20 August 2007, Orcalab reports:

Superb sounds!!

A30s are very vocal, they are in the bight, sounds very excited for something! The I15s are off BP. We haven't heard I33s for a while but maybe they are with the I15s.
Tomoko
20 Aug 2007 00:53:57 PDT

Distant calls audible.

The I15s (and maybe I33s) went north through Blackney Pass. When they got into Blackfish sound, we heard A1 calls with them. Did the A12s come down to pick them up? The A30s are still somewhere near the bight.
Tomoko
20 Aug 2007 02:46:57 PDT

No orcas present.

It was a busy night! After the I15s,A30s, and I33s arrived in Robson Bight and did all that beautiful calling, they stalled off the Ecological Reserve for a while. In the end, the I15s and the I33s peeled away from the A30s and headed to the entrance of Blackney Pass around 12:30am. The I15s and the I33s travelled through Blackney Pass to the north, (they cleared Blackney Pass by 1:30am) leaving the A30s heading further east in the Strait. The last I15/I33 in Blackfish Sound calls were at 2:07am. We also heard a few distant surprise A1 calls in Blackfish Sound. There had beena few A12 like calls in the Strait earlier and we will review these and the A1 calls in Blackfish Sound to see if any of the A12s came back "up" the Strait and out with the I15s/I33s. If so, perhaps that was what all the waiitng off the Reserve was about between 12 and 1 am. The last A30 calls were at 3:13am.
Helena
20 Aug 2007 07:32:58 PDT


Multiple pod calls audible.

Busy, reports are coming in that there are westbound whales as well as the groups returning and heading east. Possibly, the various A groups (some or even all?) have come up from the east. The scene will get a bit clearer in a while when there is visual information. We are hampered by the constant boat noise. We are hearing As as well as the G clan calls. Exciting!
Helena
20 Aug 2007 09:10:55 PDT


Orcas rubbing on the shore bottom.

We just began to hear calls and a rub at the main beach. It sounds like it might be the A30s so far.
Helena
20 Aug 2007 21:01:21 PDT

Orcas near mics.

We've begun hearing the calls of the A30s, & echolocation, on the Critical Point hydrophone. Sounds like the A30s are foraging in Robson Bight. Normally, we would be glad, but tonight we are afraid for them.
Helena
20 Aug 2007 21:18:49 PDT

Distant calls audible.

We are now hearing A4 calls off the main rubbing beach. They must be following the A30s west.
Helena
20 Aug 2007 22:06:43 PDT

Multiple pod calls audible.

The A30s continue to lead the other groups to the west. We have been able to hear them approach the area in range of CP and the entrance to Blackney Pass for the last while. The others are spread "back" to the Reserve.
Helena
20 Aug 2007 23:29:16 PDT