The Southern Resident Orca, J-Pod and a few from L-Pod, stayed in the upper Georgia Strait to forage, then continued south past Comox. Transient Bigg's Orca popped up in many of the channels, but aren't favouring any specific area, as of yet.
Humpback Whales are staying in the upper Georgia Strait to forage although they seem to be spreading out a bit, so a good count is difficult. In the mix, we know that we have some of our regulars we have had routinely over the past three or more years including KC, Apollo, Zed, Stripe, Niagara, Nick, Yogi, Chinook and Geometry just to name a few.
As the Summer boating season winds down, reports are needed even more from shore based observers. We have managed to catch-up a few sightings reports that slipped through the cracks during the height of this past extremely hectic Summer season. Our volunteers did an amazing job of staying on top of what they had coming in. I hope you are all giving them a round of applause, with special kudos and thanks to our Senior Editor, Ivan Ng for some major juggling life commitments and his proficient WOWs volunteering accomplishments as well as the extra load. We are pleased to announce that our Fall training is underway to enable better sharing of the load. We will have more info available in our next Sightings Report Society Update.
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
Humpback Whales are staying in the upper Georgia Strait to forage although they seem to be spreading out a bit, so a good count is difficult. In the mix, we know that we have some of our regulars we have had routinely over the past three or more years including KC, Apollo, Zed, Stripe, Niagara, Nick, Yogi, Chinook and Geometry just to name a few.
As the Summer boating season winds down, reports are needed even more from shore based observers. We have managed to catch-up a few sightings reports that slipped through the cracks during the height of this past extremely hectic Summer season. Our volunteers did an amazing job of staying on top of what they had coming in. I hope you are all giving them a round of applause, with special kudos and thanks to our Senior Editor, Ivan Ng for some major juggling life commitments and his proficient WOWs volunteering accomplishments as well as the extra load. We are pleased to announce that our Fall training is underway to enable better sharing of the load. We will have more info available in our next Sightings Report Society Update.
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
Humpback Whale fluking by Hole in the Wall
Kurt Staples, Eagle Eye Adventures
Society News & Events
Real Time Monitoring Station Update: We're LIVE!
Connect to our first installation mounted at Beach Gardens Marina click on our YouTube Channel Live Link. Please bear with us as we work on the transmission problems causing the intermittent bouncy images. Even with the bouncy images, we still managed to have a couple of whale sightings. The hydrophone (underwater listening) installation will follow.
Thank You to all our hardworking volunteers and contributors!
Our team of online Volunteers continue to do a great job in making sure all your sightings reports are mapped and published regularly. Would you like to join us?
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Sightings Update
ISSUE SIGHTINGS MAP 2017-039
Jump to: Biggs Orca | SRKW Orca | Orca | Humpback Whales | PWS Dolphins | Dalls Porpoise | Harbour Porpoise | Other Species
TRANSIENT BIGGS KILLER WHALES
Mon Oct 09 2017
15:34 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ moving slowly, heading south off Copeland Islands, Malaspina Strait.
Nick Templeman, Campbell River Whale and Bear Excursions
15:06 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ heading towards Lund, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Leaving the Scene
13:50 • 5 Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ heading south off Sarah Point towards Copeland Islands, Malaspina Strait. After 30 minutes, they were getting close to the Copeland Islands.
Jerry Weldon, Eagle Eye Adventures
13:42 • Biggs Orca off Indian Point, Savary Island, Malaspina Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
10:23 • 5 Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ in Tenedos Bay, Desolation Sound. ▫ Second Hand
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching
Sat Oct 07 2017
17:28 • Biggs Orca at Quadra Island Scallop Farm heading toward Bullock Bluff, Sutil Channel. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
17:10 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ heading north by Von Donop Inlet. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
16:14 • Biggs Orca ◦T002Cs◦ heading north swimming toward Carrington Bay, Sutil Channel.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching
10:53 • 4 Biggs Orca ◦T101s◦ heading north at McMullen Point, Discovery Passage. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Bill Coltart, Pacific Pro Dive
10:17 • est. 3 Biggs Orca heading north close to Vancouver Island shore about 2 miles south of Eagles Cove, Johnstone Strait.
