EncDate:03/07/24 

EncSeq:1

Enc#: 64

ObservBegin:09:57 AM

ObservEnd:04:52 PM

Vessel:KCB III

Staff:Dave Ellifrit, Michael Weiss

Other Observers:Arlene Vargas, Alondra Caro Ruiz, Taylor Redmond

Pods: J Pod

LocationDescr:Haro Strait

Start Latitude:48 27.85

Start Longitude:123 04.54

End Latitude:48 27.60

End Longitude:123 06.69

 

EncSummary:

After receiving morning reports of southern residents off South Beach, the team met at Snug Harbor and left at 0931. We saw our first whales off the south end of False Bay and the encounter began at 0957. J16 and J36 were traveling slowly south together offshore of the bay. Offshore of those two we found J47 traveling slowly south all by himself. Almost a mile to the southwest of him we found the J19s in a loose group. They were milling and socializing while playing with pieces of kelp. The J19s eventually turned north and headed slowly inshore towards SJI. About three quarters of a mile to the west of them, we found J44, J45, and J49 socializing together in a loose group. J46 joined this threesome and they split into two with J44 and J46 traveling inshore together towards Eagle Point and J45 and J49 continued socializing on their way south. Another half mile to the north of this group, we found the J16s (minus J26) and J53 traveling north together. We ended the photo-ID part of the encounter at 1201 off Hannah Heights and headed back to Snug Harbor for a midday break in the action.  

After a crew change, KCB3 left again around 1455 and headed out for drone operations, getting a chance to fly over both the J19s and the J31s with J27. The encounter ended for the day at1652 a little north of Middle Bank.