EncDate:18/09/22 

Enc#:13

ObservBegin:03:34 PM

ObservEnd:04:46 PM

Vessel:Orcinus

UAV ID:Columbia

Pilot:Michael Weiss

Operators:Mia Lybkær Kronborg Nielsen

Other Observers:Samantha Mundorff, Federica Spina

Pods:Transients

IDsEncountered:T2B, T60, T60C, T60F, T60G

LocationDescr:Rosario Strait

Start Latitude:48 25.08

Start Longitude:122 47.70

End Latitude:48 28.71

End Longitude:122 46.96

​

EncSummary:

The team had heard reports that the T60s were coming east from the Strait of Juan de Fuca. They left the dock at Snug at 14:29, and arrived on scene with whales off Watmough Head at 15:34.

The team initially found two whales, T2B and T60C. These whales were taking long dives, and were very spread out and non-directional, making drone observation challenging. However, as the whales moved up Rosario Strait, they grouped up with T60, T60F, and T60G, who had apparently been further east in the strait.

While grouped up, T60C did a lot of tactile social behavior with the other matriline members, while T2B seemed to stay slightly to the periphery. After a few minutes, the two sets of whales split again, with T2B and T60C moving off to the east. The team stuck with T60, T60F, and T60G, who stayed quite tactile and social as they continued travelling north.

T60F eventually separated a bit from T60 and T60G, who continued to move in tandem as they travelled. The team left the whales at 16:46 as they continued to travel north.