Members of the Northern Resident Orca appeared near Powell River and upper Georgia Strait on December 5th and December 8th. The Northern Resident Orca appear in upper Georgia Strait a few times a year but they are not usually seen there at this time of year. One calf was observed in one of the Resident Orca pods. Humpback whales were also observed in Georgia Strait, and other waterways like Sutil Channel and Johnstone Strait. Rounding our report are a couple of large pods of Pacific White-Sided dolphins.
Go to our Magazine section and watch some videos showing different Orca behaviours, read about the world’s first marine protected area for Sperm whales, and learn more about the Gingko-toothed beaked whale.
We wish you an Enjoyable Holiday Season and the very Best in the New Year!
The Federal Government (DFO) issued the following statement about watching Orca in the wild: “Vessels must stay 400m away from all killer whales in southern BC coastal waters between Campbell River and just north of Ucluelet until May 31, 2024.” 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.
A great resource for up to date Canadian or US regulations: Be Whale Wise Guidelines
WOWs works throughout the year, so please continue to keep your eyes open, and report your sightings to us.
Sightings Update
SIGHTINGS MAP – ISSUE: 2023-026
TRANSIENT BIGGS KILLER WHALES
Sun Nov 26 2023
12:15 • 2 Biggs Orca heading south at Blind Channel.
2 males.
Eliot Richter, Blind Channel Resort
Wed Nov 29 2023
14:20 • 2 Biggs Orca heading south off Raven Bay, Texada Island, Malaspina Strait.
Jim Southern, Powell River, BC
Sat Dec 02 2023
09:51 • 2 Biggs Orca heading south off Chatham Point, Discovery Passage.
Two big fin Orca (males).
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
Wed Dec 06 2023
11:34 • est. 4 Biggs Orca between Breton Islands and Rebecca Spit, Sutil Channel.
Multiple groups between the spit and the Bretons.
Jen Smalley, Wild Waterways Adventures
15:18 • Biggs Orca to the west of Rebecca Rocks, Georgia Strait.
Blows more frequent and grouped together.
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
Thu Dec 07 2023
08:50 • est. 3-4 Biggs Orca entering Okisollo Channel.
Leaving Discovery Passage.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
Mon Dec 11 2023
15:05 • 2 Biggs Orca entering Cordero Channel.
Leaving Mayne Passage & Blind Channel. Whales have small fins (females).
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
NORTHERN RESIDENT KILLER WHALES
Tue Dec 05 2023
12:54 • est. 9 NRKW Orca ◦A25s◦ heading north off Myrtle Point, Malaspina Strait.
Jim Southern, Powell River, BC
13:52 • est. 7-9 NRKW Orca ◦A25s◦ heading north, south of the Powell River Viewpoint, Malaspina Strait.
Two big fins (males).
15:04 • NRKW Orca ◦A25s◦ heading north by Grief Point, Malaspina Strait.
Another group.
15:04 • est. 7-9 NRKW Orca ◦A25s◦ by Harwood Island Sandbanks (Bluffs), Malaspina Strait.
First group.
Barry Rice, Powell River, BC
Northern Resident Killer Whales
Northern Resident Killer Whales heading north off Powell River, Malaspina Strait.
Tue, 5 Dec 2023 – 3 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Northern Resident Killer Whales
Northern Resident Killer Whales heading north off Powell River, Malaspina Strait.
Tue, 5 Dec 2023 – 3 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Fri Dec 08 2023
16:10 • est. 4+ NRKW Orca ◦A25s◦ heading south passing the Powell River Viewpoint, Malaspina Strait.
Barry Rice, Powell River, BC
16:22 • est. 6-7 NRKW Orca ◦A25s◦ south of Powell River Viewpoint.
Includes one calf.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Unidentified Killer Whales
Killer Whale splashing
Wed, 6 Dec 2023 – 1 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours, BC
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Unidentified Killer Whales
Killer Whale splashing
Wed, 6 Dec 2023 – 1 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours, BC
HUMPBACK WHALES
Sun Nov 19 2023
10:00 • Humpback Whales north of Gillies Bay, Texada Island, Georgia Strait.
