Jpod encountered March 11, 2007
south of the city of Victoria, B.C.
photo by Dave Ellifrit. This photo was taken under MMPA Permit #532-1822.
Members of Jpod, including J1 (at left), surface in choppy waters near Victoria, B.C.
photo by Dave Ellifrit. This photo was taken under MMPA Permit #532-1822.
J27 surfaces with Vancouver Island in the background.
photo by Dave Ellifrit. This photo was taken under MMPA Permit #532-1822.
Foraging in the vicinity of the CWR research vessel, J32 surfaces towards the boat.
Encounter #002
March 11, 2007
J pod
Platform: Starlet
Departed Snug Harbor: 14:21
Begin Encounter: 15:18
Start Lat: 48° 22.03 N
Start Long: 123° 22.96 W
End encounter: 16:57
End Lat: 48° 20.03 N
End Long: 123° 26.39 W
Returned to Snug Harbor: 1800
Observers: Dave Ellifrit, Kyla Graham.
At noon Captain Jim Maya aboard the Peregrine contacted the Center For Whale Research to report a group of transients south of Discovery Island. Mark Malleson and Maya caught up with the whales in the vicinity of Chatham and Great Chain Islands. They identified five whales: the T2s and T14.
Staff from the Center For Whale Research went out in R/V Starlet to catch up with the group, but by the time they reached the Victoria waterfront the transients were already quite far south of Victoria heading towards Port Angeles. Just as R/V Starlet was about to arrive on scene, Malleson reported there was another group of whales inbound just off Victoria. Shortly thereafter Center staff spotted whales spread out near the Victor Hotel bouy and positively identified the whales as J pod. The whales were non-directional and spread out. Due to weather and the dispersed nature of the whales, the staff aboard R/V Starlet were only able to identify the following individuals: J1, J2, J8, J11, J19, J27, J31, J32, J33, J39 and J41. As R/V Starlet departed, J pod was last seen heading southwest towards Race Rocks.
