Foraging for food is a primary concern for all wildlife. Cetacea (whales, dolphins and porpoise) have huge ranges of ocean to cover looking for their food if they don’t follow the flow of fish, who frequently follow krill. With the majority of the herring spawn closer to the Vancouver Island side of our inside waters recently, a few pods of Transient Bigg’s, the meat eating Orca have had a concentrated area around Baynes Sound to hunt for their primary prey; seals and sealions. They have also taken some time circumnavigating Texada Island, likely searching for other species such as dolphins or porpoise, but have spent a fair bit of time feeding on the abundance of sealions who have been after the herring.
There are a few sightings of Humpback Whales, but many more will be coming back into our waters over the coming months. Pacific White Sided Dolphins and Porpoise are staying closer to the mainland side of the strait foraging on the smaller volumes of herring.
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.
Sightings Update
SIGHTINGS MAP – ISSUE: 2023-004
TRANSIENT BIGGS KILLER WHALES
Wed Mar 15 2023
–:– • 2 Biggs Orca heading north, Qualicum Beach, Georgia Strait.
at least 1 big male and 1 female.
Radio, overheard or call out
14:57 • 3 Biggs Orca heading south off Point Holmes southeast of the airport at Comox, Georgia Strait.
Jen Smalley, Wild Waterways Adventures
15:00 • Biggs Orca off Yellow Point, Stuart Channel. ▫ Second Hand
SG, Nanaimo, BC
15:30 • est. 4 Biggs Orca
travelling, heading north in Vesuvius Bay, Stuart Channel.
One young male and two female plus one very small. Two seals hiding in the bay. ▫ Observed from Shore
CG, Salt Spring Island, BC
Thu Mar 16 2023
16:20 • est. 6-7 Biggs Orca heading south off Camp Point, Johnstone Strait.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
Fri Mar 17 2023
11:08 • Biggs Orca ◦T049As◦
hunting, heading south off Norris Rocks, Georgia Strait.
12:58 • Biggs Orca
hunting, off Norris Rocks, Lambert Channel, Georgia Strait.
Maybe three families.
Jen Smalley, Wild Waterways Adventures
13:00 • Biggs Orca heading north between Lasqueti Island and Lambert Channel, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
Sat Mar 18 2023
14:00 • Biggs Orca
hunting, heading north off Bates Beach, Georgia Strait.
Jen Smalley, Wild Waterways Adventures
16:15 • est. 5+ Biggs Orca heading west, Georgia Strait.
5 knots. ▫ From Ferry
Sean Antrim, Nanaimo, BC
Tue Mar 21 2023
14:00 • est. 4 Biggs Orca
moving slowly, heading north-east between Bazan Bay and Sidney Channel, Sidney Channel. ▫ From Power or Sail Boat
Chris Reynolds, Yellowknife, NT
Wed Mar 22 2023
18:35 • Biggs Orca heading south off Oyster River, Georgia Strait.
Small group. ▫ Observed from Shore
Jen Smalley, Wild Waterways Adventures
Thu Mar 23 2023
08:40 • est. 5-6 Biggs Orca heading north off Willingdon Beach, Powell River, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
14:09 • est. 4-5 Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ heading south in Seymour Narrows, Discovery Passage.
Left the Orca at 14:28. They were mid-channel between Race Point and Middle Point still heading south.
Robin Pears, Campbell River Whale Watching
14:30 • Biggs Orca ◦T100s, T101◦ heading south, Seymour Narrows.
IDs from photos T101’s sons were not seen and may have been following farther behind. ▫ Second Hand
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
17:09 • est. 5-6 Biggs Orca heading south past Myrtle Point, Malaspina Strait.
Jim Southern, Powell River, BC
18:56 • est. 4-5 Biggs Orca ◦T036As◦
moving quickly, heading south between the Powell River Viewpoint and Grief Point, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales heading south between the Powell River Viewpoint and Grief Point, Malaspina Strait
Thu, 23 Mar 2023 – 5 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales heading south between the Powell River Viewpoint and Grief Point, Malaspina Strait
Thu, 23 Mar 2023 – 5 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Fri Mar 24 2023
12:30 • Biggs Orca heading south, Browns Bay, Discovery Passage.
Radio, overheard or call out
13:55 • 4 Biggs Orca ◦T100s◦
moving slowly, heading south, north of Race Point, Discovery Passage.
14:44 • 4 Biggs Orca ◦T100s◦ heading south 6kts at Painters Lodge, Campbell River, Discovery Passage.
16:57 • 4 Biggs Orca
moving slowly, heading south 1.5 nm off Oyster River looking towards Savary Island, Georgia Strait.
