Members of the Northern Resident Orca have remained in upper Georgia Strait during the past two weeks, notably around Powell River. Resident Orca eat fish and tend to travel in larger pods, compared to the Transient Orca which eat marine mammals and travel in smaller pods. A few pods of Transient Orca were reported but they appeared in different waterways and did not overlap geographically with the Resident Orca. Humpback whales are still around but there appears to be less of them since the beginning of January. On two occasions, the presence of many seabirds accompanied the Humpback whales. There was one pod of Dall’s porpoises observed around Powell River and also reported were a couple of sightings of Pacific White-Sided dolphins.
PLEASE NOTE: Our links currently show as broken, but they DO work. We apologize for any confusion as we wait for Google’s fix.
Go to our Magazine section and learn about a dolphin with thumbs sighted near Greece and about a white Omura’s whale sighted near Thailand.
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: 2024-001
TRANSIENT BIGGS KILLER WHALES
Tue Dec 19 2023
12:45 • 2 Biggs Orca heading north, north of Sliammon / Tla’amin Nation, Malaspina Strait.
A very big one and a small one. ▫ Observed from Shore
Brenda Currie, Van Anda, BC
Fri Dec 22 2023
14:45 • 3 Biggs Orca
moving quickly, heading north to the south of Savary Island, Malaspina Strait.
One Orca with a very tall fin (male).
Jude Abrams, Otter Be Good Productions
16:08 • 4 Biggs Orca heading west off Walkem Islands, Johnstone Strait.
Three females and one small baby.
Eliot Richter, Blind Channel Resort
Mon Jan 01 2024
14:45 • 4 Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ by Lyall Island entering Loughborough Inlet.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
Tue Jan 02 2024
08:35 • Biggs Orca heading south, Blind Channel.
Pointed towards Johnstone Strait.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
11:11 • est. 5-6 Biggs Orca off Turn Island, Johnstone Strait.
Eliot Richter, Blind Channel Resort
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Orca Spyhopping!
Thu, 28 Dec 2023 – 1 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Orca Spyhopping!
Thu, 28 Dec 2023 – 1 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Orca Blowing!
Wed, 10 Jan 2024 – 1 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Orca Blowing!
Wed, 10 Jan 2024 – 1 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
NORTHERN RESIDENT KILLER WHALES
Sun Dec 31 2023
17:00 • est. 4 NRKW Orca
hunting, heading south-east between Lund and Savary Island, Malaspina Strait.
Mother and calf and small male. Interrupted by a couple of small power boats, after which they didn’t surface for a while, then went from hunting to moving quickly. Mother and calf were a little separate from the male and other female. ▫ Observed from Shore
RW, Lund, BC
Tue Jan 02 2024
12:30 • est. 5-8 NRKW Orca
tail slaps, heading north-east to the west of Mace Point, Savary Island, Malaspina Strait.
We saw them from the shore of Savary Island. We were staying on the Northeast side of the island and watched them head NorthEast swimming quickly, tailslapping and taking shallow dives as they proceeded around the top of the island. It seemed like there was only one large male with a very very tall dorsal fin, the rest of the group had much shorter dorsal fins. The large male would sometimes roll to the side waving his pectoral fins! It was an energetic group and quite lovely to watch. We were surprised they were so close to the shore!. ▫ Observed from Shore
JD, Savary Island, BC
Fri Jan 05 2024
16:08 • 2 NRKW Orca heading south off Myrtle Point, Malaspina Strait.
Two big fin Orca (males).
Jim Southern, Powell River, BC
Sat Jan 06 2024
15:48 • est. 4+ NRKW Orca
spread out, heading south out from the Powell River Ferry Terminal, Malaspina Strait.
Four or five together and more Orca further out into the strait. Almost at Grief Point at 16:00.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
16:37 • est. 6-8 NRKW Orca heading south off Myrtle Point, Malaspina Strait.
At least one male in the pod.
Jim Southern, Powell River, BC
Tue Jan 09 2024
08:15 • 4 NRKW Orca heading south off the north side of Harwood Island, Malaspina Strait.
Dave Jevons
Wed Jan 10 2024
10:40 • NRKW Orca ◦A25s,A42s◦ heading south past the Powell River Viewpoint, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Northern Resident Killer Whales
North Resident Killer Whales – A25s, A42s – by the Powell River Viewpoint, Malaspina Strait
Wed, 10 Jan 2024 – 2 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Northern Resident Killer Whales
North Resident Killer Whales – A25s, A42s – by the Powell River Viewpoint, Malaspina Strait
Wed, 10 Jan 2024 – 2 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
11:38 • NRKW Orca ◦A25s,A42s◦ heading south passing Van Anda, Texada Island, Malaspina Strait.
