Harbour porpoises have appeared in greater numbers in upper Georgia Strait and in Howe Sound. Normally, Harbour porpoises travel in groups of 2 to 6 but over the past two weeks, some have appeared in groups larger than 10 animals which makes it easier to spot them. On April 21, eight pods of Harbour porpoises totalling about 100 animals were seen leaving Howe Sound and entering Georgia Strait within a 2-hour time frame. The largest pod observed consisted of approximately 30 animals. It is unclear why the Harbour porpoises have aggregated but possible reasons may include foraging cooperatively, socializing, and mating.
Killer Whales (Orca) have also appeared in greater numbers and some have been identified as Transients (mammal-eating Orca). They have been seen in Malaspina Strait, Discover Passage, and a few around the south end of Vancouver Island. Our report includes a few sightings of Gray whales, Pacific White-Sided dolphins, and one Humpback whale. We have also received and included a porpoise sighting from the United Kingdom. As the weather improves, the number of Cetaceans in our waters will increase. We look forward to receiving your sightings reports and to hear about your experiences with Cetaceans.
Ivan Ng, Wild Ocean Whale Society
Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales with a calf exiting Desolation Sound
Society News & Events
Mark your calendars for June 10th ! Join us for an evening of great food, music, silent and live auctions and fun in fundraising at our World Oceans Day/Week Event at Dwight Hall in Powell River. Tickets are now available at Hindle’s Gifts and Taws Cycle and Sports or give us a call.
Real Time Monitoring Station Update:
The camera is now mounted at Beach Gardens Marina with yet a few more connections to be made before we can go live. Huge thanks to the volunteers! Although we do not have our hydrophone issue sorted yet, we do anticipate that we will get our camera live streaming soon.
Our team of Volunteers continue to do a great job in making sure all your reports are mapped and published regularly. Would you like to join us?
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ISSUE SIGHTINGS MAP 2017-009
TRANSIENT BIGGS KILLER WHALES
Wed Apr 26 2017
14:20 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ heading south, Okisollo Channel. In a resting line.
Tue Apr 25 2017
11:33 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ on the northwest side of Cortes Island, Carrington Bay. ▫ Leaving the Scene
SIGHTING MEDIA
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales, T002C’s, on the northwest side of Cortes Island
Tue, 25 Apr 2017 – 7 items
SIGHTING MEDIA
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales, T002C’s, on the northwest side of Cortes Island
Tue, 25 Apr 2017 – 7 items
10:05 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ just south of Penn Islands, Sutil Channel.
Sat Apr 22 2017
10:30 • Biggs Orca ◦T063 Chainsaw; T065s◦ heading east off Sheringham Point west of Sooke, Strait of Juan de Fuca. Left them around Otter Point at around 11:30. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Paul Pudwell, Sooke Whale Watching
SIGHTING MEDIA
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Bigg’s Killer Whale, including T063 Chainsaw, heading east off of Sooke near Sheringham Point
Sat, 22 Apr 2017 – 6 items
Paul Pudwell, Sooke Whale Watching
SIGHTING MEDIA
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Bigg’s Killer Whale, including T063 Chainsaw, heading east off of Sooke near Sheringham Point
Sat, 22 Apr 2017 – 6 items
Paul Pudwell, Sooke Whale Watching
Fri Apr 21 2017
16:33 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ heading north, Waddington Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
SIGHTING MEDIA
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales, T002C’s, in Waddington Channel
Fri, 21 Apr 2017 – 8 items
SIGHTING MEDIA
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales, T002C’s, in Waddington Channel
Fri, 21 Apr 2017 – 8 items
15:01 • Biggs Orca They were found leaving Desolation Sound.
SIGHTING MEDIA
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales leaving Desolation Sound with a calf
Fri, 21 Apr 2017 – 5 items
SIGHTING MEDIA
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales leaving Desolation Sound with a calf
Fri, 21 Apr 2017 – 5 items
08:00 • Biggs Orca, Teakerne Arm. ▫ Second Hand
Thu Apr 20 2017
10:16 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ moving slowly, heading west between Powell River Viewpoint and Rebecca Rocks, Malaspina Strait. Taking long dives. ▫ Observed from Shore
Mon Apr 17 2017
12:06 • est. 8 Biggs Orca ◦T123s◦ south of Pam Rock, Howe Sound. ▫ On Scene
Sat Apr 15 2017
14:48 • Biggs Orca heading south off Lund, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Leaving the Scene
14:25 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ heading south just south of Hurtado Point, Malaspina Strait. Travelling 4 knots. ▫ Leaving the Scene
12:33 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ heading south off Sarah Point, Malaspina Strait. New baby in the pod.
