It was a beautiful day, the temperature just right, not too hot, not too cold, as we happily piled onto our open vessel, Keta and our semi-covered Kula to begin the search for whales! Our general rule on multi-vessel days is to head in different directions to maximize coverage and increase our chances of spotting wildlife. But today, we didn’t need to go far, the humpbacks were right around the corner, just north of Entrance Island!

Our onboard Naturalists quickly pulled out their zoom lenses to capture detailed photos for identification. We had Iota (BCY1466), Neptune (BCY1021) and Ocular (BCX1705), a triple treat! How do we identify them? When you think of a humpback whale, one of the most iconic images is its massive, arched tail flukes rising out of the water before a deep dive. But did you know those tails are like fingerprints? Unique to each individual, a humpback whale’s tail tells scientists an incredible story of migration, identity, and even ancestry. Each humpback whale has distinct markings on the underside of its tail flukes. These markings, comprising various patterns of black and white pigmentation, scars, and the shape of the fluke's trailing edge, allow researchers to identify individuals over time. High-resolution photographs of these tails are cataloged and compared across regions, helping scientists track whale movements and population health year after year. This method of photo-identification has revolutionized whale research. Instead of relying on invasive tagging methods, scientists can now build detailed histories of individual whales simply through photography. In the Northern Hemisphere, researchers often sort humpback whales into three categories based on their fluke pigmentation patterns:

X Whales: These whales have mostly black tails with minimal white patterning. The contrast of their flukes against the sea can be subtle, but just as distinctive.
Y Whales: Y whales show a more balanced mix of black and white on their flukes.
Z Whales: These whales have predominantly white tails with only small areas of black. Their flukes stand out brightly in the ocean and are easier to spot from a distance.

These categories help scientists quickly sort and identify whales in fieldwork and photo databases, streamlining the research process.

Interestingly, humpback whales in the Southern Hemisphere tend to have more white colouration on the underside of their flukes compared to their Northern Hemisphere cousins. The reason for this difference isn’t fully understood, but it’s thought to be a result of evolutionary divergence between populations that have been geographically and reproductively isolated for millions of years. This regional difference in tail colouration not only helps researchers identify where a whale is likely from, but it also gives insight into broader ecological and genetic distinctions between populations.

Understanding which whale is which and where it goes has major conservation implications. Photo-identification has helped scientists:

Track migratory routes across entire ocean basins
Study social structures and breeding patterns
Monitor health, injuries, and survival over time
Assess the effectiveness of marine protected areas

With growing threats from ship strikes, fishing gear entanglement, and climate change, having this detailed data is critical to ensuring the long-term survival of these magnificent creatures.

Next time you see a humpback whale raise its tail in a graceful dive, remember: you’re witnessing something as unique as a human fingerprint! That tail isn’t just a powerful propulsion tool, it’s a gateway into the life story of one of the ocean’s most awe-inspiring travellers!

We weren’t finished spotting whales yet! We decided to take a look in the Southern Gulf Islands as we had been fortunate to have our humpbacks so close, we had some extra time to search some more. This time, it was a towering black fin that was spotted, an orca! He was soon identified as:

T049A1 Noah ♂ (2001)

Just like a humpback, each orca (killer whale) has unique features that help researchers and whale watchers tell them apart. The dorsal fin is often the first clue; its shape, nicks, notches, and even how it leans can distinguish individuals, especially in males, who have tall, straight dorsal fins up to 6 feet high. Behind the dorsal fin is the saddle patch, a grey or white area that also varies in shape, size, shading and scarring from whale to whale. It’s like a signature splash of colour on their black backs. Then there's the eye patch, that striking white oval above and behind the eye. The size, shape, and angle of the eye patch can help narrow down which ecotype or population an orca belongs to. Together, these three features allow scientists to build detailed ID catalogues, track family groups, and monitor individuals over decades, all from a quick photo or glimpse at sea! Noah is a local favourite, his mother is named Nan after Nanaimo, as they are often in our area, even coming into the harbour once in a while! Put it this way, when we hear there is a whale in the Nanaimo harbour, it is Noah around 80% of the time! After spending time with such a popular boy, we were off to spot a few other species!

🦁 Steller Sea Lions – These big guys are the loudmouths of the sea! Males can weigh over 2,500 pounds and growl away like they're running a marine opera. They're the largest sea lions in the world and love lounging in big, noisy groups called a colony.

🦅 Bald Eagles – An iconic bird that is a fish-snatching pro! With a wingspan up to 8 feet, they can spot prey from over a mile away. Bonus fact: their famous scream? It's actually from a red-tailed hawk in the movies; bald eagle calls are more like high-pitched chirps!

🦭 Harbour Seals – The ocean’s chillest rock sasages! These cuties often haul out on rocks, looking like beach bananas. They can hold their breath for up to 30 minutes and sleep underwater!

🐦‍⬛ Cormorants – Sleek divers with a serious fishing habit! These birds can dive over 100 feet deep to catch fish. After a dive, you’ll spot them spreading their wings out to dry, like feathered surfers airing out after a dip!

It was time to head back to the dock, but we had one more species on the list!

🪶Great Blue Heron - Like the samurai of the shoreline. Standing up to 3.5 feet tall with a wingspan over 6 feet, it moves slowly and strikes fast, snatching fish, frogs, and even small mammals with lightning precision! They're calm, cool, and totally prehistoric-looking!🦕

Photos by Marine Naturalists Cheyenne Brewster, Val Watson, and Hayleigh Hilbert.

May 24, 2025, 10:30 AM - Humpback adventures and a surprise orca right at the end!