Southern Resident New Orca Calf, Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales and Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Good News for the Southern Resident Orca population and a great way to end 2014 and start 2015. A new calf known as J50 was first spotted December 30th. There is a bit of question as to who the mother is since the calf was seen beside 42 year old J16, Slick. Slick is most likely the Grandmother. It’s surmised that the Mother is 16 year old J36, Alki. With rake marks on the calf’s dorsal, there is a chance that the rest of the pod had to assist with a difficult delivery and Alki was recuperating before assuming motherly duties. We can only hope and monitor their welfare.
NOAA once again has tagged, for the purpose of monitoring, a Southern Resident Killer Whale (J27) and has reported J-Pod between Nanaimo and Comox on December 31st, and by Savary Island on January 1st. We have included a link to their 2015 satellite tagging page in the Links section below.
Susan MacKay & Lynne Cracknell, Whales and Dolphins BC
Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
Every sighting report is valuable!
UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES
(presumed Transient Bigg’s)
Orca off Cape Mudge
(possibly T37A’s)
December 30, 2014 – 2 photos
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
January 2:
12 – 12:30 pm: At least 4 Orca Northbound in Lambert Channel. There appeared to be two large whales with very straight and tall dorsal fins, one very small whale with them and one medium sized whale. (Tagged Southern Resident Orca have been around this area and this could be a few of them rather than Transient Bigg’s – SM)
Cindy McDonald, Hornby Island
December 30:
10:40 am: At least 5 Orca heading past Cape Mudge on Quadra Island, northbound.
Michelle, Discovery Marine Safaris / Stubbs Island Whale Watching.
December 30:
11:00 am: Killer whales breaching mid channel between Cape Mudge and Vancouver Island.
Geord Dunstan, Discovery Marine Safaris.
December 30:
11:18 am: I see them (the Orca) but they are quite far away. Saw a big splash, off Cape Mudge, by Big Rock area.
11:30 am: See them again. Looks like more than 5 of them. Looks like they are a bit farther south.
11:48 am: They are in line with the Cape Mudge Lighthouse, mid channel. Going around in circles.
12:00 pm: Lost track of them, last seen they were south west bound in Georgia Strait towards Vancouver Island. There are at least 5 animals, one large fin and a young Orca.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours.
Orca off Cape Mudge
(possibly T37A’s)
December 30, 2014 – 2 photos
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
Dec 30:
10:00 am: Overheard some Sports Fishermen talking about large groups of Pacific White Sided Dolphins foraging off the NW tip of Texada Island. They are out of my view.
Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins B.C.
Dec 25:
2:16 pm: Just passed a pod of about 80 Pacific White Sided Dolphins on the 12:50 ferry to Nanaimo. They passed close to Gabriola Island and headed north. Great Christmas show!
Eric Foster.
Dec 24:
11:35 am: Some Pacific White Sided Dolphins just passed by Fisherman’s Wharf in Campbell River as I was locking up the office! Merry Christmas from everyone at Stubbs and Discovery Marine Safaris!
Geord Dunstan, Discovery Marine Safaris and Stubbs Island Whale Watching.
Pacific White Sided Dolphins wake riding by ferry
December 25, 2014
Eric Foster
LINKS
New Southern Resident Orca J50 first photos with CBC article:
Really excellent news on the last day of 2014! A new Southern Resident Orca has arrived!:
NOAA 2015 Tracking of Satellite Tagged Southern Resident Orca J27:
Here is some incredible footage of scientists tagging a gathering of highly curious Orca on the McMurdo Ice Shelf. A must-watch!
And to finish off, here is some lovely video of some very close encounters of the Orca kind:
Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
Every sighting report is valuable!
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