Whale Pods!
Cover Image:
Orca travelling together!
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Whales, dolphins, and porpoises are often in groups or pods. Orca tend to stay together as families with the oldest female being the leader of the pod. Transient Orca tend to be in groups of 4 to 6 individuals while Resident Orca tend to be in groups that are larger, such as over 10 individuals. Pacific White-Sided dolphins can be found in various pod sizes, either numbering in the tens or in the hundreds. Dall’s porpoises and Harbour porpoises tend to be in groups that include less than ten individuals. Humpback whales can be in groups that range in size from a couple to 5-6 individuals. Let us know what you see and do your best to count how many individuals that are in a group!
The Federal Government (DFO) issued the following statement about watching Orca in the wild: “Vessels must stay at least 400 m away from all killer whales in southern British Columbia coastal waters between Campbell River and Ucluelet, including Barkley and Howe Sound. This is in effect year-round until May 31, 2023. If killer whales approach any vessel, boaters should place their engine in neutral and wait for the animals to pass.”
For all other areas of B.C. outside of the area indicated above, a minimum distance of 200-m must be maintained when viewing Orca. When viewing other species of whales, dolphins, and porpoises, a minimum distance of 100-m must be kept.
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
Data For Research:
For research access to 31,000+ sightings in our database in a downloadable csv file for use in a spreadsheet, please Click Here. to fill in your request.
Websites:
Whales and Dolphins BC is our educational website where these reports are also published and our Wild Ocean Whale site is our Society website.
Instagram and Twitter: Instagram at Wildoceanwhalesociety and Twitter at WhalesDolphins
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 slowly being revamped and not yet on our web sites.
Sightings Update
SIGHTINGS MAP – ISSUE: 2022-033
TRANSIENT BIGGS KILLER WHALES
Tue Nov 01 2022
07:30 • 2 Biggs Orca moving slowly, heading north, on the east side of Galiano Island, Georgia Strait. Seen further north with 2nd whale possibly hunting. ▫ Observed from Shore
KB, Galiano Island, BC
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales on the east side of Galiano Island, Georgia Strait
Tue, 1 Nov 2022 – 1 items
KB, Galiano Island, BC
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales on the east side of Galiano Island, Georgia Strait
Tue, 1 Nov 2022 – 1 items
KB, Galiano Island, BC
Sat Nov 05 2022
16:00 • Biggs Orca ◦T123s◦ heading west outside of Nanoose Harbour, Georgia Strait. ▫ Second Hand
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
Mon Nov 07 2022
08:10 • est. 5-6 Biggs Orca right in the mouth of the Salmon River, Kelsey Bay, Johnstone Strait.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
13:00 • est. 4-5 Biggs Orca moving quickly, heading south between Tsa-Kwa-Luten Lodge and the Cape Mudge Red Can Buoy, Georgia Strait.
Stephen Gabrysh, Campbell River Whale Watching
Mon Nov 14 2022
13:00 • 5 Biggs Orca hunting, off the SW end of Savary Island, Georgia Strait. Orca were hunting a big sea lion for over an hour.
Eric Ferreira, Savary Island, BC
14:02 • Biggs Orca ◦T018s, T019s◦ spread out, off the Powell River Viewpoint, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
15:53 • est. 5+ Biggs Orca heading south past Myrtle Point, Malaspina Strait.
Jim Southern, Powell River, BC
Tue Nov 15 2022
15:04 • 3 Biggs Orca ◦T018s, T019s◦ heading north just north of Grief Point, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales heading north just north of Grief Point, Malaspina Strait
Tue, 15 Nov 2022 – 3 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales heading north just north of Grief Point, Malaspina Strait
Tue, 15 Nov 2022 – 3 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Orca with a duck!
Tue, 1 Nov 2022 – 3 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Orca with a duck!
Tue, 1 Nov 2022 – 3 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
SOUTHERN RESIDENT KILLER WHALES
Sun Nov 13 2022
13:40 • SRKW Orca along the east side of Texada Island, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Second Hand
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES
Mon Nov 14 2022
13:30 • Orca Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait. ▫ Second Hand
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
HUMPBACK WHALES
Mon Oct 31 2022
16:45 • 2 Humpback Whales tail slaps, heading north, on the east side of Galiano Island, Georgia Strait. Two whales blowing and tail slapping as they moved north up east side of galiano island. ▫ Observed from Shore
KB, Galiano Island, BC
Humpback Whales
Humpbacks tail slapping by Galiano Island, Georgia Strait
Mon, 31 Oct 2022 – 1 items
KB, Galiano Island, BC
Humpback Whales
Humpbacks tail slapping by Galiano Island, Georgia Strait
Mon, 31 Oct 2022 – 1 items
KB, Galiano Island, BC
Thu Nov 03 2022
16:00 • est. 2 Humpback Whales taking long dives, heading south near the morning beach on the east side of Galiano Island. Blowing, diving for about 2 min. Was at least two whales seen at the same time. May have been more. Not sure which direction they were heading as it seemed to change. Seen by binocular from shore.
KB, Galiano Island, BC
Fri Nov 04 2022
14:06 • Humpback Whales doing circles, off Myrtle Point, Malaspina Strait. Foraging.
Jim Southern, Powell River, BC
Sat Nov 05 2022
13:21 • 1 Humpback Whales heading north, north of Coho (Kiddie) Point at the NW tip of Texada Island, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
15:30 • 10+ Humpback Whales Davis Bay, Georgia Strait. ▫ Second Hand
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
Tue Nov 08 2022
09:07 • 2 Humpback Whales between Powell River Viewpoint and south end of Harwood Island, Malaspina Strait. Looks like mom and calf.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
14:59 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north just above Van Anda, Malaspina Strait.