Jerry Weldon, Eagle Eye Adventures
10:00 • Biggs Orca by Vancouver Island shore north of Browns Bay, Discovery Passage.
Andrew Rice, Campbell River Whale Watching
08:57 • Biggs Orca ◦T101s◦ between Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy and red can on Cortez Reef, Georgia Strait.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
08:20 • Biggs Orca heading north at Browns Bay, Discovery Passage. ▫ Second Hand
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching
Fri Oct 06 2017
15:13 • Biggs Orca moving quickly, heading south passing Myrtle Rocks, Malaspina Strait.
SIGHTING MEDIA
SIGHTING MEDIA
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Bigg's Killer Whales passing Myrtle Rocks quickly
Fri, 6 Oct 2017 - 5 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Bigg's Killer Whales passing Myrtle Rocks quickly
Fri, 6 Oct 2017 - 5 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
15:02 • Biggs Orca heading south towards Myrtle Rocks.
15:01 • 6-7 Biggs Orca passing Grief Point south of Powell River, Malaspina Strait.
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
13:35 • 3-4 Biggs Orca heading south from Sliammon, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Second Hand
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Fri Sep 22 2017
13:48 • 4-5 Biggs Orca heading north out of Waddington Channel, Pryce Channel.
--:-- • 13-14 Biggs Orca ◦T036; T036B; T101s; T102; T137s; T046s◦, Discovery Passage.
Radio, overheard or call out
Thu Sep 21 2017
09:30 • est. 5 Biggs Orca heading north tight to West Redonda Island above Pendrell Sound in Waddington Channel.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Tue Sep 19 2017
11:20 • Biggs Orca Barnes Bay, Okisollo Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
Mon Sep 18 2017
11:20 • Biggs Orca ◦T086As; T087◦ heading towards Baker Passage, Georgia Strait.
09:40 • 5 Biggs Orca ◦T086As; T087◦ heading south, Discovery Passage.
Radio, overheard or call out
Wed Sep 13 2017
16:11 • 3 Biggs Orca heading north just passed by Armour Road Black (Albion) Point, Malaspina Strait.
Lorna Rutledge, Powell River, BC
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Bigg's Killer Whales passing Conville Point
Sun, 24 Sep 2017 - 7 items
Kurt Staples, Eagle Eye Adventures
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Transient Biggs Killer Whales
Transient Bigg's Killer Whales passing Conville Point
Sun, 24 Sep 2017 - 7 items
Kurt Staples, Eagle Eye Adventures
Jump to: Biggs Orca | SRKW Orca | Orca | Humpback Whales | PWS Dolphins | Dalls Porpoise | Harbour Porpoise | Other Species
SOUTHERN RESIDENT KILLER WHALES
Sun Oct 08 2017
21:44 • SRKW Orca milling, heading south off Cape Lazo, Comox, Georgia Strait. ▫ Leaving the Scene
SIGHTING MEDIA
SIGHTING MEDIA
Peter Hamilton, Lifeforce
SIGHTING MEDIA
Southern Resident Killer Whales
Southern Resident Killer Whale moving slowly off of Cape Lazo
Sun, 8 Oct 2017 - 1 items
Peter Hamilton, Lifeforce
SIGHTING MEDIA
Southern Resident Killer Whales
Southern Resident Killer Whale moving slowly off of Cape Lazo
Sun, 8 Oct 2017 - 1 items
Peter Hamilton, Lifeforce
15:22 • SRKW Orca playing, heading south about 2 miles off of Kitty Coleman Beach Park, Georgia Strait. ▫ Leaving the Scene
Bill Coltart, Pacific Pro Dive
14:04 • SRKW Orca spread out and foraging, from Savary Island to Vancouver Island and north of Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
10:29 • SRKW Orca heading south between Marina Reef and the Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy, Sutil Channel. Possibly Resident Orca - very round fins.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
09:18 • SRKW Orca heading north between Francisco Point and Marina Island, Sutil Channel.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Southern Resident Killer Whales
Southern Resident Killer Whales in Georgia Strait
Wed, 4 Oct 2017 - 1 items
David Gauci, Campbell River Whale Watching
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Southern Resident Killer Whales
