Northern Resident Orca (NRKW) known as
the A8's (or now as the A42's) have been back and forth around Powell
River area since Christmas again. A42 had given birth to a calf
December 2012 somewhere around Myrtle Rocks (see archived reports and
January 2013 photos). I'm pleased to say that the calf, still without
a name or number, is doing well with his/her family and there are
photos below.
Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW)
also have done their annual winter trip up Georgia Strait passing
Powell River. Unfortunately, few reports came in so no photos, but
the satellite tag on L87 gives a clear picture of travel. See below
for their track and links to satellite tagging information.
Other Orca reports have also come in
with no way of knowing if they are Resident (fish eating) or
Transient Bigg's (meat eating) Killer Whales.
Pacific White Sided Dolphins are also
in this report as well as a link to a short video clip of Dall's
Porpoise taken recently.
Susan
MacKay, Whales
and Dolphins BC
Every
sighting report is valuable
Have
you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
NRKW A42's Calf born
Dec. 2012
January 10, 2014 Powell
River
Susan MacKay, SG Images
Northern
Resident Killer Whales
January 10:
10:30 am A pod of 5 or 6 Killer Whales
just passed Black (Albion) Point heading towards town (Powell River).
Donna Skuggedal, Powell River
January 10:
10:40 am At least three (3) Orca
heading west between Black Pt (Albion) and Myrtle Pt. (Powell River)
Just below Whalen/Fleury. At least two males, no chance for ID.
Perk Percy, Perseas Dive, Powell
River
NRKW A79
January 10, 2014
Steve Grover, Powell
River
January 10:
10:45 am 3 or more Orca Northbound past
Albion Point towards Myrtle Rocks.
Bill Taylor, Powell River
January 10:
11 am 6 or maybe even 7 Orca some tight
into shore by Myrtle Rocks heading towards Grief Point. There was one
big male that I'm sure I've seen before in the lead and it looks like
a couple of really young ones as well farther behind.
Jim Southern, Powell River
January 10:
11:30 am 6 Orca found still just
between Myrtle Rocks and Grief Point (Powell River). Identification
was easy and immediate – the Northern Resident pod known as the
A8's (A42's now since she is the new matriarch). After cancelling an
appointment and a bit of trouble getting the skiff started, it was
great to be on the water again. Only the second time since September!
Steve Grover was going to take some photos from shore, so he joined
me on the water. The Whales were spread out with A66 in the lead. A42
was the next obvious one passing us as we drifted in front of Beach
Gardens marina by Grief Point. A79 and A88 brought up the rear with
all of them taking long dives and zig zagging, presumably chasing
fish. They waited till the Comox and Texada ferries left the terminal
before crossing towards Willingdon Beach. Although I dropped the
hydrophone, to check for vocalizations, a number of times they only
vocalized for a short time with their distinctive A-Clan calls. The
calf, born one year ago in our area, would pop up to take quick
breaths and you could still see a tinge of orange on the white
patches. Left them slowly foraging towards the Powell River mill
around 2:10 pm and just before the rain started.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
NRKW A66
January 10, 2014
Steve Grover, Powell
River
Southern
Resident Killer Whales
January 6:
9:30 – 10 am SRKW Orca! A friend, Jim
Sepkowski was on the Comox ferry and called me. I saw L pod thru my
big-eye scopes Monday morning - between Texada and Little River
heading south. Lots of breaching. I'll let you know when I see
anything in the future.
Stephen Mohan, Powell River
Unidentified
Killer Whales / Orca
January 10:
10:45 am At least 2 Orcas mid channel
Northbound by we wai kae village (Cape Mudge). 3 Dorsals for sure.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys
January 8:
2:30 pm Two or three Orca heading south
from Westview (Powell River), just a quick glimpse......that was at
about 2:30.
Grant Rainsley, Powell River
NRKW A88 born 2008
January 10, 2014 Powell
River
Susan MacKay, SG Images
January 7:
1:10 pm Just saw about 4-5 killer
whales heading towards Harwood from Grief Point (Powell River). They
are quite a way out so it is hard to count.
Joanne Brough, Powell River
January 6 & 7:
Talking with crew on the Comox ferry,
they had seen Orca on both days during their crossings between Comox
and Powell River. Some on the 7th were back and forth off
the North-West tip of Texada Island.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
Pacific
White Sided Dolphins
January 4:
2:21 pm A few hundred PWS Dolphins in
front of Nanaimo right now. They're feeding in one spot.
Jared Towers, Nanaimo Biological
Station, DFO
NRKW A42's Calf born
Dec. 2012
January 10, 2014
Steve Grover, Powell
River
Links
Satellite tagged SRKW L87's travels
through to January 7, 2014 includes the lower Georgia Strait up
Malaspina Channel passing Powell River to Harwood Island, up to
Mitlenatch Island, over to Comox and down the West side of Texada
Island. This link has full sized mapped movements and information:
NOAA Map of L87's
movements
reduced in size for
report.
This link is a full one hour long BBC
Documentary “Natural World: Killer Whales, Beneath the Surface” /
BBC (2013)
Here's a short video clip (submitted by
Steve and Susan Grover) of Dall's porpoises around a sailboat on the
weekend. Susan's cousin's daughter from Australia was out sailing in
the gulf island when the porpoises came to their boat. I requested
permission to forward the link to you and she said it was OK.
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