Pender Whale Listening Station - Pender Island, BC, Canada

An above-water camera overlooks the coastal waters around Pender Island, with forested shores and distant hills across the horizon. Branches frame the foreground as clouds and changing light move over the sea. An underwater microphone adds another dimension, carrying sounds from beneath the surface alongside the live coastal view.

Located in British Columbia’s Southern Gulf Islands, the listening station supports observation of waters used by Southern Resident killer whales. The surrounding marine habitat includes important feeding areas, where measures to reduce vessel disturbance help protect the whales’ ability to forage and communicate in their underwater environment.

Whales may pass beyond the camera’s view, and underwater sounds do not always coincide with visible animals at the surface. Between encounters, the stream offers a quieter coastal scene shaped by tides, wind and weather. Seasonal changes bring different light and sea conditions, while long stretches may contain only the surrounding marine soundscape.

Did You Know? A hydrophone is an underwater microphone that detects sound traveling through water, allowing researchers to listen for whales even when they cannot see them.

See more live beach and coastal cams, explore the Water collection, browse live webcams in Canada, or explore our Live Webcam Map.

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