EncDate:26/03/24 

EncSeq:1

Enc#:25

ObservBegin:12:35 PM

ObservEnd:01:25 PM

Vessel:KCB III

Staff:Dave Ellifrit, Michael Weiss

Pods:Bigg's killer whales

LocationDescr:Spieden Channel

Start Latitude:48 37.69

Start Longitude:123 07.53

End Latitude:48 37.68

End Longitude:123 09.02

 

EncSummary:

Dave and Michael were working in the CWR research office when a report came in of a group of 8 or more killer whales westbound in Spieden Channel. They quickly geared up and headed to the dock, leaving Snug at 1218. After a quick transit through Mosquito Pass, they arrived on scene at the east end of Spieden Channel at 1235.

When they arrived, the whales were in two main groups. The bulk of the T49As, along with T18, T19, and T19B were milling in one group, having apparently separated a sea lion from the rocks. T19C and T49A1 milled a bit to the west, apparently socializing. Meanwhile, T49A2 was in the middle of the channel, apparently just milling on his own.

The team got a few shots of T49A1 and T19C, and then slowly worked their way closer to the main group. As they approached, the sea lion hunt apparently ended. T19B did several large breaches as the whales began to trend west again, getting closer to T19C and T49A1. The team stuck with them for a bit, getting everyone on camera, before moving off.

After one more quick pass on T49A1 and T19C, the team went looking for T49A2. They found him a few hundred yards off everyone else to the southwest. He was milling slowly, generally trending back towards the main group. The team took two passes on him to get ID photos before he took a long dive. When he next popped up, T49A2 was further back towards the northeast, in the direction of the rest of the whales. The team ended the encounter off Davidson Head at 1325 and headed to the fuel dock.

Photos taken under Federal Permits

NMFS PERMIT: 27038/DFO SARA 388