Date: 09-Mar-19

Sequence: 1

Encounter Number: 14

Enc Start Time: 15:03

Enc End Time: 16:30

Vessel: Orcinus

Observers: Dave Ellifrit, Melisa Pinnow

Pods or ecotype: Transients

Location: Rosario Strait

Begin Lat/Long: 48 35.050/-122 83.456

End Lat/Long: 48 37.196/-122 44.596

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Encounter Summary:

At about 1138, a report came in of transient killer whales eastbound off the south end of Shaw Island. At about 1200, another group of transients was found entering Thatcher Pass from Rosario Strait. Dave and Melisa waited a bit to see which routes the whales would take and within a few hours, the two groups came together in Upright Channel.

Dave and Melisa headed to Snug Harbor and left the dock at 1430 aboard “Orcinus”. At 1503, “Orcinus” arrived on scene with the T123s and T124As off of Foster Point, near the east entrance of Harney Channel. The whales were all grouped up and zig-zagging their way toward Obstruction Pass. Surfacing beside T124A3 was a new calf, likely born at the beginning of 2019. T123’s calf that was born in late 2018 was also present.

At 1541, the whales swam through Obstruction Pass and entered Rosario Strait. Once in Rosario, the T123s and T124As zig-zagged their way northwest. The encounter was ended at 1630 as the whales made a turn to the north, just south of Peapod Rocks. No kills were observed during the encounter.