Jim Southern, Powell River, BC
15:49 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north between Powell River and Rebecca Rocks, Malaspina Strait.
SW, Powell River, BC
Wed Nov 09 2022
12:38 • Humpback Whales foraging, just below Van Anda, Malaspina Strait.
Joan Mercier, SKABC
14:05 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north over towards the ferry terminal on Texada Island, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Fri Nov 11 2022
07:50 • 3 Humpback Whales heading west, west of Hardwicke Island, Johnstone Strait.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
08:52 • est. 2-3 Humpback Whales heading east about 1-km south of Point Cowan, Bowen Island, Georgia Strait. ▫ From Ferry
09:23 • Humpback Whales a few km’s south of Roberts Creek, Georgia Strait. Multiple blows were seen through binoculars. ▫ From Ferry
Ivan Ng, North Vancouver, BC
12:30 • 1 Humpback Whales at Kitty Coleman Beach Park, Georgia Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
Andrew Rice, Campbell River Whale Watching
15:30 • 3 Humpback Whales heading east about 4-km east of Departure Bay, Nanaimo, Georgia Strait. Saw them surface again a few minutes later at 15:38. ▫ From Ferry
16:20 • Humpback Whales off Gower Point, Gibsons, Georgia Strait. Multiple blows were seen through binoculars. ▫ From Ferry
16:38 • est. 2-3 Humpback Whales heading west about 2-km south of Point Cowan, Bowen Island, Georgia Strait. Saw them surface a few times. ▫ From Ferry
16:45 • 3 Humpback Whales heading south close to shore approaching Seymour Bay, Bowen Island, Queen Charlotte Channel. They were surfacing quite a few times as we passed them. ▫ From Ferry
Ivan Ng, North Vancouver, BC
Sat Nov 12 2022
08:40 • Humpback Whales heading east off Camp Point, Johnstone Strait.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
15:50 • 3 Humpback Whales breaching, across the strait from Myrtle Point nearer to Texada Island, Malaspina Strait.
Jim Southern, Powell River, BC
16:13 • 3 Humpback Whales heading north halfway between Powell River Viewpoint and Van Anda, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Sun Nov 13 2022
10:00 • Humpback Whales off Saltery Bay, Jervis Inlet.
Darren Brant
Mon Nov 14 2022
07:45 • 1 Humpback Whales close to Saltery Bay. ▫ From Ferry
John Hermsen, Footprint Kayak and Hike Explorations
16:15 • 2 Humpback Whales abeam Yorke Island, Johnstone Strait.
16:25 • 1 Humpback Whales at the west end of Helmcken Island, Johnstone Strait.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
Tue Nov 15 2022
14:11 • 3 Humpback Whales about 2.5-NM west of Vivian Island, Georgia Strait.
15:06 • est. 6 Humpback Whales to the west of Grant Reefs, Georgia Strait.
Robin Pears, Campbell River Whale Watching
MINKE WHALES
Wed Nov 09 2022
13:24 • Minke Whales at Cortez Reef, Georgia Strait.
Jen Smalley, Wild Waterways Adventures
PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
Fri Nov 04 2022
12:55 • PWS Dolphins heading south in front of Powell River Mill (Pulp & Paper), Malaspina Strait. Huge pod.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Sat Nov 05 2022
11:14 • PWS Dolphins south of Texada Island cell tower, Malaspina Strait. Active.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Mon Nov 14 2022
16:29 • est. 100 PWS Dolphins milling, close to shore, just south of Willow Point, Georgia Strait. At 16:40, they changed directions and were heading north. ▫ Second Hand
Robin Pears, Campbell River Whale Watching
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins milling just south of Willow Point, Georgia Strait
Mon, 14 Nov 2022 – 2 items
Tessa Dagenais, CR
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins milling just south of Willow Point, Georgia Strait
Mon, 14 Nov 2022 – 2 items
Tessa Dagenais, CR
HARBOUR PORPOISE
Mon Nov 14 2022
10:45 • est. 10-12 Harbour Porpoise moving quickly, heading south-west between Shelter Point and Gillies Bay, Georgia Strait. Fast and loose group movement, taking shallow dives for about a minute. Resurfacing more or less together, showing back and dorsal fin. About 500 metres offshore (unusual to see so many together, by my observation). ▫ Observed from Shore
SM, Gillies Bay, BC
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The Magazine
REGIONAL & NATIONAL
CBC News
A Nova Scotia woman’s trip to the grocery store ended up in mud-soaked sneakers, 16 rescued dolphins and a new sense of community.
On Friday afternoon, dozens of people in Digby, N.S,. rallied to save a stranded pod of Atlantic white-sided dolphins that had become stuck in the Annapolis Basin as the tide went out….
read on
Hakai Magazine
Beluga whales are incredibly sensitive to noise. Social animals that live in the Arctic, belugas use their keen sense of hearing to communicate over long distances, find prey, and elude crafty predators like killer whales. But all is not quiet on the Arctic front. As the Arctic warms and the ice melts, ship traffic is on the rise, suffusing these once-tranquil waters with the throbbing thrum of propellers and engines….
read on
read on
RESEARCH & CONSERVATION
Mongabay
When some of the biggest machines ever made meet the largest animals to ever live, it often doesn’t work out well for the latter. In March 2012, a container ship sailed into the port of Colombo, Sri Lanka, with the body of a blue whale snagged across its bow. Less than two weeks later, another blue whale carcass was found floating off the country’s southern coast, its tail almost severed in what could only have been a ship strike….
read on
read on