Whales throughout the New Year!
Cover Image:
Transient Biggs Killer Whales surfacing together
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
There have been sightings of Cetaceans around Powell River, Comox, in Discovery Passage, and in the eastern half of Johnstone Strait. Transient Orca were observed in a number of locations, and at least two sightings included mother and calf pairs. A few Humpback whales are still around and on one occasion, Humpbacks were observed protecting sea lions from Transient Orca in Lambert Channel. A number of pods of Pacific White-Sided dolphins were seen, with one pod numbering over 100 individuals. On December 18, one Pacific White-Sided dolphin was observed swimming within the harbour in Powell River which delighted some observers and created some concern by others.
Happy New Year! Wishing you all a Successful Year with many opportunities to enjoy our marine environments with so much Wildlife Diversity!
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 throughout 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
Event Update:
Unfortunately, due to COVID, it appears that this will be the third year our April fundraising dinner gala will be cancelled. The funds raised at this event are instrumental to maintain our programs and online presence.
Your donations are greatly needed and appreciated. We thank you greatly for your support!
Instagram and Twitter: Instagram at Wildoceanwhalesociety and Twitter at WhalesDolphins
For Research:
For research access to 26,000+ sightings in our database in a downloadable csv file for use in a spreadsheet, please Click Here. to fill in your request.
WOWs Website:
We are pleased to announce that our revamped website is up and running. Take a look and let us know what you think.
Real Time Monitoring Station Live Update
Our Live Web Camera YouTube Channel streams from Powell River 24/7 with views towards Texada – Vancouver Island – Savary and up towards Cortez. Hope you've been seeing some of 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? Updates on current availabilities and revised links will be posted here in the new year.
Review our previous Volunteer Job Postings Job Postings are being revamped in conjunction with our web sites.
Sightings Update
SIGHTINGS MAP – ISSUE: 2021-033
TRANSIENT BIGGS KILLER WHALES
Tue Dec 07 2021
12:25 • Biggs Orca between Powell River Westview Harbour and the northern tip of Texada Island, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Second Hand
12:40 • est. 3 Biggs Orca heading north, north of Rebecca Rocks, Malaspina Strait. There was at least one big fin.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Wed Dec 08 2021
11:12 • Biggs Orca spread out, heading north between Blubber Bay and Powell River Westview Harbour, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Thu Dec 09 2021
14:45 • 2 Biggs Orca heading north past Grief Point, Malaspina Strait. Mom and calf.
Marguerite Stonehouse, Powell River
14:45 • est. 3 Biggs Orca moving quickly, heading north between Powell River Viewpoint and Powell River Mill (Pulp & Paper), Malaspina Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
14:58 • est. 4-5 Biggs Orca heading north in front of Powell River Viewpoint, Malaspina Strait.
SW, Powell River, BC
Sun Dec 12 2021
16:35 • 4 Biggs Orca heading west at Knox Bay, West Thurlow Island, Johnstone Strait. One big Orca and one calf. Following a big group of Dalls Porpoises.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
Sun Dec 19 2021
–:– • Biggs Orca ◦T034s,T036s,T037,T037As,T037Bs◦, Lambert Channel. ▫ Second Hand
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
Mon Dec 20 2021
11:44 • est. 15 Biggs Orca heading north just above Marina Island, Sutil Channel. ▫ Second Hand
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
16:46 • est. 6 Biggs Orca in front of the Powell River Mill (Pulp & Paper), heading towards Rebecca Rocks, Malaspina Strait.
Darryl A
Tue Dec 21 2021
13:14 • 2 Biggs Orca heading north in front of Grief Point, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Second Hand
Judy Brant, Powell River, BC
13:27 • 3 Biggs Orca heading north in front of the Powell River Viewpoint, Malaspina Strait.
Barry Rice, Powell River, BC
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales – T037As – hunting off Powell River
Tue, 21 Dec 2021 – 4 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales – T037As – hunting off Powell River
Tue, 21 Dec 2021 – 4 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
13:45 • est. 3+ Biggs Orca hunting, in front of the Powell River Viewpoint. ▫ Observed by Webcam
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
Wed Dec 22 2021
12:11 • est. 3 Biggs Orca doing circles; feeding, off Hernando Ave., near Grief Point, Powell River, Malaspina Strait.
Colleen Martinig, Powell River, BC
Tue Dec 28 2021
11:17 • est. 1+ Biggs Orca spread out, heading north, south of the Texada Island cell tower, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
11:51 • est. 4 Biggs Orca heading north in front of Blubber Bay, Malaspina Strait. A pod: at least two males and two females so far.
SW, Powell River, BC
HUMPBACK WHALES
Wed Dec 08 2021
09:00 • est. 2 Humpback Whales travelling, heading south-west between Harwood Island and Rebecca Rocks, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
SW, Powell River, BC
Sat Dec 11 2021
09:05 • 1 Humpback Whales breaching, abeam Yorke Island, Johnstone Strait.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
Mon Dec 13 2021
14:55 • est. 3 Humpback Whales heading north by Rebecca Rocks, Malaspina Strait. Diving; barely breaking the surface.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Tue Dec 14 2021
08:20 • Humpback Whales off Salmon River, Johnstone Strait. Surfacing.
Eliot Richter, Blind Channel Resort
Fri Dec 17 2021
08:47 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north by Grief Point, Malaspina Strait.
