Orca Behaviours

A publication of Wild Ocean Whale Society (WOWs)

Orca Behaviours


Cover Image:
Biggs transient orca spotted breaching

Continuing on the same theme as with previous issues, Orca display various behaviours some of which are considered playful and other behaviours that can be described as curiosity. Playful behaviours can include breaches, pectoral slaps, and tail slaps. Behaviours that display curiosity include spy hopping and perhaps mugging. Orca are not shy and will approach boats to see who is looking at them. Orca are extremely intelligent and here in British Columbia, we are lucky to have three different types of Orca.

If you thought a breach by an Orca was spectacular, then a breach by a Humpback whale will be extraordinary! Many Humpbacks were observed breaching in various locations. Even from a few kilometers away, one can see the splash created by a Humpback whale after the whale has breached. With so many Humpback whales in the area being viewed by so many observers, it has been difficult to tally up the actual number of whales in the various inland waterways. We are thankful for one report that indicated a count of 24 Humpback whales located from Lewis Channel, down through Sutil Channel, and to upper Georgia Strait near Mitlenatch Island. Add in the Orca, dolphins, and porpoises, that is a lot of Cetaceans in the area!

Boaters, please use caution on the water. Effective June 1st, Federal laws require boats to remain at least 400-m away when viewing Orca and for other Cetaceans, laws require boats to remain at least 100-m from the animals. Remember N.E.W.S. when you see a whale, meaning put your boat in NEUTRAL, ENJOY the view, WAIT till the whales are at a fair distance, and then SLOWLY leave the scene.

WOWs works throught the year, so please continue to keep your eyes open, and report your sightings to us.

