Biggs Orca Leave a Trail Teaching Young
May 18, 2017
— issue No. 2017-011
Our Sightings Reports have now moved to weekly publishing with the onset of better weather.
Transient Bigg’s Orca have been teaching their young various hunting practices. Their primary source of food is meat such as seals, sealions, and other small Cetaceans. As they pass through, they usually take and feed on these animals, but they also teach their young the various hunting practices. When they do this, they frequently kill or seriously injure, but do not eat their prey. It is hard to see and hear about these animals left behind, as many wash or sometimes make it ashore to only succumb to their injuries. We do our best with requests for marine mammal rescues, but frequently with larger animals, and the legal hoops to jump, nature is left to take it’s course. It’s also seal pupping season and a reminder that the Mom’s leave their pups on the beach, sometimes up to 24 hours, while they go to feed themselves to provide the needed milk. If these pups are in danger, or the Mom has been killed, we can pick them up to get them into rehab. We ask that you stay clear of these animals as the Mom may abandon the pup if people are around and keep pets away.
Two Humpback Whales known as KC and Apollo have been spending their time in KC’s favourite region, Discovery Passage. This is a well travelled area for boaters and we ask that you use caution when transitting the area. KC is easily recognized due to vessel strike damage to his dorsal a few years ago. Vessel strikes are detrimental to both boaters and any whale.
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
Humpback Whale, BCY0291 KC, showing off its tail by Browns Bay
Society News & Events
Mark your calendars for June 10th ! Join us to celebrate World Oceans Week. Enjoy an evening of great food by Laughing Oyster, music by Devon Hanley, silent and live auctions including trip for 2 to Las Vegas, Pacific Coastal flight and much more fun at Dwight Hall in Powell River. Tickets are available at Hindle’s Gifts and Taws Cycle and Sports or at our information tables at Town Center Mall and by Quality Foods. Stop by our booth at the Lund Shellfish Festival May 27-28. Or give us a call. Reserve your tables early!
Real Time Monitoring Station Update:
The camera is mounted at Beach Gardens Marina and we are working on resolving some communications issues to reach the internet. Again, a huge thank you to all the volunteers who have, and are, working on this first installation!
Our team of Volunteers continue to do a great job in making sure all your reports are mapped and published regularly. Would you like to join us?
Review our current Volunteer Job Postings
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ISSUE SIGHTINGS MAP 2017-011
TRANSIENT BIGGS KILLER WHALES
Tue May 16 2017
16:43 • 3 Biggs Orca moving slowly, heading south between Cape Mudge and Cape Mudge Red Can Buoy, Georgia Strait. Two Orca were observed first and they joined up with another Orca.
16:40 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ approaching Dunsterville Islet, Hoskyn Channel.
16:38 • 1 Biggs Orca heading south passing Cape Mudge Lighthouse, Georgia Strait.
16:33 • 1 Biggs Orca heading south between Hidden Harbour and Cape Mudge in the middle of Discovery Passage. Looks like a sprouter.
16:29 • 1 Biggs Orca heading south approaching Cape Mudge, Quadra Island, Discovery Passage. Male Orca.
15:40 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ heading south at Surge Point, Read Island, Hoskyn Channel.
Sat May 13 2017
21:45 • 5-6 Biggs Orca off Powell River, Malaspina Strait. With 2 big bulls.
21:23 • 2-3 Biggs Orca heading south near Powell River. Mid-chanel from ferry terminal.
Monte Drake,
21:04 • Biggs Orca taking long dives, off Powell River Ferry terminal, Malaspina Strait. Looks like they got something. Trying for count.
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Seven Transient Bigg’s Killer Whale just off of Gabriola Island
Mon, 8 May 2017 – 1 items
Maurizio Hublitz, Bianca Boat
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Seven Transient Bigg’s Killer Whale just off of Gabriola Island
Mon, 8 May 2017 – 1 items
Maurizio Hublitz, Bianca Boat
UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES
Tue May 16 2017
15:06 • 4 Orca at Surge Narrows near Beazley Passage, Hoskyn Channel. Orca headed towards WhiteRock. Information from Mario. ▫ Second Hand
13:45 • 2 Orca heading north approaching Surge Narrows from Hoskyn Channel. Information came from a friend. ▫ Second Hand
11:00 • 1 Orca travelling, heading north, Sechelt Inlet. Observed first at four mile point and followed, with binoculars, up to nine mile and appeared to be heading towards Egmont. Could have been more than one, but only appeared to be one large adult.
Bari Moore, Sechelt, BC
Mon May 15 2017
16:36 • 1 Orca heading south close to Myrtle Rocks, Malaspina Strait. Lone male Orca.
Jim Southern, Powell River, BC
15:30 • est. 5-6 Orca moving quickly, heading south just east of Myrtle Point, Powell River, Malaspina Strait. Derek Poole first spotted two fins off Grief Point park. We headed south to Fleury road, Powell River and took the photos. Four or five close to each other and a large Orca further away. One dorsal has a nick in it that may help I.D. Also a young one. I will email photos. My chrome is still down so can’t media drop photos so I will email. ▫ Observed from Shore
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Unidentified Killer Whales
Killer Whales heading south of of Myrtle Point in Malaspina Strait
Mon, 15 May 2017 – 8 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Unidentified Killer Whales
Killer Whales heading south of of Myrtle Point in Malaspina Strait
Mon, 15 May 2017 – 8 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
14:45 • Orca off Hall Point on Sonora Island, Nodales Channel. Information came from a friend. ▫ Second Hand.
