How to Spot Whales in Stormy Seas
Cover Image:
Pod of Pacific White Sided Dolphins near Powell River
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
When winter weather rolls in, it can be challenging to see the whales that still transit and feed in our waters. Baleen whale blows, such as Humpback, are generally quite a tall plume with a bit of a circle effect at the top due to their two nostril blow hole, while toothed whale blows, such as Orca with a single blow hole, are shorter and straighter. When it’s windy, these blows can be flattened, so watching for the body, dorsal, tail, or size of the animal calls for a bit of patience and scanning to confirm a sighting. Even then, at times, the species can be difficult to determine as they seem to stay down for longer periods. They are out there, so keep your eyes open and let us know.
This report is a bit shorter than our usual, but we wanted to make sure you had information about our upcoming AGM in our Society News section.
Our Magazine section has a few extra articles about Orca, Beaked whales, Dolphins, and even whale poop.
The Federal Government (DFO) statement about watching whales in the wild: “To address disturbance in the presence of whales, a mandatory 400-metre vessel approach distance for all killer whales is in effect starting June 1, 2020 in all southern British Columbia coastal waters between Campbell River and just north of Ucluelet. The Marine Mammal Regulations continue to remain in effect year-round, including maintaining a minimum 200 metre approach distance from all killer whales in Canadian Pacific waters other than described above, and 100 metres for other whales, porpoises and dolphins OR 200 metres when the animal is in resting position or with a calf.”
WOWs works throught the year, so please continue to keep your eyes open, and report your sightings to us.
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
Society News & Events
2021 Pacific White Sided Dolphin Calendar:
Thank you to Martin Ryer who is donating the proceeds from his 2021 calendar to WOWs. We appreciate your continued support! Click: information and ordering.
AGM & Donation Receipts:
Our society Annual General Meeting will be held on January 23, 2020 at 10 am by video conference. Tax deductible donation receipts will be sent out soon thereafter.
COVID-19 Updates:
We are all looking forward with optimism to better times in 2021. Stay safe and well. Our Dwight Hall fundraising dinner, instrumental to maintain all of our basic programs and online presence, is scheduled for April 24, 2021. We can only hope that by then we will be able to hold a successful event. Your donations are greatly needed and appreciated.
Instagram and Twitter:
Instagram at Wildoceanwhalesociety and Twitter at WhalesDolphins accounts. Follow us for regular updates and photos.
For Research:
For those doing research wanting to access 26,000+ sightings in our database in a downloadable csv file for use in a spreadsheet, please Click Here. to fill in your request.
Whales and Dolphins BC Website:
We are in the process of doing some major updates to our websites and welcome your comments and feedback.
Real Time Monitoring Station Live Update
Our Live streaming Web Camera YouTube Channel from Powell River has a new mount for better viewing towards Texada – Vancouver Island – Savary and up towards Cortez. Hope you've been seeing the whales.
Thank You to our Volunteers and Contributors!
Our team of online Volunteers continue to do a great job in making sure all your sightings reports are mapped and published regularly. Would you like to join us?
Review our current Volunteer Job Postings Over the next couple of months we are revamping our Job Postings in conjunction with our web sites. Please continue to let us know if you are interested in volunteering, we are looking at other opportunities.
Sightings Update
SIGHTINGS MAP – ISSUE: 2021-001
TRANSIENT BIGGS KILLER WHALES
Mon Dec 28 2020
08:37 • Biggs Orca by the Big Rock, Campbell River, Georgia Strait.
Elvis Chikite, Big Animal Encounters
Wed Dec 30 2020
13:55 • est. 4 Biggs Orca hunting, at the mouth of the Salmon River, Johnstone Strait. Having a good time throwing some dolphins around. Just to be clear it was not the dolphins having a good time.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
Thu Dec 31 2020
15:35 • 8 Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ heading west at Ripple Shoal, Johnstone Strait. 2 big fins and a calf. T002C pod and another group.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
Sat Jan 02 2021
13:30 • est. 6 Biggs Orca breaching, heading south, just north of Poise Island, Sechelt Inlet. Breaching among high waves and whitecaps. Observed from our house. Numerous sizes. ▫ Observed from Shore
Bill Wilkinson, Sechelt, BC
Sun Jan 03 2021
13:20 • 2 Biggs Orca moving slowly, heading north from the Cape Mudge Red Can Buoy into Discovery Passage. The Orca passed Campbell River and was last seen still heading north past Tyee Spit. ▫ Observed from Shore
Mark and Patti Perepeluk, Royston, BC
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales moving north past Campbell River
Sun, 3 Jan 2021 – 8 items
Mark and Patti Perepeluk, Royston, BC
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales moving north past Campbell River
Sun, 3 Jan 2021 – 8 items
Mark and Patti Perepeluk, Royston, BC
14:02 • est. 4+ Biggs Orca heading north by Big Rock, Campbell River, Georgia Strait.
Elvis Chikite, Big Animal Encounters
Mon Jan 04 2021
14:15 • 2 Biggs Orca heading south, north of the Quarry by Davis Bay, Texada Island, Georgia Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore on Vancouver Island
Mark and Patti Perepeluk, Royston, BC
Sat Jan 09 2021
13:00 • est. 3+ Biggs Orca hunting, heading north near Savary Island, Georgia Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
Mark and Patti Perepeluk, Royston, BC
Sun Jan 10 2021
11:57 • Biggs Orca heading north by the Harwood Island Bluffs, Malaspina Strait. Two big fins. ▫ Second Hand
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Sun Jan 17 2021
14:00 • est. 5 Biggs Orca close to Hardy Island out from Mermaid Cove, Jervis Inlet. Heard them while I was scuba diving but seen from shore by a third party.
Riley Grantham, Wild Ocean Whale Society
14:00 • est. 4-6 Biggs Orca moving quickly, heading north-east close to Hardy Island, Jervis Inlet. Viewed this pod from Saltery Bay/Mermaid Cove by seeing a splash from either a breach or lunge. The whales were very far away close to shore of Hardy Island. You could hear the sound of them breathing and breaching because the water was calm with no wind. We watched them for 15 minutes until they moved into the sun. ▫ Observed from Shore
Steve & Susan Grover, Powell River, BC
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Active Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Sun, 17 Jan 2021 – 3 items
Jos Krynen, Eagle Eye Adventures
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Active Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Sun, 17 Jan 2021 – 3 items
Jos Krynen, Eagle Eye Adventures
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Sun, 17 Jan 2021 – 2 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Gizzly Bear Tours
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Sun, 17 Jan 2021 – 2 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Gizzly Bear Tours
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales in Porpoise Bay, Sechelt
Sat, 2 Jan 2021 – 1 items
Sam Nisbet
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales in Porpoise Bay, Sechelt
Sat, 2 Jan 2021 – 1 items
Sam Nisbet
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whale Breaching
Fri, 3 Jan 2020 – 1 items
Discovery West Adventures
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whale Breaching
Fri, 3 Jan 2020 – 1 items
Discovery West Adventures
UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES
Thu Dec 31 2020
13:00 • est. 12 Orca moving quickly, heading north between Harwood Island and Savary Island, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
Mark and Patti Perepeluk, Royston, BC
HUMPBACK WHALES
Mon Dec 28 2020
08:50 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north at Fogg Dukkers in Campbell River, Georgia Strait.
Josh Grin, Discovery West Adventures
15:17 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north off Duncan Bay, Discovery Passage.
Eliot Richter, Blind Channel Resort
Tue Dec 29 2020
11:45 • 1 Humpback Whales breaching, between Port McNeill and Haddington Island, Broughton Strait.
