Northern Resident Orca A42s Tour the Sunshine Coast

A publication of Wild Ocean Whale Society (WOWs)

Northern Resident Orca A42s Tour the Sunshine Coast

February 8, 2018   —   issue No. 2018-003

The Northern Resident Killer Whales of the family pod known as the A42’s have been spending a lot of time on the move between the Gibsons area along the Sunshine Coast of BC to Powell River, then back again. That’s over 100 km in a day! They even spent some time rubbing on one of the local beaches – see the great video clip.

With some Transient Bigg’s Orca close by in the Powell River area at the same time, we wonder if there was some confrontation between the two species. Many questions were raised due to whale behaviour and with the number of Orca seen at one time. The A42 family pod now consists of 6 animals with the newest calf, but there were another couple of Orca in the area at the same time. Confusing the issue was seeing seagulls picking up what looked like bits of blubber floating on the surface, which would only happen from hunting the many seals and sealions in the area since salmon bits sink quickly. Are the fish eating Resident Orca starting the change their diet or did the A42s disturb the other two Orca on the hunt and a kill? I could only hear echoloation clicks on the hydrophone, so no way to tell who those other two whales were behind the A42s. They seemed to vanish as the A42s continued towards Vivian Island.

Pacific White Sided Dolphins were also on the move. They appeared, at times to be getting out of the area, or away from the Transient Bigg’s Orca who would appear soon after.

Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society

Northern Resident Killer Whale surfacing for a breath near Harwood Island

Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC

Society News & Events
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Sightings Update


ISSUE SIGHTINGS MAP 2018-003

ISSUE SIGHTINGS MAP


Jump to:  Biggs Orca | NRKW Orca | Orca | PWS Dolphins 

TRANSIENT BIGGS KILLER WHALES


Mon Feb 05 2018

15:18 • 4 Biggs Orca ◦T046s◦ off Grief Point, Powell River, Malaspina Strait.

Pam Futer, Powell River, BC

14:48 • est. 5 Biggs Orca ◦T046s◦ foraging, between the Powell River Viewpoint and Grief Point, Malaspina Strait. Observed on the webcam.

13:36 • 2 Biggs Orca ◦T046s◦ just south of the sandbanks on Harwood Island, Malaspina Strait.

Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC

SIGHTING MEDIA

Transient Biggs Killer Whales

Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales, T046s, just south of Harwood Island

Mon, 5 Feb 2018 – 7 items

Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC

SIGHTING MEDIA

Transient Biggs Killer Whales

Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales, T046s, just south of Harwood Island

Mon, 5 Feb 2018 – 7 items

Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC


Sun Feb 04 2018

15:53 • 4-5 Biggs Orca ◦A42s◦ heading south on the north side of Harwood Island going towards Vivian Island, Malaspina Strait.


Jump to:  Biggs Orca | NRKW Orca | Orca | PWS Dolphins 

NORTHERN RESIDENT KILLER WHALES


Sun Feb 04 2018

16:52 • est. 8 NRKW Orca ◦A42s◦ feeding, between the south tip of Harwood Island and Vivian Island, Malaspina Strait. Not sure who other two elusive Orca were, but appears that a couple of other whales are foraging with the A42s. ▫ Leaving the Scene

12:06 • NRKW Orca ◦A42s◦ feeding, at the south end of Harwood Island, Malaspina Strait. I had lost the Orca for a while .

Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC

SIGHTING MEDIA

Northern Resident Killer Whales

Northern Resident Killer Whales at the south end of Harwood Island

Sun, 4 Feb 2018 – 8 items

Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC

SIGHTING MEDIA

Northern Resident Killer Whales

Northern Resident Killer Whales at the south end of Harwood Island

Sun, 4 Feb 2018 – 8 items

Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC

11:42 • NRKW Orca ◦A42s◦ circling, between Vivian Island and Harwood Island, Malaspina Strait.

Bill Coltart, Pacific Pro Dive

10:17 • NRKW Orca ◦A42s◦ heading north-west from Blubber Bay to Rebecca Rocks, Malaspina Strait.

Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC


Sat Feb 03 2018

12:45 • est. 6 NRKW Orca ◦A42s◦ moving slowly, off the pier at Roberts Creek, Georgia Strait. They were in view for a long time from RC pier but moved slowly so took quite a while to go by. ▫ Observed from Shore

Karen Holland, Gibsons, BC

SIGHTING MEDIA

Northern Resident Killer Whales

Northern Resident Killer Whales off of Chaster Park near Gibsons

Sat, 3 Feb 2018 – 2 items

Karen Holland, Gibsons, BC

SIGHTING MEDIA

Northern Resident Killer Whales

Northern Resident Killer Whales off of Chaster Park near Gibsons

Sat, 3 Feb 2018 – 2 items

Karen Holland, Gibsons, BC

09:40 • est. 6 NRKW Orca ◦A42s◦ moving slowly, heading west off Chaster Park west of Gibsons, Georgia Strait. Moving slowly, maybe feeding as they appeared to stay in one spot for a while before moving on. ▫ Observed from Shore

Karen Holland, Gibsons, BC


Mon Jan 29 2018

13:20 • 4-6 NRKW Orca ◦A42s◦ heading east off Gospel Rock near Gower Point, Gibsons, Collingwood Channel. Second of two sightings. ▫ Observed from Shore

Karen Holland, Gibsons, BC

SIGHTING MEDIA

Northern Resident Killer Whales

Northern Resident Killer Whales heading east off of Gospel Rock

Mon, 29 Jan 2018 – 4 items

Karen Holland, Gibsons, BC

SIGHTING MEDIA

Northern Resident Killer Whales

Northern Resident Killer Whales heading east off of Gospel Rock

Mon, 29 Jan 2018 – 4 items

Karen Holland, Gibsons, BC

12:11 • est. 4-6 NRKW Orca ◦A42s◦ moving quickly, heading east fairly close to shore off Chaster Park near Chaster Creek, Gibsons, Georgia Strait. Traveling fast, breaching by some including the youngest one. ▫ Observed from Shore

Karen Holland, Gibsons, BC


Sun Jan 28 2018

14:35 • est. 5 NRKW Orca ◦A42s◦ heading south close to shore between Powell River Viewpoint and Grief Point, Malaspina Strait.

