Orca – Killer Whales by Powell River
Some Orca – Killer Whales sighted around Powell River. Winds and waves crashing on the rocks make it difficult to spot anything. While looking, some of the crashing waves can even look like blows. Watching for a few minutes will usually confirm if the ‘blow’ has a body and is moving. They are out there, it’s just spotting them in this big ocean!
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
Orca – Most Likely Transients
December 2:
12 pm 2 Big Fins and at least one smaller one between Lang Bay and Texada Island heading North up Malaspina Strait. Lots of bird activity in the area too.
Michael Stewart, Powell River
December 2:
1 pm With hopes of managing a photo or two for identification, drove down to Grief Point and friend, Judy Brant was the first to spot a confirmed blow just off VanAnda across the Strait from us. Once we located where the Orca were, I managed a count of 6 blows in two groups not too far apart from one another and finally saw a couple of dorsals between large waves. With the waves crashing against the jagged Texada shore, confirmation of more blows was impossible. The whales stayed closer to Texada so photos were not possible. Watching through binoculars, Judy managed to see 2 breaches off the light by Blubber Bay as they angled towards Rebecca Rocks; I was disappointed to miss them. At 2:47 pm they turned and angled towards the Powell River Mill when I finally could confirm 6 dorsals – then I lost them.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins BC
Regarding November 28 report:
CORRECTION TO PREVIOUSLY POSTED SIGHTING REPORT: This California Transient sighting was NOT on November 28; however, the T18s WERE sighted on November 28.
CORRECTION TO PREVIOUSLY POSTED SIGHTING REPORT: This California Transient sighting was NOT on November 28; however, the T18s WERE sighted on November 28.
“November 24: Transients CA172 with another female and juvenile were traveling quickly west bound in the middle of the Juan de Fuca Strait. I previously documented CA172 in the same region in December 2010 with 6 -8 other individuals. Mark Malleson, Prince of Whales”
Alisa Schulman-Janiger, California Killer Whale Project
Alisa Schulman-Janiger, California Killer Whale Project
(Thanks again Alisa for the Correction – really appreciate it. SM)
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A note about the December 2ndOrca reports above:
With a hydrophone, underwater listening device, established in a strategic location or two, we could have confirmed whether or not these Orca were Transients or Residents through their unique vocalizations. Every ‘clan’ has their own dialect. This is on the Whales and Dolphins BC wish list – see the Support – Enter Draw page.
Links in the News:
Received a CNN link to a very lucky dog with an Orca chasing him. Worth a look as this one looks legitimate:
Japanese Whaling Survey Results from International Fund for Animal Welfare:
