Orca spy-hopping!
There have been many sightings of Transient Bigg’s Orca in a number of areas around British Columbia. Some of the Orca were seen hunting, with one occasion Dall’s porpoises were the confirmed prey. On another occasion, Orca were seen spy-hopping as illustrated in our cover image. Spy-hopping is when a whale approaches the surface of the water vertically and the whale is able to lift its head out of the water presumably to look around at the environment. Orca, Humpback whales, and Grey whales are known to spy-hop. Our report includes sightings of Humpback whales, Pacific White-Sided dolphins, Harbour porpoises, and Dall’s porpoises.
In our Magazine section, read about the Right whales that have returned to the waters off the Maritimes, learn about a white-coloured Humpback whale, and see how a baby Sperm whale nurses from its mother.
The Federal Government (DFO) 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.
Ivan Ng, Wild Ocean Whale Society
Society News & Events
COVID-19 Updates:
Looking ahead for our annual Dwight Hall fundraising dinner, instrumental to maintain all of our basic programs and online presence, is now rescheduled for April 2022. We are confident that by then we will be able to hold a successful event. Your donations are greatly needed and appreciated. We thank you greatly for your support!
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Whales and Dolphins BC & WOWs Websites:
We are continuing the process of some major updates to our websites and welcome your comments and feedback.
Real Time Monitoring Station Live Update
Our Live streaming Web Camera YouTube Channel from Powell River has a new mount for better viewing towards Texada – Vancouver Island – Savary and up towards Cortez. Hope you've been seeing the whales.
Thank You to our Volunteers and Contributors!
Our team of online Volunteers continue to do a great job in making sure all your sightings reports are mapped and published regularly. Would you like to join us?
Review our current Volunteer Job Postings We are revamping our Job Postings in conjunction with our web sites. Please continue to let us know if you are interested in volunteering, we are looking at other opportunities.
Sightings Update
SIGHTINGS MAP – ISSUE: 2021-008
TRANSIENT BIGGS KILLER WHALES
Thu Apr 15 2021
13:30 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ hunting, half a mile south of Mayes Point, Read Island, Drew Passage.
Eric Ferreira, Savary Island, BC
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Orca – T002Cs – hunting near Read Island
Thu, 15 Apr 2021 – 2 items
Eric Ferreira, Savary Island, BC
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Orca – T002Cs – hunting near Read Island
Thu, 15 Apr 2021 – 2 items
Eric Ferreira, Savary Island, BC
Wed Apr 21 2021
10:00 • 4 Biggs Orca heading north mid-strait, passing in front of Powell River, Malaspina Strait.
SW, Powell River, BC
14:08 • Biggs Orca ◦T018s◦ south of Marina Reef pointed towards Smelt Bay, Sutil Channel.
15:20 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ between Penn Islands and Bullock Bluff, Sutil Channel. Whole pod minus T002C4. Orca ended up at scallop farm on Cortes Island.
Robin Pears, Campbell River Whale Watching
Thu Apr 22 2021
09:51 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ milling, in Smelt Bay, Cortes Island, Sutil Channel. Then moved NW up the outside of Marina Island (at 10:46).
13:12 • Biggs Orca milling, to the east of South Rendezvous Island, Calm Channel.
13:45 • 4 Biggs Orca heading south at Bullock Bluff, Cortes Island, Sutil Channel. Small fins.
14:32 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ heading north between Hill Island and Whale Passage, Sutil Channel.
Robin Pears, Campbell River Whale Watching
15:48 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ milling, at the south end of the Penn Islands, Sutil Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Quinn Kuschel-Ross, Campbell River Whale Watching
Sat Apr 24 2021
08:00 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ in front of Whaletown aiming towards Plunger Passage, Sutil Channel. There was a small calf, male and two females.Seen from Cortes ferry. ▫ Second Hand
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
Mon Apr 26 2021
08:49 • Biggs Orca near the mouth of the Fraser River off Vancouver Airport, Georgia Strait. Seen from the air. Good thing for echolocation – that’s some muddy water.
Bill Coltart, Big Animal Encounters
09:00 • 3 Biggs Orca ◦T101s◦ heading east inbound from Sheringham Point towards Sooke, Strait of Juan de Fuca. ▫ Second Hand
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
10:21 • Biggs Orca heading south mid-strait between Grant Reefs and Vancouver Island, Georgia Strait. ▫ Second Hand
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
11:30 • est. 3-4 Biggs Orca by Viner Point, Read Island, Sutil Channel. One big male in pod. ▫ Second Hand
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
Tue Apr 27 2021
09:50 • Biggs Orca heading south in Seymour Narrows, Discovery Passage.
09:50 • Biggs Orca heading north by Sarah Point, Malaspina Strait.
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
12:35 • 5 Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ moving slowly, heading south towards Orange Point mid Discovery Passage.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
Wed Apr 28 2021
15:20 • Biggs Orca heading south, Walkem Islands, Johnstone Strait. ▫ Second Hand
15:30 • Biggs Orca on the north side of Twin Islands, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Second Hand
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
Thu Apr 29 2021
11:00 • Biggs Orca ◦T018s◦ angled towards Deer Passage from Lewis Channel. There was also another pod of unidentified orcas.
11:30 • Biggs Orca ◦T018s◦ heading north in Deer Passage. There was also another 4 small fins.
Reuben Buerge, Wild Waterways Adventures
12:30 • Biggs Orca ◦T018s, T019s, T023C◦ entered Pryce Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
Fri Apr 30 2021
08:50 • 4 Biggs Orca heading north up Mayne Passage. There was one big fin and possibly one calf.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
18:15 • Biggs Orca heading south past Black (Albion) Point, Malaspina Strait.
Nina Falls, Powell River, BC
Sat May 01 2021
10:15 • 4 Biggs Orca moving slowly, heading south near Twin Bay, Reid Island, Sutil Channel. 1 big fin.
Reuben Buerge, Wild Waterways Adventures
10:19 • Biggs Orca by Viner Point, Read Island, Sutil Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
10:35 • Biggs Orca ◦T090s◦ close to Viner Point, Read Island.
Reuben Buerge, Wild Waterways Adventures
10:59 • Biggs Orca ◦T090s◦ approaching Viner Point, Read Island.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching
13:30 • Biggs Orca ◦T090s◦ milling, off Viner Point, Read Island.
Reuben Buerge, Wild Waterways Adventures
19:44 • Biggs Orca just south of Van Anda, Malaspina Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
Sun May 02 2021
11:47 • Biggs Orca off Point Holmes southeast of the airport at Comox, Georgia Strait. Two groups, one northbound and one southbound.
11:56 • Biggs Orca between Kye Bay and Powell River, Georgia Strait.
Stan Novotny, Stan Novotny Productions
12:11 • Biggs Orca near Comox, Georgia Strait. ▫ Second Hand
12:24 • est. 9+ Biggs Orca heading east at Comox Bar, Baynes Sound. Three big fins (males) and 6+ smaller fins. ▫ Observed from Shore
Andrew Rice, Campbell River Whale Watching
13:02 • 4 Biggs Orca heading south between Lund and Savary Island, Malaspina Strait.
Iwan Van Veen, Footprint Kayak and Hike Explorations
13:50 • Biggs Orca ◦T090s◦ heading south from Penn Islands, Sutil Channel. ▫ Second Hand
15:00 • Biggs Orca ◦T090s◦ resting, top of Hill Island, Sutil Channel.
17:00 • Biggs Orca ◦T090s◦ heading south towards Viner Point, Read Island, Sutil Channel. We lost them. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
Mon May 03 2021
13:00 • Biggs Orca ◦T101s◦ hunting dalls porpoise, off Burdwood Bay, Read Island, Sutil Channel. Left them by the Penn Islands. Other killer whales in addition to T101s.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales – T101s and T100Bs – travelling together
Mon, 3 May 2021 – 1 items
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales – T101s and T100Bs – travelling together
Mon, 3 May 2021 – 1 items
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Orca blowing!
Sat, 1 May 2021 – 1 items
Campbell River Whale Watching
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Orca blowing!
Sat, 1 May 2021 – 1 items
Campbell River Whale Watching
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Orca jumping for joy!
Tue, 27 Apr 2021 – 1 items
Jos Krynen, Eagle Eye Adventures
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Orca jumping for joy!
Tue, 27 Apr 2021 – 1 items
Jos Krynen, Eagle Eye Adventures
HUMPBACK WHALES
Wed Apr 28 2021
15:30 • Humpback Whales to the north Twin Islands, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Second Hand
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
Fri Apr 30 2021
19:20 • est. 1-2 Humpback Whales heading south by Naka Creek off the shore of Vancouver Island, Johnstone Strait. They were possibly feeding as there were lots of seagulls flying around.
Sean Antrim, Nanaimo, BC
Sat May 01 2021
11:40 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south at No Name Creek, Discovery Passage.
Josh Grin, Discovery West Adventures
17:37 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south near the Cape Mudge Lighthouse on Quadra Island, Georgia Strait.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
17:47 • 1 Humpback Whales breaching, off Cape Mudge Lighthouse on Quadra Island.
Elvis Chikite, Big Animal Encounters
18:50 • 1 Humpback Whales at Cracroft Point, West Cracroft Island, Blackfish Sound.
Bradden Kiley, Campbell River Whale Watching
Tue May 04 2021
14:00 • 1 Humpback Whales at the upper rapids of Okisollo Channel.
