Center for Whale Research shares summary of latest Orcas encounter

— from Center for Whale Research —

Encounter #81 – October 3, 2019

Mark left Victoria harbour on Mike 1 at 1220 to survey the Juan de Fuca Strait to the west of Race Rocks. At ~1315 he came across a pair of humpbacks east bound off of Secretary Island so followed them for a few minutes to get fluke IDs. He was about to set off to head further west when he received a report there was a single bull killer whale spotted eastbound, mid strait, a few miles to the south of where he was.

He worked his way south and came across what turned out to be all of Jpod with over half of them grouped up traveling at a steady five knots east. Shortly after Mark arrived they spread out and worked their way toward the south and actively foraged. They continued to actively forage for over an hour but were mainly trended westward with the outgoing ebb current.

He watched J39 successfully chase and catch a salmon for several minutes and waited on the outskirts until it was apparent that he had caught it before moving in to collect scales, but unfortunately none were seen. He then spotted most of the pod apart from the adult males well south and grouped up. It looked as though they were chasing fish as several individuals would sprint off in different directions and then regroup. This went on for close to half an hour before they split up into their respective matrilines and worked their way off towards the southwest with J16 leading the way.

He ended the encounter at 1628 and headed back to Victoria Harbour.

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