Can’t Miss the Humpback Whales!

A publication of Wild Ocean Whale Society (WOWs)

Can’t Miss the Humpback Whales!


Cover Image:
Mother Humpback Whale and Calf

Humpback whales can be seen in many areas around British Columbia, and it is no different in and around Sutil Channel as well as upper Georgia Strait. Although the exact number of Humpback whales in the mentioned areas can not be determined, we know that many of them tend to remain in the same waterways for extended periods of time – some even for the duration of the summer. Many Humpbacks were seen breaching, with a few continuously breaching and putting on a show for observers. A number of mother and calf pairs were also observed.

Not many sighting reports were received of Orca possibly because they were displaced by the Humpback whales in the area. There were a number of Pacific White-Sided dolphin pods reported with a few of them travelling close to shore. The largest pod of dolphins included approximately 50 members. One pod of Dall’s porpoises was observed with approximately 20 individuals near Thurston Bay, Sonora Island. Another pod with about 30 Harbour porpoises was seen near Oyster Bay. For both porpoise species, pods with these sizes are rare as they tend to remain in small groups (6-10 porpoises per pod).

Boaters, please use caution on the water. 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.

The Federal Government (DFO) has issued the following statement about watching whales in the wild: “To address disturbance in the presence of whales, a mandatory 400-metre vessel approach distance for all killer whales is in effect starting June 1, 2020 in all southern British Columbia coastal waters between Campbell River and just north of Ucluelet. The Marine Mammal Regulations continue to remain in effect year-round, including maintaining a minimum 200 metre approach distance from all killer whales in Canadian Pacific waters other than described above, and 100 metres for other whales, porpoises and dolphins OR 200 metres when the animal is in resting position or with a calf.”

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

Society News & Events
COVID-19 Updates:
We hope you are all staying safe and healthy. Updated event schedules will be posted as they become available.
Our yearly Dwight Hall fundraising dinner, instrumental to maintain all of our basic programs and online presence, has been cancelled for 2020 and is now scheduled for April 24, 2021. We are trusting that by then we will be able to hold a successful event. Your donations are greatly needed and appreciated.
Instagram and Twitter:
Instagram at Wildoceanwhalesociety and Twitter at WhalesDolphins accounts. Follow us for regular updates and photos.
Coming Soon:
Our New Archive Dataset Interface is in the works, but we don't want to hold up any ongoing research. To access 21,000+ sightings in our database in a downloadable csv file for use in a spreadsheet, please Click Here. to fill in your request.
Whales and Dolphins BC Website:
Teaching Resources: We continue to update lessons, activities and resources on our website. Teachers can download information as needed for classes. Have you taken our Orca and Humpback Quizzes yet?
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Review our current Volunteer Job Postings
Sightings Update
SIGHTINGS MAP – ISSUE: 2020-015
TRANSIENT BIGGS KILLER WHALES
Mon Jul 13 2020
19:30 • 3 Biggs Orca travelling, heading north off Divers Rock just NW of Lund, Malaspina Strait. Orca surfaced (just its fin) right next to Divers Rock 2 meters from shore (very close). Then its whole head came up out of the water before it headed North. Two more Orca coming from Lund area then joined it at the entrance of the Copelands and they continued North. ▫ Observed from Shore
Charles Latimer, Lund, BC
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whale near Lund, BC
Mon, 13 Jul 2020 – 1 items
Charles Latimer, Lund, BC

Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whale near Lund, BC
Mon, 13 Jul 2020 – 1 items
Charles Latimer, Lund, BC
Tue Jul 14 2020
09:08 • Biggs Orca in Toba Inlet. ▫ Second Hand
Thu Jul 16 2020
04:55 • est. 4-5 Biggs Orca heading north by the fishing grounds, Browns Bay, Discovery Passage. One big fin.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
13:40 • 3 Biggs Orca heading south off D’Arcy Point, Chancellor Channel. One big fin.
Natalie Evans, Blind Channel Resort
16:03 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ at Greene Point Rapids heading into Cordero Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
T002C’s near Cordero Channel
Thu, 16 Jul 2020 – 8 items
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
T002C’s near Cordero Channel
Thu, 16 Jul 2020 – 8 items
16:20 • Biggs Orca heading south passed Blind Channel. Heading through Mayne Passage towards Johnstone Strait.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
Fri Jul 17 2020
15:30 • 3 Biggs Orca near north end of Savary Island, Malaspina Strait. Radio report from Wayne Wright. ▫ Second Hand
Mon Jul 20 2020
20:11 • est. 1 Biggs Orca taking long dives, heading south-east of Otter Point west of Sooke, Strait of Juan de Fuca. Roughly 80 seconds between sprays. ▫ Observed from Shore
ES, Otter Point, BC
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Tue, 21 Jul 2020 – 3 items
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Tue, 21 Jul 2020 – 3 items
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
T036 and T036Bs off Sliammon Village
Tue, 14 Jul 2020 – 3 items
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
T036 and T036Bs off Sliammon Village
Tue, 14 Jul 2020 – 3 items
HUMPBACK WHALES
Mon Jul 13 2020
18:00 • est. 2 Humpback Whales breaching, heading north near Broad Point east of Port McNeill, Broughton Strait. ▫ From Power or Sail Boat
BM, Port McNeill, BC
Tue Jul 14 2020
08:27 • Humpback Whales in front of Baker Passage. Couple more to the south as well.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
09:02 • est. 2-3 Humpback Whales by the Cape Mudge Village on Quadra Island, Discovery Passage.
09:45 • 1 Humpback Whales back and forth, west of the red can at Cortez Reef, Georgia Strait.
10:24 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north in the area around Calm Channel and Deer Passage. Mother and calf.
11:50 • 1 Humpback Whales bucking tide, heading north at Big Bay, Stuart Island, Yuculta Rapids.
11:58 • 1 Humpback Whales milling, between Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy and Cortez Reef, Georgia Strait.
12:04 • 1 Humpback Whales doing circles, between Mitlenatch Island and Hernando Island, Georgia Strait.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
12:39 • 2 Humpback Whales at Subtle Islands, Sutil Channel.
13:30 • 2 Humpback Whales at Whaletown, Cortes Island, Sutil Channel.
13:37 • 2 Humpback Whales at Centre Islet, Sutil Channel.
14:04 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south at the south end of Marina Island, Sutil Channel.
14:40 • 2 Humpback Whales back and forth, at the southern point of Coulter Bay, Cortes Island, Sutil Channel. Close to the shore.
Trisha Stovel, Big Animal Encounters
14:45 • 2 Humpback Whales at the south side of Centre Islet, Sutil Channel.
15:50 • 2 Humpback Whales moving slowly, heading south just south of Raza Point, Calm Channel.
Trisha Stovel, Big Animal Encounters
16:00 • 3 Humpback Whales moving quickly, heading south-east past Hernando Island, Georgia Strait.
Terry Brown and Jude Abrams, Otter Be Good Productions
16:30 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south at South Rendezvous Island, Calm Channel.
Trisha Stovel, Big Animal Encounters
17:00 • 1 Humpback Whales foraging, between Spoil Grounds and Hernando Island, Georgia Strait. Taking deep dives.
Terry Brown and Jude Abrams, Otter Be Good Productions
Wed Jul 15 2020
14:00 • 2 Humpback Whales inside buoys at Quadra Island Scallop Farm south of Heriot Bay, Sutil Channel.
Terry Brown and Jude Abrams, Otter Be Good Productions
Thu Jul 16 2020
15:00 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south, Browns Bay, Discovery Passage.
15:45 • Humpback Whales heading south approaching Race Point, Discovery Passage.
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whale near Race Point
Thu, 16 Jul 2020 – 3 items
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whale near Race Point
Thu, 16 Jul 2020 – 3 items
15:52 • 1 Humpback Whales one mile north of Subtle Islands, Sutil Channel. Very active.
16:00 • 3 Humpback Whales foraging, one NM south of Penn Islands, Sutil Channel.
16:45 • 1 Humpback Whales heading north past Hill Island, Sutil Channel.
Terry Brown and Jude Abrams, Otter Be Good Productions
17:02 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south mid channel in the area off Steep Island, Discovery Passage.