Robin Pears, Campbell River Whale Watching
Sat Mar 25 2023
11:15 • Biggs Orca heading north, off the north east side of Denman Island almost at Sandy (Tree) Island, Georgia Strait.
2 groups.
Jen Smalley, Wild Waterways Adventures
12:35 • 2 Biggs Orca on the Comox/Powell River ferry line, close to Little River, Georgia Strait.
John Hermsen, Footprint Kayak and Hike Explorations
14:28 • 2 Biggs Orca heading south near Hole In The Wall, in Calm Channel. ▫ Second Hand
Robin Pears, Campbell River Whale Watching
Sun Mar 26 2023
14:50 • 2 Biggs Orca
moving quickly, heading south near Myrtle Rocks, Malaspina Strait.
1 large male and another.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales moving quickly by Myrtle Rocks, Malaspina Strait
Sun, 26 Mar 2023 – 4 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales moving quickly by Myrtle Rocks, Malaspina Strait
Sun, 26 Mar 2023 – 4 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Mon Mar 27 2023
12:30 • Biggs Orca heading south, Duncan Bay, Discovery Passage.
Radio, overheard or call out
19:45 • est. 6-8 Biggs Orca heading west at Camp Bay, Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
John Hermsen, Footprint Kayak and Hike Explorations
HUMPBACK WHALES
Thu Mar 16 2023
15:30 • Humpback Whales between Goose Spit and Sandy (Tree) Island, Baynes Sound.
Radio, overheard or call out
16:29 • 1 Humpback Whales
doing circles, inside Comox Bar, Baynes Sound.
Robin Pears, Campbell River Whale Watching
Wed Mar 22 2023
15:35 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north close to Comox (Little River) Ferry Terminal, Georgia Strait. ▫ From Ferry
John Hermsen, Footprint Kayak and Hike Explorations
MINKE WHALES
Mon Mar 13 2023
12:40 • 1 Minke Whales
foraging, heading north near Canadian Forces Base Comox, Georgia Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
CW, Comox, BC
PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
Thu Mar 16 2023
08:00 • est. 25 PWS Dolphins
moving slowly, heading north-west off Van Anda, Malaspina Strait.
Possibly feeding. ▫ Observed from Shore
PK, Van Anda, BC
08:44 • PWS Dolphins heading south off Powell River, Malaspina Strait.
Small group.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
10:00 • PWS Dolphins heading south by Grief Point, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Second Hand
Jim Southern, Powell River, BC
13:00 • est. 20 PWS Dolphins
foraging, off Grief Point.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins foraging off Grief Point, Malaspina Strait
Thu, 16 Mar 2023 – 3 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins foraging off Grief Point, Malaspina Strait
Thu, 16 Mar 2023 – 3 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Sat Mar 18 2023
15:30 • est. 5 PWS Dolphins
moving slowly, heading south close to shore off Willingdon Beach, Powell River, Malaspina Strait.
John Hermsen, Footprint Kayak and Hike Explorations
16:00 • PWS Dolphins heading south off the Powell River Viewpoint, Malaspina Strait.
Small group.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
19:07 • est. 35 PWS Dolphins
foraging, heading south passing Myrtle Point, Malaspina Strait.
Leaping.
Jim Southern, Powell River, BC
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins leaping through the air!
Mon, 27 Mar 2023 – 1 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins leaping through the air!
Mon, 27 Mar 2023 – 1 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
HARBOUR PORPOISE
Tue Mar 21 2023
11:59 • 6 Harbour Porpoise off Lund, Malaspina Strait.
Robin Pears, Campbell River Whale Watching
Archive Explorer
Archive Explorer navigates 25,000+ Cetacean Sightings, images, videos and audio recordings. Please use the the funnel in our Map for access to our huge range of filters. Those wishing Research information in a spreadsheet format, please Click Here
*Recommended for desktop browsers and newer mobile devices
Archive Explorer dives into the Coastal Cetacean world. View Cetacean sighting locations, photos and videos:
- All species including Orca, Humpback, Grey Whale or Dalls Porpoise
- Follow the endangered Southern Residents Orca in the Salish Sea
- Search for encounters with T002C2 Tumbo
- Witness a close-up Orca encounter video in Port Alberni harbour
- Follow the T010s Transients as they hunt and travel the inside passage
- Track "KC", the ever popular Humpback's movements
- Locate any of 12,000+ named locations on the BC and WA State coast
- Print custom sighting reports and maps (Coming Soon)
Archive Explorer Help Page explains many advanced functions
Send your Comments and Questions to: Archive Explorer Feedback
To access 25,000+ sightings in our database in a downloadable csv file for use in a research spreadsheet, please Click Here.
