We had a full fleet out this morning! Our vessels Kula, Cascadia and Keta left the Nanaimo harbour in search of some spectacular marine life. Our vessels toured the beautiful and calm waters of the protected Gulf islands before we headed out into the Strait of Georgia to continue our search. Shortly after entering the Strait, we encountered some humpback whales!

The first humpback whale we’d stumbled upon happened to be KEY0058! This unnamed whale has only been spotted a handful of times here in British Columbia; their true identity remains a mystery… (For now!)
On the contrary, a more familiar humpback joined the party; It was none other than Dalmatian (BCY0994)! Dalmatian is a frequent visitor here in British Columbia, migrating from his breeding grounds down in Mexico. Dalmatian is the 2015 calf of Heather (BCY0160), who played a strong role in helping repopulate our humpback populations.

Humpbacks were once one of the most hunted whale species during the era of commercial whaling along the Pacific coast. Their relatively slow swimming speed and their migration path along the coastline made them easy prey to commercial whalers. By the time commercial whaling had been stopped in the 1960s and 70s, the damage had already been done. It’s estimated that the northern-pacific humpback population had declined by 90%. This devastating tale brings us back to Heather, the mother of Dalmatian. In just 18 years, Heather had five calves! Her eldest child, Split Fluke (BCX1068), has gone on to have three calves herself. This means that Heather has, directly and indirectly, contributed eight new humpbacks to our coastal waters in a combined 19 years. This story is a great example of how one breeding female can have a lasting impact on the recovery of an entire community.

Some other unidentified humpbacks were spotted on this adventure! Despite our best efforts, we may not always be able to identify every whale we see right away. To confidently identify a humpback, a good photo of the underside of the humpback’s tail fluke is the gold standard for photo identification. Each humpback whale developed a unique coloration of white and dark areas on the tail. This coloration, combined with damage to the tail like notches and scratches, allows us to catalogue and compare all humpback whales. A humpback can sometimes be identified by its dorsal fin, but this poses a challenge as new scratches and marks can appear between seasons. This method is less constant than the widely used tail method, but experienced whale watchers can sometimes utilize this technique. However, we had a couple today that still remains a mystery. If we are able to identify them at a later date, we will update this blog!

Some other spectacular marine life we spotted today included Harbour Seals and Sea Lions!
Harbour Seals, often seen lounging on rocky shorelines, are quite small compared to sea lions. They grow up to 6 feet in length and weigh around 280 lbs. When not napping on rocks during the day, these nocturnal hunters rely on sensitive whiskers to hunt. Their whiskers are packed with nerve endings to detect vibrations from prey like small schooling fish, squid, and octopus. As “true seals,” they belong to a different evolutionary lineage than sea lions. One of the key differences lies in their anatomy: true seals lack external ear flaps (pinnae) and have smaller front flippers. Their pelvic bones are fused, which limits their ability to move on land, but it gives them a powerful advantage in the water. This adaptation enhances thrust and agility, crucial when evading their primary predator: the killer whale.

In addition to Harbour Seals, Steller Sea Lions were spotted enjoying the sunny afternoon! Males can reach up to 11 feet in length and weigh as much as 2,500 lbs, making them the largest sea lion species in the world. Unlike seals, they have large, visible ear flaps, robust front flippers, and unfused pelvic bones that allow them to “walk” on land by rotating their hind flippers underneath them. Steller Sea Lions exhibit a trait called sexual dimorphism, where males grow 2–3 times larger than females, a crucial advantage during the breeding season, which begins mid-May and runs through mid-July. During this time, dominant males claim and defend harems of females on rocky haul-outs. Incredibly, these males will fast and remain on land, without entering the water to feed, for the entire two-month period!

While the whales and pinnipeds competed for our attention, the birds kept catching our eyes! Some notable species include Bald Eagles, Cormorants (Double-Crested and Pelagic), and Turkey Vultures.

In our photos below, we have included both young and mature bald eagles. Can you tell the two apart? After 5 years, bald eagles transition from their juvenile brown head towards their iconic white head. Additionally, juveniles will lose their white splotches on their body and tail, developing dark-brown bodies and white tail feathers. As bald eagles age, their feathers are not the only thing changing colour! The eyes of immature bald eagles will initially appear brown or grey and change to a stunning yellow as they age. The diet of bald eagles can vary, but consists of fish, small mammals and other birds (as seen below…Gore Warning tag is listed below in case you do not want to see the Bald Eagle with its catch)!

Soon after, we had to wrap up the day’s exploration and head back to home port, wrapping up a wonderful day with our gentle giants of the Salish Sea.

See our photos by Marine Naturalists Jordan Robinson, Hayleigh Hilbert, and Val Watson.

June 14, 2025, 10:30 AM - Flukes Up with the Humpbacks!

GORE WARNING: A Bald Eagle was having a meal at the Gabriola Bluffs - photos below