Orca have been making
short appearances in the Powell River – Campbell River and Comox
areas. We only know for certain that some of them were actually
Transient Bigg's (meat eating) Killer Whales. We have heard that our
usual Northern Resident pod known as the A42's – the ones that were
in the viral video rubbing on the beach and including A103, Albion,
the calf born Dec. 2012, were seen quite a distance up the coast
close to Bella Bella. The question is who are all the ones spotted
around here? We have also had many pods of Pacific White Sided
Dolphins seen between Texada and Jervis inlet.
Our Burger and Beer
Night fundraiser is coming up and hope that all those close by can
make the March 10th date at the Savoury
Bight Restaurant and Pub at Beach Gardens, Grief Point, Powell River.
We have numerous Door prizes and Toonie Toss prizes. It's going to be
a fun night for all starting at 5pm to make it easy for families to
join us. The cost is $15 for Burger (beef or veggie) with Fries, and
a Beer (or wine). Kids can always share the Burger and fries while
the adults enjoy the beer or wine! The net proceeds are going towards
the live web camera and hydrophone we are setting up off Grief Point
to look and listen towards Myrtle Rocks where we have a fair bit of
Whale activity. This is the first of a series of web cameras we have
in the works, so all of your support is greatly appreciated. And, you
do need to eat, right? Come join us!
Our prizes include:
Mother Nature Plants & Pets, Paparazzi Pizza, Snickers
Restaurant, Powell River Complex Concession, Thaidal Zone Restaurant,
Westview U-Brew, Colin James, Springtime Garden Center, and MORE!
A huge thank your to
Savoury Bight Restaurant and Pub & all our donors for sponsoring
this event!
Susan
MacKay & Lynne Cracknell, Whales
and Dolphins BC
Have you seen a whale,
dolphin or porpoise?
We
are the non-profit Wild Ocean Whale Society
T086s Baby popping
up for a breath
February 25, 2014 –
3 photos
Susan MacKay, SG
Images
TRANSIENT
BIGG'S KILLER WHALES
Feb 26:
9:42 am: There have
been numerous sightings of Transient Bigg's Killer Whales all up and
down Johnstone Strait over the last couple of weeks.
Fabien Minfray,
Eagle Eye Adventures.
Feb 25:
9:20 am: Four Orca sort
of milling just south of the viewpoint at Powell River. They're
really close to shore.
Grant Rainsley,
Powell River
Feb 25:
9:30 am approx. Had
grabbed gear and was off the dock in record time determined to find
out who we had out here! Picked up 5 Orca just off the Powell River
mill cutting between the draggers who had followed me out of the
harbour and were just setting nets. Then the other 4 Orca popped up
closer to Harwood Island. They were on a definite track up the coast.
10:26 am: Leaving 9
Orca heading towards Mystery Reef off Savary Island northwest bound.
4:50 pm: Finally got
through photos. I could only confirm the Transient Bigg's T86A's.
Don't know who the others were and didn't see T87 with them. Got
great baby photo!
Susan MacKay, Whales
and Dolphins B.C.
Feb 25:
9:30 am: We live a few
blocks above the Westview Powell River Ferry Terminal. I looked out
the kitchen window this morning and saw Killer Whales. There were
about six of them, not sure, and they were about 100 meters off the
Powell River shoreline, traveling towards Lund. There were two
Draggers about another 200 meters away from shore. No other boats or
wildlife nearby. Exciting stuff!
Dan Tatham, Powell
River.
Feb 25:
12:37 pm: Two Orca,
possibly a Mom and calf or juvenile, spotted on the north side of
Savary island crossing towards False Pass between Hernando Island and
Savary.
Gordie Coles, Savary
Island / Lund.
T086s and Friends
February 25, 2014 –
3 photos
Susan MacKay, SG
Images
UNIDENTIFIED
KILLER WHALES
these
are presumed to be Transient Bigg's Orca
Mar 3:
8:05 am: About 5 Orca
including one big fin on the Vancouver Island side of Texada Island,
southbound.
Steve Grover, Powell
River.
March 3:
9 – 9:35 am: I
watched a few blows from the Orca after the call from Steve. They
were doing long dives going back and forth about half way between
Coho Point and Rebecca Rocks, off Powell River. Then suddenly after a
long gap I spotted them angling towards Powell River by Harwood
Island. After grabbing gear I thought before rushing out to see who
these Orca were, I'd best see their current location.....not a blow
or dorsal to be seen till 10:30 am! Unfortunately, I had more
computer work, so although the ocean was calling, work took priority
over searching for these elusive Orca. No other reports came in, so
they stayed elusive.
Susan MacKay, Whales
and Dolphins BC
Mar 2:
7:30 am: Report from a
ferry worker of 10 Orca southbound by Quathiaski Cove on Quadra
Island. One large fin and a couple of young ones in the group.
8:15 am: I can see them
just coming up from We Wai Kai Village on Quadra Island, favouring
the Quadra side of the Strait. I'm on the ferry.
Garry Henkel,
Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours.
Feb 28:
11:20 am: Orca mid
Strait between Comox-Powell River. From Lucy who works in our office
and is watching from the ferry!
Geord Dunstan,
Discovery Marine Safaris.
February 20:
9:19 am: Five Orca, one
really huge one, northbound by Albion Point in Powell River.
(Caller did not leave
name.)
Rec'd March 3:
3 weeks ago 9 Orcas
passed right in front of our sailboat between Texada and Harwood
Island. Since then I heard, that they are still around in this area.
Last week they were seen around Myrtle Point near Powell River. Have
a nice sunny day!
Monique Labusch, Powell River
Monique Labusch, Powell River
Orca while sailing
Powell River
Photo Monique
Labusch, Powell River
NORTHERN
RESIDENT KILLER WHALES
Feb 26: Report of a
Resident pod hanging out around Blind Channel, between West and East
Thurlow Islands, over the past 2 weeks. From a trusted source.
Fabien Minfray,
Eagle Eye Adventures.
PACIFIC
WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
March 1:
7:08 am: If anyone is
up – there are two pods of Dolphins off Donkersley and between the
area of Patrick Road to Black Point in Powell River. Huge pod headed
north, smaller one still off Black point. (via Facebook)
Kimmy
Faerie, Powell
River.
March 1:
9:00 am: Report of a
couple of groups of Pacific White Sided Dolphins northbound by Myrtle
Rocks, Powell River.
11:59 am: Now there is
another group of around 20 Pacific White Sided Dolphns foraging back
and forth by Myrtle Rocks.
Wendy Heathcote,
Powell River
February 28:
Around 11:45 am 80 plus
Pacific White Sided Dolphins were headed past Saltery Bay, Texada
side of the Strait towards Jervis Inlet. They were spotted off Kent's
Beach, south of Powell River.
Lynn Webster, Powell
River
HARBOUR
PORPOISE
Feb 27:
2:10 pm: About seven or
eight Harbour Porpoise, very small dark dorsals off the viewpoint in
Powell River.
Andrew Bryant,
Powell River
Transient Bigg's
Killer Whales T086s with Calf
February 25, 2014 – 1 photos
Susan MacKay, SG
Images
LINKS:
Excellent news! A third
baby for the highly endangered Southern Residents; two related news
stories below:
The
Raincoast Conservation Foundatiion on what is needed to better
protect the Southern Resident Killer Whales:
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2015/02/27/4155907/survival-of-endangered-orcas-in.html
M.P Don Davies raises
questions about the Governments apparent inability to put a stop to
the shipping of whale meat through this country:
And
a disturbing look at the hunting and capture of Beluga Whales in
Russia:
Rec'd February 25th:
Taken around the Bella
Bella, Hunter Channel area February 22, 2014 (see previous report).
Video clip from Derek Stewart:
To
add a bit of humour: There has never been an Orca attack in the wild
for those of you wondering about this fake, funny clip:
Have
you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
Every
sighting report is valuable!
We
are the non-profit Wild Ocean Whale Society