Have You Seen Any of These?

Thursday, January 28, 2016

Pacific White Sided Dolphins Make an Appearance


Many Humpback Whales have stayed in North Pacific this year with reports from even around Prince Rupert of bubble net lunge feeding still. Others are still in the Georgia Strait. It is possible the food was so late that instead of carrying on to their usual breeding grounds they have chosen to stay where the food is. Whatever the reason, it's wonderful to have them around. The Transient Bigg's Orca known as T087 has once again been spotted roaming the central Georgia Strait on his own. He has a large dorsal so look forward to hearing of his ongoing travels. There have been a few other pods of Orca reported including the Northern Resident pod known as the A42s and some unidentified as yet. The family pod of Bigg's known as the T002Cs are also expected to be seen this time of year. Keep your eyes open. The birth of the ninth Southern Resident Killer Whale J55 is incredibly good news. In the meantime, K-Pod has made it all the way down the coast to central Oregon. Pacific White Sided Dolphins are usually in the upper Georgia Strait in relatively large numbers at this time of year, and finally we received a couple of sightings of them. It appears that they weren't in any mood to stay around and were last spotted heading up Discovery Passage. Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society


Transient Bigg's T087 off Texada Island
Photo by Jay Feaver, CCG Powell River


Society News


AGM Minutes will be sent to Members shortly.
Our VP Judy Brant has started a GoFundMe Campaign to help us out with our Real Time Monitoring Stations. The on line live streaming will be available free of charge for the viewing and underwater listening of what goes on in various locations in our waters. Thank you Judy! It can be accessed at: https://www.gofundme.com/WOWsociety
On Earth Day, April 22nd. we will be having a fun evening during our Buffet Dinner and Fundraising Event which will help out with the costs of our Real Time Monitoring Stations we have planned.
We will also be holding another one of our yearly raffles with a slightly earlier expected draw date – details to follow.
Our Volunteers (we are all volunteers) logging 50 hours, which is less than one hour a day, or more in a year will receive the next year's membership in WOWs at no cost for their efforts. Although we have not named and welcomed individuals recently, we do welcome them all and appreciate our volunteers and their efforts. A huge thank you for stepping up to the plate!


Would you like to Volunteer and be a part of our growing Society? 
Review our current Volunteer Job Postings
Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
We are the non-profit Wild Ocean Whale Society
Call 1-877-323-9776


Sightings Update



SIGHTINGS MAP 2016-003
SIGHTINGS LOCATIONS MAP


TRANSIENT BIGG'S KILLER WHALES

Tue Jan 19 2016

14:35 • 1 Bigg`s Orca heading North off Pocahontas Bay on Texada Island in Malaspina Strait. ◦T087◦ ▫ From Power or Sail Boat
Jay Feaver, Powell River, CCG



Transient Bigg' s Killer Whales
Tue Jan 19 2016 - 3 Images / Media Files
Jay Feaver, Powell River, CCG




Transient Bigg' s Killer Whales
Tue Jan 19 2016 - 3 Images / Media Files
Jay Feaver, Powell River, CCG



14:35 • 1 Bigg`s Orca travelling, heading North off Texada Island. ◦T87◦ Reported as lone transient bull orca. From the submitted photos, the ID is T87 who has been previously seen traveling alone. It's likely T87 was also the male seen in Nodales channel recently. ▫ From Power or Sail Boat
Jay Feaver, Powell River, CCG



NORTHERN RESIDENT KILLER WHALES

Wed Jan 13 2016

09:00 • 5 NRKW Orca heading South off Dinner Rock in Malaspina Strait. ◦A42s◦ The bull orca was travelling in front of the other 4 orcas. The four were also travelling but they were also circling and jumping. They were quite close to shore - maybe about 100' out, right at the edge where the water is deep. ▫ Observed from Shore
Nell Dragovan, Powell River.



Northern Resident Killer Whales
Wed Jan 13 2016 - 4 Images / Media Files
Nell Dragovan, Powell River.





