Got the message from MMRG (Ron) that transients were eastbound a couple of miles south of Victoria. 2 groups were in the area, including 1 further south about 5 miles from Victoria. I waited patiently with binoculars and a high powered lens but didn’t see anything. Finally about after half an hour, a small group of orcas (approximately 3 transients or mammal eating orcas) came into view, they were alone. It wasn’t long before a boat was on scene (Ken of CWR) and was with them for about a half an hour. The animals must have been feeding as they were stationary in the strait for sometime. Eventually they headed eastward and came closer to my view. Even though they were quite far, it’s epic to see them amongst their vast surroundings, such an impressive sight to behold. A small crowd gathered upon the hill, and thankfully a fisherman arrived with a VHF. We could hear the radio chatter between Mark Malleson (Mallard of DFO, CWR on his sail boat) and Jim Maya of Westside Charters the only whale watching boat on scene. They were observing a different group of animals then I was. I quickly gave a call to Ron letting him know the location of the group I was observing, who soon floated out of sight, on the south side of Trial Island. It might be the last sighting of an orca I will have for sometime.
Photography
8
Dec 09
U38 and U39
At about 3:00 pm today I watched 2 large male killer whales (U38 and U39) from Dallas Rd in Victoria. I saw them pass in front of the Canadian Navy ship which makes for a nice photo. Then saw “Mallard” CWR / DFO on scene documenting the two transients. I noticed the animals went down on a very long dive because I didn’t see anything after a while. My guess is they were in predation mode as the research boat remained on scene and attentive. After getting a coffee to warm up my freezing hands, I changed my location and returned to find the animals and the research boat further away towards the Metchosin shoreline. Thanks to Ron MMRG for the heads up.
Please note: I found on the old Center for Whale Research site that there are 14 transient pods:E,F,M,O,N,P,Q,R,S,T,U,V,X,Y,Z
Chelsea Stanley, a biologist for DFO states;
U’s are KW’s whose ecotype is unknown. They are not given an ecotype until they are seen associated with a group with a known ecotype at least twice. I think they suspect most of them are transient-type.
Please view the comment by Jared Towers as he talks more about these two interesting individuals.
2
Oct 09
Northern Residents
As things in the south become more tense and condensed with people and politics, I have been more and more inclined to escape to the north where the vibe is so completely different. I do love the south very much however I do end up needing breaks from it. Up here, it’s possible to watch whales without being around people and that is a nice bonus. To be situated on the shoreline in the wilderness… It’s a different experience and it’s very sacred to me. I have been going up north since 2003 (since Luna – he is the one who got me into all this) and have been returning every year. This year I managed to get up there 3 times to my secret spot that I love so much. Above you can see some of the media from those trips.
On the last trip I managed to witness something really incredible. Firstly, I heard the A36 brothers call all alone in the Queen Charlotte Strait. There was not a boat that day in the strait and the calls echoed incredibly. They were calling out, as if to be responded to, I am assuming they were looking for A12. A12 (an elder) lost her son this past year (A33 Nimpkish) and has been traveling solo sometimes when she is not with the 3 big boys who have seemed to adopted her as their step mom. The day after the calls, we saw the A36’s traveling in the strait with A12. They were not calling at that point. It’s an amazing observation to have, to share this understanding that orcas are like people, need friends and family and ultimately love and companionship in their lives… It is my dream to move up there in the future. Where I can access those days, standing alone on the shoreline, just me and an orca… Yes it is possible.