Southern Resident Killer Whales in Georgia Strait
Wed, 4 Oct 2017 - 1 items
David Gauci, Campbell River Whale Watching
Jump to: Biggs Orca | SRKW Orca | Orca | Humpback Whales | PWS Dolphins | Dalls Porpoise | Harbour Porpoise | Other Species
UNIDENTIFIED KILLER WHALES
Sat Oct 07 2017
14:45 • est. 5 Orca moving slowly, heading west near Gibsons and Keats Island in the middle of Collingwood Channel. Observed Orca from Gospel Rock coming through the 'gap' from Gibsons Harbour past Keats Island into Georgia Strait. They then appeared to split up with some heading straight out heading towards Vancouver Island and two continuing along coast line towards Chaster Park but moving further out from shore. Watched for approx. 15 mins. ▫ Observed from Shore
SIGHTING MEDIA
SIGHTING MEDIA
Karen Holland, Gibsons, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Unidentified Killer Whales
Killer Whales off of Gospel Rock, Gibsons
Sat, 7 Oct 2017 - 2 items
Karen Holland, Gibsons, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Unidentified Killer Whales
Killer Whales off of Gospel Rock, Gibsons
Sat, 7 Oct 2017 - 2 items
Karen Holland, Gibsons, BC
Fri Sep 22 2017
16:25 • Orca by Broken Islands, Johnstone Strait.
13:30 • 4-5 Orca Kelsey Bay, Johnstone Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Unidentified Killer Whales
Killer Whales off of Powell River
Wed, 4 Oct 2017 - 6 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Unidentified Killer Whales
Killer Whales off of Powell River
Wed, 4 Oct 2017 - 6 items
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
Jump to: Biggs Orca | SRKW Orca | Orca | Humpback Whales | PWS Dolphins | Dalls Porpoise | Harbour Porpoise | Other Species
HUMPBACK WHALES
Tue Oct 10 2017
16:43 • 2 Humpback Whales at Whaletown, Sutil Channel.
16:26 • 1 Humpback Whales at Hill Island, Sutil Channel.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
15:14 • 2 Humpback Whales south side of Plunger Passage, Sutil Channel.
Jerry Weldon, Eagle Eye Adventures
14:14 • 1 Humpback Whales heading north between Texada Island and Rebecca Rocks, Malaspina Strait. Just took a dive.
Michelle Pennell, Powell River, BC
08:46 • 2 Humpback Whales south of Cape Mudge Red Can Buoy off Wilby Shoals, Georgia Strait.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Mon Oct 09 2017
15:35 • Humpback Whales off Francisco Point, Sutil Channel.
11:33 • 2 Humpback Whales milling, west of Marina Island, Sutil Channel.
Jerry Weldon, Eagle Eye Adventures
10:48 • 3-4 Humpback Whales heading north between Coulter Island and Carrington Bay, Sutil Channel.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
10:37 • Humpback Whales doing circles, off Francisco Point, Sutil Channel.
Jerry Weldon, Eagle Eye Adventures
10:30 • 1 Humpback Whales at Francisco Point, Quadra Island, Sutil Channel.
10:30 • 2 Humpback Whales between Marina Island and Quadra Island, Sutil Channel.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
10:21 • 1 Humpback Whales off Francisco Point, Sutil Channel.
10:21 • 2 Humpback Whales off Whaletown, Cortes Island, Sutil Channel.
10:21 • 1-2 Humpback Whales off Center Islet North-West of Subtle Islands, Sutil Channel.
10:21 • 2 Humpback Whales heading into Evans Bay, Read Island, Sutil Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
09:29 • 2 Humpback Whales heading east off Marina Island, Sutil Channel.
09:10 • 1 Humpback Whales between Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy and Marina Reef, Georgia Strait. ▫ Leaving the Scene
08:53 • Humpback Whales heading east at Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy, Georgia Strait.
Jack Springer, Campbell River Whale Watching
Sun Oct 08 2017
17:21 • 5 Humpback Whales spread out, between Whaletown and Rebecca Spit, Sutil Channel.
Bill Coltart, Pacific Pro Dive
16:45 • 7 Humpback Whales off Whaletown, Cortes Island, Sutil Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
16:11 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south off Grief Point, Malaspina Strait. Observed through webcam.