Northern Resident Killer Whales
Wed Jan 13 2016 - 4 Images / Media Files
Nell Dragovan, Powell River.




Fri Jan 08 2016

18:00 • NRKW Orca between Cortes Island and Lund in Malaspina Strait. ◦A42s◦ When we sailed from Cortes Island to Lund, we saw for almost the whole time an Orca family.
Paul and Caroline Gieb, .



UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES

Tue Jan 26 2016

11:47 • 3 Orca travelling, heading South already past Myrtle Rocks, Powell River in Malaspina Strait. They were moving quickly - with a purpose. ▫ Observed from Shore
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC



Unidentified Killer Whales
Tue Jan 26 2016 - 10 Images / Media Files
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC











Unidentified Killer Whales
Tue Jan 26 2016 - 10 Images / Media Files
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC



10:34 • 2-3 Orca heading South towards Grief Point, Powell River. ▫ Observed from Shore
Madeline Lockstead, Powell River


Fri Jan 15 2016

13:52 • 6 Orca off Campbell River in Discovery Passage. The Orca are passing the fishing pier in Campbell River.
13:44 • 6 Orca heading North almost to Cape Mudge in Strait of Georgia.
13:19 • 6 Orca off Willow Point.
Elvis Chikite, Eagle Eye Adventures



HUMPBACK WHALES

Fri Jan 22 2016

17:07 • 8-10 Humpback Whales breaching, lunge feeding, off the west shore of Smith Island just south of Prince Rupert Harbour in Hecate Strait. Observed from a helicopter on a flight between Campbell River and Prince Rupert. Around 10 humpbacks breaching and lunge feeding. Some in a circle while one or more surfaced in the circle to feed. It was spectacular. I first saw a big splash from a distance and then another one....as I was getting closer I could see it was humpbacks breaching. Then I saw those big bubbles and the whales coming to the surface with the mouth wide open....pretty intense. Amazing moment for pilot and passengers!. ▫ From the air
Fabien Minfray, Helicopter Pilot


Sun Jan 03 2016

15:23 • 2-5 Humpback Whales travelling, heading North near Prince Rupert in the vicinity of Ridley Island in Hecate Strait. From the BC Ferry, Inside Passage route. Possible sighting of two groups of humpback whales. Two whales closer to the ferry, with another group of 2-3 whales further out. ▫ From Ferry
Terry-Lynn Wood, Queen Charlotte.



Humpback Whales
Sun Jan 03 2016 - 4 Images / Media Files
Terry-Lynn Wood, Queen Charlotte.





Humpback Whales
Sun Jan 03 2016 - 4 Images / Media Files
Terry-Lynn Wood, Queen Charlotte.




Sat Jan 03 2015

15:00 • 5? Humpback Whales travelling, heading Unknown Direction in the vicinity of Kinahan Islands in Hecate Strait. 2 groups, not sure what type but was told by a Ferry officer that they were humpback whales. I got a few pictures of tails. ▫ From Ferry
Terry-Lynn Wood, Queen Charlotte



OTHER WHALES

Thu Jan 21 2016

14:46 • 1 Other Whales heading North toward Harwood Island near Algerine Passage. Unknown species. Blow sighted. ▫ Observed from Shore
Dave Carbery, Texada Island, Westview Harbourmaster



PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS

Mon Jan 25 2016

12:06 • PWS Dolphins heading North from April Point off Campbell River in Discovery Passage.
Kurt Staples, Eagle Eye Adventures


Sun Jan 24 2016

11:42 • 100-200 PWS Dolphins heading North passing Black (Albion) Point just below Powell River in Malaspina Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
Bill Taylor, Powell River




SIGHTINGS HEAT MAP 2016-003
SIGHTINGS HEAT MAP


The Magazine

REGIONAL & WEST COAST


Vancouver Sun


The tiny new orca, estimated to be just a few days old, was first seen on Monday in Puget Sound with members of J pod and is the ninth live birth in the population since December 2014. The apparently healthy calf was seen close to two female whales, J14 and J37, so its mother has yet to be identified.