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whale near Steep Island
Thu, 16 Jul 2020 – 1 items
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whale near Steep Island
Thu, 16 Jul 2020 – 1 items
17:45 • 1 Humpback Whales moving slowly, heading south mid channel off Grouse Island, Discovery Passage. ▫ Observed from Shore
Wayne Wright, Campbell River
18:06 • Humpback Whales heading south off Whiskey Point, Quadra Island, Discovery Passage.
Fri Jul 17 2020
10:00 • 4 Humpback Whales near Bullock Bluff, Cortes Island, Calm Channel.
Wayne Wright, Campbell River
11:10 • 3 Humpback Whales ◦BCX Raza◦ at the north end of Whale Passage, Sutil Channel. Observed Raza with a calf and one other.
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whale Breaching
Fri, 17 Jul 2020 – 6 items
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whale Breaching
Fri, 17 Jul 2020 – 6 items
11:44 • 3 Humpback Whales ◦BCX Raza◦ in Whale Passage close to the shore of Read Island, Sutil Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
14:30 • 2 Humpback Whales breaching and tail lobbing, off Von Donop Inlet, Cortes Island, Sutil Channel. Mom and calf pair.
Terry Brown and Jude Abrams, Otter Be Good Productions
15:49 • 4 Humpback Whales between Cortes Island and Penn Islands, Sutil Channel.
15:50 • 2 Humpback Whales near Cortes Island Scallop Farm, Sutil Channel. A mom and a calf.
Sat Jul 18 2020
08:51 • 3 Humpback Whales heading south between Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy and Marina Reef, Sutil Channel. Humpbacks then started heading northeast.
09:26 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north-west off Quadra Island cell tower , mid Sutil Channel.
Trisha Stovel, Big Animal Encounters
09:40 • 2 Humpback Whales between Penn Islands and Cortes Island, Sutil Channel. Mom and calf seen.
Colin Griffinson, Pacific Yellowfin Charters
09:51 • Humpback Whales in Manson Passage, Georgia Strait. Only blows seen.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
10:00 • 2 Humpback Whales half a mile north of the Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy, Georgia Strait.
Jason Fitzgerald, Big Animal Encounters
10:13 • 3 Humpback Whales between South Rendezvous Island and Lewis Channel, Calm Channel. One of the humpbacks was at the top of Lewis Channel.
10:25 • 2 Humpback Whales close to the shore, just north of Quartz Bay, Cortes Island, Sutil Channel.
Trisha Stovel, Big Animal Encounters
11:00 • 2 Humpback Whales between Francisco Point and Marina Island shack, Sutil Channel. Humpbacks were originally heading north.
Jason Fitzgerald, Big Animal Encounters
11:24 • 1 Humpback Whales taking long dives, on the northeast side of Hill Island, Sutil Channel.
Trisha Stovel, Big Animal Encounters
11:50 • 2 Humpback Whales one mile off the Marina Island shack, angling towards Quadra Island, Sutil Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
12:02 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south on the SE side of Hill Island heading for Plunger Passage, Sutil Channel.
12:34 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south between Westview and Blubber Bay, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
12:38 • 2 Humpback Whales ◦BCX Spotlight◦ doing circles, at Von Donop Inlet, Sutil Channel. Spotlight seen with her new calf.
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whales in Sutil Channel
Sat, 18 Jul 2020 – 2 items
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whales in Sutil Channel
Sat, 18 Jul 2020 – 2 items
13:45 • 4 Humpback Whales between Marina Reef and Francisco Point, Sutil Channel. Humpbacks were seen close to one another.
Trisha Stovel, Big Animal Encounters
14:20 • 2 Humpback Whales heading into Deer Passage.
15:11 • 1 Humpback Whales close to shore at Viner Point, Read Island, Sutil Channel. Humpback was observed to be young.
Jason Fitzgerald, Big Animal Encounters
16:40 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south, out from Okisollo Channel , mid Discovery Passage.
Jerry Weldon, Campbell River
Sun Jul 19 2020
06:45 • 2 Humpback Whales south of Cape Mudge Red Can Buoy, Georgia Strait.
06:45 • 2 Humpback Whales at Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy, Georgia Strait.
07:50 • 8 Humpback Whales between Cape Mudge Red Can Buoy and Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy, Georgia Strait.
Elvis Chikite, Big Animal Encounters
10:01 • 2 Humpback Whales south of Cape Mudge Red Can Buoy, Georgia Strait.
10:01 • 2 Humpback Whales towards Spoil Grounds south of Cape Mudge, Georgia Strait.
10:10 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south abeam the Cape Mudge Lighthouse and in front of Campbell River, Discovery Passage.
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whales Enjoying the Sun!
Sun, 19 Jul 2020 – 9 items
