Large number of Orca are passing
through on the inside waters again, but no word on the Pacific
White Sided Dolphins. Sightings reports are few, but at least
there are sightings. Some more information from NOAA below on the
satellite tagging of Southern Resident Orca.
Susan MacKay, Whales
and Dolphins BC
Orca
– Killer Whales
March 4:
20+ Transient Orca, possibly the
same ones from yesterday's report by Seymour Narrows, were at the top
of Johnstone Strait this morning. If they are the same ones, they
must have turned and were headed Southward past Orca Lab in Blackney
Pass around 7am.
Reported by Marie on Orca Live
March 3:
Hi Susan, Just got a report from my
friend Josh Duncan on the Western King (commercial fishing vessel)
that he saw 13 Orca heading just north of Seymour Narrows (Campbell River area) in a
northerly direction. He said there were 3 large fins in the
pod. I asked if he took photos and if he noticed any notches in the
dorsals but no reply yet. 130 pm (He didn't take any photos, and
didn't notice any notches. No additional information to this posting
time. Susan)
Have a nice weekend, Cheers
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
Wildlife and Adventure Tours
February 29
A J pod (Southern Resident
Orca) sighting from yesterday, sent by John Ford of DFO's Pacific
Biological Station: We observed J pod southbound off Nanaimo at
1800 (2/29). They were heading (south) towards Dodd Narrows when we
left them at dark. John
submitted by Susan Berta and Howard
Garrett, Orca Network, WA
February 29
3:45 pm - Sounds like T20 & T21
4.4 Nautical N.E of Race Rocks 1445
Ron Bates
Ron Bates
submitted by Susan Berta and Howard
Garrett, Orca Network, WA
NOAA's
Northwest Fisheries Science Center reports:
Southern Resident
Killer Whale Satellite Tagging
March 2, 2012, update – The researchers
continue their survey, with the primary goal of re-sighting J26.
Although they have heard J pod members on the hydrophone several
times during the night, they have not yet encountered them during
daylight hours. Other researchers from Canada’s Department of
Fisheries and Oceans have reported an encounter with J pod in the
Strait of Georgia late in the day on February 29. The Canadian
researchers confirmed that the tag was missing from J26. The NWFSC is
currently searching for J pod in that general area and will continue
to do so over the next several days in order to re-sight J26 and
collect information on SKRW winter feeding activities. See the NOAA
Ship Tracker website for the current location of the Bell M
Shimada and where it has been searching over the last several
days.
2012
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