Society News & Events
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Sightings Update
SIGHTINGS MAP – ISSUE: 2019-023
TRANSIENT BIGGS KILLER WHALES
Sun Jul 07 2019
09:51 • 8 Biggs Orca heading south off Rebecca Spit, Sutil Channel. Observed 2 or 3 big fins and pod is tight to the beach.
10:00 • Biggs Orca up towards Hyacinthe Bay, Quadra Island, Sutil Channel.
10:23 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ behind the Breton Islands, Sutil Channel. Orcas in 2 groups, T002Cs and another family.
10:55 • Biggs Orca headed towards Heriot Bay, Sutil Channel.
Elvis Chikite, Big Animal Encounters
12:00 • Biggs Orca heading east from Rebecca Spit, Sutil Channel. Closer to mid Sutil Channel. Two families of Orca. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Jen Smalley, Eagle Eye Adventures
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Biggs transient orca spotted breaching
Sun, 7 Jul 2019 – 10 items
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Biggs transient orca spotted breaching
Sun, 7 Jul 2019 – 10 items
16:30 • 2 Biggs Orca moving slowly, heading south-west, Hopkins Landing, Collingwood Channel. ▫ Observed from Shore
DN, Gibsons, BC
17:00 • 3 Biggs Orca at Port Elizabeth. Two small fins and one big, big fin.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
Mon Jul 08 2019
14:35 • 9 Biggs Orca heading north, south of Sentry Shoal, Georgia Strait.
Dean Parsonage, 50 North Adventures
14:42 • Biggs Orca heading north between Sentry Shoal and Vancouver Island, Georgia Strait.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
15:15 • 4 Biggs Orca heading south from Wilson Creek towards Roberts Creek, Georgia Strait. Facebook post. ▫ Second Hand
Wayne Wright, Campbell River
16:14 • Biggs Orca heading north off Sentry Shoal, Georgia Strait.
16:53 • Biggs Orca pointed at Cortez Reef angling away from Vancouver Island, Georgia Strait. Some leading the pack out by 500 m. About 2.5 miles off Vancouver Island.
17:15 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs,T101s◦ heading north, 1 mile south of Cape Mudge Red Can Buoy at Wilby Shoals, Georgia Strait.
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Biggs transient orca near Wilby Shoals
Mon, 8 Jul 2019 – 10 items
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Biggs transient orca near Wilby Shoals
Mon, 8 Jul 2019 – 10 items
17:55 • Biggs Orca at Gower Point headed up the coast towards Sechelt, Georgia Strait.
Hilary Buckley, Wild Whales Vancouver, BC
18:04 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs,T101s,T125A,T128◦ between Cape Mudge Red Can Buoy and Cape Mudge Lighthouse, Georgia Strait. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures
19:21 • Biggs Orca heading south at Cape Mudge, Georgia Strait. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
20:28 • 6 Biggs Orca near Willow Point, Georgia Strait.
Jerry Weldon, Campbell River
Tue Jul 09 2019
07:14 • 2 Biggs Orca at Rock Bay, Johnstone Strait. Males.
Eliot Richter, Blind Channel Resort
08:15 • Biggs Orca close to shore off Willow Point, Georgia Strait. Information from Elvis. ▫ Second Hand
Bill Coltart, Big Animal Encounters
08:27 • est. 10-12 Biggs Orca heading east entering Nodales Channel. With young. After about 5 minutes, the dolphins were near Brougham Point.
Eliot Richter, Blind Channel Resort
09:45 • 4 Biggs Orca moving slowly; milling, heading south mid channel Cape Mudge Red Can Buoy, Georgia Strait. Four small fins. Left with a kill. Slowly drifting south in the flood. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Biggs transient orca milling midchannel
Tue, 9 Jul 2019 – 3 items
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Biggs transient orca milling midchannel
Tue, 9 Jul 2019 – 3 items
10:56 • Biggs Orca bucking tide, abeam Cape Mudge Red Can Buoy.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
11:00 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ north of Denham Bay pointing at Tugboat Passage, Dent Rapids.
11:37 • Biggs Orca heading north in front of Cape Mudge, Quadra Island, Georgia Strait.
Tenacious 3 (Boat), Discovery Marine Safaris
12:00 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs,T101,T102◦ moving slowly, heading east past Mermaid Bay, Dent Island, Dent Rapids. With other Orca.
12:00 • Biggs Orca heading north in front of Tyee Spit, Campbell River, Discovery Passage. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Tenacious 3 (Boat), Discovery Marine Safaris
12:19 • 3 Biggs Orca heading north off Orange Point, Discovery Passage.