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whales Enjoying the Sun!
Sun, 19 Jul 2020 – 9 items
10:13 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south near the Quadra Island cell tower, Sutil Channel.
10:13 • 1 Humpback Whales between the Marina Island shack and Quadra Island cell tower, Sutil Channel.
Trisha Stovel, Big Animal Encounters
10:22 • 1 Humpback Whales west of Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
10:22 • 2 Humpback Whales at Sentry Shoal, Georgia Strait.
10:38 • 3 Humpback Whales between Marina Reef and Francisco Point, Sutil Channel.
11:27 • 2 Humpback Whales ◦BCX Raza◦ between Bullock Bluff and Read Island, Sutil Channel.
12:30 • 1 Humpback Whales heading north off Bartlett Islet mid Calm Channel.
13:00 • 1 Humpback Whales heading north off Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy, Georgia Strait.
13:40 • 2 Humpback Whales northwest of Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
16:57 • 2 Humpback Whales at the mouth of Von Donop Inlet.
17:05 • 2 Humpback Whales ◦BCX Raza◦ in front of Quartz Bay, Cortes Island, Sutil Channel.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whales, Raza and Harlequin
Sun, 19 Jul 2020 – 4 items
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whales, Raza and Harlequin
Sun, 19 Jul 2020 – 4 items
Mon Jul 20 2020
04:45 • 1 Humpback Whales continuously breaching, mid channel abeam to Cinque Islands, Discovery Passage.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
08:30 • 4 Humpback Whales south of Penn Islands, Sutil Channel. ▫ Second Hand
09:17 • 6 Humpback Whales grouped together, east of Francisco Point, Quadra Island, Sutil Channel. At 9:27, they split up in pairs of two and were going different directions.
09:30 • 1 Humpback Whales milling, by Browns Bay, Discovery Passage. Been told the whale has been for a while.
Wayne Wright, Campbell River
10:19 • 2 Humpback Whales ◦BCX Spotlight◦ at Von Donop Inlet, Cortes Island, Sutil Channel. Spotlight and calf were seen.
10:43 • 1 Humpback Whales heading north between Bartlett Islet and Raza Passage, Calm Channel. Humpback seen was small.
10:54 • 1 Humpback Whales off Harbott Point, Stuart Island, Calm Channel.
Jerry Weldon, Campbell River
12:48 • 2 Humpback Whales taking long dives, heading south between Steep Island and Duncan Bay, Discovery Passage.
13:19 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south at April Point, Quadra Island, Discovery Passage. ▫ Second Hand, observed from shore.
14:10 • est. 6 Humpback Whales between Marina Reef and Quadra Island cell tower, Sutil Channel. Three pairs of Humpbacks.
15:35 • 4 Humpback Whales foraging, between Marina Island and Quadra Island, Sutil Channel. Seen near old submerged cable area.
16:34 • 2 Humpback Whales east of Blubber Bay, Texada Island, Malaspina Strait. One heading south, and the other observer just saw a tail that was heading north.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whale Lunge Feeding
Sat, 18 Jul 2020 – 1 items
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whale Lunge Feeding
Sat, 18 Jul 2020 – 1 items
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whale Breach
Thu, 16 Jul 2020 – 1 items
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whale Breach
Thu, 16 Jul 2020 – 1 items
PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
Thu Jul 16 2020
06:30 • est. 15 PWS Dolphins milling, by Cinque Islands, Discovery Passage.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
Sat Jul 18 2020
11:50 • est. 50+ PWS Dolphins milling, south of Denham Islet, Dent Rapids.
18:30 • est. 10+ PWS Dolphins foraging, just north of Turn Island, Johnstone Strait.
Natalie Evans, Blind Channel Resort
Sun Jul 19 2020
14:02 • est. 20 PWS Dolphins milling, in Horn Bay, Dent Rapids.
Mon Jul 20 2020
13:08 • est. 30 PWS Dolphins foraging, at Denham Islet, Dent Rapids.
13:23 • est. 40+ PWS Dolphins at Horn Bay, Dent Rapids.
14:00 • est. 40 PWS Dolphins behind Dent Island, Dent Rapids. Seen right behind the Dent Island Lodge. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
15:06 • 12 PWS Dolphins heading south, Baker Passage.
17:25 • PWS Dolphins at Kellsey Point, Stuart Island, Yuculta Rapids. Big group was seen under the dock.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphin
Mon, 20 Jul 2020 – 1 items
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphin
Mon, 20 Jul 2020 – 1 items
DALLS PORPOISE
Sat Jul 18 2020
14:00 • est. 20 Dalls Porpoise milling, at Thurston Bay, Sonora Island, Nodales Channel.
HARBOUR PORPOISE
Tue Jul 14 2020
18:00 • 1 Harbour Porpoise between Cortez Reef and Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
Terry Brown and Jude Abrams, Otter Be Good Productions
Mon Jul 20 2020
14:43 • est. 30 Harbour Porpoise foraging, spread out in Oyster Bay, Georgia Strait. Seen along the shelf where it gets deep.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours

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The Magazine
REGIONAL & NATIONAL
The Alaskans Are Coming
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Tortured seas and lashing rains can make the exposed west coast of Haida Gwaii, off northwestern British Columbia, an unforgiving place for marine researchers. But a lone hydrophone resting near the ocean floor can safely collect data around the clock in any type of weather. That’s exactly what happened off southwestern Haida Gwaii, where a hydrophone planted 743 meters deep recorded the calls of Alaska killer whales….
read on

SPECIAL SIGHTINGS
Beluga off San Diego is farthest south the species has been documented on West Coast
FOX 5 News
SAN DIEGO – A beluga whale was spotted Friday off San Diego – the farthest south the species has been documented on the West Coast, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration confirmed.

Captain Domenic Biagini of Gone Whale Watching San Diego captured drone video of the whale, calling it a "once in a lifetime moment" in an Instagram post….
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What’s causing this pink minke’s rosy hue? It could be the bellyflops
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Lorna Baker’s day trip with her family to watch the capelin roll in Long Beach on the Bonavista Peninsula turned into something more extraordinary – a chance sighting of an oddly pink-hued whale.

“There was about 50 of us on the beach, and we looked at each other and were like ‘OK everybody seen pink right?’,” Baker told CBC News….
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RESEARCH & CONSERVATION
Can A Sperm Whale Really Kill You With Sound?
WorldAtlas
Sperm whales have the largest brain on Earth, weighing five times more than humans. If the sperm whale tried to make the same click sound, but on land, and not underwater, it would measure at around 170 dB. Sound travels differently and achieves varying degrees of loudness in different mediums (air or water)….
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Whale-watching boat noise found to disrupt mother and calf resting times
The Guardian (UK)
Repeated noise from whale-watching boat engines could be affecting humpback mothers and their calves while they stop to rest on their long migrations to the Antarctic, a study has found.

Researchers found as engine noise went up, humpback whale mothers spent less time resting, their breathing rate increased and they swam faster….
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Study: Bottlenose Dolphins Learn Foraging Skills from Their Peer
Science News
Indian Ocean bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) are not only capable of learning new ways to catch prey, but they are also motivated to learn from their peers, not just from their mothers, according to a new study published in the journal Current Biology….
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