SIGHTING MEDIA
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales, T002C’s, with a new calf off of Sarah Point
Sat, 15 Apr 2017 – 7 items
SIGHTING MEDIA
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales, T002C’s, with a new calf off of Sarah Point
Sat, 15 Apr 2017 – 7 items
12:21 • Biggs Orca heading south off Sarah Point. Orca is reported by Garry. ▫ Second Hand
Fri Apr 14 2017
18:30 • 7-8 Biggs Orca doing circles, heading north-west halfway between Myrtle Rocks and Black (Albion) Point, Malaspina Strait. The time is approximate. Spy-hopping, frolicking. In a tight group. All females and at least one juvenile and 2 young. ▫ Observed from Shore
Liz Kennedy, Powell River, BC
UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES
Mon Apr 24 2017
15:17 • Orca heading south at Greensea Bay, Discovery Passage. ▫ Second Hand
Sun Apr 23 2017
11:47 • 1 Orca from Grief Point headed towards Van Anda, Malaspina Strait. Saw a blow far out from Grief Point Park. ▫ Observed from Shore
10:26 • Orca taking long dives, heading south in front of Powell River Viewpoint, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Unidentified Killer Whales
Lone Killer Whale far off of Grief Point heading towards Van Anda
Sun, 23 Apr 2017 – 2 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Unidentified Killer Whales
Lone Killer Whale far off of Grief Point heading towards Van Anda
Sun, 23 Apr 2017 – 2 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Thu Apr 20 2017
17:28 • Orca heading south towards Browns Bay, Discovery Passage. Reported on Vancouver Island side. ▫ Second Hand
14:59 • Orca believed near Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
11:21 • 3 Orca heading north in Sansum Narrows on the west side of Saltspring Island, Stuart Channel.
Eric Green, Powell River CCG
09:34 • 1 Orca on the north side of Grief Point, Powell River, Malaspina Strait. One big Orca fin.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
09:28 • 3-4 Orca resting, heading north just off Grief Point south of Powell River. Moving slowly near surface.
John and Joan Treen, Powell River and Savary Island, BC
08:24 • est. 3 Orca heading north by Beach Gardens Marina south of Powell River, Malaspina Strait.
Eric Green, Powell River CCG
Tue Apr 18 2017
12:18 • est. 3 Orca heading south below Van Anda, Texada Island, Malaspina Strait. Tight to shore.
Jim Southern, Powell River, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Unidentified Killer Whales
Six Killer Whales off of Kiddie Point on Texada Island
Tue, 18 Apr 2017 – 1 items
Dave Carbery, Texada Island, Westview Harbourmaster
SIGHTING MEDIA
Unidentified Killer Whales
Six Killer Whales off of Kiddie Point on Texada Island
Tue, 18 Apr 2017 – 1 items
Dave Carbery, Texada Island, Westview Harbourmaster
06:14 • est. 6 Orca off Kiddie Point, Texada Island, Malaspina Strait. Observed from ferry.
Dave Carbery, Texada Island, Westview Harbourmaster
Sun Apr 16 2017
15:00 • Humpback Whales at Surge Narrows, Hoskyn Channel. Seen from kayak by Reuben. ▫ Second Hand
Mon Apr 17 2017
10:00 • 1 Grey Whales spy hopping, off Tofino, Clayoquot Sound. Spotted from the Tonquin Trail overlook. It was surfacing a little ways out from Tonquin beach. It even spy hopped a few times for us. We watched it for maybe 10-15 mins and a little while later, saw a whale watching tour right where it was when we saw it, but it looks like it may have moved on. It appeared to be only one whale. How lucky were we spotting it under 3 mins of standing at the overlook!!. ▫ Observed from Shore
Joe Tenbrink,
Sun Apr 16 2017
12:43 • 1 Grey Whales breaching, by Sunset Marina, West Vancouver, Queen Charlotte Channel.
