Monthly Archives: December 2011

Vancouver Harbour on New Year’s Eve Day

Posted on December 31, 2011 by rob butler

There are moments when a new discovery opens our eyes to something we overlooked far too long. Today was one of those days. I met up with Rod MacVicar and Tom Middleton from Pacific WildLife Foundation to do a reconnaissance … Continue reading →

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Discoveries and Explorations

Posted on December 26, 2011 by rob butler

The year 2011 at the Pacific WildLife Foundation was eventful with some intriguing new discoveries. Jim Darling and Tim Frasier published their findings on the genetics of gray whales. It was widely believed that the eastern Pacific gray whales belonged to … Continue reading →

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Among Giants

Posted on December 18, 2011 by rob butler

While in Hawaii, we stayed next door to Flip Nicklin, photographer for National Geographic. Flip is known far and wide for his stunning underwater photographs of whales. He has spent a lifetime diving among the giant animals in Hawaii, the … Continue reading →

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Thirty year old humpback in Hawaii

Posted on December 18, 2011 by rob butler

While in Hawaii last week with Jim Darling and Rod MacVicar from PWLF, we photographed several tail flukes of humpbacks. The markings on the underside of flukes are unique to each whale and allows individuals to be identified. Jim  sent a … Continue reading →

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Hawaiian Humpbacks

Posted on December 16, 2011 by rob butler

Pacific WildLife Foundation Director Jim Darling has been researching humpback whale behaviour for many decades. His recent research has been focussing on the songs of humpbacks in Hawaii where Rod MacVicar also from PWLF, and I joined him this past … Continue reading →

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Pacific White-sided Dolphins Return

Posted on December 1, 2011 by rob butler

There are reports that Pacific White-sided Dolphins have arrived once again in the Strait of Georgia during the past week or two. The dolphins were quite scarce along they BC coast until about 1985 when they began to appear frequently … Continue reading →

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