Have You Seen Any of These?

Thursday, April 19, 2018

Whale Activity Picking Up

Transient Bigg's Orca have been seen spreading out as have their food sources such as sea lions. Although we usually have the T002Cs around the Lund and Okeover Inlet area, another family pod the T023s seem to have taken over the area for now. Others, not all individually identified and could even be a few of the Resident or fish eating Orca, have also been seen from the south by Gabriola and Howe Sound up through Discovery Passage and into the inlets. Mostly they are in their smaller family groups.

Pacific White Sided Dolphins have also returned in some numbers up to around 150, so they too must be finding food while avoiding the Bigg's Orca. We also had one report of Common Dolphins with their orange colouration rather than the grey of Pacific White Sided Dolphins.

Of the other varieties of Cetacea, Dall's Porpoise have been seen, while the Harbour Porpoise have been their usual shy selves. We are seriously missing the larger whales, such as Humpbacks and Greys, who seem to be slower at showing themselves this year.

Reminder that it's pupping season for the Harbour Seals and the Moms leave their young on shore while they go to feed sometimes up to 24 hours. If you see one, please stay back and keep pets away. If the animal is in danger, injured, distressed, or dead, call the DFO Marine Mammal hotline at 1-800-465-4336. Locally, in Powell River, if you are concerned, give us a call to evaluate the situation and if needed, we can pick up and send the animal to rehab. Of interest, we had an entanglement call which we responded to for evaluation. It turned out to be River Otters mating. They can sound distressed as the male tends to bite the female to hold her and keep her from getting away.

We are pleased to have our Magazine section back with great updates in the news.
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society



Cover Image:
Pacific White Sided Dolphins in a small bay off of Van Anda
Micheline Macauley, Texada Island, BC



Society News & Events

Do You Have your Tickets? :
Our Earth Week Buffet Event is scheduled for April 26, 2018 at McKinney's Pub in the Historic Powell River Townsite. Buffet meal accommodating all food types, beverage, Live Auction, Crack an Egg, 50/50 draws, and Sam Hurrie Band will provide dance music around 9 pm. Tickets are $25 each with limited seating. Tickets are available still at Hindle's Gifts or Capone's Cellar.

Real Time Monitoring Station Live Update:
Our live camera feed is at YouTube Channel Live Link. Work continues on a resolution for the transmission problems causing the intermittent bouncy images from the Beach Gardens Marina camera. Our second (backup) live stream mounted in Powell River appears when the Beach Gardens camera is down. We appreciate your patience.

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? Updated Job Postings are in the works for 2018, so stay tuned.
Review our current Volunteer Job Postings

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Sightings Update


ISSUE SIGHTINGS MAP 2018-008

ISSUE SIGHTINGS MAP


TRANSIENT BIGGS KILLER WHALES

Mon Apr 16 2018

16:25 • 6 Biggs Orca heading toward Manson Passage, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Leaving the Scene
15:38 • 6 Biggs Orca heading south off the west side of Copeland Islands, Malaspina Strait. One calf.
15:03 • Biggs Orca ◦T023s◦ off Powell Islets, Malaspina Strait. hunting a sea lion.


SIGHTING MEDIA
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Bigg's Killer Whales hunting off of the Powell Islets
Mon, 16 Apr 2018 - 6 items







SIGHTING MEDIA
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Bigg's Killer Whales hunting off of the Powell Islets
Mon, 16 Apr 2018 - 6 items


13:52 • 6 Biggs Orca heading toward Sarah Point from Major Rock Islet, Malaspina Strait.
13:48 • 1 Biggs Orca west of Major Rock Islet heading toward Townley Islands, Malaspina Strait. Male.

Sun Apr 15 2018

17:23 • 6 Biggs Orca NW side of Mink Island heading toward Sarah Point, Desolation Sound. Small ones; one is a baby.
14:30 • Biggs Orca heading north off Miracle Beach Park, Georgia Strait. Unable to find them. ▫ Second Hand
Peter Hamilton, Lifeforce

--:-- • Biggs Orca ◦T049Bs; T065Bs◦ came past Campbell River, Discovery Passage.

