Have You Seen Any of These?

Wednesday, May 16, 2018

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Thursday, May 3, 2018

Sunshine Coast Grey Whale, Humpbacks Returning and More

Every year we are seeing a greater variety and number of 'regular' visitors in our inside waters. A grey Whale has once again claimed the area off Davis Bay and Roberts Creek area to feed. They are a treat for shorebased viewing as they feed very close to shore as they scoop their food up. Did you know that most Grey Whales are left handed, so to speak. They feed scooping muck and small critters from the bottom favouring one side their mouth. This wears their baleen down more on the side they favour.

Another baleen whale, the Humpback feeds in deeper waters frequently close to a steep shore or underwater pinnacle where their favourtie food, krill tend to swarm. It's great to finally have a few more of these majestic whales back in our reports. We also had one Minke Whale reported, but they can be quite difficult to spot as they travel great distances after their usual three breaths at the surface, unless they stay around to feed.

Of the Transient Bigg's Orca, we have had T063, Chainsaw roaming our inside waters again. He and his family pod tend to make a yearly appearance, but they usually spend most of their time farther south in the US waters. There was a time, not that long ago, when this pod was considered to be 'California Transients'. We have other pods reported in this issue also, but no word yet on the Northern Resident Orca coming into the inside waters.

Rounding out this report are reports of Pacific White Sided Dolphins, and a few Dall's and Harbour Porpoise.
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society



Cover Image:
Gray Whale milling about around Roberts Creek and Davis Bay
Geordie Harrower, Sechelt, BC



Society News & Events

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Sightings Update


ISSUE SIGHTINGS MAP 2018-009

ISSUE SIGHTINGS MAP


TRANSIENT BIGGS KILLER WHALES

Mon Apr 30 2018

16:54 • 2 Biggs Orca ◦T063 Chainsaw; T065◦ heading south off Oyster Bay, Georgia Strait. ▫ Leaving the Scene
SIGHTING MEDIA
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales heading south off of Oyster Bay
Mon, 30 Apr 2018 - 4 items




SIGHTING MEDIA
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales heading south off of Oyster Bay
Mon, 30 Apr 2018 - 4 items


16:07 • Biggs Orca bucking tide, at Cape Mudge Red Can Buoy, Georgia Strait. Going back and forth. ▫ Leaving the Scene
13:45 • 3 Biggs Orca ◦T063 Chainsaw◦ heading north mid channel at Sentry Shoal, Georgia Strait.
SIGHTING MEDIA
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Bigg's Killer Whales heading north midchannel at Sentry Shoal
Mon, 30 Apr 2018 - 2 items


SIGHTING MEDIA
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Bigg's Killer Whales heading north midchannel at Sentry Shoal
Mon, 30 Apr 2018 - 2 items


11:51 • 4 Biggs Orca in Tenedos Bay heading out into Desolation Sound.
10:50 • 5-6 Biggs Orca half way between Rebecca Rocks and Vivian Island, Malaspina Strait. A couple of big fins.
10:16 • Biggs Orca mid Strait between Powell River Viewpoint and Rebecca Rocks, Malaspina Strait. Tight together so can't tell numbers.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC

08:30 • Biggs Orca heading north toward Grief Point, Powell River, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Second Hand

Fri Apr 27 2018

15:51 • Biggs Orca heading south travelling about 5 knots off Elma Bay, Georgia Strait.
Peter Hamilton, Lifeforce

14:39 • Biggs Orca ◦T023s◦ heading south travelling at 6 knots 1.5 miles off Oyster Bay, Georgia Strait. ▫ Leaving the Scene
12:07 • Biggs Orca ◦T023s◦ heading north at 3 knots at Duncan Bay, Discovery Passage. ▫ Leaving the Scene
SIGHTING MEDIA
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Bigg's Killer Whales, T023s, heading north by Duncan Bay
Fri, 27 Apr 2018 - 8 items








SIGHTING MEDIA
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Bigg's Killer Whales, T023s, heading north by Duncan Bay
Fri, 27 Apr 2018 - 8 items


11:04 • Biggs Orca heading north by Whiskey Point, Discovery Passage.
SIGHTING MEDIA
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Bigg's Killer Whales, T023s, heading north off of Whiskey Point
Fri, 27 Apr 2018 - 7 items







