It is Spring time and with this time of year, there is renewal of life as there is more sunshine warming the land and the sea. The abundance of organisms increases all around us, and with careful observation and patience, one may see more Cetaceans here in our B.C. waters. Dolphins and porpoises may appear. Baleen whales such as Grey whales and Humpback whales return after staying in warmer waters during the winter months. Some of the Baleen whales may have calves with them after giving birth to them in the tropics. Transient Orca appear regularly in Georgia Strait and adjacent waterways, but they move around extensively so they are difficult to track. If you see any Cetaceans, let us know!
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 to learn about sightings of Orca and studies on Blue whales. The magazine section also has an article about river dolphins and the discovery of a fossil of an ancient river dolphin.
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: 2024-004
TRANSIENT BIGGS KILLER WHALES
Thu Mar 07 2024
08:40 • Biggs Orca heading west between the Walkem Islands, Johnstone Strait.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
Sun Mar 10 2024
09:00 • 1 Biggs Orca heading north on the ferry line between Powell River Ferry Terminal and Comox (Little River) Ferry Terminal, Malaspina Strait.
Male.
John Hermsen, Footprint Kayak and Hike Explorations
Wed Mar 13 2024
11:47 • est. 7-8 Biggs Orca heading south-west off Connis Point along the shore of West Redonda Island, Deer Passage.
Robin Pears, Campbell River Whale Watching
13:30 • est. 4-5 Biggs Orca heading north by Van Anda, Malaspina Strait.
Micheline Macauley, Texada Island, BC
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Orca heading north by Van Anda, Malaspina Strait
Wed, 13 Mar 2024 – 1 items
Micheline Macauley, Texada Island, BC
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Orca heading north by Van Anda, Malaspina Strait
Wed, 13 Mar 2024 – 1 items
Micheline Macauley, Texada Island, BC
15:52 • est. 3-4 Biggs Orca heading north just off Rebecca Rocks, Malaspina Strait.
Barry Rice, Powell River, BC
Thu Mar 14 2024
–:– • 39 Biggs Orca ◦T018s,T034s,T036As,T037,T065As,T087,T101,T124s◦ around Comox, Georgia Strait.
In the area from 10am to sunset. They were ranging from Cape Lazo to Comox down to Lambert Channel.
Jen Smalley, Wild Waterways Adventures
07:45 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ heading north between Edith Point and Mayne Point, Mayne Passage.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
Sat Mar 16 2024
08:55 • 5 Biggs Orca heading north off Van Anda, Texada Island, Malaspina Strait.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Orca heading north off Van Anda, Texada Island, Malaspina Strait
Sat, 16 Mar 2024 – 3 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Orca heading north off Van Anda, Texada Island, Malaspina Strait
Sat, 16 Mar 2024 – 3 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Sun Mar 17 2024
16:00 • est. 5+ Biggs Orca heading north by the Texada Island cell tower, Malaspina Strait.
One, maybe two big boys.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
16:44 • Biggs Orca travelling toward Rebecca Rocks, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Second Hand
Judy Brant, Powell River, BC
Tue Mar 19 2024
16:10 • Biggs Orca
moving slowly, heading north, south of Eagles Cove, Discovery Passage.
Jess Cavanagh, Blind Channel Resort
Thu Mar 21 2024
–:– • Biggs Orca heading north, Indian Arm.
Observed/reported in the afternoon and evening. ▫ Second Hand
Colleen MacDonald, Belcarra, BC
Fri Mar 22 2024
07:15 • 5 Biggs Orca
milling, off Whiskey Cove, Belcarra, Indian Arm.
I spotted dorsal fins just off our dock (7:15am). There was one very large whale and 4 smaller whales. We watched the whales from the house. They went into Whiskey Cove, then in and out of the cove. We were surprised how long they stayed as usually whales just go cruising past and don’t stop for long. I think they were in our cove for almost 30 minutes. They went in and out of the cove, possibly herding seals or herring, although I didn’t see any herring. The whales headed south and were spotted by neighbours as they went past Boulder Island. ▫ Observed from Shore
Colleen MacDonald, Belcarra, BC
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Orca off Whiskey Cove, Belcarra, Indian Arm
Fri, 22 Mar 2024 – 3 items
Colleen MacDonald, Belcarra, BC
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Orca off Whiskey Cove, Belcarra, Indian Arm
Fri, 22 Mar 2024 – 3 items
Colleen MacDonald, Belcarra, BC
08:35 • 1 Biggs Orca
moving quickly, heading east passing Second Narrows, Vancouver, Burrard Inlet.
