October 14, 2025 - A Big T-Party in the Strait of Georgia
It was a beautiful, sunny day as our semi-covered vessel Kula left the Nanaimo harbour and set out in search of whales. Our adventure took us far south through the Strait of Georgia, all the way to Mayne Island, a bit of a trek for us, but we had heard whispers of something special happening down there. Word on the water was that a big T-party was underway, and that was an opportunity we couldn’t pass up!
Sure enough, as we made our way through Active Pass, the distant splashes and dark fins confirmed it: we had found the party. The orca were everywhere! We were treated to an incredible display of different behaviours: orca breaching clear out of the water, tail slapping, and swimming so closely together that they were likely brushing up against one another. These are all signs of socialization, the main reason behind these T-parties.
Today’s gathering included four different pods, the T035As, T065A5, T100s, and T101s, coming together to mingle and socialize.
T035A Lester ♀ (1998)
T035A1 Opal ♀ (2010)
T035A2 Topaz ♂ (2013)
T035A3 Garnet (2018)
T035A4 Agate♂ (2022)
T065A5 Indy ♂ (2014)
T100 Hutchins ♀ (~1979)
T100C Laurel ♂ (2002)
T100F Estrella (2014)
T101 Reef ♀ (≤1969)
T101A Rush ♂ (1993)
T101B Lagoon ♂ (1997)
Encounters like this offer a fascinating glimpse into the complex social lives of Bigg’s (Transient) Orca. Unlike Resident orca, which travel in stable family groups, Bigg’s pods are a bit more fluid in their associations. While the T035As aren’t directly related to the other pods, it’s suspected that T101 Reef is actually T100 Hutchins’ mother, making this a bit of a family reunion as well!
Social gatherings like these aren’t just about play; they can also serve as important opportunities for bonding and breeding. Interestingly, the two most eligible bachelors in these pods, the older males T101A Rush and T101B Lagoon, were hanging out about a mile away from the main group, either uninterested or perhaps not invited to the fun. Even in the world of orca, social dynamics can be surprisingly complex!
After spending time with the lively T-party, we began our journey back north, but the excitement didn’t stop there! In the distance, we spotted the tall, misty blows of humpback whales! The first pair we encountered included Hydra (BCY1000), who showed off her fluke beautifully for identification, and another individual who has yet to be matched in our catalogues. We’ll be sure to share if we’re able to identify them in the future!
A little farther along, we came across another familiar humpback, Hecate (BCX0470), who was busy feeding beneath the surface. We watched for a few moments before continuing, grateful for yet another encounter with these gentle giants.
To cap off an already unforgettable trip, we made a quick stop at the Harmac Pulp Mill on our way home. The log booms there serve as a popular haul-out site for both Steller and California Sea Lions during this time of year. The docks were full of barking, bellowing sea lions lounging in the autumn sun, a perfect reminder of just how rich and alive our local marine ecosystem is.
Please enjoy some of the highlights from our trip, captured by onboard Marine Naturalist Aly Kohlman.
One of th whales surfacing in front of a beautiful Mt. Baker.
Tail slap during the T-party!
T035A1 Opal, T101 Reef, and T035A Lester surfacing together.
T100 Hutchins, T100 Reef, and T035A Lester surfacing together.
A tail slap from one of the younger group members.
T035A Lester, T100 Hutchins, and T035A4 Agate.
You can see this tail is a little mishapen in this photo of a tail slap!
The matriarchs travelling together: T035A Lester in the lead, T100 Hutchins in the middle, and T101 Reef in the back.
A double tail slap!
T035A1 Opal showing off her eye patch.
T101 Reef with a big splash of activity behind her.
Double tails in the air!
T100 Hutchins (left) and T101 Reef (right) coming right at cha!
A beautiful look at T101 Reef.
T035A2 Topaz surfacing beside T100F Estrella.
Someone doing a big tail slap beside T035A Lester.
T035A1 Opal lunging through the water.
T035A1 Opal doing a little belly flop with T101 Reef ahead, part 1.
T035A1 Opal doing a little belly flop with T101 Reef ahead, part 2.
A big family photo featuring T101 Reef, T035A1 Opal, T100 Hutchins, T100C Laurel, and another slapping their tail.
The T101 boys: T101B Lagoon on the left, and T101A Rush on the right.
Hydra’s dorsal fin.
Hydra going for a dive.
The unknown friends dorsal fin!
A fluke waterfall from Hecate.
The underside of Hecate’s tail.
A big Steller Sea Lion male stands out amongst the others at the haul-out.
Striking a pose!