G3s, G16s, G27s, G31s, G2s

No orcas present.

Just a catch up from yesterday: the Gs went through Blackney Pass after travelling west from the Bight. They headed into Blackfish Sound with their calls fading off as they moved further away.
Helena
08 Feb 2010 11:43:19 PST
No orcas present.

For the record: Graeme Ellis (DFO) was able to identify that the following groups; the G3's, G16's, G31's, G27's and G2's were present in the area on February 7. This was a good encounter and rare for the Gs to be here in Johnstone Strait during the winter. Although they have been encountered elsewhere on the coast we have not seen them, as a group, since the summer of 2006. Leah and Marie's efforts to get good ID photos were very much appreciated.
Helena & Paul
21 Feb 2010 10:32:34 PST

18 September 2006, Orcalab reports:

No orcas present.

Nick Templeton relayed that the "Crowd" was westbound from Camp Point at around 2pm. The A30s, A12, G2s,G3,G12s,G18s,G17,G29s, I11s,I15s,I31s have been in the east for the last two days. The A36s were sighted (thanks to Discovery)quite far west in Queen Charlotte Strait today. They were foraging for most of the time observed.
Helena
18 Sep 2006 17:32:28 PDT

Multiple pod calls audible.

They are back! The groups are parading west past the Ecological Reseerve.
Helena
18 Sep 2006 22:18:56 PDT

16 September 2006, Orcalab reports:

Distant calls audible.

Back and forth. After a clear signal from the A12s off CP the groups who had followed them to the Strait earlier came back to Blackney Pass and out to Blackfish Sound. Not at all vocal, still difficult to say who. Perhaps they will oblige once they all get into Blackfish. Lovely starry night though to listen to blows.
Helena
16 Sep 2006 05:42:46 PDT

No calls but orcas nearby

The A30s, who spent most of the morning off of Donegal Head, moved to the west to join up with the larger group heading east at Lizard Point. All these whales are nearing Donegal Head and closer to being in range of the Flower Island hydrophone.
Helena
16 Sep 2006 13:48:34 PDT

Distant calls audible.

We are at the moment fixing the Flower Island hydrophone but we can still hear the I15s as they and the others head east from Queen Charlotte Strait.
Helena
16 Sep 2006 15:11:18 PDT

Multiple pod calls audible.

Today is the first time for this area that all of G clan has been together. The G17s arrived to complete the list! We just had a lovely pass of all the groups through Blackney Pass. The groups are all past CP now and continuing eastward toward the Ecological Reserve.
Helena
16 Sep 2006 19:15:47 PDT

Orcas rubbing on the shore bottom.

As you have already guessed the whalesare at the rubbing beaches,
Helena
16 Sep 2006 21:06:22 PDT

No orcas present.

After the beaches the whales most likely continued east.
Helena
16 Sep 2006 22:23:03 PDT

15 September 2006, Orcalab reports:

No orcas present.

Time to review: We now thinl that only the A12s, I15s,I11s, part of the I31s came in last night and met up with the A30s off of Ecological Reserve before continuing eastward out of range. Possibly the G2s were there as well but that is still unclear. This morning the rest of the "crowd" arrived going through Blackney Pass. These were the G12s, part of the I31s, the G3s,G18s,G29s and, of course, the A36s.
Helena
15 Sep 2006 13:46:27 PDT

No orcas present.

We just got confirmation that the G2s were with the group this morning. Thanks to the Stellar Moment.
Helena
15 Sep 2006 14:36:51 PDT

No calls but orcas nearby

Thasnks to Discovery we know that the BIG CROWD has neared the Ecological Reserve on their way to the west. Might be exciting!
Helena
15 Sep 2006 15:27:09 PDT

Multiple pod calls audible.

They are just coming into range now.
Helena
15 Sep 2006 15:29:17 PDT

Multiple pod calls audible.

The groups are moving westward,already past CP.
Helena
15 Sep 2006 17:54:16 PDT

Multiple pod calls audible.

The A12s are the last group to come back from the east. They are approaching CP at the moment. The other groups are still to the west of CP.
Helena
15 Sep 2006 18:42:09 PDT

Distant calls audible.

The "crowd" went through Weynton Pass and are now at the top end (western) end of Blackfish Sound. The tide has just turned to the flood.
Helena
15 Sep 2006 19:54:19 PDT

Orcas near mics.

