EncDate: 27/07/24
EncSeq: 1
Enc#: 76
ObservBegin: 11:57 AM
ObservEnd: 03:25 PM
Vessel: KCB III
Staff: Dave Ellifrit, Michael Weiss
Other Observers: Charli Grimes, Taylor Redmond
Pods: J
LocationDescr: Haro Strait
Start Latitude: 48 28.53
Start Longitude: 123 05.23
End Latitude: 48 29.38
End Longitude: 123 07.61

 

EncSummary:

J pod calls could be heard on the Lime Kiln hydrophone around 10:30 in the morning. The team got off the dock at 11:08. The team found spread out whales off San Juan County Park at 11:31, which proved to be J37, J59, J45, and J38. Hoping for some better water for drone flights further down island, the team took distant proof of presence shots of these whales and continued down island, starting the encounter properly at 11:57 on the north side of False Bay.

The J31s were foraging alongside J42, pausing occasionally to socialize in between deep dives. These whales moved north slowly, passing Pile Point and Hannah Heights. The team saw distant fins making their way up island from Eagle Point, so decided to plant themselves at Pile and see who swam by.

The team soon saw J16 and J26, with J27 offshore of them. All three whales were clearly searching and occasionally taking deep prey pursuit dives, but we didn't see any direct evidence of successful predation.

After making their way up to Hannah Heights, these three whales made a turn and headed back down island. Reasoning that this meant the whales further up island would soon be passing Pile Point again, the team once again decided to sit and wait for other whales to filter by.

At 13:49, more fins appeared coming down island. The first three whales (J42, J31, and J56) appeared, now accompanied by J46, J35, and J57. The group split up by age, with the females spreading out to forage while the two youngest whales, J56 and J57, mostly goofed off. However, the two kids did find a couple fish at the surface and attempted to chase them, but one managed to dive out of harms way and another escaped to the shallows.

J42 had more luck, catching a fish at depth before bringing it up to share with J31 and J56. Soon after, the whales switched gears and started heading back up island in a travelling formation. The team stuck with them up to Hannah Heights, ending the encounter at 1525.

Photos taken under Federal Permits

NMFS PERMIT: 27038/DFO SARA 388