killer Whales, T037s in Discovery Pass
Fri, 28 Jul 2017 - 5 items




NORTHERN RESIDENT KILLER WHALES

Sat Aug 05 2017

13:19 • NRKW Orca at Bold Head, Swanson Island, Blackfish Sound. Three big groups.

Fri Aug 04 2017

13:16 • est. 40 NRKW Orca off Robson Bight, Johnstone Strait.

Thu Aug 03 2017

11:24 • NRKW Orca heading north near Wells Passage off Broughton Island, Queen Charlotte Strait. ▫ Second Hand


UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES

Sat Aug 05 2017

15:00 • est. 4-5 Orca near Lions Bay, Howe Sound. My friends were out boating when these Orca came near them, and shortly after 3 whale watching boats joined them. ▫ Second Hand
Gord Broughton, Mill Bay BC



SIGHTING MEDIA
Unidentified Killer Whales
Killer Whales near Lions Bay, in Howe Sound
Sat, 5 Aug 2017 - 2 items
Gord Broughton, Mill Bay BC



SIGHTING MEDIA
Unidentified Killer Whales
Killer Whales near Lions Bay, in Howe Sound
Sat, 5 Aug 2017 - 2 items
Gord Broughton, Mill Bay BC



Wed Aug 02 2017

--:-- • est. 5 Orca travelling, heading south mid-channel by Nine Mile Point, Sechelt Inlet. Observed after sunset. A very large male and at least 2 babies and I'm not sure how many other whales were there. It was hard to see in the dark but I would guess at least 5 quite possibly more.
Karen Duke,



HUMPBACK WHALES

Sun Aug 06 2017

17:45 • Humpback Whales breaching, heading south just north of Francisco Point, Sutil Channel. Active whales.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures

17:19 • 2 Humpback Whales doing circles, 1/2 mile south of Cortez Reef, Georgia Strait.
16:35 • 2 Humpback Whales moving slowly, heading north 1/2 nm northeast of Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
16:16 • 1 Humpback Whales between Marina Reef and Cortez Reef, Sutil Channel.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures

15:39 • 3 Humpback Whales swimming towards Bartlett Islet, Calm Channel.
Ryan Eisen, Sonora Resort

15:37 • 3 Humpback Whales travelling, heading south towards Bartlett Islet. ▫ Leaving the Scene
15:36 • 1 Humpback Whales resting, between Whaletown and Quadra Island Scallop Farm, Sutil Channel. Sleepy.
15:25 • 2 Humpback Whales off Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures

15:12 • 4 Humpback Whales ◦BCY0291 KC; BCY0057 Niagara◦ at Johnstone Bluff, Calm Channel.
14:40 • 2 Humpback Whales foraging, north side of Savary Island 2/3 of way to Indian Point, Malaspina Strait.
Ron Johnston, Savary Island, BC

14:02 • 2 Humpback Whales taking long dives, heading north off of Hill Island, Sutil Channel. Moving slowly.
14:02 • 1 Humpback Whales off of Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy, Georgia Strait.
13:54 • Humpback Whales breaching, just north of Whaletown, Cortes Island, Sutil Channel.
Jerry Weldon, Eagle Eye Adventures

13:29 • 2 Humpback Whales breaching, Read Island side of South Penn Islands, Sutil Channel.
13:04 • 1 Humpback Whales doing circles, half-way between Francisco Point and Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours

12:57 • Humpback Whales heading towards Surge Narrows by Read Island, Hoskyn Channel.
12:46 • 2 Humpback Whales close to Francisco Point by Wilby Shoals, Georgia Strait. Active whales.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours

12:32 • 1 Humpback Whales between Cortes Island and Marina Island, Sutil Channel.
12:28 • 4 Humpback Whales milling, north side of Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
12:25 • 1 Humpback Whales by Church House, Calm Channel.
11:58 • 1 Humpback Whales heading north passing Dunsterville Islet, Hoskyn Channel.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures

11:39 • 1 Humpback Whales by Penn Islands, Sutil Channel.
11:24 • 2 Humpback Whales between Mitlenatch Island and Marina Island, Georgia Strait.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours

09:27 • 1 Humpback Whales 1 mile north of Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
09:27 • 5 Humpback Whales spread out, between Mitlenatch Island and Baker Passage, Georgia Strait.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures


Sat Aug 05 2017

17:58 • 3 Humpback Whales heading toward the red can at Cortez Reef from Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Peter Hamilton, Lifeforce

16:00 • 1 Humpback Whales heading out of Okisollo Channel toward Discovery Passage. Past the 'wave'.
15:20 • 1 Humpback Whales 1 mile west of Viner Point heading towards Whaletown, Sutil Channel. Left him between Viner Point, Homer and Centre Islet. One mile out. Straitwatch is in the area. ▫ Leaving the Scene
15:02 • 1 Humpback Whales taking long dives, mid channel aiming for Rebecca Spit, Sutil Channel. Eight minute dives.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures

13:59 • Humpback Whales heading east by Raza Island just out of Drew Passage, Calm Channel. Boating in area.
Pete Nordquist, Medford, Oregon

13:19 • est. 7 Humpback Whales at Bold Head, Swanson Island, Blackfish Sound.
13:04 • 2 Humpback Whales between Francisco Point and Marina Island, Sutil Channel.
12:06 • 3 Humpback Whales playing, on the reef between Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy and Francisco Point, Georgia Strait.
11:30 • 1 Humpback Whales bubble netting, along the south side inner Penn Islands very tight to shore heading toward larger South Penn Islands, Sutil Channel. Very active.
11:27 • Humpback Whales heading north off Iron Mines below Lund, Malaspina Strait.
Erik Blaney, IHos Cultural Tours

11:23 • 3 Humpback Whales heading south 200 metres off the shore of Francisco Point, Georgia Strait.
11:05 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south approaching Cape Mudge, Discovery Passage.
10:31 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south close to the shore of Grouse Island, Discovery Passage.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours

10:29 • 3 Humpback Whales between Marina Island and Francisco Point, Sutil Channel.
Tenacious3 (Boat), Discovery Marine Safaris

10:20 • 2-3 Humpback Whales doing circles, at northern tip of Penn Islands, Sutil Channel.
10:14 • 1-2 Humpback Whales between Mitlenatch Island and Manson Passage, Georgia Strait.
09:59 • Humpback Whales heading west in Baker Passage.
Eric Green, Powell River CCG

09:50 • Humpback Whales heading north tight to April Point heading toward Gowlland Island, Discovery Passage.
09:41 • 2 Humpback Whales moving slowly, mid channel between Marina Island and Francisco Point, Sutil Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
09:10 • 1 Humpback Whales moving quickly, heading north just passed Quathiaski Cove tight to the shore of Quadra Island, Discovery Passage.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures

08:50 • 3 Humpback Whales close to Marina Island in a line with Marina Reef and Rebecca Spit, Sutil Channel.
08:36 • 2 Humpback Whales 1 mile east of Francisco Point, Sutil Channel.

Fri Aug 04 2017

17:50 • 3 Humpback Whales between Mitlenatch Island and Cortez Reef, Georgia Strait.
15:12 • 4 Humpback Whales between Mitlenatch Island and Cortez Reef. All 4 whales were within a half-mile of each other.
15:06 • 1 Humpback Whales milling, at Cortez Reef, Georgia Strait.
14:38 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north off the sandbanks of Harwood Island, Malaspina Strait.
Eric Green, Powell River CCG

14:33 • 6 Humpback Whales between Mitlenatch Island and Baker Passage, Georgia Strait.
Elvis Chikite, Eagle Eye Adventures

14:30 • 2 Humpback Whales in Von Donop Inlet. Very active. ▫ Leaving the Scene
13:07 • 1 Humpback Whales heading north in Plunger Passage, Sutil Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
13:07 • 1 Humpback Whales moving slowly, heading west from Whaletown towards Heriot Bay, Sutil Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
12:49 • 2 Humpback Whales doing circles, off Whaletown, Cortes Island, Sutil Channel.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours

12:26 • Humpback Whales heading north near the sandbanks of Harwood Island, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC

12:24 • 2 Humpback Whales ◦BCY0767 Arial; BCX0565 Nick◦ heading north-east off Francisco Point towards Marina Island, Sutil Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours

12:00 • 2 Humpback Whales near Teakerne Arm in Lewis Channel. ▫ Radio Report
Bill Coltart, Pacific Pro Dive

