Eagle Wing whale & wildlife watching tours - News, articles and cooperation

Eagle Wing Tours First Whale Watching Company to Give 1% For The Planet

VICTORIA, BC – As a gift to the planet for Earth Day, Victoria’s Eagle Wing Tours has announced that
it is joining the global 1% for the Planet movement and will contribute one per cent of its annual sales
to help protect the environment.

Eagle Wing is the first whale watching company in Canada and the only tour company in Victoria to be
a member of 1% for the Planet.

“The natural world has massive demands placed upon it every day,” said Brett Soberg, co-owner of
Eagle Wing Tours. “At Eagle Wing we believe that being a responsible steward means being active,
positive contributors to the ecosystem we love and are able to make our living from.”

Soberg and his business partner, Don Stewart, started the growing whale watching company in
2005 with a deep respect for the marine environment. They believe that by educating the public
about whales and the wonders of the Salish Sea, they are able to inspire people to consider more
environmentally-responsible choices in their everyday lives.

The company also goes to great lengths to minimize the environmental impact of every aspect of its
operations. Eagle Wing Tours is Canada’s first and only carbon neutral whale watching company,
offsetting all corporate greenhouse gas emissions. Their clean Volvo diesel engines meet the strictest
international standards and provide the lowest emission rating of any whale watching company in
Victoria. The unique scarab and catamaran design of their three vessels incorporate the latest marine
technology to reduce engine noise, minimizing underwater sound, wake and shoreline erosion.

To celebrate Earth Day, Eagle Wing will donate $25 from every adult whale watching tour taken
between Friday and Sunday Apr. 20-22 to The Land Conservancy’s campaign to protect Brooks
Point Park on South Pender Island. The waters around Brooks Point are frequented by the southern
resident killer whales.

“Environmental stewardship is at the heart of everything we do at Eagle Wing,” said Soberg. “Our
customers can take pride in knowing that their tourism dollars are leaving a positive impact on the
whales and the marine environment we all depend on.”

“Eagle Wing Tours is a great addition to the 1% network. By signing on to 1%, it shows they’re really
walking the walk in their sustainability efforts,” says Terry Kellogg, 1% CEO. “They’re using generosity
as a tool with which to build their business and enabling valuable environmental work along the way.
Eagle Wing Tours is an especially important addition to 1% for the Planet because they are uniquely
positioned to engage their customers in the conservation movement by introducing them to the beauty
of the Salish Sea.”

Eagle Wing is working with the Victoria Foundation to administer its 1% for the Planet pledge to
support local charitable groups dedicated to the pursuit of sustainability and the environment.

“We welcome Eagle Wing to the group of Victoria businesses that have formally recognized their
responsibility to and dependence on a healthy environment,” said Sandra Richardson, CEO of the
Victoria Foundation. “Eagle Wing’s commitment to creating a high standard for their sector is inspiring.
We look forward to working with them and our other 1% partners to show that taking environmental
responsibility is good for business, as well as good for our community.”

Eagle Wing Tours has offset their 2011 whale watching tour season with the help of Carbon Fund.

The proliferation of killer whales bred in captivity, on display in aquariums and public performances, and in Hollywood movies over the past thirty years has spurred the interest in killer whale watching in the wild.  Yet the worldwide population of Orcas has been difficult for researchers to assess, and the species is threatened by depletion of the global fish population, oceanic pollution, large-scale oil spills, and habitat disturbance caused by noise and conflicts with boats, including whale watching tour operators.

Organizations such as the Pacific Whale Watch Association has helped by establishing strong memberships and specific guidelines for whale watching tours that help to protect both the whales and the tour groups seeking the memorable experience of watching Orcas in the wild.

In a stronger step towards developing environmentally-responsible tour operations, Carbonfund.org is pleased to announce a new partnership that brings carbon neutral whale watching to the Vancouver Island area.  Carbonfund.org has recently partnered with Eagle Wing Tours, a locally owned and family operated marine adventure eco-tourism company based on Vancouver Island, to create Canada’s first carbon neutral whale watching experience.  Eagle Wing Tours assessed the full estimated annual carbon emissions from its whale watching tour operations and established a carbon mitigation program through Carbonfund.org by supporting our carbon reduction and clean energy technology projects.  This carbon neutral program is the final step in Eagle Wing Tours’ Go Green Whale Watching Program.

“We are trying to redefine what a wildlife tour company is. Spotting that whale is the cherry on top of an all ready very comprehensive marine experience,” explains Brett Soberg, Co-Owner and Captain at Eagle Wing Tours.  “What we can do to protect these species by supporting education, conservation and responsible business is where we really count.  We selected to support Carbonfund.org due their non-profit designation which supports our 1% For the Planet membership.”

Carbonfund.org encourages eco-tourism companies to carefully monitor their environmental impact and to mitigate harmful emissions by investing in energy efficiency and renewable energy innovation, and supporting forestry and habitat preservation.  We are pleased to welcome Eagle Wing Tours to join our eco-tourism partners in these efforts.

Owner of Eagle Wing Tours, Brett Soberg, receives two environmental leadership awards this week.

