May 6, 2024 - T-party continues in Howe Sound and Three Young Humpbacks Feed nearby.

The winds were low and the excitement was high as we pushed off the dock. It was decided that we would head across the Strait of Georgia to the breathtaking Howe Sound. Howe Sound is our southernmost fjord stretching 42 km and ending at its head in Squamish. This spot in particular is a favourite of our crew with its towering mountains, waterfalls and greenery, and who can blame us? With guests enjoying the view, the crew kept scanning the water for signs of our whales! We did not get far into the sound before we spotted what we were all excited to see, Orca! It looked like the transients were having another one of their T-parties, they seemed just as thrilled as us that the sun was shining because they were splashing up a storm! A T-party forms when several different matrilines of Orca meet up to socialize. Today's party consisted of ten whales:

T065 Whidbey II ♀ (~1971)
T063 Chainsaw ♂ (~1978)

T071B1 Zengo ♀ (2013)
T071B2 Tasli/Nemo ♂ (2018)

T086A3 Tyndall ♀ (2011)
T086A3A (2024)

T087 Harbeson ♂ (~1962)

T124A2 Elkugu ♀ (2001)
T124A2A Agafia ♂ (2013)
T124A2B Litton ♀ (2016)

After spending time with the Orca we continued north into the sound to our surprise, we spotted more blows close to shore. This time it was the big bushy blows iconic to our Humpback! With squeals of excitement, we headed over to see who it was. We identified these 3 whales as Wisp, Scuba and Schooner. In the past, we thought the humpbacks were solitary, but we think it is safe to say we were wrong. Last season it was becoming increasingly rare to see just one on its own. Seems like this may be the trend for this season as well.

What is even more interesting to us with this group hanging out together Scuba BCY1225 and Schooner BCX1193 calf 2021 are siblings. Wisp BCX1333 calf 2021, the calf of Ghost was also seen travelling with their mother just the other day. As far as we know the humpbacks do not have the same close-knit family structures as the Orca. The calf stays with its mother for the first 5 months to a year, and then we typically do not see them with their mom again, so Ghost and Wisp together is a fascinating association. It poses many more questions, do they recognize one another? Well, with mom and calf, you would think they must as they have spent up to a year together. Now this next pair, the siblings is where more questions are raised, do they know they are related? Those two were documented travelling together last season as well. Here is where it gets a little more complicated, these siblings would have never met each other as Scuba would have been off on their own while Schooner was still nursing from their mother Zigzag.

We can't wait to learn more about these interactions, all of us are full of theories at this point! Biology is never boring and we are eager to learn as things change, it keeps us on our toes! Keep an eye on our blogs to see what other humpback associations we come across this season!

In addition to both species of whales, we also saw some California Sea Lions and Steller Sea Lions hauled out on Entrance Island. We also were lucky enough to spot one of our Bald Eagles fly in and get a watchful perch on the island as we sat there with the sea lions.

It was an amazing trip filled with a lot of excitement from all of the wildlife we got to see. Please enjoy all of the photos taken by the onboard Naturalists Vanessa Vereschahen and Val Watson below.

T087 Harbeson and T063 Chainsaw. Photo by Val Watson.

T087 Harbeson. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.

T071B2 Tasli/Nemo - we can ID them by their right fluke that curls upwards. Photo by Val Watson.

T086A3A and her mother T086A3 Tyndall. Photo by Val Watson.

T086A3 Tyndall and her calf T086A3A with its eyepatch above the water. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.

Left to right: T124A2B Litton, T124A2 Elkugu, T124A2A Agafia, and a friend. Photo by Val Watson.

Bellies up! Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.

T124A2A Agafia. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.

T086A3 Tyndall, T071B1 Zengo (dorsal tip), and T124A2A Agafia. Photo by Val Watson.

One of the males upside down and slapping! Photo by Val Watson.

T124A2A Agafia’s distinct fluke. Photo by Val Watson.

Schooner followed by Wisp. Photo by Val Watson.

The front of Scuba’s tail. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.

Wisp following Schooner again. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.

Schooner diving. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.

Wisp going down! Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.

Can you spot the goose neck barnacles? Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.

A closer look at the barnacles on Wisp’s tail. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.

Schooners dorsal fin. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.

Steller Sea Lions in a cuddle puddle. Photo by Val Watson.

A Bald Eagle perched above the noisy Steller sea lions. Photo by Val Watson.

This Bald eagle is still a juvenile. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.

The scenery of Howe Sound! Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.

The towering mountains. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.

Snow topped! Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.

You can really see why we love going to Howe Sound. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.

A waterfall! Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.

It’s so green! Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.

Jilann LechnerMay 6, 2024WhalesComment