11:10 • 3 Humpback Whales a few hundred meters off the red can at Cortez Reef, Georgia Strait.
11:00 • 4 Humpback Whales heading south-west off Francisco Point aiming for Wilby Shoals, Sutil Channel.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures

10:40 • 3 Humpback Whales heading north along the shore of Cortes Island in Lewis Channel. Travelling about 2 knots.
10:34 • 6 Humpback Whales about 1.5 miles off the Quadra Island Scallop Farm below Heriot Bay, Sutil Channel. After a few minutes, 3 whales headed toward Plunger Passage. The other 3 whales were circling and look to be headed towards Marina island.
10:22 • 3 Humpback Whales two miles off the Quadra Island Scallop Farm below Heriot Bay.
10:22 • 2 Humpback Whales one mile off the Quadra Island Scallop Farm below Heriot Bay.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures

09:51 • 3 Humpback Whales between Francisco Point and Marina Island, Sutil Channel.
09:30 • 2 Humpback Whales heading west 200-m north of Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy, Georgia Strait.
08:50 • 5 Humpback Whales doing circles, between Mitlenatch Island and Hernando Island, Georgia Strait.

Thu Aug 03 2017

16:47 • 2 Humpback Whales between Penn Islands and Cortes Island, Sutil Channel. T3 on site. ▫ Leaving the Scene
16:40 • 2 Humpback Whales between Viner Point and Rebecca Spit, Sutil Channel. Lost track of one. ▫ Leaving the Scene
16:30 • 1 Humpback Whales breaching, at Twin Bay, Read Island, Sutil Channel. A small one. ▫ Leaving the Scene
16:04 • 1 Humpback Whales heading north tight to shore just north of Quartz Bay, Cortes Island, Sutil Channel. Small whale.
15:05 • 3 Humpback Whales just south of Marina Island, Sutil Channel.
Jerry Weldon, Eagle Eye Adventures

14:53 • 2 Humpback Whales milling, outside of Von Donop Inlet, Cortes Island, Sutil Channel.
13:11 • 2 Humpback Whales doing circles, 1 mile west of red can at Cortez Reef, Georgia Strait. Big circles.
13:11 • 1 Humpback Whales heading toward red can at Marina Reef, Sutil Channel.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures

12:30 • 1 Humpback Whales foraging, heading south off Ellis Islet just north of Bamfield, Trevor Channel. The whale has the number 14 on its dorsal fin. This Humpback whale was foraging and lunge feeding very close to shore (ca. 10-20 M) N of Ellis Islet, Trevor Channel, Barkley Sound, BC. It was observed for over an hour while it fed. ▫ On Scene
Dr. Jason T Fisher, Victoria, BC



SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whale nicknamed '14' for the marking on it's dorsal just north of Bamfield.
Thu, 3 Aug 2017 - 1 items
Dr. Jason T Fisher, Victoria, BC


SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whale nicknamed '14' for the marking on it's dorsal just north of Bamfield.
Thu, 3 Aug 2017 - 1 items
Dr. Jason T Fisher, Victoria, BC


12:19 • 1 Humpback Whales moving slowly, heading south 1 mile north of Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures

12:14 • Humpback Whales between Hill Island and Carrington Bay, Sutil Channel.
12:00 • Humpback Whales heading toward Viner Point, Read Island, Sutil Channel.
11:22 • Humpback Whales heading east at Humpback Bay, Johnstone Strait.
10:40 • 2 Humpback Whales ◦BCY0291 KC◦ west of Bullock Bluff heading towards Whale Passage, Sutil Channel. KC and one other.
Kurt Staples, Eagle Eye Adventures



SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whales all over Sutil Channel, Apollo, SplitFin and friends
Thu, 3 Aug 2017 - 10 items
Kurt Staples, Eagle Eye Adventures











SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whales all over Sutil Channel, Apollo, SplitFin and friends
Thu, 3 Aug 2017 - 10 items
Kurt Staples, Eagle Eye Adventures


10:07 • 1 Humpback Whales doing circles, by Penn Islands, Sutil Channel.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures

09:27 • 2 Humpback Whales off South Rendezvous Island aimed at Deer Passage, Calm Channel.
09:27 • 2 Humpback Whales off South Rendezvous Island in Drew Passage. After 10 minutes, the whales turned and were heading out of Drew Passage towards Cortes Island.
09:27 • 1 Humpback Whales off South Rendezvous Island heading into Drew Passage.
09:19 • 2 Humpback Whales moving slowly, heading north tight against Marina Reef, Sutil Channel.
Kurt Staples, Eagle Eye Adventures

09:01 • est. 6 Humpback Whales between Mitlenatch Island and the red cans at Marina Reef and Cortez Reef, Georgia Strait.
08:45 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north 3 miles north of Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
08:40 • 2 Humpback Whales at red can off Marina Reef pointed at Francisco Point, Sutil Channel. Making no headway.
08:31 • 2 Humpback Whales by Marina Reef, Sutil Channel.
08:31 • Humpback Whales in Sutil Channel. Numerous Humpbacks in the area.
Radio, overheard or call out

08:00 • 2 Humpback Whales milling, at Bullock Bluff, Cortes Island, Sutil Channel.
Colin Griffinson, Pacific Yellowfin Charters



PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS

Sun Aug 06 2017

09:42 • est. 100 PWS Dolphins heading east at Yorke Island, Johnstone Strait.

Sat Aug 05 2017

16:35 • PWS Dolphins passing Howe Island headed into Discovery Passage, Discovery Passage.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures

15:52 • PWS Dolphins heading west mid channel past the Sonora Fish Farm, Nodales Channel. Moving at 10 knots.
14:20 • est. 100 PWS Dolphins by Gomer Island heading toward Dent Rapids.
14:18 • PWS Dolphins in Denham Bay north of Dent Rapids.
Ryan Eisen, Sonora Resort

13:15 • PWS Dolphins between Sonora Point and Hall Point, Nodales Channel.
12:17 • est. 150 PWS Dolphins off Sonora Point, Nodales Channel. ▫ Second Hand
10:36 • est. 100 PWS Dolphins heading east headed for Howe Island, Nodales Channel.

Fri Aug 04 2017

18:44 • est. 100 PWS Dolphins heading west off Walkem Islands, Johnstone Strait. ▫ Leaving the Scene
15:54 • PWS Dolphins west of Ripple Point, Johnstone Strait.
14:51 • PWS Dolphins off of Palmer Bay west of Humpback Bay, Johnstone Strait.
Jerry Weldon, Eagle Eye Adventures

11:26 • PWS Dolphins heading west off Camp Point, Johnstone Strait.
11:09 • PWS Dolphins spread out, 1-mile south of Helmcken Island, Johnstone Strait.
Jerry Weldon, Eagle Eye Adventures

10:46 • PWS Dolphins at Ripple Shoal, Johnstone Strait.

Thu Aug 03 2017

15:20 • est. 100 PWS Dolphins off Howe Island, Nodales Channel.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures

13:45 • est. 100 PWS Dolphins moving slowly, heading north at mouth of Okisollo Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
11:56 • PWS Dolphins heading south at 6 knots off Sonora Fish Farm, Nodales Channel.


SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins in Nodales Channel
Sat, 29 Jul 2017 - 10 items











SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins in Nodales Channel
Sat, 29 Jul 2017 - 10 items




SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins in Discovery Passage
Thu, 3 Aug 2017 - 3 items
Kurt Staples, Eagle Eye Adventures




SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins in Discovery Passage
Thu, 3 Aug 2017 - 3 items
Kurt Staples, Eagle Eye Adventures




DALLS PORPOISE

Sun Aug 06 2017

14:35 • Dalls Porpoise playing, north of Dent Rapids.

Thu Aug 03 2017

14:45 • 6 Dalls Porpoise foraging, abeam Sonora Fish Farm, Nodales Channel.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours



HARBOUR PORPOISE

Sat Aug 05 2017

09:15 • 1 Harbour Porpoise at Camp Byng Roberts Creek, Georgia Strait.
Geordie Harrower, Sechelt, BC


Thu Aug 03 2017

18:02 • est. 4 Harbour Porpoise heading south at Grief Point, Malaspina Strait. Seen on live cam.


OF SPECIAL NOTE

Fri Aug 04 2017

15:01 • 1 Other Species at Marina Reef, Sutil Channel. A Sea Otter was observed.


