# Event Details - **Event Name**: Flights Over Greys: assessing health of grey whales off West Coast Vancouver Island - **Event Start and End Date**: Wed, 18 Mar, 2026 at 06:00 pm – Wed, 18 Mar, 2026 at 07:00 pm - **Event Description**: With Mark Sawyer, Whales of Clayoquot & Barkley A new research initiative is taking flight off the west coast of Vancouver Island. Join marine researcher Mark Sawyer for an introduction to Flights Over Greys, an innovative project using aerial drone technology to assess the health and body condition of grey whales feeding in the coastal waters of Clayoquot Sound and Barkley Sound. While grey whales are widely known for their long migrations, a growing number spend extended periods feeding along Vancouver Island’s west coast. This new project aims to better understand how these whales are faring in a changing ocean environment. By collecting high-resolution aerial images, researchers can measure body condition, monitor scarring and entanglement, and track individual whales over time , all without disturbing them. Mark will share how drone-based photogrammetry works, what early field seasons are revealing, and why monitoring local feeding whales is critical following recent population declines in the broader Eastern North Pacific grey whale population. The presentation will also explore how community collaboration, long-term observation, and emerging technologies are reshaping whale research on our coast. About the Speaker Mark Sawyer is a head guide at Jamie’s Whaling Station and founder of Whales of Clayoquot & Barkley, a research and education initiative focused on grey whales and other marine mammals along Vancouver Island’s west coast. His work combines field research, photo-identification, and community engagement to advance understanding and conservation of local whale populations. Location: Upper Shelter Restaurant ( Food and drink are available downstairs but can not be ordered upstairs in event space) Tickets: Button on the door. $10 Adults / $5 Children and Concessions Suitable for: Adults and students. Young children are welcome but the material presented goes beyond an introductory level and may be best suited for older students and adults. - **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/tofino/flights-over-greys-assessing-health-of-grey-whales-off-west-coast-vancouver-island/200029706913932 - **Event Categories**: health-wellness - **Interested Audience**: - total_interested_count: 16 ## Ticket Details ## Event venue details - **city**: Tofino - **state**: BC - **country**: Canada - **location**: Shelter Restaurant Tofino BC - **lat**: 49.150857212007 - **long**: -125.89880084998 - **full address**: Shelter Restaurant Tofino BC, Tofino, British Columbia, Canada ## Event gallery - **Alt text**: Flights Over Greys: assessing health of grey whales off West Coast Vancouver Island - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events8/banners/d18fb428368b6920f90cb9c1241361b78cc382c73bf45f1b967c8d7612e2ebdf-rimg-w1200-h676-dc012a43-gmir?v=1772354489 ## FAQs - **Q**: When and where is Flights Over Greys: assessing health of grey whales off West Coast Vancouver Island being held? - **A:** Flights Over Greys: assessing health of grey whales off West Coast Vancouver Island takes place on Wed, 18 Mar, 2026 at 06:00 pm to Wed, 18 Mar, 2026 at 07:00 pm at Shelter Restaurant Tofino BC, Tofino, British Columbia, Canada. - **Q**: Who is organizing Flights Over Greys: assessing health of grey whales off West Coast Vancouver Island ? - **A:** Flights Over Greys: assessing health of grey whales off West Coast Vancouver Island is organized by Pacific Rim Whale Festival. - **Q**: Who is this event for? Is it right for me? - **A:** Flights Over Greys: assessing health of grey whales off West Coast Vancouver Island is ideal for learners, working professionals, and skill-builders looking to gain hands-on knowledge and practical expertise in a focused, interactive setting. Whether you're a first-time attendee or a longtime enthusiast in Tofino, this event is thoughtfully curated to deliver a standout experience worth every moment. If Flights Over Greys: assessing health of grey whales off West Coast Vancouver Island sounds like your kind of event, don't wait - spots fill up fast. ## Structured Data (JSON-LD) ```json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Event", "name": "Flights Over Greys: assessing health of grey whales off West Coast Vancouver Island", "image": "https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events8/banners/d18fb428368b6920f90cb9c1241361b78cc382c73bf45f1b967c8d7612e2ebdf-rimg-w1200-h676-dc012a43-gmir?v=1772354489", "startDate": "2026-03-18", "endDate": "2026-03-18", "url": "https://allevents.in/tofino/flights-over-greys-assessing-health-of-grey-whales-off-west-coast-vancouver-island/200029706913932", "location": { "@type": "Place", "name": "Shelter Restaurant Tofino BC", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "streetAddress": "Tofino, British Columbia", "addressLocality": "Tofino", "addressRegion": "BC", "addressCountry": "CA" }, "geo": { "@type": "GeoCoordinates", "latitude": "49.150857212007", "longitude": "-125.89880084998" } }, "eventAttendanceMode": "https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceMode", "description": "With Mark Sawyer, Whales of Clayoquot & Barkley\n\nA new research initiative is taking flight off the west coast of Vancouver Island. 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