Josh Grin, Discovery West Adventures
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Humpback Whales
Humpback whales pectoral fin slapping
Thu, 22 Apr 2021 – 1 items
Big Animal Encounters
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Humpback Whales
Humpback whales pectoral fin slapping
Thu, 22 Apr 2021 – 1 items
Big Animal Encounters
PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
Wed Apr 21 2021
13:17 • est. 12+ PWS Dolphins heading south off Grief Point, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Thu Apr 22 2021
11:28 • PWS Dolphins behind Twin Islands, Malaspina Strait. Small group.
Robin Pears, Campbell River Whale Watching
Fri Apr 23 2021
14:00 • PWS Dolphins at the mouth of Frederick Arm. Large group reported to have been there all day.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
Sat Apr 24 2021
15:15 • est. 15-20 PWS Dolphins milling, mid-channel and slightly north of Discovery Harbour Marina, Campbell River, Discovery Passage.
Trisha Stovel, Big Animal Encounters
Wed Apr 28 2021
12:45 • est. 20 PWS Dolphins milling, at Brent Island, Okisollo Channel.
Josh Grin, Discovery West Adventures
Sat May 01 2021
08:00 • est. 12+ PWS Dolphins heading north through Seymour Narrows, Discovery Passage.
Elvis Chikite, Big Animal Encounters
Tue May 04 2021
15:00 • 12 PWS Dolphins at the mouth of Okisollo Channel.
Josh Grin, Discovery West Adventures
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins travelling close to shore in Discovery Passage
Thu, 22 Apr 2021 – 1 items
Big Animal Encounters
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins travelling close to shore in Discovery Passage
Thu, 22 Apr 2021 – 1 items
Big Animal Encounters
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphin gliding!
Thu, 29 Apr 2021 – 1 items
Campbell River Whale Watching
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphin gliding!
Thu, 29 Apr 2021 – 1 items
Campbell River Whale Watching
DALLS PORPOISE
Mon Apr 26 2021
10:17 • est. 10 Dalls Porpoise heading south at Grief Point, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Second Hand
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Thu Apr 29 2021
08:45 • Dalls Porpoise in Dent Rapids. They were in a large group and very active.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
Mon May 03 2021
13:00 • Dalls Porpoise being hunted, near Burdwood Bay, Read Island, Sutil Channel. Transient Orca hunting/chasing them.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
HARBOUR PORPOISE
Wed Apr 21 2021
11:20 • 3 Harbour Porpoise heading south in Thulin Passage, Copeland Islands, Malaspina Strait.
John Hermsen, Footprint Kayak and Hike Explorations
Sun May 02 2021
15:50 • est. 6-8 Harbour Porpoise heading south past Powell River Viewpoint, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Mon May 03 2021
15:45 • 1 Harbour Porpoise doing circles, heading south-east, just north of Yeo Point, Salt Spring Island, Captain Passage. ▫ Observed from Shore
Junan Ferrand, Salt Spring Island
SPECIES UNSURE
Thu Apr 29 2021
17:50 • 1 Species Unsure heading west at the White Rock pier in Semiahmoo Bay, Georgia Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
LG, Surrey, BC
Tue May 04 2021
16:45 • Species Unsure heading south at the lighthouse at Blubber Bay, Malaspina Strait. A couple blows seen.
Judy Brant, Powell River, BC
Archive Explorer
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The Magazine
REGIONAL & NATIONAL
CBC
The first North Atlantic right whale of the season has been sighted in Canadian waters, triggering an early and localized snow crab fishery closure in the Gulf of St. Lawrence….
read on
read on
CBC
A baby female pilot whale that was found stranded over the weekend at a beach east of Halifax didn’t survive, despite the best efforts of rescuers from a marine animal conservation group….
read on
read on
SPECIAL SIGHTINGS
Scientific Mindset
A white whale has been spotted off the Victorian coast, sparking hopes the "rock star" humpback Migaloo has returned to Australian waters….
read on
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Phys.org
The carcass of an endangered blue whale, the world’s largest animal, washed up on a Namibian beach on Tuesday with lesions suggesting it collided with a ship, scientists said….
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NZ Herald
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A regular ocean swimmer had the “best day” of his life this morning when a couple of friendly orca from a passing pod came to say hello….
read on
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RESEARCH & CONSERVATION
Phys.org
The plight of an entangled baby whale off Orange County, California, has sparked an urgent multi-agency rescue effort, highlighting again the perils that ocean debris poses to marine mammals and other wildlife….
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The Revelator
We’ve made a lot of strides in whale conservation, but climate change, plastic pollution and other dangers have emerged….
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Upworthy
We know that mammals feed their young with milk from their own bodies, and we know that whales are mammals. But the logistics of how some whales make breastfeeding happen has been a bit of a mystery for scientists. Such has been the case with sperm whales….
read on
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