CHEK News


The waters of Vancouver Island are full of marine life, and these days, the sea is swimming with whales.



Daily Breeze,
Torrance CA


Pacific gray whales are making another big showing off the Los Angeles coastline this year.
This is the 33rd year the research count has taken place off Point Vicente from dawn to dusk throughout the gray-whale season, from December through May. “We are well above average, but still below our record year last year,” Schulman-Janiger said. “Last week, we had three days in a row sighting 37 or 38 gray whales, and those were rainy or windy days with low visibility.”

The Pacific gray whale population, which lives most of the year in Alaska, migrates in the winter to Mexican lagoons to mate and give birth in warm water. Schulman-Janiger said their migrations have been occurring earlier in the season in recent years. That could be due to warmer seas causing Alaskan ice sheets to melt quicker, making it easier for the whales to reach the small crustaceans they eat on the sea floor.



National Geographic


Turtle Island’s latest report, California Driftnet Fishery: The True Costs of a 20th Century Fishery in the 21st Century Overview, by Doug Karpa, Peter Fugazzotto and Todd Steiner, makes a compelling case for phasing out this deadly swordfish fishery that kills large numbers of whales, dolphins, sharks and non-target fish. The report exposes the facts about this fishery.


CANADA


CBC News


It's not uncommon to see whales in Notre Dame Bay, but Byron Sheppard was surprised to see the animals when he looked out his window in January.

Whales put on a show in Portugal Cove-St. Philips
Winter whale watching in Bonne Bay? Scientist says send photos
Sheppard has been living near Lewisporte Harbour in Notre Dame Bay for 30 years, but he said he has never seen them in the winter.

"We've been seeing whales now here since Jan. 3," he said.



The Atlantic Monthly


Marine biologists have crowdsourced a facial-recognition algorithm to help them identify the animals on the spot.



Macleans


New research reveals an unprecedented view into the social lives of these ocean mammals, who can use ‘vocal clans’ to distinguish themselves


INTERNATIONAL


The Malibu Times, CA


Spain’s Environment Ministry plans to create a whale highway to protect whales, dolphins, tunas, sharks, sea turtles and so many other species that require help along its Mediterranean coast.



Express & Star, UK


The second tranche of protected areas covering 4,155 square miles, and bringing the total so far to 50 marine conservation zones, was welcomed by conservationists as a step to creating a "blue belt" in the UK's seas, providing protection from harmful activities such as over-fishing.



BBC, UK


A pollutant is present at "dangerously high levels" in Europe's killer whales and dolphins, scientists say.

PCBs were once used in electrical gear, paints and flame retardants, but were banned from the 1970s because of their toxic effect in humans and animals.

However the manmade chemicals have persisted in the environment, and are accumulating in top predators.

The study finds Europe's cetaceans have levels of PCBs that are among the highest found in on the oceans.


Submissions
The WOWs Magazine welcomes reader submissions of links to Published Articles and Media. We also welcome submissions of original: Articles, Letters, Notices, Photography, Video and Audio.

Please look for the Magazine Submissions Button at the bottom of the page and in the top sidebar

Original Material Guidelines:
Notices: max. 100 words; Letters & Articles: max. 500 words. You or your organization must be the Authors of the work and are solely responsible for its content.
The WOWs Magazine gives no assurance material submitted will be published.

Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
We are the non-profit Wild Ocean Whale Society
Call 1-877-323-9776

Thursday, January 14, 2016

Northern Resident and Southern Resident Orca in Upper Georgia Strait


Northern and Southern Resident Orca both made appearances in the upper Georgia Strait. It's wonderful to know that the NRKWs known as the A42's tend to make our waters their winter home. They had spent much of the Summer as far North as Alaska. In our previous report we had them listed as Unidentified, but once we received a few photos, we could definitely ID them. The SRKWs went up to Discovery Passage, but then turned back to the South. With a satellite tag deployed by NOAA on K33 we've included the tracking map for the day the pod was in the upper Strait. Humpback Whales seem to have vacated our area with many of them having continued to the South. We have heard rumours, not an actual date and time report, that a couple of the whales went into Toba Inlet. 

Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society


NRKWs - A42s in front of Powell River
Photo by Michelle Pennell


Society News

Annual General Meeting
Wild Ocean Whale Society's Annual General Meeting is scheduled for January 19, 2016 in Powell River. Please Contact us if you wish to participate or have any general queries.
Volunteers are needed!
Would you like to Volunteer and be a part of our growing Society? 
Review our current Volunteer Job Postings
Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
We are the non-profit Wild Ocean Whale Society
Call 1-877-323-9776


Sightings Update



SIGHTINGS MAP 2016-002
SIGHTINGS LOCATIONS MAP


NORTHERN RESIDENT KILLER WHALES

Fri Jan 08 2016

18:00 • NRKW Orca in front of Lund, Malaspina Strait. ◦A42s◦ While fishing on just in front of the Lund Harbour Orcas swam by us and then started to fish about 100 feet from our boat. After they were done they swam right by us. What a treat to see such a sight.
Gord Chouinard, Lund Seaside Inn, BC



Northern Resident Killer Whales
Fri Jan 08 2016 - 6 Images / Media Files
Gord Chouinard, Lund Seaside Inn, BC







Northern Resident Killer Whales
Fri Jan 08 2016 - 6 Images / Media Files
Gord Chouinard, Lund Seaside Inn, BC



08:30 • 2-3 NRKW Orca heading South off Blubber Bay in Malaspina Strait. The Orca were observed through the fog. ▫ From Ferry
Gladys Raven, Powell River


Thu Jan 07 2016

11:00 • 4 NRKW Orca off Powell River. ◦A42`s◦ Identifications were made thanks to Michelle's photos. ▫ Observed from Shore
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC



Northern Resident Killer Whales
Thu Jan 07 2016 - 9 Images / Media Files
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC










Northern Resident Killer Whales
Thu Jan 07 2016 - 9 Images / Media Files
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC





SOUTHERN RESIDENT KILLER WHALES

Thu Jan 07 2016

11:00 • 20 SRKW Orca foraging, up as far as Cape Mudge, Georgia Strait. ◦J-Pod and K--pod◦ The Orca were feeding on Salmon.
Radio, overheard or call out



Southern Resident Killer Whales
Thu Jan 07 2016 - 1 Images / Media Files
Courtesy NOAA, K33's track via satellite tag


Southern Resident Killer Whales
Thu Jan 07 2016 - 1 Images / Media Files
Courtesy NOAA, K33's track via satellite tag





UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES

Thu Jan 07 2016

12:48 • 1 Orca West of Sonora Island in Nodales Channel. There's at least one male.
Fabien Minfray, Campbell River Whale Watching



OTHER DOLPHINS

Fri Jan 08 2016

12:00 • 3 Other Dolphins travelling, heading South off Sidney in Sidney Channel. Seen from the fishing pier in Sidney, B.C. At noon time. They were coming up and then, a curving motion back down, slowly going along, close to end of pier. Not sure of type, seemed to be all black, or very dark in colour. Sorry didn't get pictures. ▫ On Scene
Hans Smit, North Saanich




SIGHTINGS HEAT MAP 2016-002
SIGHTINGS HEAT MAP


The Magazine
Submissions
The WOWs Magazine welcomes reader submissions of links to Published Articles and Media. We also welcome submissions of original: Articles, Letters, Notices, Photography, Video and Audio.
Please look for the Magazine Submissions Button at the bottom of the page and in the top sidebar, and for our Original Material Guidelines at the bottom of the Magazine.



REGIONAL & WEST COAST


Globe and Mail


Scientist Michael Ford of the Seattle-based Northwest Fisheries Sciences Center says DNA analysis of killer whale fecal matter confirmed more than 98 per cent of the July and August diet of the southern resident whales is salmon, particularly the Chinook salmon bound for British Columbia’s Fraser River and its tributaries.

