All three of our boats were out on the Salish Sea today, with plenty of wildlife waiting to be discovered. About half an hour after leaving Nanaimo, Kula and Cascadia came across a lone humpback whale. We stopped for a few surfaces and were able to identify the whale as Cassiopeia (BCY0796). After several quiet moments together, he continued on his way, and we returned to search mode.

Soon after, Keta found something much bigger. A large congregation of humpback whales had gathered in the middle of the Strait, with whales surfacing and changing direction throughout the area. With so much activity happening at once, tracking individual whales proved quite challenging. Every time we thought we had a good idea of where one whale was heading, another would change direction. Not to fret, though, as the Naturalists were up for the challenge!

Despite the busy scene, we confirmed seven individual humpbacks: Manta (BCZ0155), Heron (BCX0470calf2024), Achilles (BCX2500), Forge (BCX2499), Sherwina (BCY0961), her calf (BCY0961calf2026), and Orion (BCX1251).

Although all of these whales were part of the same larger congregation, they were not necessarily travelling as one group. Smaller associations were happening throughout the area. Manta and Achilles were travelling together, while Forge stayed close to Heron. Nearby, Sherwina, her 2026 calf, and Orion formed another small group.

These temporary associations are a fascinating part of humpback behaviour. Humpbacks are generally considered relatively solitary whales, but they can come together when conditions provide a good reason to do so, particularly when feeding opportunities arise. In this case, the constant movement and changing direction of the whales suggested that there was likely a large bait ball or gathering of krill (or small schooling fish) taking place below the surface.

As the encounter continued, the smaller groups began to come together and intermingle. Whales that had been travelling separately crossed paths, changed companions, and moved throughout the larger congregation. From our perspective above the surface, it can look quite chaotic, but the synchronicity these giant animals used was awe-inspiring and really showed how coordinated they can be.

After spending time with the humpbacks, we continued exploring the area and stopped at Stinky Rocks. The rocks were covered with Harbour Seals and Steller Sea Lions, many of them simply relaxing in the sunshine. We also spotted a different, less common furry face near the water’s edge: a River Otter had hauled up a large fish and was busy devouring it as we watched!

Eventually, it was time to head back toward Nanaimo Harbour. From a lone humpback early in the trip to a large congregation of whales actively moving and feeding in the Strait of Georgia, the day reminded us how busy and bustling the Salish Sea truly is.

Photos by Marine Naturalists Val Watson, Evan Hessels, and Jordan Robinson - please enjoy!