Thursday, August 28, 2008

A36s foraging at Blinkhorn

Seasmoke reports
Heading out on tour this afternoon passengers were thrilled to see orcas early on in the tour, they were foraging in the flood current near Turn Point in Johnstone Strait and across to the Vancouver Island shore, well spread out. The three A36 boys had been foraging at Blinkhorn for quite some time ahead of our arrival while the A12’s traveled to the west, foraging along the Hanson Island shore. As they made their way closer to Weynton Passage the A12’s worked their way into the heavy current providing some wonderful viewing. They were observed foraging, resting, spyhopping and pectoral and tail slapping was also seen.
We stayed with the A12’s and watched as they made their way slowly into Weynton Passage traveling at just 2 knots against the flood current, the viewing was superb.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Ellen reports:
We rounded Malcolm Point we saw the first Orcas. I was able to id I64 right away and there was an awful lot of familiar tall dorsal fins in there... I had a feeling we had the A36s there. The whales were heading for the beaches at Bere Pt and we witnessed a short rub there, amazing! Lots of socialization, amazing vocals, spyhops, breaches, everything in the orca manual book :) All in all I was positively able to id the A30s, A24s, A23's, A8s, A36s, I11s I hope I didn't miss anyone.
Ellen@Port McNeill
27 Aug 2008 17:20:02 PDT

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

The 3 brothers heading east in Blackfish Sound

Seasmoke reports
The A36’s were headed to the east in Blackfish Sound, they were traveling grouped together the three brothers: A32 (44 years old) A37 (31 years old) and A46 (26 years old).

Saturday, August 16, 2008

A36s went out through Blackney Pass

We have the A12´s, A24´s and all the A5´s in the strait going west again. They do everyday the same, going up and down the strait. Nice to have them around. The A36´s came back from the east last night around 10pm and went out through Blackney this morning at 4am. We hearing very distant calls on CP now. A lot of strange imitation calls today. So sad you cannot hear them. But hopefully soon. Cross your fingers.
Melanie
16 Aug 2008 14:21:04 PDT

Friday, August 15, 2008

A36s coming up from the east

We are so sorry that the live audio is still not working.But the internet is still on and off. A short update. The A12´s, all A5´s and the A24´s are in the bight, close to the hydrophone we can hear A12calls. A55, A62, A67 and A83 were a bit far off the others. All going east. We had a report of the A36´s coming up from the east. So maybe they join the others soon. This morning we had the A30´s with the I31´s in Blackfish Sound, after the A30´s went out last night they brought the I31´s back in. But they went already out again to the west.
Melanie
15 Aug 2008 15:42:25 PDT

Thursday, August 14, 2008

A36 left to the east

Just try to give you an update. Our connection is still on and off. We had the A30s, A36s, A12s and A11s yesterday joining the A5s and A24s in Johnstone Strait. The A36s and A12s went far to the east. Today we have the A12s, A30s, A5s and A24s in the strait, going back and forth. The A11s went out yesterday evening. We saw the new calf of A35 and A64. They looking great. It's so good to see new babys. Now somebody is rubbing without calling. The rest is still in the bight. We had a report that all groups going slowly to the east. Maybe they will pick up the A36s, which were on the way back to the west. Lets see.
Melanie
14 Aug 2008 18:40:25 PDT

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

A1s all together near Malcolm Island

Seasmoke reports:

The A36’s were sighted at the top end of Malcolm Island, they were foraging and then turned east with other incoming pods who were also sighted close-by, the A30’s and the A12’s. All pods were moving steadily eastbound.
Spy-hopping, tail slapping and breaching was observed. On the afternoon tour, passengers aboard the SV Tuan were delighted to view the same incoming pods as they headed east from Lizard Point, foraging and resting behavior was observed, some resting calls were heard via the hydrophone.

Monday, August 11, 2008

A36s still with A24s and A5s

Distant calls audible.

Hello,our internet connection is going on and off and just now I will give you a short update. Last night the A36´s, A24´s and the A5´s came into Blackney went north very slow. After about an hour the A24´s and A5´s turned and went back south to the strait. The A36´s went out. So we had the night and today the same game like the last two weeks, the A24´s and the A5´s are going back and forth in the Johnstone Strait. Now we are listing to the A5´s distant on Crpt. We will see how long the internet connection keeps going this time.
Melanie
11 Aug 2008 18:47:44 PDT

Distant calls audible.

The A5´s and prob. the A24´s were in the Johnstone Strait going back and forth. Sounds like they went east. But probably not long. We had short calls from the A36´s in Blackfish Sound. Do they call them? We will see.
Melanie
11 Aug 2008 21:20:27 PDT

Sunday, August 10, 2008

A36s pay a visit in JS with A4s and A5s

Orcalab reports:

No calls but orcas nearby

Finally we have internet connection again. The A5´s, A24´s and the A36´s (who came last night in throught Blackney) are in Johnstone Strait probably still eastbound. We expecting them on the Rubbing Beaches. Hopefully everthing works good and we are online.
Melanie
10 Aug 2008 16:16:28 PDT

No orcas present.

The A5´s and the A24´s passed the eastern boundary of the reserve, still eastbound. We don´t know exactly what happend to the A36´s, it is not important that they went out through Weynton. Lot of boatnoise in Blackfish Sound.
Melanie
10 Aug 2008 17:21:18 PDT

Seasmoke reports
It began with the initial sighting of A46 (youngest of the three brothers of the A36 pod) he was foraging ahead of his brothers and close to the VI shore while A32 and A37 were foraging centre strait. The other orcas, the A8’s, A23’s and A24’s were further behind; most of the A24’s were on the Hanson Island shore.

On the afternoon tour, the A36’s were again sighted. The other pods had made their way back to the east and into the Robson Bight Ecological Reserve. The A36’s meanwhile continued to forage intensively at Cracroft Point, working their way towards the west in the ebb current. Their A-Clan vocals were superb to listen to and it was wonderful to view these three majestic brothers, alive and seemingly well in Johnstone Strait once again.