Pilot Whales, Orca, Lunging Humpbacks and Dolphins

Humpback Whales are still putting on nice breaching and lunge feeding shows in the inside waters of Georgia Strait, up Desolation Sound and inner channels by Knight Inlet. Southern Resident Orca and some other Killer Whales have been briefly popping up again. A nice size pod of Pacific White Sided Dolphins made an appearance by Qualicum and we had another report of a possible pod of Pilot Whales by Powell River. Photos, even taken from a mobile at a distance may help to confirm that these are Pilot Whales, so keep your eyes peeled please.

Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society

 

 

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Sightings Update

 

SIGHTINGS MAP 2016-038

 

Jump to: Biggs Orca | Orca | Humpback Whales | PWS Dolphins | Pilot Whales

TRANSIENT BIGGS KILLER WHALES

14:15 • est. 4-5 Biggs Orca moving quickly, heading South-East angling towards Mitlenatch Island from Cape Mudge Fishing Hump, Georgia Strait. In mid-channel,with one large male and one very small among the pod. ? Observed from Shore

10:00 • 1 Biggs Orca moving slowly, heading West toward Winchelsea Islands off Nanaimo, Georgia Strait. Black fin visible 5 times. Moved from Nanaimo Rocky Point shore area; moved West towards the Winchelsea island area. ? Observed from Shore

Jump to: Biggs Orca | Orca | Humpback Whales | PWS Dolphins | Pilot Whales

 

SOUTHERN RESIDENT KILLER WHALES

16:00 • 1 SRKW Orca heading South near Cyril Rock on Texada Island, Malaspina Strait. A nice male Orca.

10:11 • 7 SRKW Orca spread out, heading South way out from Grief Point, Malaspina Strait.

08:10 • 3 SRKW Orca spread out, heading South between Powell River and Blubber Bay, Malaspina Strait. One near Blubber Bay and 2 or more closer to Powell River.

Jump to: Biggs Orca | Orca | Humpback Whales | PWS Dolphins | Pilot Whales

 

UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES

12:00 • 4 Orca near Minstrel Island, Knight Inlet.

08:53 • 2 Orca heading South near Van Anda, Texada Island, Malaspina Strait. Heading towards Imperial quarry….at least 2 Orcas….I’m in the old quarry just South of Van Anda. A bunch more farther out from shore. ? Observed from Shore

08:47 • 1 Orca moving slowly, heading North off Powell River, Malaspina Strait. Seems solitary. Only glimpsing dorsal fin. Assuming Orca…definitely not Humpback. About 500 m out from shore.

–:– • 5 Orca heading West just off Brasseau Bay, Johnstone Strait. One larger male.

14:15 • 8-10 Orca heading North near Powell River, Malaspina Strait. Passed by area near Amour Road.

15:30 • 4-5 Orca moving slowly, Parksville Bay, Georgia Strait. I observed 4-5 Orcas that were slowly swimming back and forth off of Parksville Bay (Vancouver Island) between 3:30pm and 4:30pm. Several times the whole group of Orcas would spend extended periods under water (5 – 10 minutes). There is a large number of Chum in the area being actively fed upon by Harbour Seals and California Sea Lions. The presence of the whales did not appear to disturb the nearby actively hunting sea lions or seals. I was standing on a beach near the Englishman River estuary looking towards the the French Creek Marina. (Note: These Orca could have been Northern Resident Orca from the A42 pod. – Ivan Ng). ? Observed from Shore

Jump to: Biggs Orca | Orca | Humpback Whales | PWS Dolphins | Pilot Whales

 

HUMPBACK WHALES

08:36 • 1 Humpback Whales heading North near Blubber Bay, Malaspina Strait. Blow observed. ? Observed from Shore

08:10 • Humpback Whales breaching, between Blubber Bay and Powell River, Malaspina Strait. Close to the ferry. ? Second Hand

17:32 • 6-8 Humpback Whales hanging around Eagle Cove, Texada Island, Malaspina Strait. I’m in between the Humpback groups…1 group South of Eagle Cove…Lil bay…and the other North of Eagle Cove. I heard them as I walked through the thick forest (on Texada Isalnd). ? Observed from Shore

15:01 • 4-6 Humpback Whales heading North by Beach Gardens Marina and Grief Point, Malaspina Strait.

14:40 • 2 Humpback Whales off of Van Anda, Malaspina Strait. Blows seen. ? Observed from Shore

14:39 • 3 Humpback Whales heading South off of Van Anda by Eagle Cove, Malaspina Strait. ? Observed from Shore

14:34 • 1 Humpback Whales off of Double Bay, Blackfish Sound.

