Northern Resident Orca and Calf, Southern Resident Killer Whales and Dolphins

Northern Resident Orca (NRKW) known as the A8’s (or now as the A42’s) have been back and forth around Powell River area since Christmas again. A42 had given birth to a calf December 2012 somewhere around Myrtle Rocks (see archived reports and January 2013 photos). I’m pleased to say that the calf, still without a name or number, is doing well with his/her family and there are photos below.

Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW) also have done their annual winter trip up Georgia Strait passing Powell River. Unfortunately, few reports came in so no photos, but the satellite tag on L87 gives a clear picture of travel. See below for their track and links to satellite tagging information.

Other Orca reports have also come in with no way of knowing if they are Resident (fish eating) or Transient Bigg’s (meat eating) Killer Whales.

Pacific White Sided Dolphins are also in this report as well as a link to a short video clip of Dall’s Porpoise taken recently.

January 10:

10:30 am A pod of 5 or 6 Killer Whales just passed Black (Albion) Point heading towards town (Powell River).

January 10:

10:40 am At least three (3) Orca heading west between Black Pt (Albion) and Myrtle Pt. (Powell River) Just below Whalen/Fleury. At least two males, no chance for ID.

January 10:

10:45 am 3 or more Orca Northbound past Albion Point towards Myrtle Rocks.

January 10:

11 am 6 or maybe even 7 Orca some tight into shore by Myrtle Rocks heading towards Grief Point. There was one big male that I’m sure I’ve seen before in the lead and it looks like a couple of really young ones as well farther behind.

January 10:

11:30 am 6 Orca found still just between Myrtle Rocks and Grief Point (Powell River). Identification was easy and immediate – the Northern Resident pod known as the A8’s (A42’s now since she is the new matriarch). After cancelling an appointment and a bit of trouble getting the skiff started, it was great to be on the water again. Only the second time since September! Steve Grover was going to take some photos from shore, so he joined me on the water. The Whales were spread out with A66 in the lead. A42 was the next obvious one passing us as we drifted in front of Beach Gardens marina by Grief Point. A79 and A88 brought up the rear with all of them taking long dives and zig zagging, presumably chasing fish. They waited till the Comox and Texada ferries left the terminal before crossing towards Willingdon Beach. Although I dropped the hydrophone, to check for vocalizations, a number of times they only vocalized for a short time with their distinctive A-Clan calls. The calf, born one year ago in our area, would pop up to take quick breaths and you could still see a tinge of orange on the white patches. Left them slowly foraging towards the Powell River mill around 2:10 pm and just before the rain started.

January 6:

9:30 – 10 am SRKW Orca! A friend, Jim Sepkowski was on the Comox ferry and called me. I saw L pod thru my big-eye scopes Monday morning – between Texada and Little River heading south. Lots of breaching. I’ll let you know when I see anything in the future.

January 10:

10:45 am At least 2 Orcas mid channel Northbound by we wai kae village (Cape Mudge). 3 Dorsals for sure.

January 8:

2:30 pm Two or three Orca heading south from Westview (Powell River), just a quick glimpse……that was at about 2:30.

January 7:

1:10 pm Just saw about 4-5 killer whales heading towards Harwood from Grief Point (Powell River). They are quite a way out so it is hard to count.

January 6 & 7:

Talking with crew on the Comox ferry, they had seen Orca on both days during their crossings between Comox and Powell River. Some on the 7^th were back and forth off the North-West tip of Texada Island.

January 4:

2:21 pm A few hundred PWS Dolphins in front of Nanaimo right now. They’re feeding in one spot.

Satellite tagged SRKW L87’s travels through to January 7, 2014 includes the lower Georgia Strait up Malaspina Channel passing Powell River to Harwood Island, up to Mitlenatch Island, over to Comox and down the West side of Texada Island. This link has full sized mapped movements and information:

This link is a full one hour long BBC Documentary "Natural World: Killer Whales, Beneath the Surface" / BBC (2013)

Here’s a short video clip (submitted by Steve and Susan Grover) of Dall’s porpoises around a sailboat on the weekend. Susan’s cousin’s daughter from Australia was out sailing in the gulf island when the porpoises came to their boat. I requested permission to forward the link to you and she said it was OK.