Bill Coltart, Big Animal Encounters
13:56 • 3 Humpback Whales lunge feeding, heading south between Mitlenatch Island and Shelter Point, Georgia Strait. One humpback lunge feeding, total count of 3 breaching and swimming. ▫ Observed from Shore
Morgan Armstrong, Campbell River, BC
Thu Dec 31 2020
09:00 • 2 Humpback Whales moving slowly, heading north, at the north end of Texada Island, Georgia Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
Mark and Patti Perepeluk, Royston, BC
11:46 • 3 Humpback Whales heading north, just to the north of Rebecca Rocks, Malaspina Strait. Two together and one separate.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
12:30 • 2 Humpback Whales moving slowly, heading south, south of Davis Bay on the west side of Texada Island, Georgia Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
12:45 • 2 Humpback Whales breaching, heading north, southeast of Harwood Island, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
Mark and Patti Perepeluk, Royston, BC
Thu Jan 07 2021
12:10 • 1 Humpback Whales heading east at Vansittart Point, West Thurlow Island, Johnstone Strait.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
13:28 • 1 Humpback Whales at Connis Point, Pryce Channel.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Humpback Whales
Mother Humpback Whale with Baby
Fri, 3 Jan 2020 – 1 items
Discovery West Adventures
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Humpback Whales
Mother Humpback Whale with Baby
Fri, 3 Jan 2020 – 1 items
Discovery West Adventures
PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
Wed Dec 30 2020
13:55 • PWS Dolphins being hunted, at the mouth of the Salmon River, Johnstone Strait. Being hunted by approximately 4 Orca.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
Thu Dec 31 2020
09:12 • est. 50+ PWS Dolphins heading south from Grief Point, Powell River, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins heading south at Grief Point Park
Thu, 31 Dec 2020 – 2 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins heading south at Grief Point Park
Thu, 31 Dec 2020 – 2 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Sun Jan 03 2021
08:50 • est. 30+ PWS Dolphins at Sunday Creek, Chancellor Channel. Dolphins active.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Large Pod of Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Thu, 7 Jan 2021 – 1 items
Jos Krynen, Eagle Eye Adventures
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Large Pod of Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Thu, 7 Jan 2021 – 1 items
Jos Krynen, Eagle Eye Adventures
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Fri, 3 Jan 2020 – 1 items
Discovery West Adventures
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Fri, 3 Jan 2020 – 1 items
Discovery West Adventures
DALLS PORPOISE
Fri Jan 15 2021
10:52 • est. 5-6 Dalls Porpoise foraging, in front of the waterfalls at Teakerne Arm Park, Teakerne Arm.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
Archive Explorer
Archive Explorer navigates 25,000+ Cetacean Sightings, images, videos and audio recordings. Please use the the funnel in our Map for access to our huge range of filters. Those wishing Research information in a spreadsheet format, please Click Here
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Archive Explorer dives into the Coastal Cetacean world. View Cetacean sighting locations, photos and videos:
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Archive Explorer Help Page explains many advanced functions
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The Magazine
REGIONAL & NATIONAL
Hakai Magazine
Bigg’s, or transient, killer whales use stealth and teamwork to hunt their marine mammal prey. For a seal hightailing it from an attack, the best bet for survival is to get out of the water. But now, even dry land is not safe….
read on
read on
SPECIAL SIGHTINGS
Newsweek
A video has emerged of a terrified seal escaping a killer whale attack by climbing onto some rocks. The incident-filmed by 27-year-old local resident and student Haydn Thomason-occurred on the coast of the Scottish island of Shetland….
read on
read on
Vancouver Sun
ALERT BAY – Two northern resident killer whale families brought along a baby as they returned for the first time in 20 years to their traditional winter foraging grounds in B.C. waters….
read on
read on
Mongabay
On a calm, cloudy morning in May 2019, a lookout on a research vessel lowered his binoculars and shouted, "Beaked whales! Beaked whales!" As Massimiliano Rosso, one of the scientists aboard, recalls it, the research crew sprang into action, focusing nervously on their assigned tasks of photographing the whales, recording video, scribbling observations, and timing the animals’ breaths and dives….
read on
read on
RESEARCH & CONSERVATION
Khon 2 (Hawaii)
HONOLULU – There are roughly between 350 and 400 spinner dolphins that call the crystal-clear blue waters off the west side of Oahu home, according to researchers at the Hawaii Institute for Marine Biology (HIMB) at the University of Hawaii (UH). Biologists also determined these dolphins are not particularly fond of road trips, based on their studies….
read on
read on
CNN Travel
Up until recently, most travelers, and even some locals, had no inkling of the aquatic mammals that occupy or pass through Kenya’s waters. Known as a safari destination, with the wildebeest migration in the Maasai Mara between July and September considered its pinnacle, the African nation’s expansive marine life was something only fishermen knew the true extent of….
read on
read on
KGW 8 News
Whales have been dying by the hundreds off the west coast in recent years and scientists are tracking down the cause by using poop. “We’re always looking for this brownish-red plume to escape from their rear end,” said Leigh Torres, a marine ecologist at Oregon State University….
read on
read on
Stuff (New Zealand)
A survey of historical and scientific references to the now-rare native Hector’s and MÄui dolphins, going back to the 1800s, found strong evidence the species were abundant and ranged through much of New Zealand’s waters, until recently. The data was analysed by Otago University’s Gemma McGrath for her masters thesis. She said conducting a survey was valuable as it gave a picture of the dolphins’ “baseline state” compared to the population now, and the pattern of decline could offer clues as to how they could recover….
read on
read on