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
16:09 • 1 Humpback Whales heading north off the Powell River Viewpoint, Malaspina Strait.
Heather Harbord, Powell River, BC
15:15 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south close to the shore off the Powell River Viewpoint.
14:14 • 1-2 Humpback Whales off the south-west tip of Harwood Island, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
11:00 • est. 3-4 Humpback Whales breaching, heading north-west between French Creek and Jenkins Island, Georgia Strait. Sailing off French Creek and saw them breaching. ▫ On Scene
SIGHTING MEDIA
SIGHTING MEDIA
Ritchie McDonald, Qualicum beach, BC
SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whale breaching between French Creek and Jenkins Island
Sun, 8 Oct 2017 - 1 items
Ritchie McDonald, Qualicum Beach
SIGHTING MEDIA
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whale breaching between French Creek and Jenkins Island
Sun, 8 Oct 2017 - 1 items
Ritchie McDonald, Qualicum Beach
08:54 • 1 Humpback Whales off Shelter Point, Georgia Strait.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching
Sat Oct 07 2017
12:47 • 1 Humpback Whales .75 nautical miles east of Rebecca Spit, Sutil Channel.
Bill Coltart, Pacific Pro Dive
09:03 • 1 Humpback Whales heading north at red can on Cortez Reef, Georgia Strait.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
Fri Oct 06 2017
18:05 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south off Maud Island in Seymour Narrows, Discovery Passage. Kept going south and passed Race point within 20 minutes.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
16:51 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south at Browns Bay, Discovery Passage.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching
16:48 • 1 Humpback Whales heading north off No Name Creek, Discovery Passage.
Garry Henkel, Aboriginal Journeys Whale and Grizzly Bear Tours
13:00 • 1 Humpback Whales heading north just south of Eagles Cove, Discovery Passage.
Josh Grin, Eagle Eye Adventures
11:45 • 2-3 Humpback Whales heading south in Seymour Narrows, Discovery Passage. ▫ Second Hand
Jerry Weldon, Eagle Eye Adventures
09:01 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south off the Cape Mudge Green Can Buoy, Georgia Strait.
Leif Nordman, Campbell River Whale Watching
--:-- • 1 Humpback Whales above Seymour Narrows, Discovery Passage. Seine fisherman had a Humpback whale run through his nets. It's unknown if the whale is free of all net material or still carries some of it.
No Name Provided,
Sat Sep 23 2017
13:28 • 1 Humpback Whales between Grant Reefs and Vivian Island, Georgia Strait.
12:40 • 3 Humpback Whales at the entrance to Hole in the Wall.
12:25 • 2 Humpback Whales below Mitlenatch Island, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
12:10 • 1 Humpback Whales heading north at the bottom of the Copeland Islands, Malaspina Strait. tight to mainland shore.
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
12:00 • Humpback Whales heading south towards Comox from Kitty Coleman Beach Park, Georgia Strait.
11:00 • 2 Humpback Whales at Totem Bay, Hill Island, Sutil Channel.
09:10 • Humpback Whales heading north-east from Quadra Island Scallop Farm towards Viner Point, Sutil Channel.
09:10 • 2 Humpback Whales breaching, at the mouth of Evans Bay, Sutil Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
Fri Sep 22 2017
13:30 • 2 Humpback Whales by Viner Point, Sutil Channel.
13:30 • 2 Humpback Whales heading north bottom of Penn Islands heading towards Whale Passage, Sutil Channel.
08:30 • 1 Humpback Whales outside Von Donop Inlet, Sutil Channel.
08:00 • 6-7 Humpback Whales heading north west side of Manson Passage towards Hernando Island, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
Thu Sep 21 2017
13:00 • 2 Humpback Whales Denham Bay, above, Dent Rapids.
09:15 • 2 Humpback Whales just above Whale Passage, Sutil Channel.
09:00 • 2 Humpback Whales well inside Evans Bay, Sutil Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
Wed Sep 20 2017
11:20 • est. 3-4 Humpback Whales playing, in front of Powell River, Malaspina Strait. They are back and forth not continuing south. ▫ Observed from Shore
Heather Harbord, Powell River, BC
08:35 • 4 Humpback Whales off Powell River. One is a calf. ▫ Observed from Shore
Janet Southcott, Powell River, BC
08:15 • 2 Humpback Whales heading south mid-strait between Powell River and Texada Island, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
Heather Harbord, Powell River, BC
Tue Sep 19 2017
16:00 • 2 Humpback Whales by Bullock Bluff, Calm Channel.
