Great Holiday Whale Activity This Year
December 28, 2017
— issue No. 2017-045
Biggs Killer Whales have been reported hunting with two great video clip submissions included below. One of the clips has Humpback Whales fending off the Orca while a sealion or two hides behind the larger animals. Every year, we have Southern Resident pods, particularly J-Pod, show up in the northern Georgia Strait area, but have not had any confirmed reports or photos of either Northern or Southern Resident Orca. It is possible that some of them are showing in our Unidentified Killer Whale section, as they are usually due in Powell River – Comox area December 26.
Of the still many Humpback Whales reported, there are reports of them singing for longer periods of time in Georgia Strait between Comox and Powell River. I can only imagine what the divers heard, as I was listening on my hydrophone and it was amazing. We have had them practice in short bits of song previously and in 2013 there was one singing at the top of Johnstone Strait around October or November.
We thank you all for your support and trust this holiday season is good to you. Wishing you and yours the very best for a happy, healthy 2018!
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
Humpback Whales and Sea Lions between Rebecca Rocks and Harwood Island
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Society News & Events
Wishing you and Yours All the Best of the Holiday Season and for 2018!
As another year comes to a close, we are grateful to the many people who help us make WOWs a growing success. From our observers to our volunteers, readers and donors, we couldn’t do it without you.
Our online volunteers contribute untold hours of their time to analyze and keep our Sightings Reports and Maps running and published smoothly, and hope you are enjoying your personalized submitted reports maps.
Our ‘on the ground’ volunteers work to educate the public about the species in our waters, the threats to them, and respectful viewing. They are also the ones who work towards some of our in-house fundraising efforts such as raffles, events and auctions as well as animal rescue and response.
Our observers from the general public and our Corporate Members of the whale watching communities provide the valuable data we publish and make freely available.
Our donors provide the needed funds to cover costs enabling us to distribute this gathered information to the public and fulfill our official Charity mandate.
Our readers and followers from the general public to educators and researchers utilizing our regularly published data, set the bar high in keeping us going.
WOWs is the only sightings data collector in BC who freely and regularly publishes data findings and maps, and we will continue to make our data available. 2017 had a 32% increase in reported sightings, and the year is not quite over.
Volunteer and programs coordination is an art that takes dedicated people, especially with a total of long and short term volunteers numbering just over forty. With the extent of our efforts in 2017, and lack of volunteers’ time and funds to recruit for specific needs, a few projects and programs from last year were unable to be completed. We are working hard to change this.
2018 holds many programs and projects being attended to and being planned. With our recent official CRA Registered Charity status, a few doors have been opened and even more paper / computer work, hopefully with rewards to better provide both online and on the ground programs.
We look forward to your continued support and a great year ahead.
Thank You All!
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ISSUE SIGHTINGS MAP 2017-045
TRANSIENT BIGGS KILLER WHALES
Thu Dec 21 2017
16:00 • 5-6 Biggs Orca hunting, off of Keystone Spit, Puget Sound – Outer. Hunting sea lion very closer to shore. ▫ Observed from Shore
Alison Martin, Victoria, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales hunting a sea lion close to shore by Keystone Spit
Thu, 21 Dec 2017 – 6 items
Alison Martin, Victoria, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Bigg’s Killer Whales hunting a sea lion close to shore by Keystone Spit
Thu, 21 Dec 2017 – 6 items
Alison Martin, Victoria, BC
Sun Dec 03 2017
–:– • Biggs Orca hunting, south of Chrome Island, Baynes Sound. Transients appear to be after a sealion or two seen leaping, while Humpback Whales appear to chase the Orca off.
Louis Jobidon, Hornby Island, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Humpback Whales chasing Transient Bigg’s Killer Whale away from a sea lion
Sun, 3 Dec 2017 – 1 items
Louis Jobidon, Hornby Island, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Humpback Whales chasing Transient Bigg’s Killer Whale away from a sea lion
Sun, 3 Dec 2017 – 1 items
Louis Jobidon, Hornby Island, BC
UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES
Sun Dec 24 2017
–:– • 7 Orca heading south past Quathiaski Cove, Discovery Passage. There was one big fin. From ferry workers. ▫ Second Hand
Tue Dec 19 2017
13:00 • 6-7 Orca heading east just east of Sunset Marina in West Vancouver, Queen Charlotte Channel.
Minoo & Babha Babapour, Lions Bay, BC
Mon Dec 18 2017
15:00 • 2-4 Orca within 1 km west of Vivian Island, Georgia Strait.