Barry Rice, Powell River, BC

SIGHTING MEDIA

Northern Resident Killer Whales

Northern Resident Killer Whales close to the shore between the Powell River Viewpoint and Grief Point

Sun, 28 Jan 2018 – 7 items

Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC

SIGHTING MEDIA

Northern Resident Killer Whales

Northern Resident Killer Whales close to the shore between the Powell River Viewpoint and Grief Point

Sun, 28 Jan 2018 – 7 items

Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC


Sat Jan 27 2018

08:00 • 6 NRKW Orca ◦A42s◦ rubbing, near Trail Islands west of Sechelt, Georgia Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore

Martin Michael, Sechelt, BC

SIGHTING MEDIA

Northern Resident Killer Whales

Northern Resident Killer Whales rubbing on a beach near the Trail Islands by Sechelt

Sat, 27 Jan 2018 – 1 items

Martin Michael, Sechelt, BC

https://www.facebook.com/facebook/videos/10160213317215508/"

SIGHTING MEDIA

Northern Resident Killer Whales

Northern Resident Killer Whales rubbing on a beach near the Trail Islands by Sechelt

Sat, 27 Jan 2018 – 1 items

Martin Michael, Sechelt, BC


Jump to:  Biggs Orca | NRKW Orca | Orca | PWS Dolphins 

UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES


Fri Feb 02 2018

13:19 • Orca taking long dives, heading north by the Harwood Island Spit, Malaspina Strait.

Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC

SIGHTING MEDIA

Unidentified Killer Whales

Killer Whales heading north by the Harwood Island Spit

Fri, 2 Feb 2018 – 6 items

Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC

SIGHTING MEDIA

Unidentified Killer Whales

Killer Whales heading north by the Harwood Island Spit

Fri, 2 Feb 2018 – 6 items

Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC

11:45 • Orca heading north off the Powell River Viewpoint, Malaspina Strait.

Barry Rice, Powell River, BC

10:13 • 8 Orca heading north off Brew Bay south of Powell River, Malaspina Strait.

Denis Taylor, CCG, Powell River, BC

08:00 • 2 Orca heading north passing the south tip of Bowyer Island, Queen Charlotte Channel. Heading towards Squamish. ▫ Observed from Shore

Davida LeCompte, Lions Bay, BC


Tue Jan 30 2018

12:59 • Orca to the right of Coho / Kiddie Point, Texada Island, Malaspina Strait. Observed from Powell River. ▫ Observed from Shore

Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC


Mon Jan 29 2018

12:30 • Orca half way between Rebecca Rocks and Harwood Island, Malaspina Strait.

Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC


Sat Jan 27 2018

11:39 • 2 Orca heading north past the WOWs web cam at Grief Point, Malaspina Strait.

Joe VanEs, Powell River, BC


Fri Jan 26 2018

16:15 • 1 Orca heading west near Greene Point Rapids, Chancellor Channel. Big Fin.


Jump to:  Biggs Orca | NRKW Orca | Orca | PWS Dolphins 

PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS


Tue Jan 30 2018

12:08 • 15-20 PWS Dolphins heading south now close to shore heading toward Grief Point, Powell River, Malaspina Strait.

12:01 • PWS Dolphins to the right of the ferry leaving the Powell River Ferry Terminal, Malaspina Strait. Small group. Splashes.

Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC

SIGHTING MEDIA

Pacific White Sided Dolphins

Pacific White Sided Dolphins to the right of the Powell River Ferry terminal

Tue, 30 Jan 2018 – 5 items

Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC

SIGHTING MEDIA

Pacific White Sided Dolphins

Pacific White Sided Dolphins to the right of the Powell River Ferry terminal

Tue, 30 Jan 2018 – 5 items

Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC


Sat Jan 27 2018

15:00 • est. 20-30 PWS Dolphins heading east just passed through Lang Bay south of Powell River, Malaspina Strait. They then circled several times and headed towards Palm Beach.

Michael Stewart, Powell River, BC

12:12 • est. 60-80 PWS Dolphins moving quickly, heading north past Powell River Viewpoint, Malaspina Strait. Farther out from shore now.

12:04 • est. 12 PWS Dolphins heading north between Grief Point and Powell River Viewpoint, Malaspina Strait. A good dozen or so.

Barry Rice, Powell River, BC

11:43 • est. 15 PWS Dolphins heading north past Myrtle Point, Malaspina Strait.

Jim Southern, Powell River, BC

11:11 • 10 PWS Dolphins heading south past Powell River Viewpoint, Malaspina Strait.

Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC

SIGHTING MEDIA

Pacific White Sided Dolphins

Pacific White Sided Dolphins heading south past the Powell River Viewpoint

Sat, 27 Jan 2018 – 8 items

Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC

SIGHTING MEDIA

Pacific White Sided Dolphins

Pacific White Sided Dolphins heading south past the Powell River Viewpoint

Sat, 27 Jan 2018 – 8 items

Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC


Fri Jan 26 2018

11:13 • PWS Dolphins on the north side of the Powell River Ferry Terminal, Malaspina Strait. No numbers or directions yet.

Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC


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