August 3rd- Travelling T46's and T137's headed South
They're back! We visited our friends the T46's and T137's out near Bowen Island in the morning and watched as they headed south at high speed. These two pods are frequently seen together and were last seen on July 30th as they were heading North.
With a few larger males in the group, identifying these pods is a breeze! T137A, T46D and T46E all have those iconic tall and straight dorsal fins that are easy to spot, in addition they also display some distinctive nicks in their fins. These nicks can be from their prey when fighting back. So when our naturalists on board snap photos of the dorsal fin and saddle patch, we can identify each individual whale! This method, photo identification, was first used by Dr. Michael Bigg in 1976. Since then, this technique has been used worldwide and provides a safer, less invasive way of keeping track of population change and behavioural patterns.
Not only do we get to watch humpbacks and killer whales in our seas here, but we also have quite a variety of other marine life that keep our guests engaged and excited throughout the trip! Often, we see the cormorants in large population sizes around Gabriola Island, just east of the Nanaimo Harbour. Here, they nest in the rocky facade on the island and gather in mass amounts that is always a treat to see.
There's lots for you to see on one of our whale watching trip, so don't hesitate and book now! We'd love to show you how incredible the ecosystem is here :) check out some more photos from this day's trips below!