24 August, Orcalab reports:

Distant calls audible.

A short while ago we began to hear A4 calls (possibly the A24s) and then A30s off of the Flower Island hydrophone.
Helena
24 Aug 2007 05:49:57 PDT


Multiple pod calls audible.

This is shaping up to be a very interesting morning. The groups in the Strait, the A36s, I15s, I33s have moved into the entrance to Blackney Pass while part of the R7s and R2s and the A24s finished travelling south through Blackney Pass and "met" up with them. A52 and her calf are aslso just about through Blackney Pass while a larger group, the rest of the Rs, A4s and A30s are still in Blackfish Sound. The tide is turning to flood.
Helena
24 Aug 2007 08:48:12 PDT

Multiple pod calls audible.

Crazy busy. After the meeting off the entrance to Blackney Pass the A36s came into Blackney Pass and headed north. A52 and her calf followed part way through the Pass but turned south again after getting half way. As the a36s disappeared into Blackfish a mixed group with A73, R13 and her calf, the rest of the A35s and A56 travelled south through Blackney. Eventually, A13 and A11 followed. We can still hear the A30s and the A36s on Flower Island occassionally. The I15s,A5s, I33s, A24s and the R2s and R7 all went back to the east afte their meeting off of the Blackney entrance.
Helena
24 Aug 2007 10:12:30 PDT

Orcas rubbing on the shore bottom.

We've been listening to the I15s & A4s at the rubbing beaches for the past while. Meanwhile, the A30s have moved to the north of Blackfish Sound & the A36s are following behind.
Helena
24 Aug 2007 12:22:37 PDT

No calls but orcas nearby

The day just gets busier. A group of transient (T46s +) who were first seen about an hour ago in Weynton Pass have turned up off cracroft Point heading east. Meanwhile, it appears that the A30s have picked up the rest of the I31s and are headed back east in Queen Charlotte Strait. The A36s never went as far as the A30s in Queen Charlotte Strait have been in range from time to time. And finally (?) the A12s who must have gone east and not followed the big group out to the west two nights ago, are on their way west in Johnstone Strait and have past the Eve River.
Helena
24 Aug 2007 13:39:19 PDT

Orcas near mics.

The A30s & remainder of the I31s (everyone except the I33s) have just traveled south through Blackney Pass, mixed up & spread out, & are now entering Johnstone Strait. Lovely sounds, too bad there's so much boat noise.
Helena
24 Aug 2007 16:05:07 PDT

Orcas rubbing on the shore bottom.

As you may have guessed, the I31s and the A30s have moved on to the rubbing beaches. I31 calls at the moment. We are also still hearing the A36s at the western end of Hanson Island.
Helena
24 Aug 2007 18:46:13 PDT

Orcas near mics.

After finishing at the beaches the I31s (first) and the A30s (second) have come west to Robson Bight.
Helena
24 Aug 2007 19:26:56 PDT

Orcas near mics.

Lovely resting calls from the I31s between more energetic bouts from both the A30s and I31s. It sounds like they are moving back in toward Robson Bight. The A36s were last heard in Blackfish Sound a while ago.
Helena
24 Aug 2007 22:55:54 PDT