Video of NRKW Pod A42’s Rubbing on a Pebble Beach

February 3, 2015 — issue No. 2015-004

Killer Whales are all over the place! The viral video of the Northern Resident (fish eating) Killer Whales, the A42’s rubbing on a beach were easily identified by Susan MacKay as soon as the higher resolution clip was posted last Wednesday. See the clips below. It’s some of the best rubbing of Orca on a beach that’s available. Those very lucky workers got a once in a lifetime show. The Southern Resident (fish eating) Killer Whales of J-Pod, from the satellite tagged J27, have moved to the west coast of Vancouver Island, while we appear to have both Transient Bigg’s (meat eating) Killer Whales and Northern Resident Orca in the Georgia Strait. Without enough information, we can’t confirm some of the sightings and have posted them into the Unidentified Orca column. Few other species reports have come in, but all reports that have come in to date are below.

In the meantime, there is much excitement going on with a gathering of fundraising draw donations, further info to follow; a web camera fundraising event, "Burger and Beer (or wine) Night" coming up March 10^th at the Savoury Bight Restaurant in Powell River, and other, to be posted soon, information about events, presentations and programs. Some of the ‘behind the scenes’ workings have caused delays in more timely postings of these sightings, but you are totally up to date now. We’d love to hear what you think of the revised Sightings Report look.

Susan MacKay & Lynne Cracknell, Whales and Dolphins BC

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NORTHERN RESIDENT KILLER WHALES

Northern Resident Orca A66 (Surf) born 1996

Frame grabbed from video clip below for identification purposes

Jan 29:

These videos of the Northern Resident pod A42’s has gone viral and have been on the news a lot over the last few days, but even if you have already seen them they are well worth a second watch! It is some of the best footage anywhere showing Orca rubbing on beaches, a regular event, but seldom captured this close from shore. They do prefer pebbles to rub on, but frequent a few other locations with sand and infrequently rub on rocky bluffs. The big male, A66 (Surf) stops beautifully in front of the videographer allowing for an easily confirmed identification of the family pod. When the first lower resolution video clip was posted, we thought it was the younger members of the pod, but could only confirm the whole once we spotted A66 clearly in the higher resolution clip. This was taken while the workers were on one of the ‘Discovery Islands’ between Powell River and Campbell River. – Susan MacKay

First video is 4:20 minutes:

Second video clip is 1:39 minutes when the whales returned:

UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES

Feb 3:

11:37 am: Report of 6 – 7 Orca somewhere in the fog between Powell River on the Sunshine Coast and Campbell River on Vancouver Island.

(from radio)

Feb 3:

2:47 pm: 3 Orca spotted by Atrevida Reef, just below Dinner Rock and Lund, moving southbound towards Powell River on the Sunshine Coast.

3:00 pm:There is one big male, one female, and one calf for sure.

Kim Lisberg, Powell River

Feb 3:

3:42 pm: Pod of two Killer Whales just passed towards Harwood Island, coming from the direction of Lund in the Strait of Georgia. Another friend of mine posted on Facebook that they seemed to head towards Westview, Powell River after Harwood Island.

Wendy Galligos, Powell River.

Feb 3:

3:50 pm: Searching for the Orca from Kim’s report above, I finally saw the Orca doing long dives, and then cutting across from Atrevida Reef towards Mystery Reef on the south side of Savary Island.

4 pm: There is at least one by Atrevida Reef and two by Harwood Island Spit. With the split and long (10 minutes or more) dives, it’s very difficult to keep track of them.

Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins B.C.

Feb 2:

1:02 pm: Report of a pod of Orca southbound into Georgia Strait between Point Atkinson and Passage Island.

Philine Scholz-Mayty.

Feb 1:

4:30 pm: Orca just off Lund, in the Strait of Georgia, there are 8 – 10 of them, or more, moving slowly southbound towards Dinner Rock, North of Powell River.

(from radio)

Jan 31:

2:25 pm: 3+ Orca travelling in a tight group northbound in front of Powell River! I’m on my way! Although I went to search for them for identification purposes, they just vanished. Trying the hydrophone a number of times, I could only hear distant boats. Not a peep or another sighting of the whales.

Susan MacKay, Whales and Dolphins B.C.

Spyhopping Orca off Cape Mudge Lighthouse

January 30, 2015

Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours

Jan 30:

1:50 pm: 6 or so Orca mid channel in Discovery Passage out from the Cape Mudge Lighthouse on Quadra island. A couple of them were headed north west, but another is southbound, so they may be hunting.

3:30 pm: Orca mid channel Discovery Passage slowly northbound in front of the Anchor Inn, Campbell River.

Elvis, Eagle Eye Adventures.

Jan 30:

2:52 pm: 4-5 Orca foraging near the Campbell River shoreline on Vancouver Island, near the beach side coffee shop, adjacent to Cape Mudge on Quadra Island.

Tara Bladon, Campbell River.

Jan 30:

3:30 pm: Orca mid channel Discovery Passage slowly northbound in front of the Anchor Inn, Campbell River.

3:46 pm: One big fin. Far away. By Quathiaski Cove, closer to Quadra Island. Four Orca total, I think. Leaving the scene.

Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours.

Jan 28:

9:13 am: 6-8 Orca off Cape Mudge Village on Quadra Island southbound in Discovery Channel towards the red can buoy off Cape Mudge. Two big males.

(rec’d on 29^th): At the time that I called in the report yesterday regarding the 6 – 8 Orca off Cape Mudge on Quadra Island, I heard that there was also another group off Rebecca Spit, on Quadra Island, by the scallop farm.

Elvis, Eagle Eye Adventures.

Jan 28:

5:03 pm: 6 plus Orca on the north side of Savary Island. Seen from the water taxi between Savary Island and Lund. (Call was dropped so not sure if they were headed up through the Copeland Islands or towards Baker Passage – SM) Midge called back; sounded like they might be southbound.

Midge Dalsin, Powell River

Jan 27:

11:30 am: A pod of 5 orca heading south on Jervis Inlet at Ball Point between Hornby Island and the mainland. Maybe you can see some marking to identify them. They were moving quite fast and this is the only pic I got. (We only received this lower resolution photo and no further information on location – SM)

Bonnie Kent.