This morning, we pushed off the dock on our open vessels, Keta and Cascadia. With light winds and calm seas, it was a beautiful day to explore the northern reaches of the Salish Sea. Spirits were high, and before long, the search was on.

After about half an hour of scanning the horizon, Keta spotted something in the distance, a series of blows and a small fluke breaking the surface. As we drew closer, the whale was quickly identified as Starry Knight (BCX0915 calf 2024), the 2024 calf of Fallen Knight. Starry Knight is a humpback with a remarkable and sobering story. Sadly, this little whale has already survived entanglement twice in its young life. The deep cuts along the tail flukes tell the tale of ropes or gear wrapping tightly around the body. Entanglement is one of the greatest human-caused threats to whales worldwide, and it’s heartbreaking to see such damage on such a young animal. Yet, Starry Knight has shown incredible resilience, surviving not one but two encounters. As soon as we realized who we were with, we made the decision to leave Starry Knight. We do not linger around injured whales. Even though it is tempting to spend time with such a remarkable survivor, minimizing human presence is the best way to reduce stress and give whales the space they need to heal. With fingers crossed that next time we see Starry Knight, the wounds will be mending, Keta resumed the search. You can read all about Starry Knight here.

Meanwhile, Cascadia had found a whale of their own, Nalu (BCY1072)! Nalu was travelling with purpose, surfacing only every ten minutes after long dives. While humpbacks are capable of holding their breath for an astonishing 45 minutes, to us on the surface, even ten minutes feels like quite a while. Nalu’s steady movement suggested a whale with a destination in mind, perhaps tracking a patch of prey deep below.

Not long after, Keta picked up more blows. This time, it was Split Fluke (BCX1068) and her 2025 calf. Seeing a mother and calf pair is always an extraordinary sight. This calf was born in the warm breeding grounds of Mexico after its mother endured a long migration from the North Pacific. The journey itself is full of challenges, calves must stay close to their mothers, learning to swim and nurse while making the long trek north. Once here in the Salish Sea, the challenges continue. Young whales like Split Fluke’s calf face threats such as entanglement, the same danger Starry Knight has already survived. A single accident with fishing gear can mean life or death for a whale that is still growing and learning how to navigate the ocean. While we admired the new calf, another familiar whale surfaced nearby, Slalom (BCZ0437), another Mexico whale! Perhaps Slalom and Split Fluke recognize each other from their time in the breeding grounds. Though their relationships are fluid, it is always fascinating to consider how these whales cross paths over thousands of miles of ocean.

Cascadia was having its own thrilling encounter nearby with the duo of their own Beak (BCX1606) and Yogi (BCY0409). These two whales had clearly been eating well; their energy levels were high as they showed off a spectacular range of behaviours: pec slaps, tail lobs, and even a full-body breach! No photo this time, but trust us, it was a sight to behold. Such displays remind us just how much energy is required to fuel these enormous animals, and how critical the feeding season here is to their survival.

As both vessels began their journey back toward Nanaimo, the day still had one more surprise in store for them. Another young whale surfaced with Cascadia, Aether (BCZ0414 calf 2024), a humpback who migrates here all the way from Hawaii. While Keta was getting a look at Sage (BCX2073), who also comes from Hawaii. The migration alone is an epic feat, but once in the Salish Sea, the work truly begins. A humpback needs to consume around 3,000 pounds of food every single day, a mother with a calf like Split Fluke may need closer to 5,000 pounds to fuel both her body and her growing calf. The nutrient-rich waters here make that possible, turning the Salish Sea into a vital refuelling station for whales from across the Pacific!

Before heading back to the dock, we made one final stop at a buoy that had become the lounging spot for a group of Steller Sea Lions. These massive pinnipeds never fail to entertain, bellowing loudly, jostling for space, and constantly battling to claim the coveted “top spot” on the pile. Watching their playful and sometimes rowdy antics is the perfect way to round out a day on the water.

With that, we turned for home, grateful for the experiences of the day: the resilience of Starry Knight, the endurance of migrators like Split Fluke and her calf, the high-energy antics of Beak and Yogi, and the quiet strength of young travellers like Aether. Each encounter is a reminder of the challenges these whales face, and of the resilience and beauty that keep drawing them back to the Salish Sea year after year.

Photos by Val Watson and Hayleigh Hilbert.

September 5, 2025, 10:30 AM - A day full of humpbacks in the Salish Sea