12:40 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs,T101,T102◦ bucking tide, just west of Jimmy Judd Island, Yuculta Rapids. ▫ Leaving the Scene
12:54 • 4 Biggs Orca between Race Point and the Walcan Seafood Quadra Island, Discovery Passage.
13:15 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs,T101,T102◦ heading south past Sonora Resort on Sonora Island, Yuculta Rapids.
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Biggs transient orca – the T46As – spotted northwest of Howe Sound. The pod were seen foraging, barrel rolling and tail slapping.
Mon, 8 Jul 2019 – 5 items
Rodrigo Menezes, Vancouver Island Whale Watch
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Biggs transient orca – the T46As – spotted northwest of Howe Sound. The pod were seen foraging, barrel rolling and tail slapping.
Mon, 8 Jul 2019 – 5 items
Rodrigo Menezes, Vancouver Island Whale Watch
NORTHERN RESIDENT KILLER WHALES
Mon Jul 08 2019
12:00 • NRKW Orca ◦A30s◦ heading east, east boundary of Robson Bight near Schmidt Creek, Johnstone Strait. Report from a friend. ▫ Second Hand
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures
HUMPBACK WHALES
Sat Jul 06 2019
16:45 • 2 Humpback Whales breaching in the middle of Sutil Channel. One whale missing part of fluke.
Jason Fitzgerald, Eagle Eye Adventures
16:50 • 2 Humpback Whales off Viner Point, Read Island, Sutil Channel.
16:50 • 3 Humpback Whales between Centre Islet and Hill Island, Sutil Channel.
16:50 • 2 Humpback Whales north side of Hill Island, Sutil Channel. ▫ Second Hand
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
17:01 • 3 Humpback Whales heading south near Subtle Islands, Sutil Channel. In sloppy seas.
17:01 • 4 Humpback Whales breaching, heading south by Burdwood Bay, Read Island, Sutil Channel. In sloppy seas.
17:37 • 8 Humpback Whales heading south through Plunger Passage, Sutil Channel.
18:06 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south near Middle Point, Discovery Passage.
Stuart Clark, Eagle Eye Adventures
18:07 • 2 Humpback Whales breaching, south side of Hill Island, Sutil Channel.
18:07 • 2 Humpback Whales breaching, north side of Centre Islet, Sutil Channel.
18:41 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south about 200 metres from shore approaching Painters Lodge, Campbell River, Discovery Passage. Mom and young calf.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
18:50 • Humpback Whales heading south close to the Vancouver Island shore just north of the unused cruise ship terminal at Campbell River, Campbell River, Discovery Passage.
19:30 • Humpback Whales doing circles, just above Van Anda close to the Texada side of Malaspina Strait.
Jim Southern, Powell River, BC
Sun Jul 07 2019
09:20 • 2 Humpback Whales 2 miles off Viner Point, Read Island, Sutil Channel.
09:30 • 4 Humpback Whales off the Quadra Island Scallop Farm and in the middle of Sutil Channel.
09:30 • 2 Humpback Whales towards Breton Islands, Sutil Channel.
09:40 • 2 Humpback Whales southeast of Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy off Quadra Island, Georgia Strait.
Jen Smalley, Eagle Eye Adventures
10:23 • Humpback Whales near Breton Islands, Sutil Channel.
10:36 • 2 Humpback Whales ◦BCX0380 Zed / Zorro,BCX0565 Nick◦ off Spoil Grounds, Georgia Strait.
10:36 • 4 Humpback Whales ◦BCY Apollo◦ south of Spoil Grounds.
10:55 • 6+ Humpback Whales around Heriot Bay, Quadra Island, Sutil Channel.
Elvis Chikite, Big Animal Encounters
12:08 • est. 12+ Humpback Whales between Viner Point and Rebecca Spit, Sutil Channel.
12:35 • 2 Humpback Whales ◦BCX Raza◦, Drew Passage. Raza and friend playing with logs in debris field in the middle of the passage.
14:31 • 3 Humpback Whales near Whaletown, Cortes Island, Sutil Channel.
15:18 • 2 Humpback Whales breaching, off South Rendezvous Island, Calm Channel.
Bill Coltart, Big Animal Encounters
15:36 • 2 Humpback Whales south side of Hill Island, Sutil Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
15:44 • 2 Humpback Whales heading west near Read Point, Sutil Channel.
17:25 • 1 Humpback Whales heading north at Steep Island, Discovery Passage. ▫ Leaving the Scene
17:35 • 1 Humpback Whales in front of Campbell River Ferry Terminal, Discovery Passage.
Bill Coltart, Big Animal Encounters
20:21 • 3 Humpback Whales heading south near the south end of Hill Island moving towards Plunger Passage, Sutil Channel.
Mon Jul 08 2019
08:53 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south, Quathiaski Cove tight to the shore of Quadra Island, Discovery Passage.
