The majority of reports received over the past two weeks were of Transient Biggs Orca. Orca were observed as far north as Johnstone Strait and as far south as Juan de Fuca Strait. Some of the Orca were observed milling, hunting, travelling slowly, and bucking the tide. Our cover image shows a mother-calf pair of Orca, and the difference in size between them. Of note is a sighting of a Sea Otter on April 7 in Discovery Passage near Campbell River.
Go down to our Magazine section and find out about the rescue attempt on Right whales in entanglements in the Atlantic Ocean. Also, read about a Grey whale that has adapted to life without a tail and learn about Orca attacking a Blue whale in the waters off of Australia.
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 OR while viewing any Cetaceans that are resting or with a calf. When viewing whales, dolphins, and porpoises under other circumstances not described above, 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: 2023-005
TRANSIENT BIGGS KILLER WHALES
Wed Mar 29 2023
15:35 • 6 Biggs Orca heading north off Royston, Baynes Sound.
16:03 • Biggs Orca
milling on a kill, off Kingfisher Resort south of Royston. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Robin Pears, Campbell River Whale Watching
Thu Mar 30 2023
07:35 • est. 2+ Biggs Orca past Blind Channel headed toward Johnstone Strait, Mayne Passage.
One big fin.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
16:46 • Biggs Orca heading north off Oyster Bay, Georgia Strait.
Robin Pears, Campbell River Whale Watching
Mon Apr 03 2023
12:56 • est. 8-9 Biggs Orca
milling; taking long dives, on the northeast side of Powell Islets, Malaspina Strait.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales in Malaspina Strait
Mon, 3 Apr 2023 – 10 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales in Malaspina Strait
Mon, 3 Apr 2023 – 10 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
14:25 • Biggs Orca heading north at Mary Point, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
15:30 • est. 5-6 Biggs Orca
moving slowly, heading west between Shelter Point Park and Gillies Bay, moving toward Comox, Georgia Strait.
One big male and four smaller (juvenile/female) milling and splashing at or near surface, possibly feeding. ▫ Observed from Shore
SM, Gillies Bay, BC
Tue Apr 04 2023
09:54 • est. 6-8 Biggs Orca heading north at Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
10:46 • est. 10 Biggs Orca east of Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy, heading toward Dogfish Bay, Georgia Strait.
10:53 • est. 10 Biggs Orca heading west at Willow Point, off Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy, Georgia Strait.
Robin Pears, Campbell River Whale Watching
14:20 • est. 12 Biggs Orca
bucking tide, at Seymour Narrows, Discovery Passage. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales in Seymour Narrows
Tue, 4 Apr 2023 – 10 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales in Seymour Narrows
Tue, 4 Apr 2023 – 10 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
14:26 • est. 10 Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs, T124s◦
bucking tide, spread out in Seymour Narrows.
14:39 • 8 Biggs Orca
bucking tide, in Seymour Narrows ; 4 turned back toward Race Point, Discovery Passage. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Robin Pears, Campbell River Whale Watching
Thu Apr 06 2023
11:05 • 2 Biggs Orca heading east in the narrow section of Chatham Channel.
Big fins.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
Fri Apr 07 2023
09:35 • 8 Biggs Orca heading north travelling at 8 knots passing Quathiaski Cove, Discovery Passage.
Jessica Parker, Campbell River Whale Watching
10:31 • 5 Biggs Orca heading north through Seymour Narrows, Discovery Passage. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Robin Pears, Campbell River Whale Watching
11:55 • Biggs Orca
milling, long dives, mid channel off McMullen Point, Discovery Passage.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
12:10 • Biggs Orca heading north near Elk Bay, Discovery Passage. ▫ Observed from Shore
Andrew Rice, Campbell River Whale Watching
13:45 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ heading west mid channel at Turn Island, Johnstone Strait.
T002Cs and others. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Fri, 7 Apr 2023 – 10 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Fri, 7 Apr 2023 – 10 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
14:55 • Biggs Orca
moving slowly, heading west close to the Vancouver Island shore off Walkem Islands, Johnstone Strait.
15:15 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ mid channel at Turn Island, Johnstone Strait. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Quinn Kuschel-Ross, Campbell River Whale Watching
15:44 • Biggs Orca
moving slowly, heading west abeam the northernmost Walkem Islands, Johnstone Strait.
16:07 • Biggs Orca heading west at Ripple Point, Johnstone Strait. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Robin Pears, Campbell River Whale Watching
Sun Apr 09 2023
12:50 • est. 5-6 Biggs Orca
moving slowly, heading south-east between Pasley Island and Bowen Island, Collingwood Channel. ▫ Observed from Shore
GG, Bowen Island, BC
Tue Apr 11 2023
10:57 • 3 Biggs Orca
moving slowly, heading south between Turn Island and Walkem Islands, Johnstone Strait.
One big fin (male), and two small fins. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
14:32 • Biggs Orca
moving slowly, heading south off Browns Bay, Discovery Passage.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales near Browns Bay
Tue, 11 Apr 2023 – 3 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Killer Whales near Browns Bay
Tue, 11 Apr 2023 – 3 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
15:10 • Biggs Orca ◦T087◦ at Browns Bay.
Two females in the pod. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Wed Apr 12 2023
11:57 • 4 Biggs Orca heading south-east about 1-mile north of North Rendezvous Island, Calm Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Reuben Buerge, Wild Waterways Adventures
15:05 • 8 Biggs Orca entering Teakerne Arm.
Quinn Kuschel-Ross, Campbell River Whale Watching
16:31 • 5+ Biggs Orca ◦T090s◦ heading out of Teakerne Arm.
T090’s and another group of 4-5 Orca.
Reuben Buerge, Wild Waterways Adventures
UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES
Tue Apr 11 2023
17:20 • est. 4-5 Orca
travelling, heading east off Alldridge Point east of Sooke, Strait of Juan de Fuca.
We were hiking the east Sooke coastline trail. We saw a pod of orcas swimming east in the Juan de Fuca Strait. We first spotted them at the beachy head lookout section of the trail, then followed them swimming to Aldridge point. From there they continued east and we could no longer see them. ▫ Observed from Shore
LA
HUMPBACK WHALES
Mon Apr 03 2023
13:45 • 1 Humpback Whales heading north approaching Race Point, Discovery Passage.
Very small humpback.
14:35 • 1 Humpback Whales
bucking tide, at Seymour Narrows, Discovery Passage.
Robin Pears, Campbell River Whale Watching
HARBOUR PORPOISE
Thu Mar 30 2023
11:55 • 8 Harbour Porpoise
foraging back and forth, close to Myrtle Point, Malaspina Strait.
Jim Southern, Powell River, BC
SEA OTTERS
Fri Apr 07 2023
10:03 • Sea Otters floating off Orange Point, Discovery Passage.
Robin Pears, Campbell River Whale Watching
SPECIES UNSURE
Sun Mar 26 2023
16:00 • est. 3-4 Species Unsure heading west off Acadia Beach near Point Grey, Vancouver, Burrard Inlet.
Observed for half hour with long gentle rolling, and head out of the water multiple times.
NS, Vancouver, BC
Sat Apr 01 2023
12:15 • est. 2 Species Unsure
travelling, heading south off the beach in Bamberton Park, Saanich Inlet. ▫ Observed from Shore
ST, Victoria, BC
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