SIGHTING MEDIA
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Bigg's Killer Whales, T023s, heading north off of Whiskey Point
Fri, 27 Apr 2018 - 7 items



Wed Apr 25 2018

08:05 • est. 4+ Biggs Orca heading south off the middle of Marina Island, Sutil Channel. One large fin. ▫ Second Hand

Tue Apr 24 2018

16:29 • Biggs Orca heading south off Grant Reefs, Georgia Strait. After about 10 minutes, they turned and headed northward.
Peter Hamilton, Lifeforce

16:05 • Biggs Orca heading north 3 miles SE of Grant Reefs. 2 separate pods. ▫ Leaving the Scene
15:12 • est. 10 Biggs Orca 3 miles west of Rebecca Rocks, Georgia Strait.
15:01 • Biggs Orca 2 miles east of Cape Lazo, Comox, Georgia Strait.
14:11 • 1 Biggs Orca ◦T063 Chainsaw◦ heading south off Little River, Georgia Strait. Travelling at 7 knots.
13:39 • Biggs Orca off Little River. Split off at Little River Ferry dock.
12:56 • Biggs Orca 1.5 miles north of Little River.
Peter Hamilton, Lifeforce

11:25 • 6 Biggs Orca ◦T063 Chainsaw◦ heading south 2 miles off Miracle Beach Park, Georgia Strait. Moving at 7 knots. Another large male and 4 others. ▫ Leaving the Scene
10:47 • 6 Biggs Orca ◦T063 Chainsaw◦ heading south abeam Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait. Another large male and 4 others.
SIGHTING MEDIA
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales, including T063 Chainsaw, heading south towards Mitlenatch Island
Tue, 24 Apr 2018 - 8 items








SIGHTING MEDIA
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales, including T063 Chainsaw, heading south towards Mitlenatch Island
Tue, 24 Apr 2018 - 8 items


10:04 • 6 Biggs Orca spread out, heading south at Cape Mudge Red Can Buoy, Wilby Shoals, Georgia Strait. Moving at 6 knots.
09:13 • Biggs Orca spread out, heading south in front of Campbell River, Discovery Passage. Large group.
08:55 • Biggs Orca moving slowly, heading south at Tyee Spit, Campbell River, Discovery Passage.
07:37 • 3 Biggs Orca at Walcan Seafood Quadra Island, Discovery Passage.
No Name Provided,


Mon Apr 23 2018

17:40 • Biggs Orca heading towards Hornby Island from Texada Island, Georgia Strait.
16:13 • Biggs Orca heading south off Texada Island, Georgia Strait.
15:29 • Biggs Orca mid-channel between Tree Island and the north tip of Texada Island, Georgia Strait.
Peter Hamilton, Lifeforce

15:00 • est. 4 Biggs Orca heading north off Lund, Malaspina Strait. Quite small.
Nancy Bouchard, Nancy's Bakery, Lund, BC


Sun Apr 22 2018

17:34 • Biggs Orca ◦T023s; T002Cs◦ off Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait. T002Cs were with three from the T023 family.
17:19 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ off NW side of Mitlenatch Island. ▫ Leaving the Scene
15:22 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ heading north-west off Mitlenatch Island.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures

08:43 • est. 6 Biggs Orca breaching and doing tail lobs, in front of Powell River slowly angling toward the SW tip of Harwood Island, Malaspina Strait. At least one male. ▫ Observed from Shore
08:01 • Biggs Orca heading north-west in front of Powell River toward Rebecca Rocks, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC

SIGHTING MEDIA
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales heading north-west towards Rebecca Rocks
Sun, 22 Apr 2018 - 7 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC







SIGHTING MEDIA
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales heading north-west towards Rebecca Rocks
Sun, 22 Apr 2018 - 7 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC



Thu Apr 19 2018

16:30 • est. 6 Biggs Orca hunting, heading north-west off the pier at Roberts Creek moving toward Davis Bay, Georgia Strait. Circling prey, breaching, tail slapping, spy hopping off Roberts Creek pier. Watched for approx. 1-1/2 hours, very active, moving very slowly towards Davis Bay as they hunted. Were still visible though less active when I left. ▫ Observed from Shore
Karen Holland, Gibsons, BC

