March 30, 2025 - T019s Have Lunch in Lantzville!
Although the spring weather is grey, our spirits are high! We received an Orca report north of Nanaimo, so we loaded up and headed out. It wasn’t long before we spotted some familiar fins! It was a well-known family in the Georgia Strait—the T019s. This pod consists of:
T019 Nootka ♀ (~1965)
T019B Galiano ♂ (1995)
T019C Spouter ♂ (2001)
When we found them, they were out patrolling for lunch. Transient Orcas are prolific hunters with a wide range of prey in the Salish Sea. As marine mammal eaters, they have plenty to choose from, including the abundant sea lion, harbour seal, and porpoise populations in our waters. Today, their prey of choice was a Harbor Porpoise! Nootka was in hot pursuit, using her sons to corral the porpoise while she attacked from below. Harbor porpoises can reach speeds of up to 22 km/h, making them one of the fastest prey species these orcas hunt. However, that’s no match for these powerful whales, which can reach speeds of nearly 60 km/h! They work cooperatively to hunt, with females generally taking the lead. Today was no exception—Nootka took charge, and as seen in the pictures below, she was even captured punting the porpoise from underneath.
But transient orcas aren’t the only ones causing trouble for local porpoise species. Even Southern Resident Orcas—whose diet consists entirely of salmon—have been observed interacting with porpoises. This behaviour is puzzling, as these fish-eating specialists have no interest in eating porpoises. Yet, time and again, they have been spotted chasing and harassing various porpoise species, including the Dall’s porpoise. So, what’s going on? In 2023, researchers compiled years of data and published an article with some leading theories. The first probable explanation is simple: play and social development. Researchers found that juvenile pod members were the most frequent participants, suggesting that these young whales were simply having fun. Much like human children, younger orcas engage in more playful behaviours, whether they belong to the transient or resident populations. Kids will be kids—no matter the species!
The second theory is that Southern Residents may be practicing their hunting skills on porpoises. Often, they target smaller individuals that are closer in size to their natural prey, Chinook Salmon. This allows young orcas to hone essential hunting skills such as group coordination, stalking, and endurance-building. Observations suggest that older pod members may even be teaching the younger ones how to approach and engage with porpoises. Since orca pods have strong social structures and clear hierarchical roles, these interactions may serve as a way to reinforce group dynamics and strengthen bonds. Notably, in all recorded instances of Southern Resident Orcas interacting with porpoises, none were consumed. In many cases, the porpoises were not even killed, suggesting that these interactions are strictly for entertainment and skill-building rather than predation. This further highlights the significant cultural differences between resident and transient orcas, showcasing the distinct ecological roles each group plays within the Salish Sea.
After spending the lunch hour with this small (but mighty!) family, we continued on our way to see everything the Salish Sea has to offer. We got to hang out at a Harbour Seal haul-out and watch as these fuzzy pinnipeds swam in the surf and lounged on the rocks. With pupping season fast approaching, we know these haul-outs will have some fuzzy new arrivals soon!
We continued our journey, delighted by the many species that call this coastal region home—including Steller sea lions, double-crested cormorants, bald eagles, and... sheep? That’s right—sheep!
Lasqueti Island has a sizable population of feral sheep, often seen grazing along the island’s rugged cliffs. Estimates suggest their numbers range anywhere from 300 to 1,000, meaning there are actually more sheep than people on the island! Although the feral sheep population can be quite a divisive topic to residents, we sure enjoyed snapping some pics of our woolly friends before starting our trek towards home.
Finishing off at the Gabriola bluffs, we headed back to the dock after a great day on the water! Photos by Marine Naturalist Aly Kohlman.
The tip of T019C Spouters dorsal on the left with a full view of T019B Galiano on the right.
T019 Nootka hitting the Harbour Porpoise out of the water.
T019 Nootka with the porpoise mid-air.
T019B Galiano chasing the Harbour Porpoise.
T019B Galiano showered in his blow.
T019B Galiano showing off his eyepatch.
T019 Nootka’s fin is much smaller than her sons.
T019C Spouter surfacing in front of the Coastal Mountains.
Nootka is very scarred up, likely from hunting difficult prey.
A wave hitting T019B Galiano.
T019B Galiano heading right at the camera!
A great look at T019C Spouter.
You can see the notch on T019 Nootka’s dorsal fin.
You can see the dent caused by scarring in T019C Spouter’s dorsal fin.
You can see right up T019B Galiano’s blow hole.
T019 Nootka and T019C Spouter surfacing together.
A family photo with T019B Galiano, T019 Nootka, and T019C Spouter.
T019B Galiano surfacing in the waves.
The brothers T019B Galiano and T019C Spouter surfacing together.
A great look at the scarred saddle patch of T019 Nootka.
A haul-out of Harbour Seals.
Look how cute the little rock sausages are!
Although different colours, these are all the same species!
A look at the sheep on Lasqueti Island.
Another look at the sheep.
Cormorants must spend a lot of time here, all that white is their poop!
Some cuddling Steller Sea Lions.
The Canadian Coast Guard Hovercraft.
Some Pelagic Cormorants on the Gabriola Bluffs.
Some gulls in the caves of the Bluffs.
A bald eagle keeping watch over the boat.