Sunday, September 30, 2007

30 September 2007, Orcalab reports:

Distant calls audible.

We began hearing distant "A1" calls on the Flower Island hydrophone a short while ago. Sounds like the A36s, though we're not sure yet.
Helena
30 Sep 2007 03:52:19 PDT

No orcas present.

We've heard nothing further after a brief bout of A1 calls in Blackfish Sound that ended around 4am. Yesterday's storm is over, & a humpback is breathing in Blackney Pass. Lovely morning here.
Helena
30 Sep 2007 08:46:44 PDT

Orcas near mics.

We just started to hear A1 calls again in Blackfish Sound. It just may be the A36s!
Helena
30 Sep 2007 09:23:29 PDT

Orcas near mics.

It is the A36s!
Helena
30 Sep 2007 09:23:49 PDT

No calls but orcas nearby

The A30s popped up suddenly in front of CP a short while ago. They then entered Blackney Pass silently and travelled north. They are now in Blackfish Sound. The A36s, earlier, around 10:40am, headed off to the west in Queen Charlotte Strait. It is not clear at the moment whether they continued westward or if they might be waiting for the A30s to catch-up.
Helena
30 Sep 2007 13:50:40 PDT

No orcas present.

We've heard no calls since early this afternoon & have nothing new to report. Our imprression was that the A30s probably headed north into Queen Charlotte Strait, as did the A36s earlier in the day. However, we aren't sure. We are waiting.
Helena
30 Sep 2007 22:41:53 PDT

Sunday, September 23, 2007

23 September 2007, Orcalab reports:

Distant calls audible.

Recently there has been a fairly vocal group of dolphins close to Robson Bight. To the west the A30s were offfshore of Malcolm Island travelling toward the Mainland. The A36s were off Pine Island and another group of whales were westbound toward Goletas Channel.
Helena
23 Sep 2007 21:54:19 PDT

Saturday, September 22, 2007

22 September 2007, Orcalab reports:

No orcas present.

Ah hah! The A30s are not to the east. We heard from the Naiad Explorer that the A30s are with the A36s off Doyle Island (near Port Hardy) foraging. Nice to know.
Helena
22 Sep 2007 12:00:41 PDT

Wednesday, September 05, 2007

05 September 2007, Orcalab reports:

Multiple pod calls audible.

Groups are streaming off to the west: First the Rs (they stayed on the Johnstone Strait side going west) and then the A36s with the I15s (who just went north in Blackney Pass and into Blackfish Sound). An I31 and/ or I11 group is currently approaching the entrance to Blackney Pass on the Johnstone Strait side. All this and a touch of northeern lights too. We have not heard any A4,A5, A12 or A30 calls yet.
Helena
05 Sep 2007 02:39:11 PDT


Hi Paul & Helena, We saw the A36's and the I15's pass Bere Point close to shore, all mostly resting at 17:15. When we left camp they had'nt made it to Black Bluff yet at 18:00. They were eastbound, still real slow as Bill had reported earlier. Take Care Troy & Kate
Troy@Bere Point
05 Sep 2007 21:47:17 PDT

Monday, September 03, 2007

03 September 2007, Orcalab reports:

Superb sounds!!

The A36s, A4s, A5s and the I15s met up the A30s when they entered the strait. All the whales headed east to the Bight, sounds like having nice time in there.
Tomoko
03 Sep 2007 00:46:16 PDT

Multiple pod calls audible.

We began hearing calls about 5am, & since then have heard the I15s & A36s on the Critical Point hydrophone, so they're in or near Robson Bight . As well, we're hearing the A12s, who are in Blackfish Sound & seem to be heading towards Johnstone Strait. The I15s, A36s & others (A4s, A5s) were headed east in Johnstone Strait by 1am, so it sounds like at least some of these groups are returning to the west now.
Helena
03 Sep 2007 05:59:25 PDT

Distant calls audible.

The A12s ventured into Johnstone Strait via Blackney Pass between 5:45 and 6:15am. There they were greeted by the I15s and the A36s who had come west to the entrance of Blackney Pass. They are still not far from this area and still closer to the Vancouver Island side rather than Cracroft.
Helena
03 Sep 2007 08:13:38 PDT

Distant calls audible.