Johan Axen, New Westminster, BC
Wed Nov 22 2023
14:15 • 2 Humpback Whales west of Camp Point in Race Passage, Johnstone Strait.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
15:44 • est. 6-8 Humpback Whales west of Rebecca Rocks, Georgia Strait.
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
Fri Nov 24 2023
14:20 • 5 Humpback Whales
spread out, between the Pinnacles and Savary Island, Georgia Strait.
One pair of whales look like a mother-calf pair. One or two whales singing very far away.
Jude Abrams, Otter Be Good Productions
Sat Dec 02 2023
09:53 • est. 3-4 Humpback Whales heading south off Coho (Kiddie) Point at the NW tip of Texada Island, Malaspina Strait.
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
14:15 • est. 1-2 Humpback Whales south-west of Stradiotti Reef, Georgia Strait.
Jude Abrams, Otter Be Good Productions
Sun Dec 03 2023
15:33 • est. 2-3 Humpback Whales heading north 1/4 way from Rebecca Rocks, Malaspina Strait.
Sherri Wretham, Powell River, BC
Tue Dec 05 2023
15:04 • est. 1-2 Humpback Whales close to Rebecca Rocks.
Barry Rice, Powell River, BC
Wed Dec 06 2023
11:34 • est. 3 Humpback Whales south of Rebecca Spit mid Sutil Channel.
11:34 • 2 Humpback Whales south of Whaletown, Cortes Island, Sutil Channel.
Jen Smalley, Wild Waterways Adventures
12:37 • 1 Humpback Whales south of Harwood Island, Malaspina Strait.
Just dove, lots of white on the fluke.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
15:18 • est. 5+ Humpback Whales around Rebecca Rocks, Georgia Strait.
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
Thu Dec 07 2023
14:00 • est. 1 Humpback Whales
taking long dives, heading north-west off Kelsey Bay, Johnstone Strait.
Sighted first near Port Khusam, then in front of the Kelsey Bay wharf, then heading towards Yorke Island. Not a very large whale, no marking on the tail flukes but just distinct notch on back right in front of tail fluke. ▫ Observed from Shore
ES
Fri Dec 08 2023
12:00 • Humpback Whales off the SW point of Harwood / Ahgykson Island, Malaspina Strait.
Blow was seen. Close to shore.
Sherri Wretham, Powell River, BC
Sun Dec 10 2023
14:31 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north by the buoy at Atrevida Reef north of Powell River, Malaspina Strait.
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
Mon Dec 11 2023
09:51 • Humpback Whales off Rebecca Rocks, Malaspina Strait.
Blows observed.
13:32 • 3 Humpback Whales off the SW tip of Harwood Island, Malaspina Strait.
Sherri Wretham, Powell River, BC
Tue Dec 12 2023
08:36 • 2 Humpback Whales just west of Kelsey Bay, Johnstone Strait.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Humpback Whales
Humpback pectoral fin slapping
Thu, 14 Dec 2023 – 1 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours, BC
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Humpback Whales
Humpback pectoral fin slapping
Thu, 14 Dec 2023 – 1 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours, BC
PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
Sat Nov 25 2023
16:15 • est. 50 PWS Dolphins near Cortez Reef, Georgia Strait.
The dolphins surrounded our sailboat for 10 minutes and played with us before zipping off for food. ▫ From Power or Sail Boat
Terry Brown, Otter Be Good Productions
Wed Nov 29 2023
08:36 • est. 150 PWS Dolphins heading south mid-strait in front of Powell River, Malaspina Strait.
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins in sync
Sun, 26 Nov 2023 – 1 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours, BC
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Pacific White Sided Dolphins in sync
Sun, 26 Nov 2023 – 1 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours, BC
SPECIES UNSURE
Sun Dec 03 2023
16:35 • 1 Species Unsure between Victoria and Port Angeles, Strait of Juan de Fuca.
Seen from black ball ferry about 35 minutes after departure, near Sooke. Had a black dorsal fin. ▫ From Ferry
RP, Seattle, WA
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