Sat May 13 2017
20:15 • est. 8-12 Orca travelling, heading south-east off Harwood Island near Sliammon, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
K White, Powell River, BC
Fri May 12 2017
17:27 • 1 Orca taking long dives, heading north straight out from Myrtle Rocks, Malaspina Strait.
Jim Southern, Powell River, BC
Thu May 11 2017
11:33 • Orca heading north, Nanaimo Harbour. Observed from Quick Change II.
Mon May 15 2017
18:00 • 1 Humpback Whales heading north off the south-west corner of Bowen Island towards Gambier Island, Collingwood Channel. About 150-ft offshore.
Bob Schultz, Bowen Island, BC
10:26 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north in Seymour Narrows, Discovery Passage. Information came from a friend. ▫ Second Hand
Sun May 14 2017
14:30 • 2 Humpback Whales ◦BCY0291 KC; BCZ Apollo◦ travelling, heading south in Seymour Narrows. ▫ Leaving the Scene
11:19 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north off Browns Bay, Vancouver Island, Discovery Passage. Tight to Vancouver Island near fishing grounds. ▫ Leaving the Scene
10:44 • 2 Humpback Whales doing circles, by Separation Head in the middle of Discovery Passage.
10:17 • 2 Humpback Whales off Plumper Bay across from Browns Bay, Discovery Passage.
04:40 • 2 Humpback Whales moving quickly, heading south off Quathiaski Cove, Cape Mudge Lighthouse, Discovery Passage. Whales were seen moving through Discovery Passage, closer to Quadra, between the ferry and the lighthouse. Had a great view of both tails (through binoculars) as they went for a deep dive. ▫ Observed from Shore
Al And Trina, Campbell River, BC
Sat May 13 2017
16:10 • 2 Humpback Whales ◦BCY0291 KC; BCZ Apollo◦ travelling, heading east off Cape Mudge Red Can Buoy, Georgia Strait. Angling towards mainland.
15:56 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south off Quadra Island, Discovery Passage. Off Quadra Island ferry.
14:46 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south at Race Point, Discovery Passage. ▫ Leaving the Scene
13:51 • 2 Humpback Whales ◦BCY0291 KC; BCZ Apollo◦ heading south at Browns Bay, Discovery Passage.
SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Two Humpback Whales, BCY0291 KC and BCZ Apollo, milling about by Browns Bay
Sat, 13 May 2017 – 6 items
SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Two Humpback Whales, BCY0291 KC and BCZ Apollo, milling about by Browns Bay
Sat, 13 May 2017 – 6 items
13:36 • 2 Humpback Whales ◦BCY0291 KC; BCZ Apollo◦ milling, north of Browns Bay.
12:57 • 2 Humpback Whales north of Browns Bay.
Radio, overheard or call out
10:16 • 2 Humpback Whales moving slowly, heading north at Race Point, Discovery Passage. Slowly headed north in unison. ▫ Leaving the Scene
09:22 • 2 Humpback Whales travelling, heading north at Steep Island, Discovery Passage.
09:06 • 1 Humpback Whales travelling, heading north off Tyee Spit, Discovery Passage. Mid channel headed north with the tide. ▫ From Ferry
–:– • 2 Humpback Whales near the south-west end of Bowen Island, Collingwood Channel.
Bob Schultz, Bowen Island, BC
Fri May 12 2017
21:05 • 2 Humpback Whales moving slowly, heading south-west off Bowen Island. Drinking a beer and watching the sunset as usual; really surprised to see two whales circling and taking shallow dives. Then surfacing with mouths open. Maybe feeding on herring? Moving slowly south-west. Only seen large whales like these once before off this shore so it is a very uncommon sight here between Bowen Island and Keats in Howe Sound. Very happy they are coming around. ▫ Observed from Shore
Bob Schultz, Bowen Island, BC
10:31 • 2 Humpback Whales ◦BCY0291 KC; BCZ Apollo◦ doing circles, at Steep Island, Discovery Passage.
SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whales, BCY0291 KC and BCZ Apollo, doing circles by Steep Island
Fri, 12 May 2017 – 9 items
SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whales, BCY0291 KC and BCZ Apollo, doing circles by Steep Island
Fri, 12 May 2017 – 9 items
09:18 • 2 Humpback Whales ◦BCY0291 KC◦ moving slowly, heading north just south of Quathiaski Cove, Quadra Island, Discovery Passage. Other whale unidentified.
No Name Provided,
08:30 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north by Big Rock, Campbell River, Georgia Strait.
08:30 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north just south of Big Rock, Discovery Passage, Georgia Strait. Sleeping; drifting with the tide.
Thu May 11 2017
16:00 • 1 Humpback Whales tail slapping, breaching, and lunge feeding, heading north off Sunset Marina, West Vancouver, Queen Charlotte Channel. Headed slowly northward.
