EncDate:07/09/24 

EncSeq:2

Enc#:88

ObservBegin:12:02 PM

ObservEnd:12:41 PM

Vessel:Mike 1

Staff:Mark Malleson

Other Observers:

Pods:Bigg's killer whales

LocationDescr:Porlier Pass

Start Latitude:48 01.67

Start Longitude:123 35.52

End Latitude:49 03.60

End Longitude:123 37.09

 

EncSummary:

Mark left the T023Ds at 1138, about 1 nautical mile southeast of Wallace Island, and continued northwest up Trincomali Channel, hoping to find T023D3 and more killer whales in the Strait of Georgia (see Encounter 87). 

As he reached Porlier Pass, the conditions in the Strait of Georgia did not seem conducive for surveying, with moderate northwest winds and choppy water. At 1202, while scanning the Strait from outside the pass, he spotted small but distinctive killer whale blows near the Canoe Islets Ecological Reserve!

Approaching the area, Mark saw what appeared to be a cow and a juvenile milling around a likely seal hunt. Another young whale soon emerged from the chop, joining in on the presumed prey sharing. Mark confirmed that he was observing members of the T075Bs—specifically T075B2, T075B3, and T075B4. After several minutes, it became clear that prey sharing was indeed occurring, as indicated by a small slick that formed near the whales. Minutes later, the trio moved northwest along the Valdez shoreline, with T075B2 leading the group through the two-foot chop. 

After capturing some proof of presence shots of the whales, Mark ended the encounter at 1241 and returned to the sheltered waters inside the Gulf islands.