14:34 • 2 Humpback Whales very close to the shore at Grief Point, Malaspina Strait. ? Observed from Shore

14:00 • 1 Humpback Whales abeam Tribune Point, Knight Inlet.

13:23 • 3 Humpback Whales lunge feeding, between Blubber Bay and Van Anda, Malaspina Strait. ? Observed from Shore

10:42 • Humpback Whales off of Van Anda, Malaspina Strait.

10:32 • 3 Humpback Whales seen from Grief Point near Texada Island, Malaspina Strait. Seen from Grief Point.

09:30 • 2 Humpback Whales in Weynton Passage.

09:11 • Humpback Whales off of Powell River out by Texada Island, Malaspina Strait. Taking long dives. ? Observed from Shore

08:44 • Humpback Whales heading North just out from Van Anda on Texada Island, Malaspina Strait.

09:50 • 1 Humpback Whales moving quickly, heading North in front of Hidden Harbour, Campbell River, Discovery Passage. ? Observed from Shore

15:08 • 1-2 Humpback Whales heading into Blubber Bay, Texada Island, Malaspina Strait. One for sure; maybe two.

14:30 • 1 Humpback Whales moving slowly, heading North off Nanaimo, Georgia Strait. It slowly made its way North along the shore, maybe a kilometer or more out from land, opposite (approximately) the Rocky Point area, around 2:30 pm on Nov 21. About half an hour later, we again sighted it, this time heading South. It did not breach, nor was a tail or flipper ever evident. It just seemed to be gliding along. I took both pictures and videos of it – it was our first sighting of a Humpback since we moved to Nanaimo a year ago. I have seen Orca several times, earlier in the year, once accompanied by a Zodiac. On New Year’s day morning of this year, there was a school of dolphins just North of Rocky Point. ? Observed from Shore

15:58 • 3 Humpback Whales heading South-West off of Marshall Point on Texada Island, Georgia Strait.

–:– • 2 Humpback Whales by Lloyd Creek, Homfray Channel.

15:03 • 1 Humpback Whales heading North at 50th Parallel Marker in Campbell River, Discovery Passage.

14:59 • Humpback Whales between Powell River and Rebecca Rocks, Malaspina Strait.

09:00 • 2 Humpback Whales heading South off of Whiskey Point, Discovery Passage. ? Observed from Shore

16:21 • 2-4 Humpback Whales close to Rebecca Rocks far out in Georgia Strait. Very active with multiple blows each per minute.

12:31 • 2 Humpback Whales off of Whiskey Point, Discovery Passage. One close to mid strait breaching and tail slapping and another much closer to Quadra Island Shoreline. ? Observed from Shore

11:00 • 1 Humpback Whales moving slowly, heading South off of Cape Mudge close to the shoreline of Quadra Island, Discovery Passage. It looked fairly small compared to other Humpbacks. ? Observed from Shore

19:00 • 2 Humpback Whales resting, off the South-East side of Mayne Island and South of Georgeson Island, Georgia Strait. – 2 whales, slowly moving through Bennett Bay, about 100 m offshore; exhalations were very clear. It was dark, and am guessing by their surface profile they were Humpbacks, but I am no expert; they did not reveal their characteristic fins, for example. I examined the on-line surface profiles of Grey vs. Humpback whales, and from my novice perspective, they looked more like Humpbacks. We also chatted with some locals who said some Humpbacks had been spotted in the area that week. ? Observed from Shore

09:00 • 4 Humpback Whales heading South off Powell River, Malaspina Strait. Trying to get photos. ? Observed from Shore

08:52 • 2 Humpback Whales heading South off Powell River. Close to Nootka Street. ? Observed from Shore

08:52 • 2 Humpback Whales heading South off Powell River. Close to Penticton Street. ? Observed from Shore

Jump to: Biggs Orca | Orca | Humpback Whales | PWS Dolphins | Pilot Whales

 

PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS

09:05 • est. 100 PWS Dolphins moving quickly, heading South-East off Gabriola Island, Georgia Strait. Huge school.