16:00 • 2 Humpback Whales between Hill Island, Plunger Passage, Sutil Channel.
15:30 • 2 Humpback Whales by Quadra Island Scallop Farm below Heriot Bay, Sutil Channel.
15:00 • 2 Humpback Whales breaching, just west of Vivian Island, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
Sun Sep 10 2017
14:16 • 2 Humpback Whales Young Passage, Nodales Channel.
12:42 • est. 2 Humpback Whales, Okisollo Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
Sat Sep 09 2017
10:15 • 3 Humpback Whales by Otter Cove, Discovery Passage.
08:30 • 4 Humpback Whales on Wilby Shoals, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
Wed Sep 06 2017
10:03 • 1 Humpback Whales out from Savary Island, Malaspina Strait. WOWs asked Gordie to locate and confirm this whale's entanglement while we coordinated with the out of town disentanglement team from DFO. The whale had 3 prawn traps and plenty of awful poly line wrapped around it's tail and was exhausted. It was successfully disentangled!.
Gordie Coles, Lund, BC
Mon Aug 28 2017
15:00 • 1 Humpback Whales resting, south of Kinghorn Island, Desolation Sound. seen from plane.
Ron Johnston, Savary Island, BC
13:00 • 3 Humpback Whales heading north just past Grief Point, Malaspina Strait.
11:28 • 1 Humpback Whales breaching, between Grief Point and Van Anda, Malaspina Strait. very active. ▫ Observed from Shore
Joan Treen, Powell River and Savary Island, BC
Sat Aug 26 2017
13:15 • 4 Humpback Whales south of Read Island, Sutil Channel. appeared to be mom and calf with possible escort while the juvenile socialized, rested and vocalized at surface. From sailboat transitting the area.
No Name Provided,
Mon Aug 14 2017
10:18 • 1 Humpback Whales heading south between Grief Point, Harwood Island, Malaspina Strait. ▫ Observed from Shore
Joan Treen, Powell River and Savary Island, BC
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whale by Hole in the Wall
Sun, 24 Sep 2017 - 5 items
Kurt Staples, Eagle Eye Adventures
SPECIES SUPPLEMENT
Humpback Whales
Humpback Whale by Hole in the Wall
Sun, 24 Sep 2017 - 5 items
Kurt Staples, Eagle Eye Adventures
Jump to: Biggs Orca | SRKW Orca | Orca | Humpback Whales | PWS Dolphins | Dalls Porpoise | Harbour Porpoise | Other Species
PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS
Tue Sep 19 2017
11:15 • PWS Dolphins resting, behind Walkem Islands, Johnstone Strait.
09:05 • 10 PWS Dolphins back and forth, Elk Bay, Discovery Passage.
Radio, overheard or call out
Sat Sep 09 2017
11:45 • est. 10-20 PWS Dolphins Browns Bay, Discovery Passage.
Radio, overheard or call out
Jump to: Biggs Orca | SRKW Orca | Orca | Humpback Whales | PWS Dolphins | Dalls Porpoise | Harbour Porpoise | Other Species
DALLS PORPOISE
Tue Oct 10 2017
10:30 • 3 Dalls Porpoise heading north by Kanish Bay, Discovery Passage. Bow riding a seine boat.
Leigh Nelson, Adventure Quest Tours
Sat Sep 23 2017
11:30 • 2 Dalls Porpoise north-west of Major Rock Islet off Lund, Malaspina Strait.
08:45 • Dalls Porpoise Wilby Shoals, Georgia Strait.
Radio, overheard or call out
Sun Sep 10 2017
14:19 • 4-5 Dalls Porpoise between Denham Islet and Dent Island, Dent Rapids.
14:16 • 10-12 Dalls Porpoise foraging, Young Passage, Nodales Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
12:14 • 6-8 Dalls Porpoise foraging, heading north off Davis Point, Nodales Channel. I believe there was a Dalls / Harbour Porpoise Hybrid with them.