SIGHTING MEDIA
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales off of the pier at Roberts Creek
Thu, 19 Apr 2018 - 4 items
Karen Holland, Gibsons, BC




SIGHTING MEDIA
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales off of the pier at Roberts Creek
Thu, 19 Apr 2018 - 4 items
Karen Holland, Gibsons, BC


15:09 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ heading north at the junction point in Lewis Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
13:57 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ heading north at Tiber Bay, Cortes Island, Lewis Channel.
13:05 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ hunting, off Powell Islets, Malaspina Strait. Hunting a sea lion.
12:29 • 5 Biggs Orca taking long dives, between Sarah Point and Powell Islets, Malaspina Strait. Very elusive. At least four females and only one male; he was courting one of the females. ▫ Leaving the Scene
11:01 • 5 Biggs Orca at entrance to Okeover Inlet. Looks like 2 males and 3 females. They travelled into Okeover Inlet.
--:-- • Biggs Orca around Davis Bay, Georgia Strait. ▫ Second Hand

Wed Apr 18 2018

16:56 • Biggs Orca heading from Desolation Sound into Waddington Channel. ▫ Second Hand

Tue Apr 17 2018

14:22 • 5-7 Biggs Orca moving quickly, heading south in Yuculta Rapids. One big fin.
Ryan Stewart, Sonora Resort


Sat Apr 14 2018

12:00 • 2 Biggs Orca heading north just north of Grief Point, Powell River, Malaspina Strait.
Pam Futer, Powell River, BC



HUMPBACK WHALES

Mon Apr 30 2018

13:12 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south at Cape Mudge, Quadra Island, Georgia Strait.
SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whales heading south at Cape Mudge
Mon, 30 Apr 2018 - 5 items





SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whales heading south at Cape Mudge
Mon, 30 Apr 2018 - 5 items


12:28 • 1 Humpback Whales at April Point, Quadra Island, Discovery Passage. Another one.
12:07 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south in front of Painters Lodge, Campbell River, Discovery Passage. After 10 minutes, it was off Tyee Spit still heading south.

Sun Apr 29 2018

14:20 • Humpback Whales off East Thurlow Island and turned into Nodales Channel.
11:11 • 2 Humpback Whales centre Strait almost to No Name Creek, Discovery Passage. Shallow dives.
10:58 • Humpback Whales heading north mid channel off Deepwater Bay, Discovery Passage.
SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whale heading north in the middle of the channel off of Deepwater Bay
Sun, 29 Apr 2018 - 4 items




SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whale heading north in the middle of the channel off of Deepwater Bay
Sun, 29 Apr 2018 - 4 items


09:01 • 1 Humpback Whales taking long dives, heading north in front of Cape Mudge Village on Quadra Island, Discovery Passage. ▫ Observed from Shore
J.R., Campbell River, BC

08:56 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north beteween Cape Mudge and Cape Mudge Village, Discovery Passage.

Sat Apr 28 2018

18:20 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south between Copeland Islands and Lund, Malaspina Strait. Source: local Powell River FB page. ▫ Second Hand
11:30 • est. 1 Humpback Whales breaching, heading north maybe 1.5 miles off the southern tip of Saturna Island, Boundary Pass. Numerous whale watching boats and others. Thru binoculars only saw one tail fluke rising up magnificently though I suspect there were more whales I could not see. ▫ Observed from Shore
LT,


Fri Apr 27 2018

18:32 • 2 Humpback Whales half mile off shore angled at Francisco Point, Quadra Island, Sutil Channel.
18:08 • 2 Humpback Whales 1 mile off Quadra Island Scallop Farm below Heriot Bay, Sutil Channel. ▫ Observed from Shore
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures


Thu Apr 26 2018

15:40 • 2 Humpback Whales ◦BCX1210 Slate; BCX Uluka◦ circling, 6 miles south of Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
Peter Hamilton, Lifeforce

14:35 • 2 Humpback Whales at the north end of Grant Reefs angling towards Sentry Shoal, Georgia Strait. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures

12:38 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north off Vivian Island, Georgia Strait.
SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whales heading north off of Vivian Island
Thu, 26 Apr 2018 - 8 items








SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whales heading north off of Vivian Island
Thu, 26 Apr 2018 - 8 items


11:21 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north near the sandbanks of Harwood Island, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC

10:28 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north off the Powell River Viewpoint, Malaspina Strait.
Barry Rice, Powell River, BC

09:49 • Humpback Whales heading south off the Cape Mudge Lighthouse on Quadra Island in the middle of Discovery Passage.
Elvis Chikite, Pacific Pro Dive

08:05 • 2 Humpback Whales circling, off Black (Albion) Point, Malaspina Strait. They were heading south but turned around.
Bill Taylor, Powell River, BC

07:45 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south by We Wai Kai Village, Cape Mudge, Discovery Passage.

Tue Apr 24 2018

08:29 • 1 Humpback Whales in front of the dock of Sonora Lodge on Sonora Island, Yuculta Rapids.
Kaitlin Ross, Sonora Resort


Mon Apr 23 2018

20:10 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south off Cape Mudge Village on Quadra Island, Discovery Passage.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures

14:37 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south at Elk Bay, Discovery Passage. Very small.
12:25 • 1 Humpback Whales diving off Rock Point at the south end of Johnstone Strait.
Eliot Richter, Blind Channel Resort



MINKE WHALES

Sat Apr 21 2018

11:59 • 1 Minke Whales near Cape Mudge Red Can Buoy, Georgia Strait. Lost it.
11:51 • 1 Minke Whales off Francisco Point, Quadra Island, Georgia Strait. Tentative identification.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours



GREY WHALES

Fri Apr 27 2018

--:-- • 1 Grey Whales foraging, off Mission Point and Chapman Creek, Georgia Strait. I watched the whale on April 26 & 27 feeding off Mission Point, Davis Bay. The whale was going back and forth between Wilson Creek and Chapman Creek. The same whale has been seen off Roberts Creek pier feeding. The grey whale has been here since at least April 18th with numerous sightings locally mainly between Roberts Creek and Davis Bay. ▫ Observed from Shore
Karen Holland, Gibsons, BC


Thu Apr 26 2018

10:30 • 1 Grey Whales foraging, between Wilson Creek and Davis Bay, Georgia Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
Karen Holland, Gibsons, BC

SIGHTING MEDIA
Grey Whales
Grey Whales feeding off of Mission Point
Thu, 26 Apr 2018 - 2 items
Karen Holland, Gibsons, BC


SIGHTING MEDIA
Grey Whales
Grey Whales feeding off of Mission Point
Thu, 26 Apr 2018 - 2 items
Karen Holland, Gibsons, BC



Sun Apr 22 2018

11:07 • Grey Whales between Wilson Creek and Chapman Creek, Georgia Strait.
Mike Steele,


Fri Apr 20 2018

10:30 • 1 Grey Whales foraging, heading south-east off the pier at Roberts Creek, Georgia Strait. Feeding off Roberts Creek pier for a few hours before starting to move slowly towards Gibsons. ▫ Observed from Shore
Karen Holland, Gibsons, BC

SIGHTING MEDIA
Grey Whales
One Grey Whale off of the pier at Roberts Creek
Fri, 20 Apr 2018 - 2 items
Karen Holland, Gibsons, BC


SIGHTING MEDIA
Grey Whales
One Grey Whale off of the pier at Roberts Creek
Fri, 20 Apr 2018 - 2 items
Karen Holland, Gibsons, BC



Thu Apr 19 2018

16:00 • Grey Whales foraging, close to shore at Roberts Creek. Info via Facebook. ▫ Second Hand


PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS

Mon Apr 30 2018

17:16 • est. 8 PWS Dolphins heading south in front of Powell River Viewpoint, Malaspina Strait.
09:49 • PWS Dolphins moving quickly, heading north toward Powell River Mill (Pulp & Paper), Malaspina Strait. Maybe being chased.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC


Thu Apr 26 2018

11:35 • est. 4-5 PWS Dolphins moving slowly, heading east between Black (Albion) Point and Myrtle Rocks, Malaspina Strait. Very close to shore - 50-60 yards out. Moving very slowly at times circling back. ▫ Observed from Shore
Liz Kennedy, Powell River, BC

10:00 • est. 6 PWS Dolphins back and forth, between Powell River Viewpoint and Grief Point, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Second Hand

Wed Apr 25 2018

16:32 • est. 12 PWS Dolphins off April Point, Quadra Island, Discovery Passage.
09:11 • PWS Dolphins heading south past Myrtle Point, Malaspina Strait.
Jim Southern, Powell River, BC


Tue Apr 24 2018

13:23 • est. 12 PWS Dolphins Cape Mudge Village on Quadra Island, Discovery Passage.
12:45 • est. 10 PWS Dolphins heading west near Lyall Island, Chancellor Channel.
Eliot Richter, Blind Channel Resort

09:38 • 10 PWS Dolphins heading north at the Campbell River Fishing Pier, Discovery Passage.

Sat Apr 21 2018

14:32 • 20-30 PWS Dolphins milling, about mid-strait in front of Grief Point, Powell River, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Leaving the Scene
13:52 • 20 PWS Dolphins in front of Grief Point, Powell River.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours

11:56 • est. 150 PWS Dolphins foraging, between Powell River Viewpoint and Grief Point, Malaspina Strait.
08:13 • PWS Dolphins out toward Rebecca Rocks, Malaspina Strait. Small group.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC


Thu Apr 19 2018

19:30 • PWS Dolphins off Myrtle Rocks, Powell River, Malaspina Strait.
Wendy Heathcote, Powell River, BC

09:00 • 8-10 PWS Dolphins foraging, north of Grief Point, Powell River, Malaspina Strait.
Pam Futer, Powell River, BC

08:23 • PWS Dolphins moving quickly, heading south past Beach Gardens Marina below Grief Point, Malaspina Strait. Observed on live cam. Some slower ones in front of Powell River following slowly.
08:07 • PWS Dolphins heading south in front of Beacon B & B in Powell River, Malaspina Strait.
Shirley Randall, Beacon B&B, Powell River, BC

07:51 • PWS Dolphins heading south close to shore off Willingdon Beach, Powell River, Malaspina Strait.
Candi Little, Texada Island, BC

07:18 • PWS Dolphins between Rebecca Rocks and Coho / Kiddie Point, Malaspina Strait. Keep changing direction.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC

SIGHTING MEDIA
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins between Rebecca Ricks and Kiddie Point
Thu, 19 Apr 2018 - 4 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC




SIGHTING MEDIA
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins between Rebecca Ricks and Kiddie Point
Thu, 19 Apr 2018 - 4 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC



Wed Apr 18 2018

19:38 • est. 80 PWS Dolphins heading east towards Powell River from Rebecca Rocks, Malaspina Strait.
Barry Rice, Powell River, BC

10:12 • est. 150 PWS Dolphins foraging, leaping in front of Powell River, Malaspina Strait.
08:58 • PWS Dolphins back and forth, out front of Powell River Viewpoint, Malaspina Strait. Small group.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC

SIGHTING MEDIA
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins in front of the Powell River Viewpoint
Wed, 18 Apr 2018 - 4 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC




SIGHTING MEDIA
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins in front of the Powell River Viewpoint
Wed, 18 Apr 2018 - 4 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC



Tue Apr 17 2018

10:15 • est. 100 PWS Dolphins heading south out from the Powell River Viewpoint.
Heather Harbord, Powell River, BC

09:40 • 20-30 PWS Dolphins heading south past Myrtle Point, Malaspina Strait.
Jim Southern, Powell River, BC


Sun Apr 15 2018

09:15 • est. 30 PWS Dolphins heading south from fishing pier at Willingdon Beach towards the south boat harbour in Powell River, Malaspina Strait. Swimming in an oval shape; may have circled back north to wait for a few stragglers.
Nicky Gomez, Powell River, BC



DALLS PORPOISE

Thu Apr 19 2018

10:46 • 10-15 Dalls Porpoise between the mainland and Copeland Islands, Malaspina Strait.