Observed from the WestCoast express train. One Orca just surfacing quickly. Straight dorsal fin, big white eye spots, bright grey mark behind the dorsal fin. ▫ Observed from Shore
Ada Sakowicz, Vancouver, BC
Tue Mar 26 2024
09:39 • 4 Biggs Orca heading north across from Myrtle Point, Malaspina Strait.
Jim Southern, Powell River, BC
10:33 • est. 6-7 Biggs Orca heading north about 200-meters out from the Powell River Ferry Terminal, Malaspina Strait.
Barry Rice, Powell River, BC
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Orca heading north off Powell River Ferry Terminal, Malaspina Strait
Tue, 26 Mar 2024 – 4 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Orca heading north off Powell River Ferry Terminal, Malaspina Strait
Tue, 26 Mar 2024 – 4 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
13:00 • Biggs Orca ◦T036As,T100s◦ 2-miles north of Blubber Bay, Malaspina Strait.
Reuben saw the Orca. ▫ Second Hand
Jen Smalley, Wild Waterways Adventures
Wed Mar 27 2024
16:30 • 1 Biggs Orca
moving quickly, heading north-east off Sheringham Point, Strait of Juan de Fuca.
20 second shallow dives, moving fast. ▫ Observed from Shore
LV, Shirley, BC
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Orca off Sheringham Point, Strait of Juan de Fuca
Wed, 27 Mar 2024 – 1 items
LV
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Orca off Sheringham Point, Strait of Juan de Fuca
Wed, 27 Mar 2024 – 1 items
LV
17:50 • 2 Biggs Orca
moving quickly, heading north-east off Sheringham Point. ▫ Observed from Shore
LV, Shirley, BC
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Orca off Sheringham Point, Strait of Juan de Fuca
Wed, 27 Mar 2024 – 1 items
LV
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Biggs Orca off Sheringham Point, Strait of Juan de Fuca
Wed, 27 Mar 2024 – 1 items
LV
Thu Mar 28 2024
11:56 • Biggs Orca ◦T100s◦ heading south at the mouth of Okisollo Channel, Discovery Passage.
And others.
13:39 • Biggs Orca ◦T100s◦ heading south at 5 knots in front of Browns Bay, Discovery Passage.
Same group. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Robin Pears, Campbell River Whale Watching
Fri Mar 29 2024
12:30 • 4 Biggs Orca heading north between Mitlenatch Island and Sutil Point, Georgia Strait.
John Hermsen, Footprint Kayak and Hike Explorations
17:41 • 1 Biggs Orca heading north by the Powell River Westview Harbour, Malaspina Strait.
Male Orca.
Barry Rice, Powell River, BC
Sat Mar 30 2024
13:51 • 5 Biggs Orca heading south-east off Bernard Point, Maurelle Island, Calm Channel.
Reuben Buerge, Wild Waterways Adventures
14:45 • 5 Biggs Orca heading north-east at the north end of Whiterock Passage.
All small finned Orca. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
SOUTHERN RESIDENT KILLER WHALES
Thu Mar 14 2024
–:– • SRKW Orca south of Hornby Island, Georgia Strait.
The Orca were there for a couple of days. ▫ Second Hand
Jen Smalley, Wild Waterways Adventures
Sun Mar 31 2024
13:10 • SRKW Orca heading south past Kye Bay towards Comox, Georgia Strait. ▫ Second Hand
Radio, overheard or call out
HUMPBACK WHALES
Sun Mar 31 2024
12:53 • 1 Humpback Whales heading north-east between Raza Island and Rendezvous Islands, Calm Channel.
Small sized humpback.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
GREY WHALES
Sun Mar 17 2024
12:03 • est. 1 Grey Whales
lunge feeding, heading north-west, Nuchatlitz Park, Pacific Ocean. ▫ From Power or Sail Boat
JH, USA
Grey Whales
Grey Whale lunge feeding off Nuchatlitz Park, Pacific Ocean
Sun, 17 Mar 2024 – 1 items
JH
Grey Whales
Grey Whale lunge feeding off Nuchatlitz Park, Pacific Ocean
Sun, 17 Mar 2024 – 1 items
JH
PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
Mon Apr 01 2024
09:45 • est. 25+ PWS Dolphins west of Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait. ▫ From Power or Sail Boat
John Hermsen, Footprint Kayak and Hike Explorations
15:00 • est. 5+ PWS Dolphins
travelling, heading west to the west of Ambleside Park, West Vancouver, Burrard Inlet.
Observer was walking on the West Vancouver Seawalk and noticed a small group of short fins rising in and out of the water – harbour – traveling east to west. ▫ Observed from Shore
PH, BC
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
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Archive Explorer dives into the Coastal Cetacean world. View Cetacean sighting locations, photos and videos:
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