Sat Apr 14 2018

13:25 • 4 Biggs Orca moving slowly, heading south off Grief Point, Powell River, Malaspina Strait. Observed on live cam at Grief Point. Small fins seen.
12:47 • 4 Biggs Orca heading south still off Powell River, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC



SIGHTING MEDIA
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Bigg's Killer Whales in front of Powell River
Sat, 14 Apr 2018 - 6 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC







SIGHTING MEDIA
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Bigg's Killer Whales in front of Powell River
Sat, 14 Apr 2018 - 6 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC


12:42 • est. 4 Biggs Orca heading south in front of Powell River. Turned, dove and lost sight of them.
12:33 • Biggs Orca in front of Powell River angling toward Powell River Mill (Pulp & Paper), Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC

--:-- • Biggs Orca ◦T049Bs; T065Bs◦ at Hornby Island, Georgia Strait. ▫ Second Hand

Wed Apr 11 2018

12:35 • Biggs Orca heading south mid channel, passing Quathiaski Cove, Discovery Passage.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures

10:05 • 4-5 Biggs Orca heading south by Bodega Point close to shoreline of Quadra Island, Discovery Passage.
Ryan Stewart, Sonora Resort


Mon Apr 09 2018

18:23 • Biggs Orca heading south just south of Willow Point, Georgia Strait. Playtime is over.
17:53 • 8 Biggs Orca between the island highway and the Cape Mudge Lighthouse on Quadra Island, Georgia Strait.
Allison Galloway, Campbell River, BC

17:03 • Biggs Orca foraging, about 60m off the beach at Big Rock, Georgia Strait.
14:40 • Biggs Orca breaching, 200m off shore, almost off the 7-Eleven on Hilchey Road in Campbell River, Georgia Strait.
Dean Parsonage, 50 North Adventures

14:39 • Biggs Orca breaching and active, in the middle of the channel between Big Rock and Willow Point, Georgia Strait.
Stuart Clark, Eagle Eye Adventures

14:35 • Biggs Orca breaching and playing, off Willow Point along the shore of Vancouver Island, Georgia Strait.
Dean Parsonage, 50 North Adventures

14:31 • est. 6 Biggs Orca spy hopping; breaching; moving slowly, heading south close to Vancouver Island shore, just below Big Rock, Georgia Strait.
14:13 • Biggs Orca in line between Cape Mudge and Big Rock, Georgia Strait. Orca started to angle towards bottom of Cape Mudge.
Elvis Chikite, Pacific Pro Dive

13:48 • Biggs Orca heading south near 50th Parallel Marker in Campbell River, Discovery Passage. ▫ Leaving the Scene
13:09 • Biggs Orca heading south at Campbell River Fishing Pier, Discovery Passage. After 20 minutes, they were off Hidden Harbour still heading south.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures

13:01 • est. 15 Biggs Orca, Discovery Passage. ▫ Second Hand
13:00 • est. 5 Biggs Orca near breakwater at the Campbell River Ferry Terminal, Discovery Passage. ▫ Second Hand
12:10 • est. 7 Biggs Orca moving slowly, heading north in front of Hidden Harbour, Discovery Passage. One male has a very large dorsal fin. ▫ Observed from Shore
J.R., Campbell River, BC


Sun Apr 08 2018

17:51 • Biggs Orca heading north in Baynes Sound. All small fins. ▫ Second Hand
16:00 • 4 Biggs Orca heading north along the shoreline of Raza Island, Deer Passage. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures

14:13 • Biggs Orca ◦T018s◦ heading north at the north end of Penn Islands, Sutil Channel.


SIGHTING MEDIA
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Bigg's Killer Whales at the north end of Penn Islands
Sun, 8 Apr 2018 - 5 items






SIGHTING MEDIA
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Bigg's Killer Whales at the north end of Penn Islands
Sun, 8 Apr 2018 - 5 items


13:11 • Biggs Orca along the south-east side of Penn Islands.
12:59 • est. 5 Biggs Orca heading north from Whale Passage towards Raza Island, Sutil Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out


Fri Apr 06 2018

18:00 • 4 Biggs Orca heading south off Neck Point north of Nanaimo, Georgia Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
LC, Nanaimo, BC


Wed Apr 04 2018

11:35 • 4 Biggs Orca heading north just north of 45 Point close to the shore of Quadra Island, Discovery Passage. Different group that was observed earlier. Orca all have small fins.
11:13 • 5-6 Biggs Orca heading north just north of No Name Creek, Discovery Passage. Orca all have small fins.


UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES

Fri Apr 13 2018

11:32 • est. 7 Orca tail slaps, heading north between Gabriola Island and Snake Island, Georgia Strait.
Jan & Larry Bissonnette, Gabriola Island, BC


Fri Mar 30 2018

17:45 • 2 Orca by Sunset Marina in West Vancouver, Queen Charlotte Channel. 2 big males together. ▫ Observed from Shore
Davida LeComte, Lions Bay, BC



SIGHTING MEDIA
Unidentified Killer Whales
Killer Whales off of Sunset Marina in West Vancouver
Fri, 30 Mar 2018 - 1 items
Davida LeComte, Lions Bay, BC


SIGHTING MEDIA
Unidentified Killer Whales
Killer Whales off of Sunset Marina in West Vancouver
Fri, 30 Mar 2018 - 1 items
Davida LeComte, Lions Bay, BC




HUMPBACK WHALES

Wed Apr 04 2018

17:30 • 1 Humpback Whales off Horseshoe Bay, Queen Charlotte Channel.


PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS

Sun Apr 15 2018

09:47 • PWS Dolphins heading south from Powell River Mill (Pulp & Paper), Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC



SIGHTING MEDIA
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins heading southbound in front of the Powell River Mill
Sun, 15 Apr 2018 - 5 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC






SIGHTING MEDIA
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins heading southbound in front of the Powell River Mill
Sun, 15 Apr 2018 - 5 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC


09:25 • PWS Dolphins heading south in front of Penticton Street Powell River, Malaspina Strait.
Shirley Randall, Beacon B&B, Powell River, BC


Sat Apr 14 2018

18:19 • est. 100 PWS Dolphins foraging, off Powell River Viewpoint, Malaspina Strait.
Barry Rice, Powell River, BC


Thu Apr 12 2018

15:24 • est. 10 PWS Dolphins just south of the Powell River Viewpoint. The rest are still closer to Harwood Island foraging.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC



SIGHTING MEDIA
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Around 10 Pacific White Sided Dolphins just south of the Powell River Viewpoint
Thu, 12 Apr 2018 - 5 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC






SIGHTING MEDIA
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Around 10 Pacific White Sided Dolphins just south of the Powell River Viewpoint
Thu, 12 Apr 2018 - 5 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC


13:00 • 100 PWS Dolphins out from Powell River over by Harwood Island, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC

09:20 • est. 50 PWS Dolphins moving quickly, heading north-west between Van Anda and Blubber Bay, Malaspina Strait. No lunging or breaching was observed in the pod. Appeared to be searching for food along the eastern edge of Texada Island. ▫ Observed from Shore
Steve & Susan Grover, Powell River, BC

09:00 • est. 50+ PWS Dolphins foraging, in front of Van Anda angling toward Powell River, Malaspina Strait.
Micheline Macauley, Texada Island, BC



SIGHTING MEDIA
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins in a small bay off of Van Anda, heading towards Westview
Thu, 12 Apr 2018 - 3 items
Micheline Macauley, Texada Island, BC




SIGHTING MEDIA
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins in a small bay off of Van Anda, heading towards Westview
Thu, 12 Apr 2018 - 3 items
Micheline Macauley, Texada Island, BC


09:00 • est. 15+ PWS Dolphins in a small bay just south of the dock at Van Anda headed toward Westview, Malaspina Strait. One group of about 15 feeding in the small bay. Another larger group out in mid water. They came together then headed towards Westview but angled towards Harwood Island.
Micheline Macauley, Texada Island, BC


Mon Apr 09 2018

17:26 • PWS Dolphins off Edith Point at the west end of East Thurlow Island, Johnstone Strait.
Eliot Richter, Blind Channel Resort


Fri Apr 06 2018

17:04 • est. 12 PWS Dolphins heading south by the Powell River Viewpoint, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC


Tue Apr 03 2018

20:50 • est. 10+ PWS Dolphins heading north between Race Point and Seymour Narrows, Discovery Passage.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort



SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins off of the Powell River Viewpoint
Sat, 14 Apr 2018 - 5 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC






SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins off of the Powell River Viewpoint
Sat, 14 Apr 2018 - 5 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC




COMMON DOLPHINS

Wed Apr 11 2018

10:03 • 6-8 Common Dolphins west side of Keats Island, Collingwood Channel. Heading towards Squamish. Not Pacific White-Sided Dolphins.
Nikko Vichert, Vancouver, BC



DALLS PORPOISE

Mon Apr 16 2018

14:04 • est. 12 Dalls Porpoise in Teakerne Arm.
13:19 • Dalls Porpoise at Joyce Point, Teakerne Arm, Lewis Channel.

