The Whales of Telegraph Cove

Telegraph Cove is well known for its great Whale Watching. It is known as the best place in the world to see Killer Whales also known as Orcas and Humpback Whales. I really wanted to experience the area by Sea Kayak but my inability to provide paperwork proving my knowledge meant I jumped on a Whale Watching Boat. Glad I did.

Telegraph Cove is a tourist town, not the normal place I travel to. But the Whales called me there. The overnight rain and morning drizzle left me lacking enthusiasm as I boarded the vessel in the morning. I was hoping for the best but my expectations were not too high. I hoped to see Orcas and maybe, if lucky, some Humpbacks.

I spent the initial part of the journey talking with the Captain which enabled me to listen in on the local chatter on the marine radio, all the other vessels looking for wildlife assisting one and other with sighting locations. It wasn’t long before I heard the radio mention a pod of Orcas. We motored in that direction.

On route there were several Dall’s Porpoises gracefully passing by. At a place known as the Robson Bight Michael Biggs Ecological Reserve we were observing 4 Pods of Killer Whales (Orcas) cruising up the channel. Each pod is identified by the on board naturalist as the A23, A25, A32 and the A40. A total of 21 Orcas. One inquisitive individual surfaced meters from the vessel for a look before diving directly under me.

I had a distant sighting of Orcas only a couple of days ago while on the Ferry from Prince Rupert to Port Hardy. It wet my appetite to see them again and learn a little about them. There were also some visits from Bald Eagles and Sea Birds which kept the Birdwatchers happy and several sightings of Steller Sea Lions and Pacific White Sided Dolphins.

After cruising through several narrow channels we ended up at a location where several Humpback Whales were sighted. To my surprise one of the Whales started Bubble Net Fishing.

This is the technique where a Whale blows bubbles of air in a circular pattern from down deep which confuses the Krill or small schooling fish and keeps them within the bubble perimeter. The Whale then surfaces through the centre of the bubble ring with gaping jaws to scoop up the bounty. It’s something I have only seen on documentaries where filmmakers spend months getting footage of such behaviours.

Apparently this was only observed in Canadian waters for the first time in 2013 and there are only 2 know individuals capable of this technique. It was a privilege to see it. As the trip continued there were several other Humpbacks sighted. They are making a comeback to this area.

Canada was a whaling nation until very recently and the last several years have seen the Humpback Whale numbers steadily increase. Conservation and protection seems to be affording the Humpbacks profitable place to reside.