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
Sat Sep 09 2017
11:00 • est. 10 Dalls Porpoise, Calm Channel.
Radio, overheard or call out
Jump to: Biggs Orca | SRKW Orca | Orca | Humpback Whales | PWS Dolphins | Dalls Porpoise | Harbour Porpoise | Other Species
HARBOUR PORPOISE
Mon Oct 09 2017
Sat Sep 23 2017
13:20 • 1 Harbour Porpoise foraging, from Mystery Reef towards Harwood Island Spit, Malaspina Strait.
Susan MacKay, Wild Ocean Whale Society
Jump to: Biggs Orca | SRKW Orca | Orca | Humpback Whales | PWS Dolphins | Dalls Porpoise | Harbour Porpoise | Other Species
OF SPECIAL NOTE
Sun Sep 10 2017
11:55 • 1 Other Species at Davis Point, Nodales Channel. Sea Otter popped up.
Eric Schwartz, Wild Ocean Whale Society
NEW! WOWs Sightings Archive Explorer
Recommended for desktop browsers and newer mobile devices
Dive into over 5,000 Cetacean Sightings, images, videos and audio recordings reported in our Sightings Updates with the WOWS Sightings Archive Explorer
Archive Explorer takes readers into the Cetacean world of the BC Coast. Easily view all Cetacean sighting reports together with all sighting photos and videos:
• View species such as Humpback, Grey Whale or Dalls Porpoise
• Follow the endangered Southern Residents Orca in the Salish Sea
• Search for encounters with T002C2 Tumbo
• Goto Port Alberni to watch a close-up video of Orca in the harbour
• Track the T010s Transients as they hunt and travel the inside passage
• Check-Out "KC", the ever popular Humphack and track his whereabouts this past August
• Goto one of 12,000 named locations on the BC and WA State coast
• Print custom sighting reports and maps (Coming Soon)
Explore this powerfull new research tool with the Archive Explorer Help page
Note: The Cetacean Sightings Archive is also available in database format together with sighting photo and video links for viewing, query and download here
Send your Comments and Questions to: Archive Explorer Feedback
Dive into over 5,000 Cetacean Sightings, images, videos and audio recordings reported in our Sightings Updates with the WOWS Sightings Archive Explorer
Archive Explorer takes readers into the Cetacean world of the BC Coast. Easily view all Cetacean sighting reports together with all sighting photos and videos:
• View species such as Humpback, Grey Whale or Dalls Porpoise
• Follow the endangered Southern Residents Orca in the Salish Sea
• Search for encounters with T002C2 Tumbo
• Goto Port Alberni to watch a close-up video of Orca in the harbour
• Track the T010s Transients as they hunt and travel the inside passage
• Check-Out "KC", the ever popular Humphack and track his whereabouts this past August
• Goto one of 12,000 named locations on the BC and WA State coast
• Print custom sighting reports and maps (Coming Soon)
Explore this powerfull new research tool with the Archive Explorer Help page
Note: The Cetacean Sightings Archive is also available in database format together with sighting photo and video links for viewing, query and download here
Send your Comments and Questions to: Archive Explorer Feedback
The Magazine
REGIONAL
Seattle Patch
The Orca Network has requested the public to keep an eye out for a humpback whale that was first seen entangled in the Haro Strait area near Henry Island Friday. A coalition of organizations that make up the Large Whale Entanglement Response Network have responded to more than 100 entangled whales.
"The techniques for disentanglement rely on attaching ropes to the gear that entangles the whale, to allow responders to get close enough to make cuts using long poles with hooked knives," a statement from the Orca Network said. "The gillnet on this whale is fragile and no equipment is capable of attaching to it.
"The good news is, it is expected that the gillnet on the whale will be shed on its own over time. However, complete documentation of this whale will help researchers understand the impacts of entanglements on this individual and of the humpback populations in general."
Haro Strait is in the northern Puget Sound region near the Canadian border.
CBC News
Opponents of the $7.4-billion Trans Mountain pipeline expansion are in the Federal Court of Appeal arguing that risks to endangered orcas were ignored when the project was approved.
The pipeline expansion, which will pump oil from Alberta to B.C. and offer access to global markets, is expected to potentially increase coastal tanker traffic seven-fold, according to Vancouver's mayor.