The I15s and the A12s are off the entrance to Weynton Pass. They are spread out and foraging. A few are pointing in toward Weynton Pass. meanwhile, the A36s are east of these groups, closer to the entrance of Blackney Pass a short while ago. A small group of transients were spotted travelling west along Cracroft Island from Boat Bay, past the Cliff and off toward the Sophia Islands. Busy, busy, busy.....
Helena
03 Sep 2007 10:00:41 PDT

Distant calls audible.

The T10s just came into Blackney Pass from Johnstone Strait. They dove when opposite the Lab and we lost track of them. Meanwhile, the A12s and I15s have gone through Weynton Pass and are off the western end of Blackfish Sound. We are waiting to find out if the A36s went with them and to see if the calls of the residents will affect the movements of the transients.
Helena
03 Sep 2007 10:56:29 PDT

Distant calls audible.

We're beginning to hear distant "R" clan calls on the Flower Island hydrophone, as they head quickly towards Johnstone Strait from Queen Charlotte Strait. Begind them are some of the I31s. & meeting them are the A36s, I15s & A12s, who turned back to the west in mid Blackfish a short while ago. This is shaping up to be quite a social day!
Helena
03 Sep 2007 12:47:39 PDT

Multiple pod calls audible.

It looks like all of R clan has arrived, along with the I11s, so there are now well over 100 orcas heading towards Johnstone Strait. They are stalled at the north end of Weynton Pass, between Stubbs Island & the Plumpers, probably waiting for the ebbing tide to slow or reverse before they head on into Johnstone Strait.
Helena
03 Sep 2007 14:09:41 PDT

Multiple pod calls audible.

Many but not all of the groups are now in Johnstone Strait, heading east. We're listening to very excited "A" & "G-I" calls on the Critical Point hydrophone. It's possible some of the Rs are already in the Strait, but a lot of orcas are still in Weynton Pass, so they probably include most of the Rs. Whichever way you stir it, it's getting to be orca soup in the Strait!
Helena
03 Sep 2007 15:21:48 PDT

Multiple pod calls audible.

After the Rs came into the Strait the groups who had preceded became vocal and began to move eastward. We are now listening to the A12s, I11s, A36s, I15s, I31s and Rs. Quite the gang. To the east should still be the A30s, A4sand A5s.
Helena
03 Sep 2007 16:49:53 PDT


Superb sounds!!

The R clan calls are now louder on Critical Point and, with the calls of the G and A clan groups, a lovely mix is happening.
Helena
03 Sep 2007 18:35:04 PDT

Orcas rubbing on the shore bottom.

And rubbing too!
Helena
03 Sep 2007 18:40:30 PDT


No orcas present.

We think the various groups kept heading to the east in Johnstone Strait after their great session(s) at the rubbing beaches.
Helena
03 Sep 2007 22:15:27 PDT

Saturday, September 01, 2007

01 September 2007, Orcalab reports:

Superb sounds!!

And the A36s for company. The whales are just coming into Blackney Pass. The full moon is hiding behind the clouds but still casting light on the misty calm ocean.
Helena
01 Sep 2007 00:11:26 PDT

Distant calls audible.

The A36s and the I15s are moving quickly to the east in Johnstone Strait.
Helena
01 Sep 2007 01:19:09 PDT

No orcas present.

Good Morning! The A36s and the I15s continued east to the Reserve. They rubbed from 3:02am to 4:16am. They last calls we heard were at 5:02am. Thank you Yumi for staying with that marathon - all yesterday and through the night. There were audible dolphins in the early morning.
Helena
01 Sep 2007 08:13:50 PDT

Orcas near mics.

The I15s are very close to Cracroft Point, the A4s sound like they are over closer to Vancouver Island. We have also heard A30s, A36s and A5s.
Helena
01 Sep 2007 10:24:13 PDT

Orcas rubbing on the shore bottom.

Well the whales went west, and then turned at the top end of Hanson Island, and then they went all the way back, past Critical Point and then down to the rubbing beaches where an A1 group is now rubbing.
Helena
01 Sep 2007 13:59:41 PDT


Distant calls audible.

The eastbound groups, the I15s,the A36s, A5s and A4s are on their way out of the Reserve. Nothing further was heard from the A30s who continued west to Queen Charlotte Strait.
Helena
01 Sep 2007 22:36:41 PDT