09:00 • est. 100 PWS Dolphins foraging, off Qualicum Beach by Eaglecrest Bluffs, Georgia Strait. Watched for about 15 minutes till they left in a hurry towards Lasqueti Island. ? Observed from Shore

Jump to: Biggs Orca | Orca | Humpback Whales | PWS Dolphins | Pilot Whales

 

PILOT WHALES

12:51 • est. 8 Pilot Whales travelling, heading South in front of Powell River, Malaspina Strait. Species unconfirmed. ? Second Hand

SIGHTINGS HEAT MAP 2016-038

 

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The Magazine

 

REGIONAL & WEST COAST

North Shore News, BC

Greenpeace is an organization involved with raising public awareness of environment issues and involved with actions to resolve those environmental issues. Experiences from a few individuals involved with Greenpeace in its early beginnings in the 1970’s reveal some of the challenges faced by the organization and some of their successes. A focal campaign of Greenpeace in the 1970’s and 1980’s was their involvement in advocating the cessation of commercial whaling and protection of a number of whale species. Even today, Greenpeace continues to promote the protection of whales.

Toronto Star, ON

Ships off the West Coast could be forced to yield the right of way to killer whales as part of a federal ocean protection plan, says a Liberal MP…

Raincoast Conservation

Raincoast’s Misty MacDuffee speaks with Janice and Cory from Roundhouse Radio about the unique lives of Southern Resident killer whales and the tragic death of L95.

Raincoast Conservation

“Qvúqvai and surrounding waters is a place where I’ve shared a warm summer day with a superpod of 60 orcas, a cold, blustery week with wolves eating herring roe right off the beach, and countless commutes delayed by unexpected encounters with whales, porpoises, and bears.” Biologist Kyle Artelle writes about |the rich area impacted by the recent Tug Sinking and resulting oil spill off Bella Bella.

CANADA

Pilot whales babysit each other’s young while swimming in groups

New Scientist

It takes a village to raise a whale. Rather than sticking exclusively to their mothers’ side, baby pilot whales in the north Atlantic take turns swimming next to other adults – including both females and males.

Pilot whales are social creatures. They are thought to live in multigenerational family units of about two to four dozen individuals, says Joana Augusto at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada …

Hakai Magazine

For years, archaeologists and anthropologists have thought that-outside of the Arctic-only a few North American tribes on British Columbia’s Vancouver Island and Washington State’s Olympic Peninsula regularly hunted whales, a practice clearly reflected in those tribes’ specialized tools and rituals.

“You’re talking about people heading out into the ocean in a canoe, without …

Hakai Magazine

When a ship’s propeller blades rev up and begin slicing furiously through the ocean, a frothy storm erupts below. The churned seawater boils, forming millions of bubbles that snap, crackle, and pop like firecrackers. For animals in the sea below, this process-known as propeller cavitation-can be as loud as a rock concert.

As the ocean drowns in sound, the number of studies showing the harmful effects of noise on marine life has surged. And so, too, have the …

INTERNATIONAL

National Geographic

Sardine Run
“I captured this image during the migration of the sardines along the wild coast of South Africa. Natural predation, sardines are preyed upon by cape gannet birds and common dolphins. The hunt begins with common dolphins that have developed special hunting techniques. With remarkable eyesight, the gannets follow the dolphins before diving in a free fall from 30 to 40 meters high, piercing the surface of the water head first at a speed of 80km/h to get their fill of sardines.”

National Geographic

Dwarf sperm whales are also deep sea mammals, preferring to swim beyond the continental shelf and diving deep into the mid-levels of the ocean to hunt and eat squid with their wide toothy mouths.

It was incredibly rare to see this little animal so far from its usual habitat, flopping around the harbour amongst thousands of summer holiday goers.

New Scientist

“Until now, we knew that the heart rates of porpoises and cetaceans in general correlate with different dive factors, such as dive duration, depth and exercise,” says Siri Elmegaard of Aarhus University in Denmark, who led the research. “Now we can conclude that harbour porpoises have cognitive control of their heart rate.”

The discovery might also provide another explanation for how exposure to loud noise from shipping, sonar or subsea exploration harms cetaceans and possibly triggers strandings.

If their concentration is disrupted by sudden loud noise, it could prompt animals to panic and resurface too quickly, triggering potentially fatal decompression sickness, pain or confusion, and leading to possible stranding. …

Grind TV

When anchovies school tightly together and form a bait ball, it rarely turns out well for the tiny fish. Dolphins and sea lions pluck from the perimeter, while gulls pick them off from overhead.

But when ravenous a humpback whale is nearby, the anchovies’ defense strategy proves to be completely futile.

The spectacular aerial footage accompanying this post, captured Wednesday by Newport Coastal Adventure in Southern California, shows the full formation of the bait ball before the whale arrives.

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