Thu Apr 12 2018

14:35 • 10 Dalls Porpoise in Nodales Channel.


HARBOUR PORPOISE

Fri Apr 06 2018

20:00 • 2 Harbour Porpoise milling, off Roberts Creek, Georgia Strait. Up for a minute, down for six minutes. ▫ From Kayak or Paddleboard
Geordie Harrower, Sechelt, BC


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The Magazine



REGIONAL


CBC BC


A rare sperm whale sighting in inshore waters was captured on camera off of Nanaimo, B.C., on Wednesday around noon.

Jessica Torode with the B.C. Cetacean Sightings Network said the sperm whale, nicknamed "Yukusam," was spotted and photographed by three researchers with the Pacific Biological Station.

Yukusam, a young male, was previously spotted in February in the Johnstone Strait, along the northeast coast of Vancouver Island....... read on


Vancouver Sun, BC


The federal government will undertake its most comprehensive survey to date for whales, dolphins and porpoises off the Pacific coast this summer in response to an American demand for evidence showing that B.C. fish exports to the U.S. are sustainable.... read on


Smithsonian, US



A grisly scene unfolded off the coast of Vancouver Island, Canada when a male orca attacked and killed a newborn calf—with help from his mother. As Brandon Specktor reports for Live Science, this is the first recorded case of infanticide among orcas, and ...... read on


Bellingham Herald, WA


Dolphins are not commonly seen in the colder waters of the Puget Sound, according to a Cascadia Research post about the group in November.
Since September, the group has been spotted and photographed in the Puget Sound by members of the Orca Network, Orca Conservancy and whale watching company Island Adventures, in addition to the public....
One of the females was identified as "Miss," a well-known bottlenose that was first observed in southern California in the 1983. She later moved to Monterrey Bay in the 1990s and the San Francisco Bay Area in 2012. This is the first time, according to Cascadia Research, that an individual bottlenose has appeared in the Puget Sound and could be traced to a specific population....... read on


The Georgia Straight, BC


Paul Spong, a long-time orca researcher based near Robson Bight, the location of the well-known beaches, said in the release: “These orca rubbing beaches are a vitally important cultural tradition unique to this community of whales. We've been concerned ...
Sierra Club says Vancouver Island orca rubbing beaches threatened by proposed old-growth logging... read on


CHEK News, BC


T2C2, or Tumbo, is a 13-year-old transient orca, one of the five members of the pod, T2. And he has an unusual physical deformity rarely found in whales. Simon Pidcock runs Ocean Ecoventures in Cowichan Bay and has watched Tumbo over the years. Tumbo, the transient killer whale, lives with spinal deformity CHEK - 1d ago T2C2, or Tumbo, is a 13-year-old transient orca, one of the five members of the pod, T2. And he has an unusual physical deformity rarely found in whales. Simon Pidcock runs Ocean Ecoventures in Cowichan Bay and has watched Tumbo over the years.... read on


WEST COAST


Domenic Biagini, YouTube
Fox5 TV, San Diego. CA



Spending time alone with Orcas on a small boat in the middle of the ocean is an experience I will never forget. Viewed from above, the water was a perfect, serene blue that served as a beautiful window into the lives of these majestic animals.... read on


NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL


Talking Democrat, US


The bowhead whale is an exceptional animal for more than one reason. It can live up to 200 years. It can break the ice. But that’s not all. Recordings made by researchers at the University of Washington reveal that it is also one of the most prolific composers and performers in the animal world.

As prolific as Johann Sebastian Bach? Definitely. The bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) of the Spitsbergen population reportedly produced 184 different types of song over a period of 3 years, according to a study published on April 4, 2018 in the journal Biology Letters. “These marine mammals have a surprisingly diverse and constantly evolving vocal repertoire,” ........ read on


Mandurah Dolphin Rescue Group, AU
Community News, AU,
ABC News, AU



Rare footage of a wild dolphin giving birth to a calf has been recorded south of Perth, offering a unique glimpse into the lives of the private mammals. The birth surprised and delighted dolphin lovers at Mandurah estuary during a dolphin watching cruise....... read on


Popular Science,US


Gray, blue, big, bigger: baleen whales put the mega in “megafauna.” In a new study published on April 4 in the journal Science Advances, researchers discuss the whole-genome sequencing of several of these mammoth species, including the blue whale—the largest animal alive. They found that these marine mammals are related in surprising ways, which could suggest that the most traditional view of evolution isn’t quite right....... read on

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