Chris Scott, Powell River, BC
Fri Dec 15 2017
20:15 • est. 3-4 Orca moving slowly, heading east between Brew Bay and Lang Bay, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
Desiray Pederson, Powell River, BC
16:22 • Orca halfway between Rebecca Rocks and Harwood Island, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
Thu Dec 14 2017
12:01 • Orca moving slowly and feeding, heading south at Barnsley Shoal, Okisollo Channel. Four small fins feeding in the fog.
12:01 • 4 Orca foraging, heading south slowly at Barnsley Shoal. in the fog.
Sun Dec 10 2017
10:31 • 3 Orca heading north past Quathiaski Cove, Quadra Island, Discovery Passage.
Sat Dec 09 2017
09:46 • 2 Orca heading south past Myrtle Point, Malaspina Strait. Two big Orca. ▫ Observed from Shore
Jim Southern, Powell River, BC
Sun Dec 24 2017
15:09 • 3 Humpback Whales heading south-east by Edith Point west end of East Thurlow Island, Johnstone Strait. They were transiting relatively fast, got a visual of the tails at one point.
Brock John, Vancouver, BC
–:– • Humpback Whales off Cape Lazo, Georgia Strait. Some friends scuba diving off the shore at Cape lazo could hear loud Humpback singing the whole time. ▫ Second Hand
Sat Dec 23 2017
14:09 • 3 Humpback Whales heading west west of Grant Reefs, Georgia Strait. There was one on the east side of the reef and another two angling towards Vancouver Island.
13:56 • Humpback Whales off sw end of Savary Island, Georgia Strait.
Wed Dec 20 2017
12:49 • Humpback Whales off Tribune Bay, Hornby Island, Georgia Strait. Large group.
Radio, overheard or call out
12:43 • 2 Humpback Whales north of Rebecca Rocks, Malaspina Strait. Saw two Humpback tails.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
10:40 • 2-3 Humpback Whales northwest of Coho / Kiddie Point, Texada Island, Georgia Strait. Saw the blows, near the Comox Ferry route.
Mon Dec 18 2017
09:12 • 3+ Humpback Whales out from Rebecca Rocks toward Vancouver Island, Georgia Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
Sun Dec 17 2017
13:11 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south at Seymour Narrows, Discovery Passage. One adult, one small one.
Fri Dec 15 2017
15:54 • est. 5 Humpback Whales mid-strait between Rebecca Rocks and Comox, Georgia Strait. Seeing (est. 3) Humpback blows and a massive breach to the left of Rebecca Rocks way over towards Vancouver Island. Two+ more to the left of the ferry towards Comox.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Wed Dec 13 2017
15:38 • 2 Humpback Whales north of Rebecca Rocks towards Vancouver Island, Georgia Strait.
15:36 • 2-3 Humpback Whales south of Rebecca Rocks heading towards Coho / Kiddie Point, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
14:00 • 9 Humpback Whales playing, out from Rebecca Rocks and Vivian Island, Georgia Strait. They were spread out in smaller groups of 2 – 3. Some were playing with Sealions and trumpetting.
Chris Scott, Powell River, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Two Humpback Whale playing with sea lions just west of Rebecca Rocks
Wed, 13 Dec 2017 – 1 items
Chris Scott, Powell River, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Two Humpback Whale playing with sea lions just west of Rebecca Rocks
Wed, 13 Dec 2017 – 1 items
Chris Scott, Powell River, BC
12:57 • est. 1+ Humpback Whales heading south in front of Crescent Bay, Texada Island, Georgia Strait. Can’t tell if it’s one from the first sighting or not, but it’s in line with the previous location. ▫ Observed from Shore
12:48 • 2-3 Humpback Whales heading east out from Vivian Island, Malaspina Strait. Observed from Crescent Bay, Texada Island. ▫ Observed from Shore
Micheline Macauley, Texada Island, BC
Tue Dec 12 2017
13:44 • 3 Humpback Whales foraging, out from Rebecca Rocks towards Vancouver Island, Georgia Strait.
