Cover Image: Pacific White Sided Dolphins near Powell River Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC World Whale Day is celebrated this year on Sunday, February 19th. It a day to appreciate all Cetaceans -meaning whales, dolphins, and porpoises- and their importance in their environments. We can also reflect on ways to conserve and protect these wonderful,…
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Cover Image: A mother orca and mother dolphin travelling together Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours Dependent on the location and time of year, one may be able to see Resident Orca travelling with Pacific White-Sided dolphins. The Pacific White-Sided dolphins know how to distinguish between the Resident “fish-eating” Orca and the…
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Cover Image: Pacific White Sided Dolphins near Powell River Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC Large pods of Pacific White-Sided dolphins appeared off Powell River on December 17th and again on December 28th. Each pod was estimated to include around two hundred dolphins and they were visible from shore. Our cover image shows two dolphins travelling…
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Cover Image: Humpback Whale near Powell River Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC There appears to be many Humpback whales in waterways and inland channels. Humpback whales were observed in Johnstone Strait, Discovery Passage, Georgia Strait, Malaspina Strait, and off Nanaimo as well as the Sunshine Coast. Eventhough they may be well offshore (e.g. a few…
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Cover Image: Orca travelling together! Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours Whales, dolphins, and porpoises are often in groups or pods. Orca tend to stay together as families with the oldest female being the leader of the pod. Transient Orca tend to be in groups of 4 to 6 individuals while Resident…
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Cover Image: Pacific White Sided Dolphins Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours The presence of many sea birds (e.g. seagulls) may indicate that are either whales or dolphins in the area too. The sea birds may be looking for opportunities to snatch fish near the surface of the water as the whales…
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Cover Image: Transient Biggs Orca blowing a rainbow! Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours During the past reporting period, many Transient Orca were observed and a few of the Orca pods were seen hunting their prey. On October 11, Southern Resident Orca (J-pod) appeared off of Powell River mid-day and they appeared…
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Cover Image: Transient Biggs Killer Whale Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions Occasionally, one may be fortunate to see the tails (flukes) of whales. It may be when whales are diving, breaching, playing on the surface, or even when they do tail lobs. When chasing and hunting their prey, Transient Orca may exit…
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Cover Image: Humpback – KC – with krill on their back! Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society In the previous publication, the feeding methods of Humpback whales was discussed. What do Humpbacks eat? Humpbacks may feed on krill, which are small crustaceans no bigger than a few centimeters and they look very similar to shrimp.…
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Cover Image: Humpback Whale Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours Whales and dolphins use various strategies to capture their prey and to feed. Humpback whales are known for a few methods, such as bubble-net feeding. Humpbacks will swim in a circle below their prey (schooling fish) and while doing so, they would…
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Cover Image: Humpback breaching! Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours Understanding that an average size Humpback Whale is approximately the size of a bus, 40 ft. (just over 12M) and can weigh in the neighbourhood of 66,000 lbs (30,000 kg) can help put perspective into seeing this large animal coming totally out…
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Cover Image: Transient Biggs Killer Whale, Galiano Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions Because they can! That is the most common response you might receive. A breach is when the majority of a whale’s body comes out of the water. Watching a large whale coming totally out of the water is absolutely spectacular.…
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