EncDate:17/09/22 

FolderID:20220917MLM_JF1

EncSeq:2

Enc#:58

ObservBegin:04:50 PM

ObservEnd:05:15 PM

Vessel:Mike 1

Staff:Mark Malleson

Other Observers:Brendon Bissonnette

Pods:Transients

LocationDescr:Becher Bay

Start Latitude:48 17.89

Start Longitude:123 36.04

End Latitude:48 18.55

End Longitude:123 39.40

 

EncSummary:

Mike 1 was on a course for Victoria after departing a large group of Bigg’s killer whales, identified as the T059s, T060s, T069s & T109As, when Mark caught a glimpse of a dorsal fin moving west along the Vancouver Island shoreline. More killer whales! The encounter was initiated at 1650 as the vessel slowed in approach of the whales. 
Within minutes, the whales surfaced again and Brendon instantly recognized them as T060D & T060E, who were not present in the large group to the south. These two brothers, aged 14 and 18 respectively, have only loosely associated with the other members of their family since the summer of 2019. 
The brothers were moving west at 7 knots, but slowed occasionally to inspect the many murres & auklets floating at the surface. At one point, T060D inverted himself and tail-slapped one of the birds before spyhopping twice in quick succession. Sprouter male T060E also rose in a large spyhop moments later. Then, the two were on the move again, excitable and paralleling one another by approximately 80 meters. They continued their westward travels but frequently converged for moments of tactile social interaction.
The team bid the whales farewell as they picked up speed towards the shoreline at Beechey Head, and called the encounter to a close at 1715