EncDate:15/09/24 

EncSeq:1

Sequence:2

Enc#:95

ObservBegin:02:15 PM

ObservEnd:05:00 PM

Vessel:KCB III, Orcinus

Staff:Dave Ellifrit, Michael Weiss

Other Observers:Michael, Charli Grimes, Rachel John on KCB3; Dave, John Durban, Holly Fearnbach on Orcinus

Pods:L

IDsEncountered:L90 and L128

LocationDescr:Haro Strait

Start Latitude:48 34.30

Start Longitude:123 12.00

End Latitude:48 33.50

End Longitude:123 11.00

 

EncSummary:

J, K, and L pods had been reported by SR3 heading south at East Point the night before. The next morning, researchers were hoping some whales would still be on the west side of SJI, but the only morning report was of a few whales heading west at Sooke. We had planned an early morning whale search, but this was called off due to “KCB3” having a starboard engine issue. Early afternoon, a couple of whales were seen and photographed at Lime Kiln. Photos posted by Ashley Whitman showed L90 with a brand-new calf. This threw everyone into a tizzy as L90 had never been documented with a calf before, despite multiple suspected pregnancies. We had to scramble a bit to find people and make a plan, as “KCB3” was down an engine. We weren’t the only researchers with boat issues as “Orcinus” was on loan to SR3 due to their own research vessel being out of action. The plan was for Dave to go out in “Orcinus” with John Durban and Holly Fearnbach of SR3 to try to get ID shots of L90 and her new calf as well as getting SR3's drone up and over the mom and calf for their photogrammetry project. Michael, Rachel, and Charli would go out in”KCB3” to see if they could get anything with one running engine. Both boats left Snug Harbor a little after 1400.

L90 and her new calf were in Andrews Bay when we got on scene a few minutes after leaving the harbor. The two whales were non-directional and surfacing irregularly. It looked like it might take a bit of gentle persistence to get the type of ID shots we would like to have when documenting new calves. In “Orcinus”, we launched SR3’s drone since it didn’t seem like we would be getting good ID photos anytime soon. Since L90 was staying under for long periods without going on a long dive, the drone was helpful in letting the boat driver/ID photographer (Dave) know when L90 was coming up. Still, L90 was keeping a distance from everyone, and the calf did not always come up right after her, so getting photos was hard. Around 1525, L90 and the calf began heading slowly down island near Smugglers Cove, tight to the shoreline. L90 was pretty much hugging the contour of the island, even going in behind Sunset Point. “KCB3” headed back to Snug at 1545. While we were able to keep the drone over L90, we were not getting anything more in ID photos other than proof that a calf existed. The pair made their way down to the south end of LandBank when they turned and began to fast travel back up island. We were able to get a decent ID shot of L90, but she was running screen on the calf and the best Dave could get was a tiny dorsal disappearing behind mom. We ended the encounter around 1700 off Bellevue Point, after L90 stopped suddenly and turned down island again.  
While we were hoping for better eyepatch shots of the new calf, the SR3 team got good enough images of it to confirm its existence. This is L90’s first documented calf and it has been designated L128. The calf was not present when L90 was photographed near the Fraser River on September 13th and was probably born the next day sometime. L90 is now our oldest first-time mother at age 31.

Photos taken under Federal Permits

NMFS PERMIT: 27038/DFO SARA 388