The Salish Sea

Over the years, John A. Barrett of Nanaimo, B.C., has explored this large, diverse area of waterways off the southern coast of his home province

The ferry to Vancouver Island moves cautiously off the southern tip of Salt Spring Island, as excited passengers swarm the vessel’s starboard decks. The distinct sound of an exhaled blowhole rips the air with its lingering water spray from a surfacing orca with calf in tow. Other killer whales follow, joining in a feeding frenzy of chinook salmon.

It’s like a game, where the pod of killer whales captures the marine harvest close to shore, while producing a spectacle of acrobatics including breaching, diving, skimming and using their flippers like elbows above the ruffled surface. Their black upper bodies are adorned with pronounced white saddle-patch markings behind their dorsal fins. We spot the white oval eyepatch and white underbelly of a large male as it breaches the water with a thunderous clap, in a surf of rolling white water.

On this occasion, our amazed British visitors, who were in town for our daughter’s wedding, showed lively appreciation for the unfolding extravaganza. There are cheers, astonished awes and high-fives from the mix of other nationalities on board as well, chattering in their respective tongues while bouncing gleefully off the rails, cameras focused with a newsreel intent.

There is nothing like the spectacle of killer whales on display— it’s a sight to behold, especially being so close to a large pod. The Salish Sea is home to resident orca pods, with a few transient whales “wandering” in from the ocean to sample its seasonal harvest.

Intrigued by the action, a pair of bald eagles alight on the blemished arm of a Garry oak tree before pursuing another marine cocktail. Nearby, other eagles’ nests sit atop a towering Douglas fir, their high-pitched shrills adding a chorus to the orcas’ performance.