SPECIES UNSURE

Fri Aug 04 2017

13:00 • 1 Species Unsure heading south near Kelsey Bay, Johnstone Strait. While fishing, a white-ish grey animal approx. 8 ft long with a 2 ft wide tail swam under the boat southbound. Did not see a dorsal and head looked rounded. After discussion, it was not likely a Pygmy Sperm Whale and was certain it was not a PW Dolphin.
Mike Lance, Victoria, BC


SUBMIT sightings
or call 1-877-323-9776 or eMail
we welcome your sighting reports, photographs, video and audio recordings. please review our media submission guidelines



Jump to:   MAP | SIGHTINGS | MAGAZINE

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


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

ARCHIVE EXPLORER"

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


Global News + CTV News



A whale watching tour in the waters off southern Vancouver Island turned into a heated confrontation between a boat captain and the Royal Canadian Navy on Thursday morning.

This after loud military blasts went off near a pod of endangered southern resident killer whales....


WEST COAST


Hakai Magazine


Meteorologists had never seen anything quite like it—a mass of abnormally warm surface water that overwhelmed much of the northeastern Pacific Ocean for three years starting in late 2013. They called it the Blob.

Within months, thousands of starving sea lion pups began washing ashore along the west coast of the United States.

At the time, scientists figured the two occurrences were related. But in a new study, a team of researchers describes in detail how warm water and related impacts on ocean productivity hurt the young sea lions.

Scientists believe the Blob began to form in the Gulf of Alaska after the winds that drive the upwelling of nutrient-rich cold water from the seafloor to the surface weakened or died, allowing surface water to grow unusually warm and slowing the production of phytoplankton. At the same time, farther south, El Niño was disrupting ocean circulation. The resulting masses of warm, nutrient-poor water being formed in the north and south joined up, and the so-called Blob settled in for a three-year stay off the coast of California.....


The Atlantic


On the northernmost tip of America’s northernmost state is the city of Utqiaġvik, Alaska. Hans Thewissen, a Dutch-born whale scientist who lives in Ohio, has been making the journey up here for more than a decade—at first once a year, now multiple times a year, always to coincide with local whale hunts. Utqiaġvik is one of the only places in America where one can legally procure a piece of fresh whale brain or eyeball or ear to study.

Whales are strictly protected under U.S. law and by the International Whaling Commission. They can of course be observed from afar, but that is not much use to Thewissen, who is interested in the finer points of whale anatomy. Dead whales wash up on the land sometimes, but they are usually rotting by the time scientists get to them. “This is really the only place,” says Thewissen. Utqiaġvik, formerly known as Barrow, is the largest of 11 communities where Alaska Natives are allowed to hunt whales for subsistence, as their ancestors have done for millennia. (Thewissen himself is not allowed on the hunts.)...


Pete Thomas Outdoors


Rescue teams relocated an entangled humpback whale Sunday morning off San Clemente in south Orange County, and were hoping to free the mammal.

The 30-foot whale was first located Saturday afternoon off Palos Verdes in Los Angeles County. Experts with the Marine Animal Rescue (MAR) removed some of the commercial fishing gear – ropes with trailing floats – before dusk, and attached a telemetry buoy to enable teams to track the cetacean's movements....


Tenby-Observer, UK


Sea Watch Foundation’s nine day National Whale and Dolphin Watch began on Saturday and is already revealing a wealth of whales and dolphins to be found all around the UK!
Members of the public have been sending in their reports of whales, dolphins and porpoises, collectively termed cetaceans, to inform the national survey which is now in its sixteenth year....

Magazine Submissions

the magazine accepts submissions of links to published articles and media of interest to our readers. we welcome original articles, letters, notices, photography, video and audio


SUBMIT
to the magazine





original material guidelines
notices: 100 words max.; letters & articles: 500 words max.
you or your organization must be authors of the work and are solely responsible for its content. the magazine gives no assurance material submitted will be published. media submission guidelines


DONATE
to the non profit wild ocean whale society

VOLUNTEER
review our volunteer opportunities

SUBMIT sightings
or call 1-877-323-9776 or eMail
we welcome your sighting reports, photographs, video and audio recordings. please review our media submission guidelines



Jump to:   MAP | SIGHTINGS | MAGAZINE


SUBSCRIBE
receive sightings update eMail notices

CONTACT
the wild ocean whale society