Locally-owned company Eagle Wing Tours received two environmental stewardship awards in two days. Recognized at the CRD Ecostar Awards on September 24, 2013 and the Vancouver Island Tourism Awards on September 25, 2013, Eagle Wing Tours is leading the eco-tourism movement here in Victoria. Owner, Brett Soberg, has worked to ‘create a new model for what a responsible whale watching company should look like on and off the water.’ Soberg received the Community Environmental Leader category CRD Ecostar Award which honours the work of an individual who has continually gone the extra mile to help steward our environment and engage in conservation. Eagle Wing Tours received the Tourism Sustainability Award from Tourism Vancouver Island, which recognizes a tourism business in the Vancouver Island Region that has set out to minimize their environmental impact, conserve natural resources, respect local cultures and benefit local communities.

Eagle Wing Tours is Canada’s first 100% carbon neutral whale watching company and the

only one to support 1% For the Planet. Other efforts include the Wild for Whales adoption program, the Earth Day Garbage Showdown and the World Oceans day Celebration at Fisherman’s Wharf. With sustainability integrated into the core of how they do business, Eagle Wing Tours will continue to lead the way for responsible ecotourism in Victoria and around the world.

Eagle Wing Tours, Brett Soberg, wins local community leadership award

The World Tourism Organization estimates that “global spending on ecotourism is increasing at a higher rate than the industry-

wide average growth” and “more than a third of travelers are found to favour environmentally-friendly tourism and are willing to pay between 2 and 40 per cent more for this experience.” Social and environmental awareness, especially in the younger demographic, is creating increased demand for eco-frien

dly choices. Some local leaders are embracing this new market and adjusting their internal operations, products and services to match the changing landscape of Victoria’s second largest industry.

“What this means is a total shift in how consumers purchase and, therefore; how businesses must act. A handful of companies, such as Eagle Wing Tours, are setting the bar high for other businesses.”- Jill Doucette, Founder of Synergy Enterprises & Synergy Sustainability Institute.

www.synergyenterprises.ca
www.crd.bc.ca/ecostar
http://www.tviconference.ca/awards/

Contacts
Brett Soberg
Eagle Wing Tours
250-213-7669
bdsoberg@gmail.com

Kayli Anderson
Synergy Enterprises
250-516-2317
kayli@synergyenterprises.ca

What’s the best time of year to see killer whales? Humpbacks?

When is the best time of day to go whale watching?

Which kind of boat is better—open or covered?

These are common questions from our guests, who often start planning their trips to Vancouver Island a year or more in advance. Flights, hotels, and transportation all need to be sorted out, but first let’s look at the most important thing—the whales!

What kind of whales do we see and when? Whale sightings around the Salish Sea are changing. A few years ago, salmon-eating resident killer whales were regularly spotted from May through October, feeding on chinook salmon, their staple diet. But due to a drastic decline in the abundance of chinook salmon in recent years, they’re in here less often.

On the other hand, we continue to have record sightings of mammal-eating transient (also known as Bigg’s) killer whales feeding on seals, sea lions, porpoise and occasionally, larger whales. Transient killer whales can be seen anywhere in the Salish Sea, at any time of year.

For more information on the different killer whale ecotypes in this region, see What do you mean there are different types of killer whales?

Humpback whales have made a spectacular comeback in the Salish Sea over the last 20 years. In recent years, we’ve seen up to 60+ animals on some tours, especially in late summer and fall. Most humpbacks go south to places like Mexico and Hawaii in the winter, although in recent years a few hardy individuals seem to be sticking around all year!

On our spring, summer and fall tours we may also see minke and gray whales, and even an occasional fin whale! We also get two types of porpoise—shy harbor porpoises and extroverted Dall’s porpoises, which often like to ride our bow wave!

Dall’s porpoise/photo by Showtime Photography for Eagle Wing Tours

How do we find whales? As our vessels get ready to leave the dock in the morning, we consider sightings from the previous day. We also use our knowledge of the travel habits of the whales to decide where to start searching. We coordinate with other companies to cover more areas, and we all share sightings information.

We also have an extensive network of people who call in with sightings from shore, ferries, fishing boats, private vessels and sometimes even floatplanes. This ensures a high sightings success rate. We’re usually able to find whales very early in the day.

When is the best time of day to go? The whales aren’t more active at any particular time of day, so we suggest choosing a tour that works best for your schedule and booking well in advance.

We strongly recommend leaving yourself a bit of free time after the tour. Our company is well-known for extending tours as needed—depending on weather, and the location and behavior of the whales—to ensure you get an amazing experience. We’ll literally go the extra mile (or 50!) as needed. Nature is flexible, and so are we!

When it comes to boats, we have two different styles to choose from: open and semi-covered. Each one offers something a little different.

Looking for a thrilling ride through the Salish Sea and the exhilaration of salt spray on your face? Check out our high-speed open scarabs. New hairdo guaranteed.

Does your preference lean toward comfort and warmth? Our semi-covered catamarans give you the best of both worlds, with a heated indoor cabin, as well as plenty of viewing space on the outer decks.

All vessels are equipped with washrooms (marine heads) and you’re welcome to bring food and non-alcoholic drinks with you as well. We offer extra gear to keep you warm—stylish cruiser suits on the open boats, and windbreaker jackets on the catamarans. Hats, gloves and sunglasses are available as well.

We’ve crunched the numbers from 2019 and they’re presented below to help you plan your next trip to Victoria. Keep in mind that our whale guarantee runs from May 1 to Oct. 31.

Whale-Watching Tours (May-October): whales spotted 99.2% of tours

Winter Wildlife Tours (November-April): whales spotted 82% of tours

Note that our overall 2019 success rate (the red line in the chart) also includes other species of whales, including minke whales, grey whales and (a rarity!), a fin whale! It’s never a dull moment in the Salish Sea!