David LeCompte,
15:55 • 2 Humpback Whales off Rebecca Rocks heading toward Texada Island, Malaspina Strait. Seen through scope. ▫ Observed from Shore
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
12:09 • 2 Humpback Whales ◦BCY0291 KC; BCZ Apollo◦ moving slowly, heading south just north of No Name Creek 100 metres off Vancouver Island, Discovery Passage.
11:20 • 2 Humpback Whales near Coho / Kiddie Point NW tip Texada Island, Malaspina Strait.
Micheline Macauley, Texada Island, BC
09:42 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south just north of Browns Bay, Discovery Passage.
09:14 • 1 Humpback Whales breaching, by Sunset Marina, West Vancouver, Queen Charlotte Channel.
No Name Provided,
07:25 • 1 Humpback Whales breaching, heading north close to shore by Sunset Marina, West Vancouver. Huge blow.
David LeCompte,
Sun May 14 2017
13:59 • 1 Minke Whales near Walcan Seafood Quadra Island, Discovery Passage. ▫ Leaving the Scene
13:28 • 1 Minke Whales travelling, heading south in Seymour Narrows toward Race Point, Discovery Passage.
13:02 • 1 Minke Whales heading south in Seymour Narrows, Discovery Passage.
PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
Sun May 14 2017
15:10 • 10 PWS Dolphins at Davis Point, Nodales Channel.
SIGHTING MEDIA
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins near Davis Point
Sun, 14 May 2017 – 8 items
SIGHTING MEDIA
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins near Davis Point
Sun, 14 May 2017 – 8 items
Sat May 13 2017
14:36 • 10 PWS Dolphins doing circles, behind Howe Island, Nodales Channel.
Sat May 13 2017
16:30 • 2 Dalls Porpoise off Hill Island, Sutil Channel.
14:12 • 4 Dalls Porpoise milling, near McMullen Point, Discovery Passage.
Thu May 11 2017
12:59 • 20 Dalls Porpoise at entrance to Hole in the Wall, Calm Channel.
Sat May 13 2017
10:30 • 1 Species Unsure frolicking, heading north-west off Wilson Creek, Georgia Strait. Frolicking or feeding ~100yds off shore in a small radius (~50yd) for about half an hour just off Browning Road. ▫ Observed from Shore
Heidi Halldorson, Wilson Creek. BC
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CBC News BC
It’s a project started by a group of B.C fishermen that could produce big results in just a few years.
By the end of May, the first batch of around 220,000 young Chinook salmon will be released into the ocean to help feed B.C.’s endangered orcas.
The project, long in the works, is privately funded and was approved by the federal government last year. It involved catching wild fish and facilitating their reproduction in a hatchery ….
West Seattle Blog
An amazing story that unfolded just west of here 15 years ago, with many West Seattleites involved, will be retold and celebrated starting this Saturday. Donna Sandstrom of WS-based The Whale Trail shares the explanation and invitation:
"Celebrate Springer!" marks the 15th anniversary of the dramatic rescue in the waters off of Vashon Island of the orphaned orca Springer (A-73) and the heroic efforts by Washington and British Columbia teams working together to return her safely to her home 300 miles north in Johnstone Strait at the north end of Vancouver Island.
Today, Springer is still healthy and in 2013 had her first calf, Spirit. They are most often seen on the north central British Columbia coast and occasionally return to Johnstone Strait in summer.
The 2002 Springer rescue team will reconvene at 1 PM on Saturday, May 20, at the Vashon Theater…
CTV News
New legislation introduced by the federal government will bar most oil tankers from operating along the coast of northern British Columbia.
It will ban tankers carrying crude oil and so-called persistent oils from stopping, loading or unloading at any ports or marine installations from the northern tip of Vancouver Island all the way to the B.C.-Alaska border, including Haida Gwaii.
The legislation fulfills an election pledge made by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and included in Transport Minister Marc Garneau’s mandate letter in November 2015. …
GMS News Online
wild narwhals use their tusks to give the Arctic cod quick, hard taps. This renders the fish immobile, and therefore easier to catch.
The behavior was captured by a pair of drones in far northeastern Canada’s Tremblay Sound, Nunavat. Operating the drones were Adam Ravetch of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Canada, and Fisheries and Oceans Canada researchers.
Brandon Laforest, a WWF Canada senior specialist of Arctic species and ecosystems, explained what makes narwhals unique among whales.
"They don’t jump like other whales. They are also notoriously skittish," he stated.
As for the narwhal using its tusk to hit and stun fish, Laforest said: "This is an entirely new observation of how the tusk is used."…
The Guardian, UK
Fossil hunters say they have unearthed a missing link in the evolution of baleen whales after digging up the remains of a creature thought to have lived more than 36 million years ago.
The whales, known as mysticeti, sport a bristling collection of sieve-like plates known as baleen that they use to filter water for food. Species include the enormous blue whale, the gray whale and the humpback whale.
But while baleen whales are known to have shared a common ancestor with toothed whales, which are the other major group of modern whales, the path by which the creatures …
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