Transient Bigg's Orca, T075s and T002Cs have graced our waters again. T075s are not frequent visitors to this area of the Georgia Strait, but T002Cs were jokingly dubbed our `Resident` Transients in previous years from their staying in the Strait. A Humpback Whale has certainly made waves in the Vancouver area, while Pacific White Sided Dolphins have returned in a few decent sized groups. A few Dalls and Harbour Porpoise also made this report. Lots of great photos!
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
Transient Bigg's Killer Whale known as T075A
Photo by Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching
Society News & Events
April 22, 2016: Earth Day Fundraising Event including buffet dinner, live music and some fun fundraising activities is scheduled for Powell River at the Beach Gardens Resort and Marina's PowWow Banquet Room. Grief Point will be our first location for our Real Time Marine Wildlife Monitoring system which will stream on line, once all resources are available.
Tickets are $20.00 each and available at Beach Gardens and Hindle's Gifts or through our Society Members. Limited number available.
April 7: Tickets will be available at our information table at Quality Foods on Thursday.
Tickets are $20.00 each and available at Beach Gardens and Hindle's Gifts or through our Society Members. Limited number available.
April 7: Tickets will be available at our information table at Quality Foods on Thursday.
April 9: Susan MacKay will be giving a short presentation at the Powell River Library's Campfire Session: For the Love of Animals at Cranberry Hall at 7 pm.
We are always looking for volunteers interested in Cetacea and mapping, who would be willing to spend some time with our growing Society network.
Review our current Volunteer Job Postings
We are also starting our 2016 Summer Raffle with another batch of great prizes! This year the draw will be on Canada Day, July 1st....more in the next update.
Our GoFundMe Campaign to help us out with our Real Time Monitoring Stations can be accessed at: Keep Wild Ocean Whale Society Live
Our GoFundMe Campaign to help us out with our Real Time Monitoring Stations can be accessed at: Keep Wild Ocean Whale Society Live
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 2016-008
TRANSIENT BIGG'S KILLER WHALES
Tue Apr 05 2016
10:44 • Bigg`s Orca hunting, around Browns Bay and Okisollo Channel, Discovery Passage. Hunting sea lions. ▫ Radio Report
Radio, overheard or call out
Mon Apr 04 2016
20:25 • Bigg`s Orca heading East between Denham Islet and Denham Island, Dent Rapids. ◦T002Cs◦ Holding against the ebb tide. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching
17:18 • Bigg`s Orca heading North off of McMullen Point, Discovery Passage. ◦T075, T075A◦ Not sure where rest of the family is. Tight to Vancouver Island Shore. Taking deep long dives. ▫ Leaving the Scene
16:10 • 2 Bigg`s Orca heading North approaching Browns Bay, Discovery Passage. 1 male and 1 female.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Sun Apr 03 2016
16:00 • 4 Bigg`s Orca hunting, heading South at Newcastle Island heading towards Gabriola Island, Georgia Strait. Chased a sea lion onto a buoy before continuing. There was a smaller calf or juvenile with them.
Steven Miller, Nanaimo, BC
Sat Apr 02 2016
20:50 • 3-4 Bigg`s Orca heading North at Salmon Point, Georgia Strait.
Aaron Webber, Campbell River Whale Watching
16:20 • 4 Bigg`s Orca heading East at Dent Island, Dent Rapids. ◦T02Cs◦
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching
Transient Bigg' s Killer Whales
Sat Apr 02 2016 - 6 Images / Media Files
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching
Transient Bigg' s Killer Whales
Sat Apr 02 2016 - 6 Images / Media Files
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching
Fri Apr 01 2016
23:27 • 6-10 Bigg`s Orca hunting, heading South past Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait. One pod led me to another. They fed on a small group of harbour porpoises. Moving slowly. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Transient Bigg' s Killer Whales
Fri Apr 01 2016 - 8 Images / Media Files
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Transient Bigg' s Killer Whales
Fri Apr 01 2016 - 8 Images / Media Files
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
12:07 • 4 Bigg`s Orca heading South by Big Rock Boat Ramp, Campbell River, Campbell River, Georgia Strait. Only 1 male. At Big Rock, moving slowly. Might be group from earlier, not sure.
11:56 • Bigg`s Orca heading South in front of Campbell River, Discovery Passage. Two big fins, must be a different group. In front of the Anchor Inn.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
11:32 • 6 Bigg`s Orca heading South just by the fishing pier in Campbell River midchannel Discovery Passage. By the fishing pier.
