May 2, 2024: Transients & J Pod | Howe Sound
Date: May 2, 2024
Location: Howe Sound & Strait of Georgia
Weather: Sunny with scattered clouds, 17 C, windy in the strait (20 mph SW)
Tide: Ebb
Pods: T86As, T71B1, T71B2, T124A2s, and J Pod
Total whale count: 32
Behaviors: Traveling
Boat Count: 5~
Observer: Kendra Nelson
T71B1, T86A3A, T86A3, T71B2 (Photo by Kendra Nelson)
Sailing out of Nanaimo, with Vancouver Island Whale Watch and naturalist Aly, the tour started bumpy and wet. We heard reports of whales in Howe Sound…pilot whales specifically, which peaked our curiosity, so we headed that way across the Strait of Georgia.
Winds were strong and I was soaked by the ocean spray as we sped over. Upon arrival off of Bowen Island, Aly confirmed that whales had been spotted and we would be heading there shortly after taking a look at some harbour seals, California sea lions, and stellar sea lions near Bowyer Island and Furry Creek.
We left the pinnipeds and headed to the other side of Howe Sound, where orcas were traveling on the South side of Gambier Island. Two other whale watching boats were with them already, as well as one recreational boater with his engine turned off. The whales were in two different groups: T124A2s were closer to the boats while the T86As and T71B1 and T71B2 were traveling close to shore. We stuck with the T124As for a bit, as they surfaced around the boats, before splitting off to watch the T86As, T71B1, and T71B2. (Fun info: I saw this same group of whales on Sunday from shore!)
Traveling with T86A3 was her new calf, T86A3A! This sweet calf was first observed this year and is T86A3’s first calf! T71B1 and T71B2 have been traveling with the T86As and T124A2s recently. T71B2 “Tasli” is missing a pectoral fin and has upturned flukes.
We stayed with the T86As, T71B1, and T71B2 as they rounded Gambier Island, a beautiful sight as we watched the whales, with Howe Sound and the Coast Mountains as a beautiful backdrop. The encounter ended with a close pass from T124A2 as the whales joined back up.
We headed back into the Strait of Georgia with a sighting of orcas right in Nanaimo that we would hope to see. As we were going, Aly noticed a group of orcas traveling with lots of surface activity. We stopped to investigate and at first thought this was a T party but as we started to take pictures we realized this was actually J Pod! We saw a tail slap from one individual and J41 spy-hopped! The first group was the J17s and J14s, and on the other side of the boat the J22s were moving alongside us. Just beyond them were a few more whales, too far away for confirmation on who.
In BC, whale watching vessels are not permitted to watch Southern Residents. At this point we had three groups of Js on both sides and behind us, so we could not move until the whales were past us. We waited for about 15 minutes as they passed and were far enough away before turning the boat back on and continuing into Nanaimo, concluding the day.
J Pod is one of three pods within the critically endangered Southern Resident killer whale population. J Pod consists of 6 matrilines and 25 individual whales.
Learn more about J Pod and all the 25 members on our Meet the Southern Resident Page.