Jim Southern, Powell River, BC
Sat Jan 13 2024
09:30 • est. 6-7 NRKW Orca heading north off Hornby Island, Lambert Channel. ▫ Second Hand
Jen Smalley, Wild Waterways Adventures
11:36 • NRKW Orca ◦A23s,A42s◦ heading south off Gibsons Beach just north of Powell River, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Northern Resident Killer Whales
North Resident Killer Whales- A23s, A42s – off Gibsons Beach, Malaspina Strait
Sat, 13 Jan 2024 – 5 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Northern Resident Killer Whales
North Resident Killer Whales- A23s, A42s – off Gibsons Beach, Malaspina Strait
Sat, 13 Jan 2024 – 5 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
12:14 • est. 7-8 NRKW Orca ◦A23s,A42s◦ heading south towards the Powell River Ferry Terminal, Malaspina Strait.
Barry Rice, Powell River, BC
14:30 • est. 12 NRKW Orca ◦A23s,A42s◦
spread out, passing Myrtle Point, Malaspina Strait.
Jim Southern, Powell River, BC
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Northern Resident Killer Whales
North Resident Killer Whales – A23s, A42s – blowing and travelling together!
Sat, 6 Jan 2024 – 7 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Northern Resident Killer Whales
North Resident Killer Whales – A23s, A42s – blowing and travelling together!
Sat, 6 Jan 2024 – 7 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
HUMPBACK WHALES
Sun Dec 17 2023
08:20 • 6 Humpback Whales
breaching; moving quickly, just north of Grilse Point at the north end of Texada Island, Malaspina Strait.
Big feeding frenzy; joined by likely 3000+ birds. ▫ From Ferry
Iwan Van Veen, Footprint Kayak and Hike Explorations
13:09 • est. 6+ Humpback Whales between Rebecca Rocks and Harwood Island, Malaspina Strait.
Barry Rice, Powell River, BC
14:36 • Humpback Whales heading north between Blubber Bay and Powell River, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Mon Dec 18 2023
14:05 • 2 Humpback Whales
foraging, near Eagle Cove, Texada Island, Malaspina Strait.
Just saw two tails.
Micheline Macauley, Texada Island, BC
14:49 • 3 Humpback Whales heading east mid channel between Harwood Island Sandbanks (Bluffs) and the Powell River Mill (Pulp & Paper), Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Thu Dec 21 2023
10:46 • est. 2+ Humpback Whales heading north of Coho (Kiddie) Point a third of the way to Rebecca Rocks, Malaspina Strait.
Lots of birds.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Fri Dec 22 2023
09:00 • 2 Humpback Whales inside Blubber Bay, Texada Island, Malaspina Strait.
Close to shore by the ferry.
Karin & Gavin Miller, Texada Island, BC
09:16 • 2 Humpback Whales north of Coho (Kiddie) Point at the NW tip of Texada Island, Malaspina Strait.
09:16 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north just north of Rebecca Rocks, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Sat Dec 23 2023
12:30 • 2 Humpback Whales
taking long dives, between Divers Rock and Indian Point, Malaspina Strait.
Viewed from Divers Rock. ▫ Observed from Shore
Terry Brown, Otter Be Good Productions
Tue Dec 26 2023
11:00 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north toward Harwood Island Spit, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
13:28 • 3 Humpback Whales heading south around the Powell River Ferry Terminal, Malaspina Strait.
13:59 • 2 Humpback Whales about half way between the Powell River Viewpoint and Rebecca Rocks, Malaspina Strait.
Barry Rice, Powell River, BC
Thu Dec 28 2023
08:55 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south-west in Blind Channel.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
Sat Dec 30 2023
13:00 • 2 Humpback Whales heading towards Harwood / Ahgykson Island, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
14:30 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south just north of Harwood Island, Malaspina Strait.
Dave Jevons
15:58 • 3 Humpback Whales heading south off Myrtle Point, Malaspina Strait.
Jim Southern, Powell River, BC
Sun Dec 31 2023
16:00 • 1 Humpback Whales
foraging, between Hernando Island and Powell Islets, Malaspina Strait.
Jude Abrams, Otter Be Good Productions
Tue Jan 02 2024
09:45 • 2 Humpback Whales west end of Helmcken Island, Johnstone Strait.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
Wed Jan 03 2024
10:08 • est. 2+ Humpback Whales heading north off Van Anda, Texada Island, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
16:00 • 4 Humpback Whales
spread out, between Breton Islands and Rebecca Spit, Sutil Channel.
One broke off and headed south along the Quadra shoreline. These whales were here in the same area yesterday.
Jen Smalley, Wild Waterways Adventures
Sat Jan 06 2024
09:09 • est. 1+ Humpback Whales
foraging, between Rebecca Rocks and Coho (Kiddie) Point, Malaspina Strait.
Sherri Wretham, Powell River, BC
PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
Sun Dec 31 2023
08:31 • PWS Dolphins heading south close in to Grief Point, Malaspina Strait.
Small group.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
10:50 • est. 8-10 PWS Dolphins heading south close in to Myrtle Point, Malaspina Strait.
Jim Southern, Powell River, BC
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Mirror image Pacific white sided dolphin!
Fri, 22 Dec 2023 – 1 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Pacific White Sided Dolphins
Mirror image Pacific white sided dolphin!
Fri, 22 Dec 2023 – 1 items
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
DALLS PORPOISE
Fri Jan 12 2024
10:30 • est. 6 Dalls Porpoise
circling, out from the Powell River Viewpoint, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