Elvis Chikite, Eagle Eye Adventures
09:41 • Bigg`s Orca at Cape Mudge on Quadra Island, Georgia Strait.
09:18 • Bigg`s Orca heading South near We Wai Kai Village on Quadra Island, Discovery Passage.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
09:18 • 4 Bigg`s Orca heading South by the pier in Campbell River, Discovery Passage. With one bull.
Elvis Chikite, Eagle Eye Adventures
08:30 • 4-5 Bigg`s Orca heading North from Whiskey Point, Discovery Passage.
Geord Dunstan, Discovery Marine Safaris
Wed Mar 30 2016
15:40 • 1 Bigg`s Orca heading East off West Redonda Island, Pryce Channel. Large finned male, possibly T87.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Mon Mar 28 2016
17:38 • Bigg`s Orca past Campbell River, Discovery Passage. ◦T075s◦ From photos submitted looks like T075s with many new scars on T75B1.- SM.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching
Transient Bigg' s Killer Whales
Mon Mar 28 2016 - 6 Images / Media Files
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching
Transient Bigg' s Killer Whales
Mon Mar 28 2016 - 6 Images / Media Files
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching
16:42 • Bigg`s Orca approaching Duncan Bay, Discovery Passage. Split into 2 groups with 4 heading down the center and 2 hugging the Vancouver Island shore.
16:24 • 6 Bigg`s Orca heading South at Seymour Narrows, Discovery Passage.
10:30 • 4-5 Bigg`s Orca heading North heading towards Denham Bay from Arran Rapids. ▫ Radio Report
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching
UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES
Thu Mar 31 2016
18:28 • Orca heading North Kye Bay north of Comox, Georgia Strait. Small group. ▫ Second Hand
Aaron Webber, Campbell River Whale Watching
16:12 • 4 Orca heading North off Dent Island, Dent Rapids. ▫ Second Hand
Jos Krynen, Eagle Eye Adventures
Wed Mar 30 2016
11:00 • 3 Orca milling, heading South Welcome Beach near Halfmoon Bay, Welcome Passage. Mother with 2 calves, looked like they may be nursing...mother very relaxed and two babies, stayed in the same place for about an hour or so. ▫ Observed from Shore
Laurie Vance, Sea to Sky Premier Properties
Tue Mar 29 2016
10:00 • 1 Orca heading North off Whiskey Point, Discovery Passage. One male. ▫ Radio Report
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching
Humpback Whale in English Bay, Vancouver
Video footage by Zach Smith
Humpback Whale in English Bay, Vancouver
Video footage by Zach Smith
HUMPBACK WHALES
Wed Apr 06 2016
20:59 • 1 Humpback Whales in the Jericho Beach area of Spanish Banks, Burrard Inlet. Whale has been around for two straight days. Small, weathered white leading edge of dorsal.
Aaron Nagler, Vancouver, BC
Sat Apr 02 2016
12:39 • 2 Humpback Whales milling, near fishing pier in Campbell River, Discovery Passage.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Fri Apr 01 2016
12:00 • 1 Humpback Whales off of Vancouver, Burrard Inlet. Sighting occurred on Friday, April 1st and Saturday, April 2nd. It is not known whether it is the same individual animal or not.
Ivan Ng, Vancouver, BC
11:13 • 1 Humpback Whales by Red Can Buoy at the south end of Quadra Island, Georgia Strait. Long dives.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Thu Mar 31 2016
13:15 • 1 Humpback Whales heading North Seymour Narrows, Discovery Passage.
13:14 • 1 Humpback Whales in Menzies Bay, Discovery Passage.
12:48 • 1 Humpback Whales between Menzies Bay and Seymour Narrows, Discovery Passage.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching
Tue Mar 29 2016
12:31 • 1 Humpback Whales heading South almost to Big Rock, Discovery Passage. 150 metres offshore of Vancouver Island.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
12:31 • 1 Humpback Whales heading South approaching Big Rock.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching
Humpback Whales
Tue Mar 29 2016 - 1 Images / Media Files
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching
Humpback Whales
Tue Mar 29 2016 - 1 Images / Media Files
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching
12:02 • 1 Humpback Whales heading South off Campbell River, Discovery Passage. Close to shore off of the Anchor Inn.
Elvis Chikite, Eagle Eye Adventures
Sun Mar 27 2016
15:19 • 1 Humpback Whales heading South by Willow Point, Georgia Strait. Moving slowly close to shore.
