September 4th 3:30 PM - T-party in the Strait of Georgia

On the afternoon of Sept 4th, we headed out to north Nanaimo where the T069s were estimated to be after we left them during the morning trip. We searched up and down the coast until eventually, we got word from another company that there was a T-party happening elsewhere in the Strait of Georgia so we gave up on the T069s and headed off in that direction.

We travelled down through the Southern Gulf Islands and eventually out Porlier Pass, headed over towards the Tsawassen Ferry Terminal in Vancouver. This area is commonly known as the Apex since the border with the USA forms a point there before continuing down between the mainland coast and the islands. Here we found about 14 orca having a great time! The pods we IDed from our photos were the T037s, T065A4, T100s, T124A4s, and the T137s. These pods consist of the following whales:

T037 Rocky III (1979)
T037B Harald (1998)
T037B1 Lance (2012)

T100 Hutchins (1979)
T100C Laurel (2002)
T100E Tharaya (2009)
T100F Estrella (2014)

T124A4 Sabio (2010)
T124A4A (2021)

T137 Loon (1984)
T137A Jack (2002)
T137B Tempest (2006)
T137D Wright (2012)

T065A4 Ellifrit (2011)

Today these whales were moving quickly while they partied with a couple of groups forming. Jack, Laurel and Tharaya were off by themselves, and the rest were grouped together. There was some porpoising (where they travel with their bodies out of the water), an easy hunt, and then more travelling as we watched this large group of orca.

After looking closer at our photos we noticed Laurel was sporting a new accessory, a piece of kelp that was dangled over his dorsal fin for the majority of our encounter. It’s not known for sure why orca do kelping behaviour, it’s likely that it’s a tactile stimulation with the kelp dragging along their skin. Orca are very touch-oriented animals and can often be seen being in close contact with one another and rubbing against other members of their pod. The Northern residents also have a unique tactile stimulus that is only seen in that population, where they rub against pebble beaches. This seems to be a social behaviour in the Northern Residents and there are even protected areas that are known to have multiple beaches that the northern residents love to rub at!

Our transients aren’t as predictable in their kelping and they don’t rub against beaches, but getting to see Laurel showing off his piece of kelp was pretty fun! After watching this large group we eventually had to leave and return to the harbour, but it was an amazing trip! Please enjoy all the photos from the encounter taken by Marine Naturalists Aly and Vanessa.

T100C Laurel playing with kelp. Photo by Aly Kohlman.

Laurel still with his kelp. Photo by Aly Kohlman.

T100C Laurel in front of T137A Jack. Photo by Aly Kohlman.

T137D Wright. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.

T124A4 Sabio leading her calf T124A4A. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.

T124A4 Sabio. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.

T124A4 Sabio with her calf behind. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.

T124A4 Sabio diving. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.

A bunch of fast-moving orca! Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.

T037B1 Lance has a distinct black line through his saddle patch. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.

T065A4 Ellifrit. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.

Kula with a moody sky in the background. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.

A beautiful look at the moon. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.

Guests on the zodiac enjoying the sunset. Photo by Vanessa Vereschahen.

Jilann LechnerSeptember 15, 2022Comment