EncDate:03/01/24 

EncSeq:1

Enc#:03

ObservBegin:02:32 PM

ObservEnd:04:13 PM

Vessel:Mike 1

Staff:Mark Malleson

Other Observers:Joe Zelwietro

Pods:J Pod

LocationDescr:south west Haro Strait/Baynes Channel

Start Latitude:48 29.50

Start Longitude:123 12.07

End Latitude:48 23.89

End Longitude:123 17.36

 

EncSummary:

Early in the afternoon, Mark received a tip from friend Rachelle Hayden that she was hearing Southern Resident calls over the Lime Kiln hydrophone while relaxing in California. Already aware of a group of Bigg’s near Middle Bank in south Haro Strait, he called George Hamilton to see if he could keep his spotting streak alive and scan north Haro Strait for the whales while he and Joe mobilized Mike 1. They departed the harbour just before 1400 as George was seeing spread out killer whales from his perch above Ten Mile Point, moving southward from Kelp Reef to slightly north west of Limekiln lighthouse.
At 1432, Mike 1 slowed mid-Strait, several miles west of Lime Kiln and began their encounter with several well-spread J pod killer whales! J39 was the first animal they spotted, travelling near J31 and J56. A short-period southerly swell made it tough to locate more animals at first, but with patience the guys were able to spot a few more to the west and south, all of whom appeared to be angling southwest for Discovery Island.
Shortly, the J11s, J19s, J22s and J37s loosely grouped together and angled for Sea Bird Point, and Mark and Joe moved off in search of the remaining J14s – J40 was observed alongside a new calf over the last week so they were hopeful they’d be able to catch a glimpse and confirm maternity – and the rest of J pod, the J16s and J17s.
They finally spotted a small, tight group of whales well west of them, nearing the east entrance to Baynes Channel. As they approached, they could see that the group included a days-old calf! Somewhat surprising however, is that the rest of the whales were the J16s and a wandering J53. After reviewing the left eyepatch with the pictures taken on December 26 in Puget Sound they were able to confirm it was indeed J60.
The calf was travelling particularly close to J16, but as J16 is now over 50 years old and did not appear pregnant during aerial encounters in October, we are skeptical that she is the mother. More likely, this youngster belongs to one of the younger J16s, but further encounters will be required to confirm this theory as it did not leave J16’s side throughout CWR’s observation today, and previous reports and photos had the calf travelling with J40.
The J16s and their companion slipped into Baynes Channel while the rest of J pod, now out of sight, angled for Sea Bird Point at the south end of Discovery Island. Once into Baynes, the group hung a left and travelled into the Chain Islets, appearing to attempting to flush any lingering winter chinook out of the kelp along the periphery of the Islets. No obvious feeding was observed and, after travelling through the kelp along the southeast side of the rocks, the J16s continued southwest for Trial Island, while J53 turned southeast to rendezvous with the rest of the pod.
The Mike 1 crew departed the J16s to check in on the rest of the whales, and confirm that there was indeed not another new calf in the mix with J40. They reacquired the animals just offshore of Commodore Point, now tightly grouped and heading for the J16s nearly a mile and a half ahead of them. In addition to the whales already documented, J40, J45 and the rest of the J17s were now also present, and there was no calf travelling alongside J40. The CWR team ended their encounter in the Oak Bay Flats at 1632 as the whales eased west into the Juan de Fuca, having documented each of the now 26 members of J pod.

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