FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2010, J POD RETURNS!

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2010, J POD RETURNS!

After over 50 days during which we saw Transient (Marine-Mammal-Eating) Killer Whales, Five Star Whale Watching's "Supercat" encountered Southern Resident (Fish-Eating) Killer Whales.

In reasonably "lumpy" sea conditions of about 1.0m to 1.5m (3 to 5 feet), our passengers saw many of the 23 members of J pod.

Our crew can hardly wait for tomorrow!

WEDS, MARCH 31, 2010 Fifteen Transient Killer Whales Get Together To Hunt!!!

WEDS, MARCH 31, 2010 Fifteen Transient Killer Whales Get Together To Hunt!!!

As recently as 15 years ago if you went to a seminar or class to learn about identifying Killer Whales, you likely would have been told, "If you see more than 5 Killer Whales together you are almost certainly looking at Resident "Fish-Eating) Killer Whales because Transient (Marine-Mammal-Eating) Killer Whales rarely travel or hunt in groups of more than 5 animals".

Funny thing about watching wildlife: It keeps one very humble! For yet again, likely the 30th or more time in the last two years, we went out today and saw many Killer Whales hunting together and they were clearly Transient (Marine-Mammal-Eating) Killer Whales...

How do we know that they were "clearly Transient (Marine-Mammal-Eating) Killer Whales"? Here are the key clues:

1. They were foraging and hunting for seals and porpoise (Note the pictures where animals were swimming in different directions, triangulating around prey). Resident Killer Whales do not hunt or eat Marine Mammals;
2. Their dorsal fins are much pointier than the more rounded fins of Resident Killer Whales;
3. Their Saddle Patches (The white patch just behind the dorsal fin) are all "closed", meaning that there is no black pigment swirling or entering into the white patch; and
4. Their saddle patches extend farther forward underneath the dorsal fin.

We look forward to posting full I.D.'s of these animals once we have had a chance to properly examine these photos. Identification is done by matching dorsal fin shape, saddle patch shape, nicks, scratches and marks and comparing them to identification survey guide photos.

What will tomorrow bring?! That's what keeps us so excited to get back out there and take you with us each day!

Tuesday, April 7th, 2009 Transient Killer Whales!!

Spring Sunshine, Calm Seas, Warm Temperatures and Transient Killer Whales!

Our afternoon trip on Tuesday, April 7th, 2009 could not have been better: Spring sunshine, calm seas, warm temperatures (17 C or almost 60F) and we saw Transient Killer Whales near the Race Rocks Marine Protected Area.

We encountered four of the T-30 Group and one other yet-to-be-identified Transient (Marine-Mammal Eating) Killer Whale just after they had attacked and beaten a 600kg (1,300lb) Steller Sea Lion...From all reports they did not finish the kill and the Steller Sea Lion escaped onto a floating mass of Kelp.
Photos by Ron Bates, Marine Mammal Research Group (MMRG)

Ron Bates Receives Tourism Victoria's 2008 Environment Award

Tourism Victoria today announced that our friend Ron Bates was chosen as the recipient of their 2008 Environment Award in the "Individual" category:

"Ron Bates, Marine Mammal Research Group, for his life-long commitment to understanding area Orcas and sharing his passion for conservation and stewardship with visitors and residents".

Ron's nomination received tremendous support from many Captains, Marine Naturalists, Marine Mammal Observers, Fisheries Observers and Scientists in Environmental and Marine Mammal Research. It is incredible the number and quality of people whom Ron has guided, prodded and challenged over the years. We consider ourselves very lucky to continually be pushed by Ron to be better.

We at Five Star Whale Watching are blessed to have the opportunity to spend so much time with and learn so much from Ron. But make no mistake, Ron is and will always remain staunchly independent. Ron can be difficult/challenging, critical/inspiring, brutally honest/humorous but most importantly he will always be "Ron".

Congratulations, Ron!

Sunday, March 29th, 2009 TRANSIENTS!

START OF THE 2009 SEASON

It is wonderful to be back out on the water! And to then find Transient (Marine-Mammal-Eating) Killer Whales on a calm day in Spring-time sunshine...Well, we must live a good life!

We will post confirmation on the Photo I.D. of exactly who these Killer Whales are once we finish comparison to the Surveys and Archives.

Note that the lighthouse at Race Rocks Marine Protected Area (MPA) is getting a facelift.

Photos by Ron Bates, Marine Mammal Research Group (MMRG), Victoria, B.C.

Tuesday, April 1, 2008 J-POD RETURNS!!!!

Five Star Whale Watching was lucky enough to treat our passengers to the return of J-pod of Southern Resident Killer Whales on Tuesday, April 1st, 2008.

On ideal seas, if less than seasonal temperatures, we saw the whole family of over 20 animals as they came inbound from the Pacific and began heading North along the westside of the San Juan Islands.

Clear vocalizations and echolocations reverberated over our hydrophone, adding to the experience.

Al marvelous day.

Friday, March 28, 2008 Trip to Race Rocks and Secretary Island

Cooler than expected Spring temperatures could not dampen the enthusiasm of the passengers who joined Five Star Whale Watching for our Friday, March 28th cruise.

One of the joys of venturing out at this time of year is that there is chance for a wide variety of Marine Mammals, and our collective patience was rewarded by one of the most impressive encounters: A solitary male Transient (Marine Mammal Eating) Killer Whale.

Here was a creature weighing about 8.5 Tonnes (19,000 pounds) and 8.5m (28 feet)long searching by himself for a meal of Harbour Seals, Harbour Porpoise, Dall's Porpoise, California Sea Lions or Steller Sea Lions. We all paused to contemplate that here we were encountering a creature in the Wild that likely looks and lives very much like its ancestors did 5 million years ago.

Ron Bates of The Marine Mammal Research Group (MMRG) provided these photos that confirm this animal as T103, a male Transient Killer Whale estimated to be 40 years old, with a distinct pointed Dorsal Fin that is almost 2m (over 6 feet) tall. Note the "Closed" Saddle Patch (The white patch that is almost the shape of a saddle and sit where you might imagine a saddle would fit a Killer Whale just behind the Dorsal Fin). It is called "Closed" because the Saddle Patch has no black intruding into it.

T103 was diving for periods of up to 7 1/2 minutes. Remarkable.

At Secretary Island we saw 3 juvenile and 2 adult Bald Eagles. As one adult circled overhead we could get a sense of how immense their wing span is (2m or over 6 feet).

Many of the Steller and California Sea Lions usually found at Race Rocks appeared to out on fishing trips. The dozen or so that we saw were all huddled on the S.E. island staying out of the cool breeze.

Another wonderful day for the passengers and crew of Five Star Whale Watching...and the season has just begun!

March 21, 2008 Photos of T49 Group and Race Rocks

Ron Bates, Marine Mammal Research Group (MMRG)provided these March 21, 2008 Photos of T49 Group and Race Rocks.

Transient Killer Whale T87, Seen on Tues, May 8, 2007

Photo By Ron Bates, Marine Mammal Research Group (MMRG)

We are lucky to have Ron Bates of the Marine Mammal Research Group (MMRG) travel with us on most trips. Not only is he extremely knowledgeable about marine mammals and birds but his keen observation skills enable him to get photographs when others might not be ready. This photograph of Transient Male Killer Whale T87 was so well timed that it almost looks posed!