Date: 18-Mar-19

Sequence: 1

Encounter Number: 17

Enc Start Time: 16:10

Enc End Time: 16:45

Vessel: Morning Star

Observers: Melisa Pinnow, Jane Cogan, Tom Cogan

Pods or ecotype: Transients

Location: Howe Sound

Begin Lat/Long: 49 31.788/-123 19.917

End Lat/Long: 49 33.440/-123 19.546

 

Encounter Summary:

“Morning Star” was searching for whales in Georgia Strait when a report came in around 1345 of killer whales traveling toward Howe Sound from the east side of Bowen Island. “Morning Star” changed course and headed for Howe Sound. At 1610, T10C and T123A were spotted off the west side of Anvil Island. The two males were rolling around and goofing off together as they headed toward the northern tip of Anvil.

About ten minutes later, T10 and the rest of the T123s were spotted grouped up and tucked in close to shore a few hundred yards ahead of the males. T10C and T123A almost caught up to the other whales as they passed the northern tip of Anvil Island. Once northeast of Anvil, everyone fanned out with T10, T10C, and T123A spread out and trailing behind T123, T123C, and T123D by a few hundred yards. The encounter was ended at 1645 as the whales and headed deeper into Howe Sound. No kills were observed during the encounter.