2021 saw a baby boom among local humpback whales, orca populations

A baby boom has been reported for two whale species who frequent the waters between Vancouver Island and Washington state.

The Pacific Whale Watch Association says in 2021 several young calves were spotted swimming in the Salish Sea among the humpback populations, as well as among Bigg’s orcas, previously known as transient killer whales.

The group says 21 humpback whale calves were spotted last year, almost double the previous record.

A photo of a tale from a gray whale taken near Vancouver in 2021. (Courtesy: Justine Buckmaster, Puget Sound Express)

The association says 11 Bigg’s orcas were also born last year, which suggests the population, which feeds on seals and sea lions, is doing well.

11 new Bigg’s calves were born in 2021 including the most recent, T124A7, who was spotted by PWWA member companies near Victoria on New Year’s Eve. The number 7 at the end of the calf’s ID number indicates it is the seventh baby born to 37-year old mother T124A, “Kittiwake”. (Karac Lindsay, Eagle Wing Tours, PWWA)

Many of the orcas have been spotted in recent weeks off the coast of Victoria.

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However, it is more challenging to catch a glimpse of a humpback this time of year, as they typically journey south to breed in warmer waters near Hawaii, Mexico, and Central America.

The association says the highlight for whale watchers was on Mother’s Day last year, when many tour groups reported seeing a “Grand Slam” by spotting orcas, humpbacks, minke whales, and gray whales in a single tour.

A photo of a feeding minke whale taken off the coast of Vancouver Island in 2021. (Courtesy:Tyson Reed, Island Adventures, PWWA)

However, sightings of the endangered Southern Resident killer whales remained low last year.

The group feeds almost exclusively on salmon and its population has been decreasing sharply since the 90s.

“Based on reports from professional whale watchers, regional sightings groups, and shore-based observers, Bigg’s killer whales were documented in the Salish Sea during 1,067 unique sightings across 329 days….In contrast, salmon-eating Southern Resident killer whales were documented on just 103 days, or 28% of the year,” the Pacific Whale Watch Association said in a statement Tuesday.

FILE – Southern Resident killer whales from all three pods were photographed by DFO researchers in July, 2019.

The last Southern Resident killer whale calf spotted was L125 “Element” in December.