Elvis Chikite, Eagle Eye Adventures
??:?? • 1 Humpback Whales tail lobs, off of Vancouver, Burrard Inlet.
Ivan Ng, Vancouver, BC
Tue Mar 22 2016
10:30 • 1 Humpback Whales circling, north side of Newcastle Island, Georgia Strait. Feeding for several hours amongst hundreds of sea lions - breaching - herring spawn.
Lori Jones, Nanaimo
PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
Wed Apr 06 2016
12:40 • PWS Dolphins heading North between Rebecca Rocks and Vancouver Island midstrait in Georgia Strait.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins B.C.
12:36 • 15-20 PWS Dolphins foraging, heading South off Lund, Malaspina Strait.
Gordie Coles, Lund, BC
11:36 • 20 PWS Dolphins foraging, heading South off of Race Point, Discovery Passage.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching
11:33 • 40 PWS Dolphins foraging, heading South off of Race Point. Feeding on herring.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Mon Apr 04 2016
11:29 • 25 PWS Dolphins heading North in front of viewpoint in Powell River, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Mon Apr 04 2016 - 2 Images / Media Files
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Mon Apr 04 2016 - 2 Images / Media Files
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
10:42 • PWS Dolphins milling, off bottom end of Dent Island, Dent Rapids. Small group.
Kurt Staples, Eagle Eye Adventures
Sun Apr 03 2016
08:41 • 30 PWS Dolphins off of Discovery Harbour Marina, Campbell River, Discovery Passage. Just outside the harbour.
Bill Coltart, Pacific Pro Dive
Sat Apr 02 2016
18:30 • 30 or 40 PWS Dolphins breaching, heading South at Salmon Point travelling towards Comox, Georgia Strait. Spectacular!! Absolutely amazing. 50 feet and some closer to shore. They were black and white like the big orcas. The whole restaurant and campground were treated to this AMAZING SHOW !!. ▫ Observed from Shore
Hal Geddes, Salmon Point Resort
Fri Apr 01 2016
23:28 • 50-75 PWS Dolphins foraging, in front of the ferry terminal in Powell River, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Fri Apr 01 2016 - 2 Images / Media Files
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Fri Apr 01 2016 - 2 Images / Media Files
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
23:27 • PWS Dolphins heading North almost to Sliammon, Malaspina Strait.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins B.C.
Thu Mar 31 2016
18:37 • PWS Dolphins west off Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait. Large group.
18:37 • PWS Dolphins between Cortes Island and Hernando Island, Baker Passage. Another group.
Elvis Chikite, Eagle Eye Adventures
16:48 • 40 PWS Dolphins Francisco Point on Quadra Island, Sutil Channel. This is another group.
16:23 • 20 PWS Dolphins Marina Island off Cortes Island, Sutil Channel.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching
13:56 • 3-4 PWS Dolphins in Blubber Bay on Texada Island, Malaspina Strait. Heading slowly towards Powell River.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Thu Mar 31 2016 - 4 Images / Media Files
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Thu Mar 31 2016 - 4 Images / Media Files
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
13:12 • PWS Dolphins off Texada Island, Georgia Strait. First big group of PWS heading towards Vancouver Island and going to meet up with second group. Then turned again and heading toward Harwood Island.
Micheline Macauley, Texada Island, BC
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Thu Mar 31 2016 - 4 Images / Media Files
Micheline Macauley, Texada Island, BC
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Thu Mar 31 2016 - 4 Images / Media Files
Micheline Macauley, Texada Island, BC
13:12 • PWS Dolphins heading North off Texada Island. Another group of dolphins, further out than the earlier group.
12:43 • 100 PWS Dolphins heading North off Texada Island.
Micheline Macauley, Texada Island, BC
Wed Mar 30 2016
12:10 • 40 PWS Dolphins heading East, Bute Inlet.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching
12:03 • 100 PWS Dolphins heading South at Salmon Point off Saratoga Beach, Vancouver Island, Georgia Strait. Schooling herring. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Wed Mar 30 2016 - 6 Images / Media Files
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Wed Mar 30 2016 - 6 Images / Media Files
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
08:30 • 50-75 PWS Dolphins milling, between Raza Island and West Redonda Island, Deer Passage. ▫ Second Hand
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Tue Mar 29 2016
12:05 • 20 PWS Dolphins North Bluff, Discovery Passage.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching
DALL'S PORPOISE
Wed Apr 06 2016
15:10 • 6 Dall`s Porpoise heading North-West off of Sand Heads, Georgia Strait. 3.5 miles Northwest of Sandheads light station.
