The beaches of Gibsons and surrounds have been unseasonably busy of late, as residents gather to watch some northern visitors.
The Northern Resident Killer Whales A5 pod has been visiting the Howe Sound area, as it has done around this time in recent years, according to the Centre for Whale Research.
Last week, researchers spotted a mix of individuals from the A23, A25 and A42 matrilines, including a new calf reported to belong to A88, in Howe Sound, said an update from the centre. A69 of the A24 matriline was also among the visitors.
(See a map of 2025 encounters on the centre's website.)
The researchers found the whales in the Pasley-Keats Islands area and over along the Gibsons coastline during the Jan. 21 encounter, and several orcas appeared to be rubbing their bellies at Secret Beach Park, said the centre's update.
Posts on the Sunshine Coast Whale and Dolphin Sightings Facebook page share photos of the whales up in the Roberts Creek and Sechelt areas in recent days as well.
When the whales visited in 2022, Coast Reporter talked with Gary Sutton, a whale research technician with Ocean Wise. The Southern Resident Killer Whales –– pods J, K and L –– are more common around the Salish Sea, but the northern population is the only one known to engage in beach rubbing behaviour, Sutton said at the time.
Beach rubbing, when animals swim close to shore to rub their bellies on smooth pebbles, is thought to help scrape off dead skin, strengthen family bonds and - yes - provide a massage-like feeling.
This year, Sutton has shared more photos and context of the whales' southern visit on his Instagram.
The sightings come the same week as environmental groups filed legal action against two federal ministers over a delay in issuing an emergency-order recommendation to protect B.C.’s endangered killer whale population.
–– With files from Keili Bartlett