Conservation groups say that could push southern resident orcas — the estimated 76 remaining — to the brink of extinction.
Opponents have formed a consortium to fight the project, arguing First Nations and environmental concerns were ignored.
They're also raising safety fears because the pipeline would run through populated areas and are questioning whether market demands will even support the controversial venture.
"It's insane to be building this pipeline," said Karen Wristen of Living Oceans, who addressed the federal court Wednesday with concerns about the whales.
"There is just no way you can approve a project that is going to create a seven-fold increase in tanker traffic without damaging the whales. It's contrary to the Species at Risk Act."
A two-week hearing, which began Monday, now involves municipalities, environmental groups and six First Nations, all opposing the approval of the pipeline expansion.
The hearings consolidate several lawsuits originally filed by seven First Nations, Burnaby, Vancouver, the Raincoast Conservation Foundation and Living Oceans Society.
CBC News
Environmentalists invited to Vancouver's orca symposium left frustrated after hearing few solutions from the federal government to restore B.C.'s dwindling killer whale population.
Six orcas along the B.C. South Coast have died over the last two years, reducing the total population to 77. Last month, a young killer whale was spotted malnourished along the south coast. Researchers believe it has also died.
"We haven't heard anything from the government yet about what they're going to do this week, next month, in the next six months, to protect the orcas — and that's what we're waiting to hear," said Christianne Wilhelmson executive director of the Georgia Strait Alliance.
More than 200 stakeholders were in attendance at the event, which runs until Thursday....
WEST COAST
The Orange County Register
Two pods of killer whales — about 10 in total — made a rare showing off the Orange County coastline on Friday, Oct. 6, a treat for marine mammal enthusiasts who either jumped at the chance to see the orcas up close, or just happened to be on a whale watching boat on this particular sunny afternoon.
The buzz about the CA51 and CA216 pods started earlier this week when the orcas were spotted Tuesday by Oceanside Whale Watching and then Thursday by San Diego Whale Watching, the furthest south they have ever been documented, according to Alisa Schulman-Janiger, a whale researcher with the California Killer Whale Project.
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
hakai Magazine
After two months studying the carcasses of seven right whales found dead off Canada’s Atlantic coast this past summer, scientists have revealed what killed six of the endangered animals.
On October 5, Pierre-Yves Daoust, a pathologist at Prince Edward Island’s Atlantic Veterinary College, and Émilie L. Couture, a veterinarian at Zoo de Granby and Université de Montréal, released the results of their investigation into the unprecedented mortality event of this beleaguered species.
There was no evidence of biotoxins. No ...
The Seattle Times
MOUNT DESERT ROCK, Maine —
From the top of the six-story lighthouse, water stretches beyond the horizon in every direction. A foghorn bleats twice at 22-second intervals, interrupting the endless chatter of herring gulls.
At least twice a day, beginning shortly after dawn, researchers climb steps and ladders and crawl through a modest glass doorway to scan the surrounding sea, looking for the distinctive spout of a whale.
This chunk of rock, about 25 nautical miles from Bar Harbor, Maine, is part of a global effort to track and learn more about one of the sea’s most majestic and endangered creatures. So far this year, the small number of sightings here have underscored the growing perils along the East Coast to both humpback whales and North Atlantic right whales.
This past summer, the numbers of humpback whales identified from the rock were abysmal — the team saw only eight instead of the usual dozens. Fifty-three humpbacks have died in the past 19 months, many after colliding with boats or fishing gear.
Scientists worry that the humpbacks might have been forced elsewhere in a search for food as the seas grow rapidly warmer and their feeding grounds are disturbed.
“Food is becoming more patchy and less reliable, so ....
Earth Touch News Network
Orcas have made a name for themselves as master food flingers, but a recent video from Florida shows that their much smaller cousins also have a knack for flipping prey to new heights. ...Why do dolphins sometimes throw their food around? ...
It's possible that fish-throwing is simply a "fun" activity for these intelligent cetaceans. Others speculate that younger individuals engage in such solo games of catch in order to practice their hunting skills. Both of these explanations are also floated when killer whales – the largest of the oceanic dolphins – display the behaviour....
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