July 10, 2024, 3:30 pm - A tail slapping good time!

Today we loaded up our boat on another beautiful sunny day. We made our way through Dodd Narrows. It’s hard to comprehend just how ecologically rich Dodd Narrows is when driving through but if you were to look under the water it would be like taking a glimpse into an alien world. This wondrous place is home to many different species of fish, mollusks, sea stars, coral and anemones. The tidal current can move up to 15 km an hour and as the water from the Georgia Strait washes into the islands it creates a nutrient-rich environment for those who live there. We always recommend a hike called “Cable Bay Trail”. This hike is roughly 5 km long and brings you to the mouth of Dodd Narrows. If you go at low tide you may see some intertidal species on the rocks and if you’re really lucky both orca and humpback pass through this area frequently. For example, the orca seen on today’s trip, the T099s and the T036s, passed by this evening!

T099 Bella ♀ (1984)
T099B Holly ♀ (2007)
T099C Barakat ♂ (2009)
T099D Puck ♀ (2015)
T099E ♂ (2021)

T036 Flapjack ♀ (1970)
T036B Tattertip ♀ (1998)
T036B1 Bhotia ♀ (2009)
T036B2 Greenfelder ♀ (2013)
T036B4 ♂ (2024)

Though we encountered 2 matrilines today headed by 2 very powerful matriarchs, we were privileged enough to be a part of a mini-family reunion. Flapjack is the matriarch of her family but it’s presumed she has 4 daughters, one of whom she travels with (Tattertip). Her other 3 daughters travel separately with their own families but today her presumed daughter Bella came for a visit. Orca are extremely social animals that form tight bonds with each member of their pod. When Transient/Bigg’s killer whales come together we call it a T-Party! This is because we often get party vibes when they are together. This is usually when we can expect to see tail slapping, pec slapping and even breaching! Not only do we see family members reunite often but we also witness what can only be described as close friendships from potentially unrelated animals.

Bella has a particularly strong bond with another matriarch T065A “Artemis”. Bella and Artemis are around the same age and can frequently be seen travelling together with kids in tow. These ladies are strong on their own but together they are unstoppable! These 2 ladies and their families have managed to take down an adult Minke whale. Because Bigg’s tend to travel in small family groups we rarely see them predate on baleen whales. Large whales take a lot of time and energy to take down, if the orca can do it successfully the payoff is huge!

If enjoying a T-Party wasn’t already awesome enough, we also went to see many other animals on our adventure today. We went to Stinky Rocks and got to hang out with the Steller sea lions and harbour seals. We were also fortunate enough today to hang out with cormorants, bald eagles and even the most underrated bird of all, the turkey vulture! You can see photos from the trip below. All photos were taken by naturalist Hayleigh Hilbert.

T036B Tattertip with her newest calf T036B4.

T036B1 Bhotia is T036B Tattertip’s eldest daughter.

Did you know we can ID orca using their eyepatches? Each eyepatch is as unique as a finger print. This is T036B4.

Tail slaps are used as a form of communication.

T036B4 tail slapping next to older sister T036B3 Greenfelder.

Barakat is the biggest whale in this group but he isn’t even full grown!

T036B4 coming almost all the way out of the water.

Spy hopping is a way for an orca to see above the water.

T036B1 Bhotia next to her cousin T099C Barakat.

A seal in a banana pose. This is a relaxation pose.

Steller sea lions squabbling over the best spot.

A majestic Turkey Vulture soaring above.

Jilann LechnerJuly 10, 2024WhalesComment