13:58 • Dall`s Porpoise off of Spanish Bank in Vancouver, Burrard Inlet. Off of the most westerly drop off marker.
Randy Hodge, Vancouver, BC
Fri Mar 25 2016
17:15 • 2-4 Dall`s Porpoise foraging, heading Unknown Direction just off the northwest tip of Isbister Islands at the entrance of Okeover Inlet. The porpoises broke the surface only briefly for quick breaths then dove. They were going in all directions in the strong current flow. We only saw them come up about 6 times and got no video, then they disappeared. ▫ On Scene
Jude Abrams & Terry L. Brown, Powell River
HARBOUR PORPOISE
Mon Mar 28 2016
17:29 • 2-3 Harbour Porpoise heading South in front of the view point in Powell River, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
Susan MacKay, Powell River
Orca off Halfmoon Bay, BC
Video by Laurie Vance
Orca off Halfmoon Bay, BC
Video by Laurie Vance
SIGHTINGS HEAT MAP 2016-008
The Magazine
REGIONAL & WEST COAST
CBC Radio News, BC
Radio Interview
Radio Interview
B.C.'s most famous marine mammals could soon have a database dedicated to tracking their personal health.
Researchers around the Pacific Northwest collect swathes of data on the southern resident killer whales who call this part of the world home. Dr. Joe Gaydos, director of the SeaDoc Society in Eastsound, Wash., wants to consolidate that data into a single individualized database.
Whidbey News-Times, WA
Gray whales typically arrive in early March and stay through the end of May, feeding on ghost shrimp along the sand and mud shores of Saratoga Passage between Camano and Whidbey Islands, and in Possession Sound. The annual spring visit of Gray whales provides an excellent opportunity to view whales from the shorelines of Island County or from the Mukilteo/Clinton ferries and whale watch companies......
NEWS 1130
Environmental groups are shocked to learn 15 California sea lions were euthanized by salmon farming company Cermaq Canada on the west coast of Vancouver Island between October and December. The numbers have been released by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, which allows the practice under what’s called “Authorized Marine Mammal Control Activities.”...
METRO, Vancouver
Unmanned, subsea glider is on a 23-day mission to learn more about the mysterious life of whales off the coast of Vancouver Island. Geographer David Duffus and his team at UVic’s Whale Research Lab launched a two-metre underwater drone off the western coast of Vancouver Island last week and sent it on a 23-day mission along the shelf break in Clayoquot Canyon to give scientists a rare glimpse into the behaviour and habitat of the region’s whales.....
WBUR's The Wild Life
In the Pacific Northwest, scientists are wondering why so many of one clan’s calves are turning out to be boys.
CBC NEWS
DFO spokesperson Paul Cottrell said the carcass was spotted earlier this week near Sooke Point but was only located today. He described the animal as a young female that was just over two metres in length....
CANADA
INTERNATIONAL
Earth Touch News
It looks like the lyre bird and its futuristic laser sounds might finally have a challenger: the dwarf minke whale. These lesser-known leviathans might not have vocal chords, but they somehow manage to produce a blaster-like "da-da-da-daaaang", aptly known as the "Star Wars sound".
KCET, CA
Five years have passed, and yet even now, the nuclear disaster continues to fuel misguided panic-spirals in the media.
The most recent report, which has ricocheted around the web like a pinball this month, revolves around a string of “unexplained” whale deaths. The strandings certainly seem like cause for concern, but despite the kerfuffle, there’s something you need to know about radioactive whales in the Pacific Ocean: there aren’t any.
Video of Feeding HBs using a boat to help corral food in the Baja
Facebook Post
You will definitely wish you were on the boat with these folks in Baja when a couple of whales decided to let them join in.
Florida International University, FL
Marine scientist devotes career to reversing trend of bycatch
Each time a commercial fisher casts a net, they run the risk of catching more than their intended targets. This is particularly true in small-scale and artisanal fisheries in Africa.
It’s not unheard of to find manta ray and sea turtles among the netted fish headed for market. Dolphins too. In fact, the bycatch issue is the most serious problem facing marine mammals today, according to FIU marine scientist Jeremy Kiszka.
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Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
We are the non-profit Wild Ocean Whale Society
Call
1-877-323-9776