NEW Toll Free Number, Pacific White Sided Dolphins and Links in the News

New

Toll Free Sightings Report Hotline:

1-877-323-9776

I'm pleased to announce that thanks to some of the proceeds from our first fundraiser, Whales and Dolphins BC's toll free reporting hotline is up and running! There are a few minor adjustments to be made to streamline the service, and promulgate the number. Should you encounter any problems or quirky behaviour of the system, please let us know.

It has been incredibly quiet for any whale and dolphin sightings with only a late report from the Jervis Inlet area with link to a short video clip below. Even the radio has had little traffic other than some chatter between a couple of shrimp draggers and some static. There were rumours of some other Pacific White Sided Dolphins up around the Port McNeill and Port Hardy areas, but where the ones on the Sunshine Coast got to is anyone's guess....perhaps with the new toll free, the reporters won't hesitate to call their sightings in. Some other Links in the News also below.

As this update is being typed, there were reports and warnings issued for all of Georgia Strait and lower Johnstone Strait by the Coast Guard about water spouts, the equivalent of tornadoes on the water. Wonder what the whales think of them?

Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

Pacific White Sided Dolphins

Pacific White Sided Dolphins

Chasing feed in the setting sun

Susan MacKay, SG Images

March 15:

Link to video clip of PWS Dolphins between Saltery Bay and Earl's Cove from the ferry. Thanks to Michael Stewart for the heads up.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=vb.129316223764982&type=2

Links in the News

Northern Resident Orca A11, ‘Yakat’ one of the first killer whales to be photo-identified by researchers in early 1970's was found deceased near Ketchikan Alaska:

Link to articles: http://seagrant.uaf.edu/news/2013/02-19-13freitag-orca-yakat-response.php

A whale of a success story: Gray whale comeback boosts business

http://dailynightly.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/02/17059230-a-whale-of-a-success-story-gray-whale-comeback-boosts-business?chromedomain=usnews

Navy training harming whales and other marine mammals

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/mar/06/navy-training-whales-California-coast/

Beached Sperm whale in Spain dies from ingesting plastic waste

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iBRsN6hi4VT2jPHYU_GiS7NaC4Mg?docId=CNG.c7a205fd35088508f7ab23370e7d70e6.9e1

The thrill of the chase: Amazing photos of the moment pod of killer whales hunts down penguin and drags it to a watery grave

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2291529/Amazing-photos-moment-pod-killer-whales-hunts-penguin-drags-watery-grave.html

To report your whale, dolphin or porpoise sighting, please call our new toll free number: 1-877-323-9776

Lone Orca by Powell River Plus

It's the first time in a over a year that I've seen a lone Orca. They are social animals, so there are generally other whales around at the same time. Transient Orca T14, born in 1969 was known for frequently travelling alone, but there have been no confirmed sightings of him for around one year. The last few sightings of him, he was with other whales. Few more sightings reports of Southern Resident Orca, Transients, and photos of the Orca by Cape Mudge follow.

Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

Orca – Killer Whales

Northbound Orca by Cape Mudge

6 pm March 7, 2012

photo: Susan Randall

March 11:

10:20 am Caught a glimpse out of the corner of my eye of something dark in the water. Managed to get the binoculars on this one large male Orca surfacing for three more big breaths before the Texada ferry rounded the light off Blubber Bay. For 20 minutes, I kept scanning the whole area off Westview, Powell River for signs of the same or other whales, but never saw another dorsal or blow. He did a bit of a direction change initially heading towards Rebecca Rocks, but I can't even confirm that he didn't turn back South-East. Amazing how stealthy a large animal can be!

Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

Northbound Orca by Cape Mudge

6 pm March 7, 2012

photo: Susan Randall

March 6:

2 + Orca were tight to shore close to Earl's Cove heading towards Egmont, Sechelt Inlet. They were spotted from the ferry.

Parsla Robertson

Additional third hand reports came in of two other sightings around either the last couple of days of February or first couple of days of March of at least 4 Orca also seen from the Earl's Cove to Saltrey Bay ferry. I hope to receive details directly from the observers and will pass the information on.

Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC

Following Sightings Reports submitted by: Susan Berta & Howard Garrett, Orca Network, Whidbey Island, WA

March 6
J pod near Porlier Pass, Trincomali Channel (25-30 miles southeast of Nanaimo) 1400 hrs.
Ron Bates

March 6

I found J Pod after a lot of searching at the mouth of Porlier Pass in rough seas. They were entering Georgia Strait and I left them pointed for Bowen Island.
Ocean EcoVentures Whale Watching - Cowichan Bay, BC

March 6
Transient killer whales T020 and T021 along with the T086A's and the T137's were off of Victoria on March 6th. We left them south of Oak Bay headed for Discovery Island at 1520hrs.
Mark Malleson, Prince of Whales

March 6

4:45 pm - 5-6 transient killer whales hanging out about 2 miles south of Victorian waterfront.
BC Whale Tours

March 6

Off Clover Point (Victoria) at 2:18 pm saw a pod of what I assume were transients traveling about 3 miles to the east off Clover Point. There was a group of 5 harbour seals taking shelter along the rocks keeping a wide eye.
Maria Chantelle Tucker

 

2012 Charter Cruises

Enjoy a personalized week long Charter Cruise in the pristine wilderness of the Great Bear Rainforest. Information can be found on the 2012 Charter Cruises pages of Whales and Dolphins BC.