Some Orca – Killer Whales sighted
around Powell River. Winds and waves crashing on the rocks make it
difficult to spot anything. While looking, some of the crashing waves
can even look like blows. Watching for a few minutes will usually
confirm if the 'blow' has a body and is moving. They are out there,
it's just spotting them in this big ocean!
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
Orca
– Most Likely Transients
December 2:
12 pm 2 Big Fins and at least one
smaller one between Lang Bay and Texada Island heading North up
Malaspina Strait. Lots of bird activity in the area too.
Michael Stewart, Powell River
December 2:
1 pm With hopes of managing a photo or
two for identification, drove down to Grief Point and friend, Judy
Brant was the first to spot a confirmed blow just off VanAnda across
the Strait from us. Once we located where the Orca were, I managed a
count of 6 blows in two groups not too far apart from one another and
finally saw a couple of dorsals between large waves. With the waves
crashing against the jagged Texada shore, confirmation of more blows
was impossible. The whales stayed closer to Texada so photos were not
possible. Watching through binoculars, Judy managed to see 2 breaches
off the light by Blubber Bay as they angled towards Rebecca Rocks; I
was disappointed to miss them. At 2:47 pm they turned and angled
towards the Powell River Mill when I finally could confirm 6 dorsals
– then I lost them.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
Regarding November 28
report:
CORRECTION TO PREVIOUSLY POSTED SIGHTING REPORT: This California Transient sighting was NOT on November 28; however, the T18s WERE sighted on November 28.
CORRECTION TO PREVIOUSLY POSTED SIGHTING REPORT: This California Transient sighting was NOT on November 28; however, the T18s WERE sighted on November 28.
"November 24: Transients CA172
with another female and juvenile were traveling quickly west bound in
the middle of the Juan de Fuca Strait. I previously documented CA172
in the same region in December 2010 with 6 -8 other individuals. Mark
Malleson, Prince of Whales"
Alisa Schulman-Janiger, California Killer Whale Project
Alisa Schulman-Janiger, California Killer Whale Project
(Thanks again Alisa for the
Correction – really appreciate it. SM)
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date: March 16, 2013
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A
note about the December 2nd
Orca reports above:
With a
hydrophone, underwater listening device, established in a strategic
location or two, we could have confirmed whether or not these Orca
were Transients or Residents through their unique vocalizations.
Every 'clan' has their own dialect. This is on the Whales and
Dolphins BC wish list – see the Support
– Enter Draw page.
Links in the News:
Received a CNN link to a very lucky dog
with an Orca chasing him. Worth a look as this one looks legitimate:
Japanese Whaling Survey Results from
International Fund for Animal Welfare: