Transient Bigg's Orca known as T087 who had been cruising the straits alone has joined up with a couple of other pods in which there is one female with an extremely large belly. We expect that there will be another new calf to report very soon. There have been a few other reports of Orca, but no confirmation if they were of the Bigg's or Resident variety. Humpback Whales seem to be holding closer to the Vancouver Island side of Georgia Strait, and Pacific White Sided Dolphins appear to be transitting in smaller groups. We are pleased to have reports of the shy Harbour Porpoise again. Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
Spyhopping Transient Bigg's Orca with a very large belly.
Photo Feb. 1, 2016 by Michelle Pennell, Powell River
Society News
We'd like to thank all who submitted nominations for Wild Ocean Whale Society (WOWs) for the Horizon Business Excellence Award for Non-Profits. We were only one of the twenty-one non-profits nominated and selected by the Chamber of Commerce in Powell River. With our extensive coverage beyond our local Powell River community, just being nominated by as many as we were, is extremely gratifying. Thank you for showing support and caring.
Our GoFundMe Campaign to help us out with our Real Time Monitoring Stations can be accessed at:
https://www.gofundme.com/WOWsociety
We are progressing on various projects and events. We hope to have some exciting news coming your way soon.
Review our current Volunteer Job Postings
For our DONATE page click here
Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
We are the non-profit Wild Ocean Whale Society
Call
1-877-323-9776
Sightings Update
SIGHTINGS MAP 2016-004
TRANSIENT BIGG'S KILLER WHALES
Mon Feb 01 2016
10:13 • 4 Bigg`s Orca heading South past Myrtle Rocks in the middle of Malaspina Strait. ◦T87 and T055s◦
Jim Southern, Powell River
09:30 • Bigg`s Orca heading South-East passing Myrtle Rocks in Malaspina Strait. ◦T87 and T055s◦ Two groups were observed. One group with two large Orca and another group closer to Texada Island, but couldn't count those as too far away. Just saw the blows. ▫ Observed from Shore
Holly Roy, Powell River
09:00 • 8-9 Bigg`s Orca heading South off the Viewpoint in Powell River then down past Myrte Rocks in Malaspina Strait. ◦T87 and T055s◦ Started at the Viewpoint and went all the way to below Myrtle Rocks taking photos from shore. The whales came in tight to shore. Note the seal right up near the beach on one photo. IDs from the photos Michelle submitted. Also one Orca looks like she's about ready to give birth based on how fat she appears. - SM. ▫ Observed from Shore
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Transient Bigg' s Killer Whales
Mon Feb 01 2016 - 10 Images / Media Files
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
 |
| Note the seal getting as far into shore as possible away from T087 |
Transient Bigg' s Killer Whales
Mon Feb 01 2016 - 10 Images / Media Files
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
08:50 • 8 Bigg`s Orca heading South off Powell River in Malaspina Strait. ◦T87 and T055s◦ ▫ Observed from Shore
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins B.C.
UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES
Tue Feb 09 2016
08:00 • 3 Orca heading South off the Harwood Island down Malaspina Strait. ▫ Second Hand
Jay Feaver, Powell River, CCG
Sat Feb 06 2016
13:30 • 5-10 Orca travelling, heading South off the West side of Helliwell Park on Hornby Island in Strait of Georgia. There seemed to be a pod of 5-10 whales traveling about 1km off shore. They rounded the tip of Flora Island (where there was a large group of sea lions) and then seemed to linger off the southern tip of Flora.
There was also one solitary whale much closer to shore. This whale seemed to be traveling but slower. This whale passed between Flora Island and Hornby. I lost sight of it after that. ▫ Observed from Shore
Andrea Kelsall, Hornby Island
HUMPBACK WHALES
Tue Feb 09 2016
15:30 • 1 Humpback Whales at the edge of Satellite Channel then right into Cowichan Bay. I was sailing out of Cowichan Bay and on the edge of Satellite Channel I heard and then saw a lone Humpback Whale. The whale eventually swam into Cowichan Bay. This was between 3.15 pm and then 3.45pm for my last sighting.
Chris Banner, Cowichan Bay
Wed Jan 27 2016
08:30 • 1 Humpback Whales breaching, heading East off Little Qualicum River in Strait of Georgia. About 3/8 to1/2 mile off Little Qualicum River estuary.
Spotted from our kitchen window atop the cliff. Our first sighting in 19 years living here.
Breached 3 times a few minutes apart before disappearing from our view behind trees on our lot. Very high tide and strong SE wind at the time.
Heading down island towards French Creek..
Viewed first breach with naked eye and second and third breaches through 7x50 Steiner binoculars. Noted large flukes. Magnificent. ▫ Observed from Shore
Ed Melville, Qualicum Beach
OTHER WHALES
Thu Jan 28 2016
14:42 • Other Whales off Francisco Point on Quadra Island in Strait of Georgia. Unsure if Humpbacks or Orca were observed. ▫ Radio Report
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins B.C.
PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
Mon Feb 08 2016
12:15 • 5-6 PWS Dolphins heading South off Cape Mudge on the South end of Quadra Island.
Bob Deshaies, .
Sun Feb 07 2016
13:54 • 8 PWS Dolphins foraging, between Rebecca Rocks and Texada Island in Malaspina Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins B.C.
Sat Feb 06 2016
17:30 • PWS Dolphins heading South off the Viewpoint in Powell River in Malaspina Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Sat Feb 06 2016 - 3 Images / Media Files
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Sat Feb 06 2016 - 3 Images / Media Files
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
HARBOUR PORPOISE
Tue Feb 09 2016
12:30 • 5-7 Harbour Porpoise foraging, heading Unknown Direction by Point Atkinson at the entrance to Howe Sound. Seen from Lighthouse Park (Point Atkinson) between Passage Island. They appeared to follow boats back and forth. ▫ Observed from Shore
Bristol Kennedy, West Vancouver
Harbour Porpoise
Tue Feb 09 2016 - 4 Images / Media Files
Bristol Kennedy, West Vancouver
Harbour Porpoise
Tue Feb 09 2016 - 4 Images / Media Files
Bristol Kennedy, West Vancouver
SIGHTINGS HEAT MAP 2016-004
The Magazine
REGIONAL & WEST COAST
National Observer
The Great Bear Rainforest agreement contributes directly to the survival of the Orca and Grizzly who are sustained by the salmon. Salmon habitat is now protected into the future by this agreement which protects and enhances the coastal rainforests of Central and North Coast BC.
SaveTheGreatBear.org
The Great Bear Rainforest stretches from British Columbia’s Discovery Islands northwards to the Tongass Rainforest of Alaska. It covers 6.4 million hectares (15 million acres) and over half of the region is covered by forest ecosystems (3.6 million hectares).
This document maps the area that stretches North from the Discovery Islands and Broughtons along the coast to Alaska and inland past Bella Coola and Prince Rupert, and details the process involved in reaching the agreement and its implications.
Enter the Great Bear Rainforest
National Observer
KGW News, OR
A 24-foot humpback whale was among four marine mammals that washed ashore last weekend, along a stretch of the Oregon and Washington coastline, according to Keith Chandler, the manager of Seaside Aquarium.
The whale was found on the beach in Seaside on Sunday, a harbor porpoise washed up near Fort Stevens on Saturday and a striped dolphin was found on Cannon Beach on Saturday, Chandler said. Another striped dolphin washed up in Ocean Park, Washington, also on Saturday.
CTV Vancouver
A new documentary is putting the Vancouver Aquarium’s controversial connections to SeaWorld and concerns over cetacean breeding back in the spotlight.
Gary Charbonneau’s film, Vancouver Aquarium Uncovered, explores the issues around loaning belugas to U.S. aquariums as well as the general practice of breeding belugas in captivity. The film can be found online at: https://vimeo.com/135299621
The Globe & Mail
Marine scientist are now studying with the Canadian Military to learn techniques used to track ships and to hopefully better understand the impacts of ship noise on Marine mammals.
Vancouver, BC, Canada
News Talk 980 CKNW
Mae Moore has started up an online petition to the House of Commons.
She says she would like Canadian whale watching boats to abide by the same rules as their Washington State counterparts.
“Their regulations are twice as strong as ours are currently in Canada. In Washington State, boats have to stay 200 yards away from any marine mammals and those are regulations. In Canada, they have to stay 100 meters away and they are guidelines, there is no enforcement.”
CS Monitor
A team of scientists measured underwater noise pollution off the coast of Washington, and found surprising impacts on nearby endangered orcas.
“In the summertime habitat of the endangered SRKWs, ship noise may interfere not only with SRKW communication (vocalizations) but also foraging and navigation (echolocation clicks).”
The authors suggested mitigation strategies include transfer of ship quieting technology from the military to civilian shipping and slowing down, which has other environmental benefits, like reducing collision risks, and is consistent with recent industry efforts to increase fuel efficiency.
INTERNATIONAL
Stuff.co.nz
A study underway in Kaikoura, NZ looks set to reveal the secret behaviour of dusky dolphins.
Video cameras will be attached to the mammals for the first time to track their social behaviour and diving habits, so it should give valuable details about their otherwise unknown movements.
The study is being led by Heidi Pearson, a marine biology professor from the University of Alaska Southeast, in Juneau, Alaska.
National Geographic
It's not often that people get a glimpse of the largest animal that has ever lived. But rare drone footage of a blue whale mother and her calf gliding through the Southern Ocean off Antarctica has gone viral this week.
The footage was shot in late January by members of the activist group Sea Shepherd Society, who are patrolling the area in the ship Steve Irwin to deter poachers.
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For our DONATE page click here
Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
We are the non-profit Wild Ocean Whale Society
Call
1-877-323-9776