Tag Archives: Humpback Whales

Animals, Rivers & Oceans

Discovery Islands surfacing as a humpback hot spot

National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

It’s marvellously symbolic that Nick the humpback whale returns year after year with her offspring to the waters surrounding the Discovery Islands, wedged between B.C.’s remote central coast and Vancouver Island. 

She frequents the waters off Cortes Island near Whaletown — once a whaling station and rendering plant set up in 1868 as part of a colonial industry that eradicated humpbacks in the waters off eastern Vancouver Island by the early 20th century. 

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Environment, History

A photographer looks back at Greenpeace’s early years – Part 2

Originally published on Greenpeace International

Editors Note: Rex Weyler is now a resident of Cortes Island

From 1974 to 1982, I served as photographer on Greenpeace campaigns. Here are a dozen photographs from those years and some memories that they evoke. 

Continue reading A photographer looks back at Greenpeace’s early years – Part 2 →
Rivers & Oceans

Citizen science whale observers worry humpbacks being harassed

National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The return of a mother humpback whale and calf to B.C. waters should be cause for celebration, says Saturna Island resident Susie Washington-Smyth, but instead it’s causing dismay and concern for a coastal citizen science group. 

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Tourism

The passion behind Wild Waterways Adventures

Wild Waterways Adventures officially launched last year but for Jenefer Smalley it is part of a lifelong pursuit.

“My whole entire life, I’ve had an affinity and a connection with wildlife. I thought I would go to college to become a wildlife biologist or a fisheries biologist. Then when I finally went to college, I realized I wasn’t really into running statistics and mathematical models, I wanted to be out in the field with wildlife. So when I graduated, just on a whim, I got a job in the field of ecotourism out of Campbell River,” explained Smalley.

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Rivers & Oceans

Looking down the throat of a Humpback Whale

Dr. Kelsey Gil is  a postdoctoral researcher at UBC’s department of zoology and the lead author of a paper published in Current Biology that literally peaks down the throat of a lunge whale.

Lunge feeding whales (humpbacks, blue whales and fin whales etc)   open their mouths as they accelerate towards their prey.

Continue reading Looking down the throat of a Humpback Whale →