If you are wondering? The A12s rushed through Blackney, no one else followed. They are now closing in on Robson Bight after heading east in the Strait.
Helena
15 Sep 2006 21:45:20 PDT

No calls but orcas nearby

We are hearing whales move through Blackney Pass heading south. There are no calls yet so we cannot be sure who is following the A12s into the Strait.
Helena
15 Sep 2006 23:10:48 PDT

14 September 2006, Orcalab reports:

Distant calls audible.

The "crowd" came up to CP and the entrance of Blackney Pass and headed out to Blackfish Sound and beyond very quickly on the ebbing tide.
Helena
14 Sep 2006 00:43:49 PDT


No orcas present.

The whales have stayed pretty much in Queen Charlotte Strait all day but we got a report around 3pm from Stubbs Island Whale Watch that the A12s,A36s, I11s,I31s and the several other G clan groups are now moving eastward from Malcolm Point. The A30s spent the day very slowly moving toward that group and in Queen Charlotte Strait as well.
Helena
14 Sep 2006 16:03:42 PDT

Superb sounds!!

Beautiful resting calls from the Gclan and A1s coming through Blackney Pass. They are travelling south toward Johnstone Strait. The A30s are quiet at the momnet but were recently in Robson Bight.
Helena
14 Sep 2006 21:43:17 PDT

Superb sounds!!

The "crowd" (described earlier by Stubbs Island: A12s,A36s,I11s,I31s,I33s,G02s, G12s, G18s G29s. G03s, I15s) are now past CP, following the A30s eastward.
Helena
14 Sep 2006 22:28:51 PDT

13 September 2006, Oralab reports:

Multiple pod calls audible.

Possibly all the groups from the past few days are here, travelling west, together. We have heard all three A1 groups, I31s, possibly I11s and various other G groups as well.
Helena
13 Sep 2006 11:20:06 PDT

Multiple pod calls audible.

The whales too two different routes to Blackfish Sound, some via Weynton Pass and others through Blackney Pass. All ended up at the top end of Blackfish Sound where they foraged and waited for the tide to turn. An hour before the slack they made their move and all came through Blackney Pass and on to Johnstone Strait. Now with the tide and the wind at their backs they are headed east towards the Ecological Reserve. A wonderfully blustery day, sunny, high waves and fluffy clouds!
Helena
13 Sep 2006 16:57:10 PDT

Distant calls audible.

After the A12s,A30s,A36s, I15s,I11s,I31s and the G3s,G29s, G18s, G12s, G2s got into Johnstone Strait thy headed soon off to the east. The A30s seemed rather restless but stayed as part of the crowd. They were rather quickly out of our range after a few good rubs.Just now, we started to hear distant A30 calls returning from the east.
Helena
13 Sep 2006 22:22:52 PDT

Multiple pod calls audible.

It sounds like the A30s are pulling the whole crowd to the west.
Helena
13 Sep 2006 22:32:12 PDT

12 September 2006, Orcalab reports:

Multiple pod calls audible.

Not sure when it happened but all the groups are back in the Strait and already heading back to the west. CP can see groups on the Vancouver Island spread from Kaikash Creek and almost Blinkhorn! There must have been a alot of movement last night from the time after we heard the A12s pass through Blackfish Sound.
Helena
12 Sep 2006 07:25:52 PDT

Multiple pod calls audible.

Around 8:30am these very interesting whales turned around a little shy of Blinkhorn. The I15s were first get get to the beaches and we suspect the A36s followed. There are whales spread out back to Critical Point and across the Strait - all moving eastward despite the ebbing tide (the tide turned at 8:30am as well). The Gikumi has found the A12s stalled off of Donegal Head. We believe the A30s,A36s,I15s,I11s,I31s,G2s,G3s,G29,G18s and G12s should be the groups in the Strait.
Helena

Distant calls audible.

We are now hearing distant A12s (not a lot of calls) in Blackfish Sound. They apparently dropped into the western end of Blackfish for a bite to eat. The other groups are still eastbound past Naka Creek.
Helena
12 Sep 2006 13:12:46 PDT

Distant calls audible.

The A12s went through Weynton Pass. They are now eastbound in Johnstone Strait. The other groups (the A30s,A36s, Gs, I11s, I15s and I31s) have continued eastward from Naka Creek.
Helena
12 Sep 2006 14:31:17 PDT