The
fog truly played havoc with anyone trying to see anything on the
water, let alone those travelling by road. Fog rolled in and although
we had thoughts of it possibly lifting here and there, it socked us
in for days on end. Today, with some rain, it's finally cleared
(almost entirely). Trying to spot any whales had been virtually
impossible except for a few days where the fog banks drifted around a
bit more. The A8/42's were the main focus in the central Georgia
Strait as they did keep reappearing off of Powell River. Hopes of a
new report today after the fog lifted dwindled as it got darker. So,
although this report covers Cetacean Sightings up to January 28th,
the last actual report was of Harbour Porpoise in the fog on January
25th.
Susan
MacKay, Whales
and Dolphins BC
Every
sighting report is valuable
Have
you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
NRKW
A8's / A42's
January
22, 2014 Powell River
Susan
MacKay, SG Images
NORTHERN
RESIDENT KILLER WHALES
January
23:
11:25
am Looks like the same Orca foraging back and forth in front again. 2
smaller whales are together, but separate from the others.
Shirley
Randall, Beacon Bed and Breakfast, Powell River
January
23:
11:46
am: Killer whales
outside Westview viewpoint (Powell River) heading north slowly. One
large and 2 or 3 smaller ones, hard to tell in the fog.
Wendy
Price, Powell River (Email)
January
23:
11:28
am: The A8's are presently foraging between Westview and Grief Point,
moving slowly northward.
Geord
Dunstan, Texada Water Taxi, Stubbs Island Whale Watching.
January
22:
8:00
am: Three killer whales foraging in front of Van Anda (Texada
Island). It looks like some of the A8's. They are moving slowly
southbound.
8:36
am: Looks like the whole family is here now! They are heading right
for Beach Gardens in Powell River! Unfortunately we have a schedule
to keep, so gotta go now.
Geord Dunstan, Texada Water Taxi, Stubbs Island Whale Watching.
NRKW
A103 Tail Lob
January
22, 2014 Powell River
Susan
MacKay, SG Images
January
22:
8:50
am 2 or more Orca right by Grief Point. There's 1 large dorsal and 1
with a curved dorsal. They're Northbound tight to shore. We actually
could hear them more than see them through the fog.
John
and Joan Treen, Powell River
January
22:
9:05
am 3 to 5 Orca Northbound by a tug out in front of our B&B.
(Shirely called back after my request for more info with the fact
they could only confirm 4 Orca including a calf and one big male –
SM)
Shirley
Randall, Beacon Bed and Breakfast, Powell River
January
22:
10:15
am: There are three or four Orca right by the mill in Powell River.
They surfaced just by the Hulks then off the mill towards Harwood.
There's 1 Big male, a cow and a calf running tight together.
Derk
VanHees, Powell River (Call)
NRKW A???
January
22, 2014 Powell River
Susan
MacKay, SG Images
January
22:
10:30
am I had been just about out the door to run errands when the call
came in from Derk, above. I quickly grabbed my gear and opted to do a
quick run out to see if I could find the 6th Orca! Spotted
them foraging close to the mill, so I stopped out mid strait between
Harwood Island and the Powell River mill to see where, and how many,
were truly with A42 etc. I was just sitting there drifting to see
them when they seemed to decide what they were going to do. Four of
them turned towards me and I just sat there drifting as they came
right up to the skiff. The calf popped up to take another look and
touch Mom (or the 'other' female) while A79 and A88 were stopped
right beside me. A couple of squeaks above the water and all four of
them decided to pass under the skiff! It was amazing – no, I didn't
get photos – I stood there amazed at their choice. I was so totally
in the open, as were they, yet they made the choice to do this, as if
to show the calf what a boat and motor was like. We know they teach
their young about their surroundings, but this was pretty amazing.
They had seen and heard my skiff before, so obviously felt safe
enough to pass directly underneath me. Watching all four of them, in
this coordinated manoeuvre, pass just under the skiff was
breathtaking. No, I never tire of being on the water with these great
animals.
Back
to my main objective of getting out there. I was trying to find out
if we truly have A28 or another female travelling with the A8/42's.
After a number of photos and being sure that A42 cannot be in two
places in such short amount of a time, I cannot say for 100% that the
6th Orca isn't A42 doing a very speedy zip across to A66.
It just doesn't add up that it's only her. They foraged, looking like
they did catch and share their food, spread out from where the river
actually comes out by the mill towards Harwood and back.
12:18
pm: Leaving the A8's/42's angling towards Atrevida Reef (north east
of Harwood island).
Susan
MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
NRKW
A66
January
22, 2014 Powell River
Susan
MacKay, SG Images
HARBOUR
PORPOISE
January
25:
??
(rec'd 4:13 pm) There were two Harbour porpoise off Grief Point
(Powell River) this morning.
Jared
Towers, Dept. Of Fisheries (trying to find the NRKW's in the fog -
SM)
NRKW
A ??
January
22, 2014 Powell River
Susan
MacKay, SG Images
HUMPBACK
WHALES
January
25:
Email
from regular reporter holidaying in Maui: Been out with the Pacific
Whale Foundation today and saw the Humpbacks in their birthing
grounds. So exciting to see a mother and her calf and many others
putting on a fine show. Good to see that the 100 yards rule applies
here too. Wonderful day out!
Holly
Roy, Pebble Beach, Powell River
(but
currently in Maui!)
Humpback
Whales in Maui
January
25, 2014
Holly
Roy, Powell River
LINKS
Lolita the captive killer whale could be returning to B.C. Waters. This headline may be a bit deceptive since the decision is far from over. Read the article:
Have
you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
Every
sighting report is valuable!
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are the non-profit Wild Ocean Whale Society