May 20, 2025 - T037A3 Spinnaker finds a new friend group - the T090s!
We departed the dock aboard our semi-covered vessel, Kula and our open vessel Keta, both filled with eager guests ready to help us search for whales. Our plan was to head into the Southern Gulf Islands, where orcas had recently been reported. While such reports are always exciting, they don't guarantee a sighting, these magnificent animals are constantly on the move. Exploring the Gulf Islands is never dull. Though our primary goal is always to find whales, the stunning scenery offers so much more. With over 300 islands scattered throughout the area, there is always something fascinating to discover. Then, near Pylades Channel—what was that? A blow… followed by a dorsal fin. We had whales! Cameras clicked as we captured the moment. We identified the group as the T090s, and to our delight, they had a new little tag-along.
T037A3 Spinnaker ♂ (2013)
T090 Eagle ♀ (1980)
T090B Piglet ♂ (2006)
T090C Tigger ♀ (2010)
T090D Kanga ♀ (2017)
It seems Spinnaker has decided that solo male Cooper is no longer exciting enough to hang out with, having a family pod around is clearly more appealing. Spinnaker has been seen “pod-hopping” before, and it seems like he’s continuing that trend! Around this time in 2023, he branched off from his mother, Volker, with his sister Crinkle, and the two siblings galivanted around the Salish Sea for a while. Crinkle is known for her mischievous streak. We’ve watched her harass a young humpback whale just trying to feed, and even practice hunting techniques on a grebe that was simply minding its own business. To read more about that tour and see photos of Crinkle in action, check out our blog here.
Honestly, we wouldn’t be surprised if the two of them got up to some antics while travelling together. They eventually ended up at what we affectionately dubbed “Jack’s Summer Camp.” Shortly afterward, both returned to their mother’s side—though Crinkle remained, Spinnaker once again joined up with Jack. Jack seems to be a favourite among orca calves; we often see him wrangling the younger whales while the adults socialize. Since then, Spinnaker has continued mixing up his social circles, bouncing from pod to pod. We’ll see how long he sticks with his new companions. Piglet, now 19 and maturing, is still growing into his early twenties. Cooper, the mature male Spinnaker, was previously spending time with—is 33 years old and fully grown. At 12 years old, Spinnaker is just entering puberty, much like humans at a similar age. It’s speculated that he may be gravitating toward mature males to learn the ropes of life as one of nature’s largest apex predators.
After spending quality time with the orca, we were off to see some more of the Salish Sea’s large predators! While whales are usually the highlight for most guests, pinnipeds come in a close second, especially the massive Steller Sea Lions. A fully mature male can weigh up to 2,800 pounds! It’s always entertaining to watch these noisy giants bicker over the best sunbathing spots on the rocks. Next, we encountered our little “rock sausages”—another kind of pinniped, the harbour seal. They exhibit similar behaviour, often competing for the coziest rock real estate. However, being smaller and quieter, their squabbles are less dramatic than those of the Steller’s. That said, what they lack in size and volume, they more than make up for in charm. Harbour seals are among the most adorable residents of the Salish Sea. Our final stop was at the towering Gabriola Bluffs, a favoured nesting site for cormorants, expert divers that can plunge over 100 feet below the surface. We returned home with smiles on our faces and memories to last a lifetime.
Photos by Marine Naturalist Jordan Robinson and Hayleigh Hilbert.
T090 Eagle. Photo by Hayleigh Hilbert.
T090 Eagle making waves. Photo by Hayleigh Hilbert.
Tails up! Photo by Hayleigh Hilbert.
T090C Tigger followed by T037A3 Spinnaker. Photo by Hayleigh Hilbert.
T090 Eagle. Photo by Hayleigh Hilbert.
T090 Eagle. Photo by Hayleigh Hilbert.
T090B Piglet. Photo by Hayleigh Hilbert.
T090B Piglet with T037A3 Spinnaker in tow. Photo by Hayleigh Hilbert.
T090D Kanga. Photo by Hayleigh Hilbert.
T090B Piglet. Photo by Hayleigh Hilbert.
T090B Piglet with T090D Kanga surfacing in front. Photo by Hayleigh Hilbert.
T090C Tigger. Photo by Jordan Robinson.
A family photo…almost! Photo by Jordan Robinson.
The whole group together. Right to left: T037A3 Spinnaker, T090C Tigger, T090B Piglet, T090 Eagle and T090D Kanga. Photo by Jordan Robinson.
An incredibly well fed Stellar Sea Lion. Photo by Hayleigh Hilbert.
That large mature male makes the other sea lions look small. Photo by Hayleigh Hilbert.
The sweet little harbour seals. Photo by Jordan Robinson.
Look at those adorable faces. Photo by Hayleigh Hilbert.
A river otter making a mess on a boat. Photo by Hayleigh Hilbert.
A bald eagle perched. Photo by Jordan Robinson.
Cormorants at the bluffs. Photo by Jordan Robinson.
The cormorants tucked in every nook. Photo by Jordan Robinson.
The whale in area flag! Photo by Jordan Robinson.
Guests on Keta. Photo by Jordan Robinson.
A very moody west coast photo. Photo by Jordan Robinson.