Scientists on both sides of the border say the study provides useful information to government officials tasked with managing whale recovery efforts and salmon stocks.



The Weather Network

Virology Journal


The study published on Wednesday in the journal Virology, found out of more than 1,000 farmed and wild fish that were tested, 8 per cent of the samples had the European variant of the infectious salmon anaemia virus (ISA).

According to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, ISA is a fin-fish disease caused by a virus that belongs to a family of viruses called Orthomyxoviridae. The agency has not declared the presence of ISA in the province. However, it has been previously reported in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, P.E.I. and Newfoundland. It was first detected in Atlantic Canada in 1996.

The Virology Journal article can be found at:
http://virologyj.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12985-015-0459-1



NOAA


Unmanned aerial vehicle allows scientists to study killer whale health and reproduction while also offering a glimpse into the family life of these social animals. Enjoy video interview with a NOAA scientist describing their work with the Vancouver Aquarium who are doing year to year measurements of whales using Drones to assess whether the supply of Chinook salmon is sufficient for their needs.

The video highlights the intimate family life of the Whale Pod as the family work to care for the calf born just days before the images were taken.


CANADA


CBC News


VIDEO Interview with the Arctic-born fisheries minister says Canada will make good on international agreement on coastal waters.
Federal Fisheries Minister Hunter Tootoo says science will determine not only which areas of Canada's oceans the government will designate as marine protected areas but also what development, if any, will be permitted in those areas.

More info on DFO Marine Protected areas can be found at:
http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/oceans/marineareas-zonesmarines/mpa-zpm/index-eng.htm



CBC News


Beluga migration to Hudson Bay coast is 'incomparable natural wonder,' report says.
The province released a plan on Friday with recommendations on how to protect belugas that migrate to Manitoba's western Hudson Bay coastline. The province's conservation minister says he will also raise it with the federal fisheries minister when the two meet later this month.



The Chronicle Herald,
Sidney, NS


A new study examining the amount of drag that fishing gear has on entangled whales could help rescue teams save them from emaciation and death.

The study, published in Marine Mammal Science this month, has quantified for the first time how much drag is produced when North Atlantic right whales get caught up in fishing gear and tow it through the water.


INTERNATIONAL


Takepart


The 20-foot killer whale was identified as Lulu, a member of the rare resident population of orcas that live off Scotland’s west coast. According to the Hebridean Dolphin and Whale Trust, there may be as few as eight individuals remaining in the West Coast Community, which has not produced calves since the conservation group began studying the pod in 1992.



TTG Media


With dolphin and whale watching on the rise, Edward Robertson looks at how the World Cetacean Alliance’s new accreditation scheme can safeguard the practice’s future.



EarthTouch News Network


With climate change Globally and the El Nino effect here on the Pacific Coast, whales are appearing in new territories. In this story, we learn about a surprising danger faced by Pilot whales coping with the natural challenges they encounter as their territories change.
A pod of a few dozen pilot whales was spotted in the North Sea, along the coasts of the UK and Belgium. They were far from home – pilot whales are almost never seen in this part of the Atlantic.Six weeks later ...



Governance Now, India


According to a census undertaken by the Uttar Pradesh forest department and the World Wide Fund for Nature, India, in early October, as many as 1,263 dolphins were found in a stretch of over 3,000 km in the Ganges.




The WOWs Magazine welcomes reader submissions of links to Published Articles and Media. We also welcome submissions of original: Articles, Letters, Notices, Photography, Video and Audio.

Please look for the Magazine Submissions Button at the bottom of the page and in the top sidebar.


Original Material Guidelines:
Notices: max. 100 words; Letters & Articles: max. 500 words. You or your organization must be the Authors of the work and are solely responsible for its content.
The WOWs Magazine gives no assurance material submitted will be published.
Have you seen a whale, dolphin or porpoise?
We are the non-profit Wild Ocean Whale Society
Call 1-877-323-9776