Joan Treen, Powell River and Savary Island, BC
Sat Dec 18 2021
15:15 • 2 Humpback Whales heading east from Harwood Island to Willingdon Beach, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
15:27 • 3 Humpback Whales heading east towards Willingdon Beach at Powell River, Malaspina Strait.
Cheryl Antle, Powell River, BC
Sun Dec 19 2021
–:– • est. 4+ Humpback Whales ◦BCX Mensa,BCY Apollo◦, Lambert Channel. They were protecting sea lions from near by orca pods. ▫ Second Hand
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
15:19 • 3 Humpback Whales heading south out from Gibsons Beach between river mouth and Harwood Island Sandbanks (Bluffs), Malaspina Strait.
Barry Rice, Powell River, BC
Mon Dec 20 2021
10:29 • 2 Humpback Whales moving quickly, towards Willingdon Beach at Powell River, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
14:05 • 2 Humpback Whales milling, at the mouth of Salmon River, Johnstone Strait.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
15:43 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south just off Powell River Viewpoint, Malaspina Strait. They were travelling close to shore.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Humpback Whales
Humpbacks heading south just off Powell River Viewpoint
Mon, 20 Dec 2021 – 3 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Humpback Whales
Humpbacks heading south just off Powell River Viewpoint
Mon, 20 Dec 2021 – 3 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Tue Dec 21 2021
14:25 • 1 Humpback Whales abeam Browns Bay, Discovery Passage.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
Wed Dec 22 2021
14:00 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south just north of Grief Point heading toward Beach Gardens Marina, Malaspina Strait.
Liz and Ted Douglas, Powell River, BC
Thu Dec 23 2021
14:00 • Humpback Whales off Little River, Georgia Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
Robin Pears, Campbell River Whale Watching
PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
Wed Dec 15 2021
15:00 • PWS Dolphins , mid Sunderland Channel. Big group.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
Fri Dec 17 2021
08:00 • est. 2 PWS Dolphins doing circles, off Powell River Westview Harbour, Malaspina Strait. They have been here for approximately a week. ▫ Observed from Shore
TF, Powell River, BC
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins doing circles off Powell River Westview Harbour
Fri, 17 Dec 2021 – 1 items
TF, Powell River, BC
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins doing circles off Powell River Westview Harbour
Fri, 17 Dec 2021 – 1 items
TF, Powell River, BC
Sat Dec 18 2021
14:56 • PWS Dolphins heading north off Grilse Point, Texada Island, Malaspina Strait.
14:56 • PWS Dolphins resting, off Rebecca Rocks, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
15:45 • 1 PWS Dolphins playing, inside Powell River Westview Harbour, Malaspina Strait. Playing with a stick but not heading out of the harbour.
Leslie Thorsell, Powell River, BC
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins playing inside Powell River Westview Harbour
Sat, 18 Dec 2021 – 3 items
Leslie Thorsell, Powell River, BC
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins playing inside Powell River Westview Harbour
Sat, 18 Dec 2021 – 3 items
Leslie Thorsell, Powell River, BC
Thu Dec 23 2021
08:44 • PWS Dolphins heading north off Grief Point, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Second Hand
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
08:59 • est. 100+ PWS Dolphins mid channel between Willingdon Beach and Harwood Island Sandbanks (Bluffs), Malaspina Strait.
Barry Rice, Powell River, BC
Fri Dec 24 2021
10:37 • est. 30 PWS Dolphins back and forth, north of Harwood Island Sandbanks (Bluffs), Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
DALLS PORPOISE
Sun Dec 12 2021
16:35 • Dalls Porpoise heading west at Knox Bay, West Thurlow Island, Johnstone Strait. Large group.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
SPECIES UNSURE
Thu Dec 23 2021
09:10 • est. 4-5 Species Unsure toward Denman Island, Georgia Strait. Observed at least four or five blows from Powell River-Comox ferry. ▫ From Ferry
John Hermsen, Footprint Kayak and Hike Explorations
Archive Explorer
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The Magazine
REGIONAL & NATIONAL
CTV News
Melted sea ice in the Arctic Ocean has paved the way for killer whales to spend more time in these waters, but researchers worry that this could threaten species of prey in these areas, potentially throwing the ecosystem off balance….
read on
read on
PHYS Org
For millennia, vast expanses of the Arctic Ocean have been untouched by humans, ocean where narwhals and other marine mammals lived undisturbed. Now that climate change is causing sea ice to melt, there has been an uptick of human activity in the Arctic. This has resulted in significantly more noise from an array of human sources, including seismic surveys, mine blasts, port projects and cruise ships….
read on
read on
SPECIAL SIGHTINGS
For The Win (USA Today)
For the second time this year an orca family group has been documented playing with sea jellies in California’s Monterey Bay.
This rarely observed behavior – transient orcas, or killer whales, prey almost exclusively on marine mammals – involved the same four orcas….
read on
RESEARCH & CONSERVATION
Treehugger
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The critically endangered Yangtze finless porpoise is one of the last freshwater species of porpoise left on Earth and the only mammal currently inhabiting China’s Yangtze River….
read on
read on
ABC News (Australia)
In Dili, people say a good way to spend the afternoon is to sit at a cafe with a cappuccino and watch the blue whales pass by. The thing is, they’re only half joking. Every year between September and December, hundreds of pygmy blue whales stream through the narrow but spectacularly deep undersea trench between Timor-Leste and the islands to the north….
read on
read on