HARBOUR PORPOISE

Sat Apr 28 2018

12:00 • 4 Harbour Porpoise off Whytecliff Park, West Vancouver, Queen Charlotte Channel. The Porpoise were seen once and they were pointed north. Possibly the same group from 15 minutes ago. ▫ Observed from Shore
11:45 • 4-6 Harbour Porpoise heading south off Whytecliff Park, West Vancouver. ▫ Observed from Shore
Ivan Ng, North Vancouver, BC


Fri Apr 27 2018

13:43 • est. 6 Harbour Porpoise in front of Comox Harbour, Baynes Sound.
Peter Hamilton, Lifeforce

09:05 • est. 3 Harbour Porpoise taking long dives, heading south-west off the pier at Roberts Creek, Georgia Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
Karen Holland, Gibsons, BC

SIGHTING MEDIA
Harbour Porpoise
Harbour Porpoise off of Roberts Creek
Fri, 27 Apr 2018 - 1 items
Karen Holland, Gibsons, BC

SIGHTING MEDIA
Harbour Porpoise
Harbour Porpoise off of Roberts Creek
Fri, 27 Apr 2018 - 1 items
Karen Holland, Gibsons, BC



Thu Apr 26 2018

14:05 • 20 Harbour Porpoise at Grant Reefs, Georgia Strait.
11:02 • 1 Harbour Porpoise near Big Rock, Campbell River, Georgia Strait.

Sat Apr 21 2018

15:48 • 2 Harbour Porpoise off the Cape Mudge Red Can Buoy, Wilby Shoals, Georgia Strait.


SPECIES UNSURE

Wed Apr 18 2018

15:33 • 1 Species Unsure taking long dives, between Rebecca Rocks and Harwood Island, Malaspina Strait. Larger whale, unable to see tail or fin, just glimpses of back. Possibly Humpback whale.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC


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The Magazine



REGIONAL


Seattle Times, WA


Just two male whales fathered more than half the calves born since 1990 in the population of southern-resident killer whales, a sign of inbreeding, scientists have learned.

“It was a shocker to find out two guys are doing all of the work,” said Ken Balcomb, director of the Center for Whale Research and an author on a paper published this week in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Animal Conservation. The findings are based on a new genetic analysis of the whales that frequent Washington’s Salish Sea and Puget Sound....... read on


Motherboard


An unusually large group of bottlenose dolphins—a species of cetacean that normally lives in tropical and temperate waters—has been spotted off the coast of British Columbia, write researchers Luke Halpin, Jared Towers, and John Ford in a new paper in a marine biodiversity journal.

Halpin noticed the pod of approximately 200 bottlenose dolphins about 200 kilometres (124 miles) from northern Vancouver Island on July 29, 2017. “It’s about 1,000 kilometres (621 miles) north of where the species is typically found, so it is significant,” Towers, a whale researcher for Fisheries and Oceans Canada, said in a phone interview from BC....... read on


Vancouver Sun, BC



A video taken by Ocean EcoVentures and videographer Tasli Shaw shows a young orca calf, probably less than a month old, making its way through the waters of Cowichan Bay.

Do you want this orca to live? Then slow down. As Marvin Gaye once sang: save the children. He was talking about human kids, of course, but it applies to orca calves as well.

Last week, the PWWA, a group of 32 whale watch and ecotourism business operators in Washington and British Columbia, announced an update to its vessel operation guidelines, focusing on safety around whales in the Salish Sea....... read on


Sequimm Gazette, WA


Gov. Jay Inslee’s recent executive order to recover southern resident killer whales is a good start if it sparks a long-term effort to recover both orcas and the salmon they depend on.

The decline of the southern resident killer whale population reflects the decline of chinook across their entire range, including Puget Sound. The orcas have been listed as endangered since 2005 and their numbers continue to drop: from 98 in 1995 to 75 today. Chinook have been listed as threatened under the ESA since 1999 and continue to disappear.

