Hiking the West Coast

Juan de Fuca Marine Trail, Vancouver Island BC

Loss Creek

 

Gordon's Beach

Muir Creek

Solstice - Sold on iStock

Solstice L89 is an endangered male southern resident killer whale, Orcinus orca.  He was born in 1993 and has a brother Skana L79 (b.1989).  Solstice is most often seen traveling with his mother Spirit L22 (b.1971).

Solstice L89 (2013)

 Spirit L22 (2013)

Spirit L22 (2015)

Solstice L89 (2015)

Gorge Birds

Northern flicker, Colaptes auratus

  Female / juvenile common merganser, Mergus merganser

Juvenile bald eagle <5 old.="" p="" years="">

South Island Camping

New Website!

aquagreen.ca

242A Calls

There were 61 northern resident discrete calls identified for tape 242A (August 5, 2004, 19:30 - 20:17). The majority of calls were; N4 (40%), N16 (20%), and N7 (15%) respectively. The A12s were identified at Cracroft Island where the majority of calls were heard.

242B Calls

There were 80 discrete northern resident calls identified for recording 242B (August 5, 2004). The majority of calls were N4 (41%), N1 (31%), and N5 (14%). A1 and A4 pods were identified, whales were rubbing on pebbles at 20:29.

Griffin Photography

246B

Year - 2004
Tape - 246B
Date - Friday, Aug06
Time - 06:39
Annotations - 174
Whales - A30,A12,A36,A11,A35,A73,A24,A4 2,A43,A25,I15
Comments - Faint calls at beginning, boat noise increases. A30, A12, A36, and I15s, travel east in Johnston Strait, A1 and A5 calls. Echolocation and good calls at 06:57.
Link - http://orchive.cs.uvic.ca/recordings/show/11929

246A

Year - 2004
Tape - 246A
Date - Aug06
Time - 05:51
Annotations - 249
Whales - A30,A12,A36,A11,A35,A73,A24,A4 2,A43,A25,I15
Comments - Lots of nice calls at the beginning, A30s at Cracroft Point.
Link - http://orchive.cs.uvic.ca/recordings/show/11928

Orchive - 245B

Year - 2004
Tape - 245B
Date - Aug06
Time - 05:04
Annotations - 9
Whales - A30,A12,A36,A11,A35,A73,A24,A4 2,A43,A25,I15
Comments - Echolocation, faint calls, A36s, I15s, calls at end of tape from Cracroft Point.
Link - http://orchive.cs.uvic.ca/recordings/show/11927

NOAA Issues Final Killer Whale Vessel Regulations

New regulations to protect killer whales in inland waters of Washington State from the effects of various vessel activities.

1. vessels must not approach any killer whale within 200 yards
2. vessels must stay out of the path of oncoming whales out to 400 yards.

Website for more information on the vessel regulations.

Orchive - 239B

Year - 2004
Tape - 239B
Date - Aug05
Time - 15:25
Annotations - 68
Whales - A30,A12,A36,A11,A35,A73,A24,A4 2,A43,A25,I15
Comments - Lots of rubbing and few calls to start then strong calls at 15:47.
Link - http://orchive.cs.uvic.ca/recordings/show/11915

J pod

Orchive - 237B

Year - 2004
Tape - 237B
Date - Aug05
Time - 11:29
Annotations - 147
Whales - A30,A12,A36,A11,A35,A73,A24,A4 2,A43,A25,I15
Comments - Lots of boat noise at the beginning of the tape, drops off 1/4 way through with some nice calls around 11:30 then boat noise picks up again at 11:40, loud close calls annotated (orca!).
Link - http://orchive.cs.uvic.ca/recordings/show/11911

Killer Whale Exhause Exposure

Cara L. Lachmuth, Lance G. Barrett-Lennard, D.Q. Steyn, William K. Milsom (2011) Estimation of southern resident killer whale exposure to exhaust emissions from whale watching vessels and potential adverse health effects and toxicity thresholds. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 28 January 2011.

Southern resident killer whales in British Columbia and Washington are exposed to heavy vessel traffic. This study investigates their exposure to exhaust gases from whale-watching vessels by using a simple dispersion model incorporating data on whale and vessel behavior, atmospheric conditions, and output of airborne pollutants from the whale-watching fleet based on emissions data from regulatory agencies. Our findings suggest that current whale-watching guidelines are usually effective in limiting pollutant exposure to levels at or just below those at which measurable adverse health effects would be expected in killer whales. However, safe pollutant levels are exceeded under worst-case conditions and certain average- case conditions. To reduce killer whale exposure to exhaust we recommend: vessels position on the downwind side of whales, a maximum of 20 whale-watching vessels should be within 800 m at any given time, viewing periods should be limited, and current whale-watch guidelines and laws should be enforced.

J1/Ruffles Missing

The 60 year old killer whale Ruffles/J1 was last seen on Novermber 21st, 2010. He would travel with Granny/J2 (100 years old) who has been seen several times since without Ruffles. Male longevity, typically is less than females, averaging about 29 years, some live well into their 40s and up 50-60 years of age. The average lifespan for females is about 50 years, however some may reach 80-90 years of age (Ford et. al. 2000).

King5

Ford, K.B., Ellis, G.M., Balcomb, K.C. (2000) Killer Whales: The natural History and genealogy of Orcinus orca in British Columbia and Washington. UBC Press p.22

Orchive Logs

Digital logs to document progress on the Orchive Project.

Parks Photography

Photos

Slideshow

Offshore Killer Whales eating Sleeper Sharks

John Ford and colleagues were observing the whales, they noticed them engaging in feeding behaviour. Immediately following this they discovered chunks of pink meat on the water’s surface which upon genetic analysis turned out to be the meat of at least 16 different Pacific sleeper sharks (Somniosus pacificus).

Link