09:15 • 2 Humpback Whales between Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy and the red can at Cortes Island, Georgia Strait.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures
10:04 • 2 Humpback Whales 1/2 mile south of Subtle Islands, Sutil Channel.
Jerry Weldon, Campbell River
10:12 • 2 Humpback Whales at Viner Point, Read Island, Sutil Channel.
10:22 • 2 Humpback Whales close to the south shore of Hill Island, Sutil Channel.
Jerry Weldon, Campbell River
10:25 • 3 Humpback Whales breaching, on the ferry line south of Breton Islands, Sutil Channel. Multiple breaches at 10:35.
10:30 • 2 Humpback Whales in Okeover Inlet.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures
10:41 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south just south of Subtle Islands heading towards Marina Island, Sutil Channel.
Jason Fitzgerald, Eagle Eye Adventures
Humpback Whales
Humpbacks foraging in the rain
Mon, 8 Jul 2019 – 2 items
Humpback Whales
Humpbacks foraging in the rain
Mon, 8 Jul 2019 – 2 items
11:15 • 1 Humpback Whales along the shoreline of Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
11:15 • Humpback Whales off Savary Island, Malaspina Strait.
11:20 • 1 Humpback Whales heading north off Breton Islands, Sutil Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Jason Fitzgerald, Eagle Eye Adventures
11:20 • 1 Humpback Whales heading north mid-channel off Cape Mudge Village on Quadra Island, Discovery Passage.
11:24 • 1 Humpback Whales off Twin Bay, Read Island, Sutil Channel.
11:45 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south between Hill Island and Evans Bay, Sutil Channel.
12:18 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south close to the shore off Frederic Point, Read Island, Sutil Channel.
Jason Fitzgerald, Eagle Eye Adventures
12:19 • 1 Humpback Whales heading north at Bold Point, Hoskyn Channel.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures
12:45 • 2 Humpback Whales in Raza Passage. Heading towards the fish farm.
Jason Fitzgerald, Eagle Eye Adventures
13:07 • 4 Humpback Whales near Rebecca Spit, Sutil Channel.
13:15 • 1 Humpback Whales heading north at Walcan Seafood Quadra Island, Discovery Passage.
14:01 • est. 3-4 Humpback Whales between Hill Island and Frederic Point, Sutil Channel.
14:10 • 4 Humpback Whales between Hill Island and Penn Islands, Sutil Channel.
14:19 • 5 Humpback Whales between Sentry Shoal and Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
14:40 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south at Bodega Point right to Quadra Island, Discovery Passage.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures
14:50 • 2 Humpback Whales doing circles, north side of Hill Island, Sutil Channel.
15:15 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south, just north of Deepwater Bay along the shoreline of Quadra Island, Discovery Passage.
15:50 • 2 Humpback Whales mid-channel between Separation Head and Bodega Point, Discovery Passage.
Jason Fitzgerald, Eagle Eye Adventures
16:00 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south, just north of Deepwater Bay along the shoreline of Quadra Island, Discovery Passage.
16:40 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north by Quartz Bay, Sutil Channel.
16:58 • 2 Humpback Whales lazy and still doing big circles around a prawn trap at the north entrance to Evans Bay, Read Island, Sutil Channel.
16:58 • Humpback Whales between Center Islet and Viner Point, Sutil Channel. Seeing multiple blows and a couple of big splashes.
17:18 • 2 Humpback Whales ◦BCX0380 Zed / Zorro◦ off Marina Reef, Sutil Channel.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
17:26 • 2 Humpback Whales between Marina Reef and Marina Island shack, Sutil Channel.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures
19:21 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south at Whiskey Point, Quadra Island, Discovery Passage.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
19:47 • est. 3 Humpback Whales breaching, heading north, Thulin Passage, Malaspina Strait. ▫ From Power or Sail Boat
DN
20:11 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south at the Cape Mudge Lighthouse on Quadra Island, Georgia Strait. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
Tue Jul 09 2019
06:30 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south off Vansittart Point, West Thurlow Island, Johnstone Strait.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
07:08 • est. 4-5 Humpback Whales breaching, heading north between Hill Island and Penn Islands, Sutil Channel. Saw three breaches.
