We had a special day on April 21st, thanks to the cruise ship docked in our home port of Nanaimo! We were lucky enough to take some of its guests out on the water, giving them a more intimate experience with the wildlife and stunning scenery of the Salish Sea.

The adventure kicked off with a sighting of two Orcas travelling together; a familiar duo that's easy to identify: Cooper and Harbeson!

T087 Harbeson ♂ (~1962)

T124C Cooper ♂ (1992)

These two males seem to share a close bond, often meeting up and travelling together. There’s some speculation that, as smaller males, they rely on each other for companionship, especially since it’s usually the larger, more impressive males who attract attention from the female Orcas. Both Harbeson and Cooper are considered “lone males,” meaning they’re not typically seen travelling with a matriline or a specific pod. They each lost their mothers: T088 (Harbeson’s presumed mother) passed away in 2011, and T124 (Cooper’s mother) in 2016. Though they occasionally reunite with their sisters, they are most often seen alone or with other lone males.

Today, they were zigzagging their way north toward the Winchelsea Island Archipelago. We were treated to fantastic views of their eye patches, saddle patches, and, of course, their towering dorsal fins as they moved through the waves. As fully grown males, their dorsal fins can reach up to 6 feet tall, although Harbeson’s fin has a bend at the tip, which makes it appear slightly shorter. Still, it was impressive to watch them slice through the water as they journeyed north. Eventually, it was time to move on, so we continued south in search of more wildlife.

Before returning to the dock, we had two more incredible wildlife encounters. First, we saw a large haul-out of sea lions resting on the log booms floating near the Harmac Pulp Mill. These logs, waiting to be processed or shipped across the world, provide the sea lions with a perfect spot to haul out and rest, essential for thermoregulation. Nearby, Dodd Narrows offers a rich fishing ground. This narrow channel funnels fish into a concentrated space, making for easier hunting just a short swim away.

We also stopped at the Gabriola Bluffs, an impressive sandstone cliff along Gabriola Island. Here we found a lot of sea birds flying in and out of the cliffs, since this is a great nesting area. In particular, we have cormorants that will be using the cliffside for their nesting location, stuffing the cracks and crevices with sticks, seaweed, and eventually eggs! They have just returned from their migration, so they likely aren’t ready for that yet, but we will see more and more activity here as the year progresses.

Finally, we made our way back to Nanaimo, grateful for all the incredible wildlife we encountered. Our onboard Marine Naturalists, Aly Kohlman and Val Watson, captured some amazing photos throughout the trip: be sure to check them out below!

April 21, 2025, 10:00 am - Harbeson and Cooper spending time together near Nanaimo