The seas were a bit wavy today as all three of our vessels left the dock, but that didn’t dampen our spirits! We were eager to see what the Salish Sea had in store. Reports from the morning hinted at possible orca activity inside the Southern Gulf Islands, so with anticipation, we steered our bows in that direction to begin the search.

We looked and looked, our eyes scanning every wave and horizon line, when excitement suddenly rippled through the boat. Near Thetis Island, splashing broke the surface, and then came the unmistakable sight: towering black dorsal fins slicing through the water. Orca! We had found the T065Bs consisting of:

T065B Chunk ♀ (1993)
T065B1 Birdsall ♂ (2011)
T065B2 Nettle ♂ (2019)
T065B3 Rook ♂ (2023)

This family is one we know well. They are Bigg’s (Transient) orca, mammal-eaters who move stealthily through the Salish Sea. The matriarch of the group, T065B Chunk, is instantly recognizable by the missing section from the base of her dorsal fin, hence her nickname. But her family has another claim to fame. Chunk’s brother is none other than T063 Chainsaw, one of the most iconic orca in our region. Chainsaw earned his name from his towering dorsal fin with jagged notches missing, a silhouette that locals can recognize instantly, even from miles away. Seeing a sibling pod to this celebrity whale makes every encounter feel a little more special.

Today, the T065Bs were in full hunting mode. Both our morning and afternoon trips were treated to the thrill of watching the ocean’s apex predators on the move. Transient orca need to eat around 300 pounds of food per day, which works out to roughly two harbour seals per individual orca. This is no small feat, and so much of their day is spent patrolling, searching, and strategizing for their next meal.

What makes Transient orca particularly fascinating is their hunting style. Much like wolves on land, they hunt cooperatively. Each individual has a role; some may herd prey from below, others flank from the sides, while another waits for the perfect moment to strike. A hunt often happens essentially beneath the surface, hidden from our eyes. But we know when a meal is underway by the clues left behind: seabirds swooping down to snatch scraps, blood or oil slicks on the water’s surface, floating remains, or, occasionally, seeing the orca share prey at the surface.

Then there is the celebration. More often than not, once a kill is secured, the whales erupt into displays of energy, tail slaps, spy hops, cartwheels, and even breaches. Scientists believe this is a form of social bonding, perhaps a way to communicate the success of the hunt, or play fueled by a full belly. Today, we were treated to all of it! Throughout both tours, we saw spy hops towering above the waves, thunderous tail slaps echoing across the Strait, and even full-bodied breaches that sent cascades of spray into the air. The pod remained in the same area much of the day, clearly enjoying a productive buffet in the Southern Gulf Islands.

Of course, where there are Transient orca, there are usually pinnipeds nearby, their favourite prey. Alongside our encounters today, we spotted both Harbour Seals and Steller Sea Lions hauled out and patrolling the rocky shores. Harbour seals are one of the most common prey for Transient orca. They’re relatively small and abundant, feeding themselves on fish, crustaceans, and squid. Their big eyes and sensitive whiskers help them locate food underwater with precision.

Steller Sea Lions, on the other hand, are a different challenge altogether. As the largest of the eared seals, males can reach up to 2,800 pounds, making them formidable prey. Stellers are powerful hunters in their own right, consuming up to 5-6% of their body weight daily in fish, cephalopods and crustaceans. Watching them porpoise through the waves or jostle on haul-outs, it’s easy to see why orca need teamwork to take them down.

As the day wound down and our boats turned toward home, the excitement lingered. Something is awe-inspiring about watching the ocean’s top predators at work, knowing we are witnessing ancient survival strategies perfected over millennia. Between the dramatic hunts, the playful surface activity, and the ever-present pinnipeds keeping the food chain in balance, the Salish Sea gave us a day to remember.

Photos below taken by Aly Kohlman, Desarae Poier and Jordan Robinson.

August 12, 2025 - The seas were a little “Chunky” - the orca kind!