If we want orcas, we need chinook salmon. If we want chinook, we need to make sure they have the right habitat to spawn, grow and thrive....... read on


WEST COAST


SF Gate,CA



This is a composite video of the best whale watching in Monterey Bay! Killer Whales or Orcas, Humpbacks, Blues, Grays, Dolphins, and more in our best of reel we developed for Monterey Whalefest 2018 happening right now! This video includes drone footage as well as underwater GoPro clips from our most amazing encounters with wild whales!... read on


Hakai Magazine, BC


From 1888 to 1912, a Risso’s dolphin named Pelorus Jack became a tourist attraction in New Zealand for escorting ships from Pelorus Sound to French Pass. The dolphin would ride the pressure waves created by the ships—an activity known as bow riding, which dolphins and other cetaceans have likely been engaging in since ships first set out to sea. The Greeks, one of the great early seafaring peoples, recorded dolphins bow riding in the eastern Mediterranean and Aegean Seas.

Yet in modern times, cetaceans are bow riding alongside motorized vessels. It’s a risky maneuver given that ships and ship noise are harmful to the animals. So why do they do it? ...... read on


Mental Floss



If you want an alternative to the video game soundtrack or ambient noise generator you usually listen to at work, the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) has got you covered. As Mashable reports, scientists there have set up a live stream of the deep ocean sounds recorded 18 miles off the coast of Monterey Bay, California.

The eerie noises of the ocean's depths are captured using an underwater microphone called a hydrophone, which scientists planted 3000 feet beneath the surface in 2015. For more than two years, researchers have used the instrument to eavesdrop on the activity taking place in the surrounding waters, and now they're giving the public the opportunity to do the same by streaming the recordings live on YouTube. ...... read on


NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL


The Irish Times


There’s a buzz around citizen science at the moment with growing numbers of people keen to report on the presence or absence of everything from fish to flowers to frogs. And, the arrival of smartphone apps has empowered individuals to report directly from their sighting location.

But, behind this buzz of activity, data collectors – which are often environmental non-governmental organisations – can face challenges. In their mission to understand natural phenomena better, voluntary groups are sometimes stymied by lack of stable funding and resources.

The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group hosted a cetacean identification and recording workshop recently in the National Biodiversity Data Centre in Waterford. It’s aim (and another one in Kilrush, Co Clare in July 2018 – see iwdg.ie) is to build numbers of well equipped citizen science recorders.

“We’re not training as many people as we used to but we need citizen scientists because 90 per cent of our records are collected through citizen scientists....... read on


Radio Australia, AU


Tony and Phyll Bartram have been collecting data on the dolphin population around Kangaroo Island (KI) since 2006, and at Victor Harbor since 2011. "At the moment we know so little about these dolphins, and dolphins around the world in actual fact, that ..... read on


Egypt Independent


A group of rare dolphins was spotted near the island of Magawish in Hurghada.

Abdallah Abed, a researcher at the Red Sea Reserves, said that a patrol headed by him spotted about 10 to 12 ‘false killer whales’ no less than five meters long each near the island of Magawish, Abu Monqar.

Abed explained that the false killer whale is a rare dolphin that rarely appears in the waters of the Red Sea....... read on


Geographical, UK



Pioneering laser photography is being used by scientists on the west coast of Scotland to assess the health of the area’s marine life
The Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust (HWDT), established in 1994, is carrying out research into the health of whales, dolphins and porpoises using photogrammetry – the science of taking measurements from photographs.

Silurian, the trust’s specialised research yacht (click here to track the vessel at sea), has been collecting data on cetaceans (the collective name for whales, dolphins and porpoises) since 2002. It was even used during the filming of the BBC’s Blue Planet series. Its photo-identification research has so far catalogued 230 minke whales, some of which have been returning to the same area for more than ten years....... read on


Science News, DC


Stephen Nicol is here to change your mind about krill: They’re not microscopic and they’re far from boring. The biologist is so sick of people misunderstanding his study subjects that he’s even gotten a (slightly botched) krill tattooed on his arm to help enlighten strangers.

In The Curious Life of Krill, Nicol is taking his mission to an even bigger audience. The book is an ode to Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba), which are among the most abundant animals in the world by mass. Each several centimeters long, krill cloud the ocean in swarms that can span 20 kilometers. They’re a linchpin of ocean ecosystems — a key food source for whales, penguins and other marine life. And yet, Nicol points out, few people would be able to identify these translucent, red-and-green-speckled creatures with feathery appendages.... read on

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