June 21, 2023 - T046B1s, T046C2, and the T137s

Today we left the dock on both our semi-covered vessel Kula and our open vessel Cascadia. With low winds and a West Coast atmosphere, it was a perfect day for spotting our whales. We did not have to travel too far today as we encountered multiple pods in the Strait of Georgia just off of beautiful Gabriola Island. We were lucky to get to spend some time with 8 Orca today, among them some of our favourites! The whales present today were.

T046B1 Tread ♀ (2003)
T046B1A Tsakani ♀ (2015)
T046B1C (2022)

T046C2 Sam ♀ (1994)

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

T046C2 Sam is an Orca that has a story to tell. She was once separated from her pod and in dire need of some help as she was starting to show a condition known as peanut head. This condition develops when the Orca are not finding enough to eat as their blubber behind the head starts to disappear, making them appear peanut-shaped. It was a race against time to rescue Sam. Sam was trapped in the small remote Weeteam Bay on the central coast, located on Artistazabal Island. Sam was discovered in this small bay with a very narrow entrance and was full of fear to pass through the entrance on her own. When first found by a DFO Cetacean Research vessel they anchored in the bay for the night with this juvenile Orca and listened to its sad calls, Sam repeatedly called for her mother throughout the night. “This animal just tore your heart strings out” said Vancouver Aquarium whale researcher Lance Barrett-Lennard. After observing her for many weeks hoping little Sam would find her way out of the bay, it was clear she was not going to pass through the narrow opening herself. As she continued to lose weight and her situation became more urgent they decided to attempt to coax her out. They came up with an idea to use a long floating line between two vessels to herd her to the entrance. At this time they had another vessel just outside the bay that was playing the calls of the Transient Orca (Sams ecotype) underwater to further entice her. Their efforts worked! Sam came shooting out and headed straight out to sea! Sam now travels between different matrilines, pod hopping if you will, but as you can see from these photos she is doing well. Keep it up Sam, you are indeed very special to us here on Vancouver Island!

Photos were taken by Marine Naturalists Val Watson and Carmen Murphy.

T137D Wright, T046B1 Tread, and T046B1C. Photo by Val Watson, 10:30.

T046B1 Tread. Photo by Val Watson, 10:30.

T137D Wright. Photo by Val Watson, 10:30.

T046B1A Tsakani and her mother T046B1 Tread. Photo by Val Watson, 10:30.

Little T046B1C charging beside their mother T046B1 Tread. Photo by Val Watson, 10:30.

T046B1 Tread and T046B1C. Photo by Val Watson, 3:30.

T046B1 Tread. Photo by Val Watson, 3:30.

T046B1C and their mother T046B1 Tread. Photo by Val Watson, 3:30.

T137A Jack, T137 Loon and T137B Tempest. Photo by Val Watson, 3:30.

T137 Loon with T137A Jack behind her. Photo by Val Watson, 3:30.

Harbour Seals playing peek-a-boo! Photo by Val Watson, 3:30.

Stellar Sea Lion giving itself a scratch. Photo by Val Watson, 10:30.

This Stellar is doing yoga! Photo by Val Watson, 10:30.

Stellar Sea Lions, do you see the large male in the centre? Photo by Carmen Murphy, 10:30.

Stellar Sea Lion watching us! Photo by Val Watson, 3:30.

Yelling as usual. Photo by Val Watson, 3:30.

Juvenile Bald Eagle. Photo by Carmen Murphy, 10:30.

Eaglet in the nest. Photo by Val Watson, 3:30.

Cormorant with nesting material. Photo by Val Watson, 10:30.

Cormorant drying off in the sun. Photo by Val Watson, 3:30.

Cormorant bringing a stick to the nest. Photo by Val Watson, 10:30.

Great Blue Heron. Photo by Val Watson, 3:30.

Our semi-covered vessel Kula is underway. Photo by Val Watson, 10:30.

Jilann LechnerJune 21, 2023WhalesComment