Aug 19 - T101's by Welcome Beach, Sunshine Coast!

On August 19th we adventured across the Strait of Georgia to see the T101’s along the Sunshine Coast. We first spotted them exiting Welcome Passage as they travelled the coast, searching for lunch! The T101’s consists of 4 members: Matriarch Reef (T101) and her three big sons Beardslee (T102), Rush (T101A), and Lagoon (T101B).

Typically matrilines are are labelled in sequence alphanumerically (I.E. T101 first child is T101A, if T101A had a first child it would be T101A1 etc.), but this matriline is an exception! Beardslee (T102) was originally spotted by himself and it was thought he was a Lone Male (Male without a pod), which is why his number does not match the rest of his family’s numbering. He has since been spotted with the T101’s nearly every single viewing, solidifying the point that he is likely Reef’s oldest son, and technically should be T101A himself!

Orca are extremely family driven and rarely break off from their original pods. These three big boys will likely stay with their mother for her entire life, helping to hunt and provide for the pod.

We wrapped up the day with a visit to Snake Island to look at harbour seals and then the Gabriola bluffs to look at a cormorant colony. What a great day out on the water!

Unfortunately we don’t have many photos to share from that day to camera malfunctions, but here is a glimpse of a dorsal fin that marine naturalist Cheyenne managed to get. Sorry we aren’t able to share more photos from this day!