No Name Provided,
PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
Thu Apr 20 2017
14:35 • est. 6 PWS Dolphins heading south close to Powell River Viewpoint, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Six Pacific White Sided Dolhphins heading South close to Powell River Viewpoint
Thu, 20 Apr 2017 – 5 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Six Pacific White Sided Dolhphins heading South close to Powell River Viewpoint
Thu, 20 Apr 2017 – 5 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
11:56 • 2 PWS Dolphins in front of Discovery Harbour Marina, Campbell River, Discovery Passage.
Mon Apr 17 2017
10:15 • 20 PWS Dolphins by Lee Islands, Nodales Channel. ▫ Second Hand
Thu Apr 27 2017
15:26 • 6-10 Harbour Porpoise heading south off Whytecliff Park in West Vancouver, Queen Charlotte Channel. They surfaced three times in ten minutes. ▫ Observed from Shore
Ivan Ng, North Vancouver, BC
Fri Apr 21 2017
13:33 • 15-20 Harbour Porpoise heading south off Whytecliff Park in West Vancouver. Pod was first viewed approx. 300-m from shore. Six minutes later, they surfaced about 1-km away further south (viewed with binoculars). ▫ Observed from Shore
13:25 • est. 10 Harbour Porpoise heading south off Whytecliff Park in West Vancouver. ▫ Observed from Shore
Ivan Ng, North Vancouver, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Harbour Porpoise
About ten Harbour Porpoises heading south off of Whytecliff Park in West Vancouver
Fri, 21 Apr 2017 – 1 items
Ivan Ng, North Vancouver, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Harbour Porpoise
About ten Harbour Porpoises heading south off of Whytecliff Park in West Vancouver
Fri, 21 Apr 2017 – 1 items
Ivan Ng, North Vancouver, BC
13:06 • est. 10 Harbour Porpoise heading south off Whytecliff Park in West Vancouver. ▫ Observed from Shore
12:26 • 2-4 Harbour Porpoise heading south off Whytecliff Park in West Vancouver. Observed pod about 1-km away. Surfaced three times within a few minutes. ▫ Observed from Shore
12:15 • est. 4 Harbour Porpoise heading south off Whytecliff Park in West Vancouver. ▫ Observed from Shore
12:00 • est. 6 Harbour Porpoise heading south off Whytecliff Park in West Vancouver. Viewed with binoculars about 0.5-km away. ▫ Observed from Shore
11:32 • 12-14 Harbour Porpoise heading south off Whytecliff Park in West Vancouver. Surfaced twice 4 minutes apart. ▫ Observed from Shore
11:20 • est. 30 Harbour Porpoise heading south off Whytecliff Park in West Vancouver. Surfaced 4 times at 3 minute intervals. ▫ Observed from Shore
Ivan Ng, North Vancouver, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Harbour Porpoise
About thirty Harbour Porpoise heading south near Whytecliff Park
Fri, 21 Apr 2017 – 1 items
Ivan Ng, North Vancouver, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Harbour Porpoise
About thirty Harbour Porpoise heading south near Whytecliff Park
Fri, 21 Apr 2017 – 1 items
Ivan Ng, North Vancouver, BC
Thu Apr 20 2017
14:55 • Harbour Porpoise around Grant Reefs, Georgia Strait. A few elusive HPs.
12:35 • 10 Harbour Porpoise foraging, by Grant Reefs. ▫ Radio Report
Y-Knot Sport Fishing, Powell River, BC
Wed Apr 19 2017
11:30 • est. 5-10 Harbour Porpoise frolicking, heading west off Colwyn Bay in Wales, UK, Irish Sea. Swimming along coast line. ▫ Observed from Shore
Peter Sandells, Llandulas, Wales, UK
10:16 • 6 Harbour Porpoise milling, off Whytecliff near West Vancouver, Queen Charlotte Channel. Milling around for about 50 minutes within 200 meters of shore. Pod seemed to disperse at times as I only saw one or two porpoises surface. Then, I would see all of them surface at the same time. Surface intervals between 4-5 minutes. ▫ Observed from Shore
Ivan Ng, North Vancouver, BC
Sun Apr 16 2017
14:08 • 4-6 Harbour Porpoise heading north, Baker Passage.