08:15 • 3 Humpback Whales close to shore off Willow Point, Georgia Strait. Information from Elvis. ▫ Second Hand
Bill Coltart, Big Animal Encounters
09:30 • 1 Humpback Whales just south of Ferry line at Campbell River, Discovery Passage.
10:17 • 5 Humpback Whales between Hill Island and Penn Islands, Sutil Channel.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures
10:31 • est. 5-8 Humpback Whales between Hill Island and Carrington – Quartz Bay, Sutil Channel.
10:40 • 3 Humpback Whales in Von Donop Inlet, Sutil Channel.
Reuben Buerge, Eagle Eye Adventures
11:06 • est. 8+ Humpback Whales between Centre Islet and Viner Point, Sutil Channel.
11:23 • 1 Humpback Whales between Cape Mudge Red Can Buoy and Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy, Georgia Strait.
11:45 • 2 Humpback Whales off Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy, Georgia Strait.
11:45 • 2 Humpback Whales one mile to the east of Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
12:47 • 4 Humpback Whales heading south-east half mile offshore from Twin Bay, Read Island, Sutil Channel.
Tenacious 3 (Boat), Discovery Marine Safaris
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Humpback Whales
Scoop the humpback east of Galiano Island
Mon, 8 Jul 2019 – 1 items
Rebeka Pirker, Vancouver Island Whale Watch
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Humpback Whales
Scoop the humpback east of Galiano Island
Mon, 8 Jul 2019 – 1 items
Rebeka Pirker, Vancouver Island Whale Watch
PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
Sat Jul 06 2019
17:15 • PWS Dolphins at Burgess Passage heading toward Discovery Passage, Nodales Channel.
Stuart Clark, Eagle Eye Adventures
Sun Jul 07 2019
10:00 • est. 200 PWS Dolphins off Owen Point and into Frederick Arm. VHF message. ▫ Second Hand
11:49 • est. 40 PWS Dolphins heading north from south of Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy, Quadra Island, Georgia Strait. Travelling about 8 knots.
14:16 • est. 30-40 PWS Dolphins just north of Quathiaski Cove, Quadra Island, Discovery Passage.
Stan Novotny, Eagle Eye Adventures
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific white-sided dolphins near Quadra Island
Sun, 7 Jul 2019 – 2 items
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific white-sided dolphins near Quadra Island
Sun, 7 Jul 2019 – 2 items
14:53 • PWS Dolphins milling, near Sonora Island Fish Farm close to Cordero Channel, Nodales Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Jason Fitzgerald, Eagle Eye Adventures
16:21 • est. 40 PWS Dolphins heading north in Walcan Seafood Quadra Island, Discovery Passage. ▫ Second Hand
Bill Coltart, Big Animal Encounters
Mon Jul 08 2019
08:30 • est. 100+ PWS Dolphins spread out, playful throughout Nodales Channel.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
11:15 • est. 100+ PWS Dolphins back and forth, between Sonora Point and Thurlow Point, Nodales Channel. Travelling between the two shorelines.
14:58 • est. 150+ PWS Dolphins heading south at Horn Point, Dent Rapids. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific white-sided dolphins near Horn Point
Mon, 8 Jul 2019 – 3 items
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific white-sided dolphins near Horn Point
Mon, 8 Jul 2019 – 3 items
15:05 • PWS Dolphins playing, east of Denham Islet, Dent Rapids.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
15:33 • PWS Dolphins off Horn Point heading towards Dent Island, Dent Rapids. Many of them.
Jason Fitzgerald, Eagle Eye Adventures
16:22 • PWS Dolphins off Horn Point, Dent Rapids. A few Dall’s porpoises mixed in with the dolphins.
18:50 • PWS Dolphins still a leaping at Horn Point.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
Tue Jul 09 2019
06:30 • est. 80 PWS Dolphins heading south off Vansittart Point, West Thurlow Island, Johnstone Strait.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
11:18 • est. 40-50 PWS Dolphins by Church House, Calm Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
DALLS PORPOISE
Sun Jul 07 2019
13:59 • Dalls Porpoise, Blackfish Sound. Nice group of active Dalls.
Jerry Weldon, Campbell River
Mon Jul 08 2019
11:08 • Dalls Porpoise between Jimmy Judd Island and Dent Island, Dent Rapids.
Jerry Weldon, Campbell River
16:22 • Dalls Porpoise off Horn Point, Dent Rapids. A few porpoises mixed in with the Pacific White Sided Dolphins.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort

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