12:01 • 2 Humpback Whales half way between Rebecca Rocks and Harwood Island, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Two Humpback Whales halfway between Rebecca Rocks and Harwood Island
Tue, 12 Dec 2017 – 8 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Two Humpback Whales halfway between Rebecca Rocks and Harwood Island
Tue, 12 Dec 2017 – 8 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
08:30 • 2 Humpback Whales foraging, heading south off Little Qualicum River, Georgia Strait. In front of the Little Qualicum Estuary, swimming back and forth in the bay for over 1.5 hours. ▫ Observed from Shore
Curtis Rispin, Nanaimo, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Two Humpback Whales heading south off of Little Qualicum River
Tue, 12 Dec 2017 – 2 items
Curtis Rispin, Nanaimo, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Two Humpback Whales heading south off of Little Qualicum River
Tue, 12 Dec 2017 – 2 items
Curtis Rispin, Nanaimo, BC
Sun Dec 10 2017
12:23 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north getting closer to Rebecca Rocks, Georgia Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
09:26 • est. 2 Humpback Whales between Rebecca Rocks and Harwood Island, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
07:43 • Humpback Whales heading south past Myrtle Point, Malaspina Strait. Mid-strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
Jim Southern, Powell River, BC
Sat Dec 09 2017
11:28 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south tight to Myrtle Point. ▫ Observed from Shore
Jim Southern, Powell River, BC
10:00 • 1 Humpback Whales off Grief Point, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whale off of Grief Point
Sat, 9 Dec 2017 – 5 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whale off of Grief Point
Sat, 9 Dec 2017 – 5 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
09:47 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south past Powell River Viewpoint, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
Barry Rice, Powell River, BC
Sun Dec 03 2017
–:– • Humpback Whales ◦BCX0380 Zed / Zorro◦ south of Chrome Island, Baynes Sound. Humpback Whales (including Zed – ID’d by SM from Youtube video clip courtesy of Louis Jobidon) appear to chase off Transient Orca hunting seal lions.
Louis Jobidon, Hornby Island, BC
PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
Fri Dec 22 2017
11:55 • est. 30 PWS Dolphins heading south towards Beach Gardens Marina below Grief Point, Malaspina Strait.
09:25 • est. 12 PWS Dolphins circling prey, just south of Powell River Viewpoint, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Sat Dec 09 2017
11:35 • est. 6 PWS Dolphins heading north from the Powell River Viewpoint. ▫ Observed from Shore
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Fri Dec 15 2017
10:30 • est. 5-6 Other Dolphins moving slowly, heading south mid-way between Myrtle Rocks and Black (Albion) Point, Malaspina Strait. Close to shore. Unable to identify type of dolphin. They were circling slowly, submerging and resurfacing. I watched for about 10 minutes, then they began to move slowly south. ▫ Observed from Shore
Liz Kennedy, Powell River, BC
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Harbour Porpoise
Harbour Porpoises off of Roberts Creek, BC
Tue, 12 Dec 2017 – 1 items
Geordie Harrower, Sechelt, BC
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Harbour Porpoise
Harbour Porpoises off of Roberts Creek, BC
Tue, 12 Dec 2017 – 1 items
Geordie Harrower, Sechelt, BC
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Other Species Worth Noting
Sea Lions between Rebecca Rocks and Harwood Island
Tue, 12 Dec 2017 – 1 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Other Species Worth Noting
Sea Lions between Rebecca Rocks and Harwood Island
Tue, 12 Dec 2017 – 1 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
NEW! WOWs Sightings Archive Explorer
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The Oregonian, OregonLive
Whale sightings are common off the coast of Oregon and Washington, but unless you’re accustomed to identifying dorsal fins and spouts, it can be hard to make out what kind of whale you’re looking at. 13 whales you can see in the Pacific Northwest, and how to identify them OregonLive.com – 9h ago Whale sightings are common off the coast of Oregon and Washington, but unless you’re accustomed to identifying dorsal fins and spouts, it can be hard to make out what kind of whale you’re looking at. 13 whales you can see in the Pacific Northwest, and how to identify them…
read onThe Drive
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read onRappler
The Philippines is home to 30 types of whales and dolphins. Gregg Yan travels to Bais to look for one of the rarest species of all – the pygmy sperm whale….
read onDaily Mail, UK
The Red List by the has been updated with thousands of species that are now at risk of extinction due to human activity.
Such activities include unsustainable farming and fishing methods and climate change.
Species at risk of going extinct include various animals such as the Irrawaddy Dolphin, Finless Porpoise and Ringtail Possum, while plants under threat include two species of wild wheat and 17 species of yam….
read onBBC News
The first resident pod of bottlenose dolphins has been discovered off the south-west coast of England. Experts used thousands of sightings and photos to identify a group of 28 individuals living year-round off the coasts of Cornwall, Devon and Dorse…
read onLive Science
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