12:59 • 20 Harbour Porpoise foraging, near Mystery Reef, Malaspina Strait.
NEW! WOWs Sightings Archive Explorer
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National Post, ON
Already-endangered killer whales in the waters west of Seattle face heightened risk from an increased traffic of tankers that will carry oil from Kinder Morgan Inc.’s $5.4 billion Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion, two Native American organizations claim in a federal lawsuit.
The U.S. Coast Guard failed to ensure the black-and-white whales known as orcas won’t be decimated by increased shipping traffic or oil spills as it’s required to do under the Endangered Species Act, according to the tribes’ complaint filed Tuesday in Seattle. …
CBC, NS
Canadian researchers say they have a solution to a new U.S. government requirement that its seafood imports be caught in a way that minimizes harm to marine mammals.
A recently released paper recommends summertime closures in two fishing grounds off Nova Scotia and New Brunswick to protect one of the most threatened marine mammals in Atlantic Canadian waters – the North Atlantic right whale.
The idea is to get fishing gear and lines out of the water when endangered whales are in the area.
The risk analysis says not only would it help the whales – which have an estimated population of 520 – it would also “maintain market access for Canadian seafood as other nations strengthen their laws on seafood imports.” ….
National Geographic, Oregon State University
When you weigh 200 tons, even the smallest body movements require a lot of energy. That’s why blue whales, Earth’s largest animal, are picky eaters.
Stunning new drone footage shows exactly how these massive mammals maneuver to feed on only the most nutritious patches of krill-providing insight on how they make these choices.
Captured by a research team led by National Geographic Explorer Leigh Torres from Oregon State’s Marine Mammal Institute, footage filmed in the Southern Ocean near New Zealand shows the moment a whale
The Guardian, UK
Newborn humpback whales and their mothers whisper to each other to escape potential predators, scientists reported Wednesday, revealing the existence of a previously unknown survival technique. …
Boston Herald, MA
Coastal researchers in Massachusetts say they found more endangered right whales in Cape Cod Bay recently than on any one day in recent history.
A spokeswoman for the Center for Coastal Studies says researchers found 112 of the rare whales in the bay Sunday. The spokeswoman says the next highest number for one day was 96 in 2014. …
CP, Castanet
A new study suggests that nearly 15% of the protected humpback whales that come to feed every spring in the southern Gulf of Maine have been struck by boats and other vessels – putting both boaters and the sea mammals at risk….
Scientific American, USA
Residents of the Pacific islands are keeping an anxious eye on the whales that populate their steadily warming waters. Many are concerned that climate change will take a toll on the marine mammals that are an integral part of the islands’ culture, as well as the base of a thriving eco-tourism industry.
Members of the scientific community are also worried, albeit for a different reason: Whales are crucial to ocean carbon absorption. As whale numbers dwindle, it could lead to increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, scientists say. But if conservation efforts pay off, whales could play a role in helping the islands meet the reductions to their nationally determined contributions (NDCs) of greenhouse gases framed in the Paris Agreement. …
Science Daily
Whales from both poles migrate long distances to breed in tropical waters. Researchers tagged 47 humpbacks with satellite transmitters to understand how the humpbacks’ Southeastern Pacific population moves within breeding areas.
Daily Mail, UK
The stunning underwater footage was taken by Australian diver Scott Portelli while on a trip to the Polynesian island of Tonga.
Portelli captured the video – which is believed to be a false killer whale, a type of dolphin – as the creature leaped around him and showed off its diving talent.
False killer whale puts on spectacular show for stunned divers
Mr Portelli was on a diving trip in Tonga when he got up close and personal with a false killer whale The stunned scuba diver posted the footage to Facebook after he travelled to Tonga on a diving expedition to look for humpback whales
Information Management
After mastering 40 human languages, a Swedish startup has turned to dolphins, hoping to use its language-analysis software to unlock the secrets of communication employed by the aquatic mammals.
Using technology from artificial intelligence language-analysis company Gavagai AB, researchers from Sweden’s KTH Royal Institute of Technology will begin compiling a dolphin-language dictionary. The software will monitor captive bottlenose dolphins
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