April 27, 2025 - The T071Bs are back together, and travelling with the T086As!

It was another beautiful day as our boat departed from Nanaimo. We headed into the Strait of Georgia, following rumours of whales travelling together near Vancouver. Picking up speed, we enjoyed the sunshine as we made our way in that direction.

It doesn’t take long to cross the Strait, especially on a calm, sunny day like this! As we were en route, another vessel spotted the rumoured whales, and we soon joined them. The first thing we look for when identifying orcas is their iconic black dorsal fins. Notches in the fins are the easiest clues, though some individuals also have bends or curves that help us tell them apart. After examining the dorsal fins, we identified a few notched individuals, notably T071B1 Zengo and T086A Eider.

Eider is a matriarch, leading a pod of three, so we knew they were present. Zengo, on the other hand, was a bit trickier; he and his sister had been travelling apart from their pod for a while. But today, it seemed they were reunited, giving us a total of six whales:

T071B Hood ♀ (2000)
T071B1 Zengo ♀ (2013)
T071B2 Tasli/Nemo ♂ (2018)

T086A Eider ♀ (1988)
T086A4 Akia ♀ (2016)
T086A5 (2024)

Both Hood and Eider had calves in 2024, but today, only one calf was present. Sadly, this likely means Hood’s calf has not survived since it was last sighted. Mortality in orcas is quite high in the first year, with only about a 50% chance of survival. While this is unfortunate, it’s a natural and common part of orca life. As apex predators, orcas are heavily impacted by even small environmental changes or hunting challenges, which can contribute to calf loss.

Experience may also play a role. Eider’s age and history of raising calves may have helped her current calf survive, while Hood’s inexperience could have contributed to her loss. Perhaps, as they travel together, Eider will pass along some of her knowledge to help Hood improve her success in the future.

While this may sound speculative, orcas are incredibly intelligent animals, and we know that knowledge transfer occurs among individuals. Female orcas often live long past their reproductive years to support the next generations. In fact, while females can live up to 100 years (more commonly between 60–80), they go through menopause around age 40. That means they may spend half their lives helping raise and guide younger family members—a vital role, especially in times of environmental stress.

After watching these two pods spend time together, it was time to say goodbye. We slowly left the T071Bs and T086As behind and began our journey back across the Strait, heading toward Entrance Island. This picturesque island is home to one of the last manned lighthouses on the BC coast, with striking white buildings and red roofs surrounding the lighthouse itself.

But the buildings aren’t the only attraction! A colony of Steller Sea Lions has claimed the rocky shoreline. We watched as their massive bodies swam through the water and hauled themselves up onto the rocks. These 800 to 2,800-pound animals are impressive and entertaining to observe! As breeding season approaches, we see increased aggression and scuffling among them. Once the season begins, they’ll migrate away from the Salish Sea to their rookeries, and sightings will become rare.

Next, we drifted over to a smaller rocky outcrop near Gabriola Island, where the quieter, more reserved Harbour Seals were resting. Though much smaller than the Steller Sea Lions, Harbour Seals are still sizable, around 300 pounds and up to 6 feet in length. Unlike the sea lions, they’re calm and peaceful at their haul-out sites, likely because they don’t move as easily on land and avoid the chaos of trampling. Watching these mellow pinnipeds is always a treat!

We ended our day with a visit to the Bald Eagle pair that lives across from Nanaimo on the Gabriola Bluffs. Today, we saw one brooding in the nest while the other soared overhead. These magnificent birds are the largest raptors in BC, just edging out the Golden Eagle in size. Their nests are just as impressive, since they return year after year and continually add to them, the structures grow larger with time. We’re nearing the season when their chick is expected to hatch, and we’re eagerly awaiting seeing how many they’ll raise this year. Typically, one or two chicks survive, though there have been rare instances of more!

After our time with the eagles, we returned to the dock, grateful for another incredible day filled with wildlife encounters. Our onboard Marine Naturalist, Des Poier, captured some amazing shots during the tour, be sure to check them out below!

T086A Eider in the lead, followed by T086A5 and T071B Hood.

How cute is T086A5 while they surface behind their mom, T086A Eider?

T071B Hood leading her two kids, T071B1 Zengo T071B2 Tasli.

You can see the notch here in T071B1 Zengo’s dorsal fin.

T071B2 Tasli showing off their saddle patch.

A great look at the unique notches on T086A Eiders dorsal fin.

You can see there’s actually three notches in T086A Eider’s dorsal fin, not the obvious 2.

A flock of white-winged scooters flying by.

A closer look at T071B Hood’s dorsal fin.

White-winged scooters floating by the whales.

A great look at Entrance Island lighthouse.

Some bald eagle drama unfolding on the lighthouse itself.

Steller Sea Lions along Entrance Island’s shoreline.

Curious Steller Sea Lions watching us from the water.

Pelagic Cormorants at the Gabriola Bluffs.

A jellyfish floating by us at the Bluffs.

One of the Bald Eagles soaring to their nest.

Jilann LechnerApril 27, 2025WhalesComment