No calls but orcas nearby 6+ transients just headed south ~250 off the lab, just as the light was fading!!! HAPPY NEW YEARS EVERYONE!!!!!  Leah, Angela, Hella, Cindy, Conrad, Benton and dogs! 31 Dec 2011 17:14:02 PST

Superb sounds!! Nice clear calls with no boat noise!! Leah 31 Dec 2011 14:02:12 PST

Distant calls audible. We just heard a distant call on Flower Island. We can only see ~6 orcas at the bottom of Blackfish Sound at the moment. Also, a correction...we have not seen the T19s today. Leah 31 Dec 2011 13:37:01 PST

No calls but orcas nearby It appears that the group of 4 females (maybe one is a sprouter) and 2 juveniles are eating their sea lion as numerous gulls hang over head. The T002Cs, T020 & T021 are in the area too, but have been doing there own thing. At one point T020 took to hunting another sea lion 10m off the lab!!! We don't think he was successful. They are all still in the area spread in their original groups, but even though we put a new battery at our local hydrophone it is still not working. We cannot be sure if they are vocalizing or not?!? What a morning!!! Leah and amazing crew! 31 Dec 2011 13:11:28 PST

No calls but orcas nearby Angela and James reported 2 male and 2 female transients heading west at Ledge Pt. (Pt. McNeill) around 1:30 this afternoon. There may have been more orcas, but there was quite a bit of chop with the strong SE winds. Leah 29 Dec 2011 21:14:27 PST

No calls but orcas nearby 8 transients quietly traveled south in Blackney Pass at 11am. A group consisting of 1 male, 1 female and a juvenile swam along the far side of the pass while 2 females, 2 juveniles and a calf swam ~200m off the lab. We were able to observe them for half an hour before they headed into Johnstone Strait. ID's to come!! Leah and Hella :) 29 Dec 2011 12:19:30 PST

No calls but orcas nearby Just got a report from Jim Borrowman that 4 orcas were off Telegraph Cove heading east at dusk, including T19B. The wind was blowing SE 30kts at the time! The T18/19s were in the group off the lab yesterday, so it appears that they are still in the area. Perhaps that was them chatting on Flower Island earlier this afternoon...unless there are more orcas around?!? Leah 27 Dec 2011 16:59:34 PST

No calls but orcas nearby The transient calls only lasted for about 5 minutes. The orcas have not ventured south into view even though the current is flooding in. Leah 27 Dec 2011 14:00:22 PST

Distant calls audible. Transient calls in Blackfish Sound! Leah 27 Dec 2011 13:24:44 PST

No calls but orcas nearby

5-6 transients headed south past the lab towards the sea lion haul out where they milled, spyhopped, tail slapped and circled off the rock. One very large male sea lion remained hauled out while approximately 10 sea lions made the jump in, but it appeared that there were no casualties. The orcas then turned north and headed 20m off the lab at high tide towards Blackfish Sound. They were vocal on Flower Island before harassing the sea lions. 
Leah and Angela
26 Dec 2011 15:44:31 PST

No orcas present.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from Hanson Island!!! It is a beautiful, rainy day here with a light NW wind blowing through, as we sit here hoping for some orcas to sing everyone a merry tune! Hope you all have a wonderful day or night, wherever you are :)
Leah, Angela, Pat, Derek and dogs :)
25 Dec 2011 09:48:40 PST

No orcas present.

Merry Christmas and happy holidays everyone! http://on.fb.me/sXJwWA 
Helena & Paul
24 Dec 2011 09:34:56 PST

Performing maintenance

Right after I installed the new batteries on Parson Island the sun came out and lit up the solar panels!! It is overcast now, but everything is a go!!
Leah
20 Dec 2011 14:33:20 PST

Performing maintenance

Sorry everyone, but our internet connection from Hanson Island has gone down. It will probably be down for a couple of days, but we hope to be back again by the Solstice. Thanks to Leah!
Paul & Helena
19 Dec 2011 19:19:06 PST

No orcas present. Jim Borrowman caught up with the humpbacks in Beaver Cove for photo ID. They then continued east in Johnstone Strait :) Leah 17 Dec 2011 17:05:44 PST

Maureen and Dave Towers just reported 2 humpbacks traveling east in front of Alert Bay!! Wonder who they are?? Leah 17 Dec 2011 13:40:55 PST

No orcas present.

Pretty quiet around here over the past week or so. It is another grey, intermittently rainy day here in Blackney Pass while the SE winds blow.
Leah
16 Dec 2011 13:28:13 PST

Distant calls audible.

A few very faint calls? came over the house speaker around 5pm. It was hard to tell whether it was orcas or dolphins, so here's hoping they speak up again!
Leah
13 Dec 2011 17:25:55 PST

Boat noise

The boat noise has been fairly consistent over the past couple of days. Right now it sounds as though a tug is rearranging its log tow in Robson Bight. Above water it is another calm, beautiful day here on Hanson. Cetacealab also reported A4 and A5 calls in Squally Channel yesterday. 
Leah
09 Dec 2011 12:37:58 PST

Just an update about yesterday's orcas. The transients had split into two groups and Jim reported that one group headed west past Alert Bay and the other group appeared to be heading west out Queen Charlotte Strait. Then Alex reported 4 orcas, 2 males and 2 females, heading west past Ledge Pt. (which is west of Alert Bay) at 4pm. 
Leah
06 Dec 2011 18:51:02 PST

No calls but orcas nearby I might have been a little excited when I reported 30 orca to Helena and Paul, but they were moving so fast it was hard to get a good count. There were at least 20-25 transients porpoising in Johnstone Strait. After they reached Weynton they made a quick turn to the east as they headed to the Vancouver Island side. Not long after, Jim Borrowman, reported that they had made another turn back to the west at Blinkhorn, porpoising the whole while! The T10s, T26s and T18/19s could be seen in the group, but that only accounts for 9 individuals. We will keep you posted on further identification. Leah 05 Dec 2011 16:53:45 PST

No calls but orcas nearby The transients are still moving quickly westward towards Alert Bay. Helena 05 Dec 2011 13:38:31 PST

Distant calls audible. Leah, who was at CP, when the transients went by, reports that there were 30!! transients headed west now angling towards Weynton Pass. Helena 05 Dec 2011 12:46:02 PST

Superb sounds!! We have been listening to lovely varied transient calls in Johnstone Strait. The whales are westbound past Cracroft Point. Helena, Leah & Paul 05 Dec 2011 12:22:57 PST

Distant calls audible.
There are transients calling and echolocating in Blackney Pass as the current begins to flood in. Beautiful starry morning here!
Leah
03 Dec 2011 04:32:19 PST

Performing maintenance
Thank you J Stream for getting us up and running again, you are so great!
Helena, Leah & Paul
02 Dec 2011 09:52:43 PST

Performing maintenance
We are back & streaming once again.
Leah, Helena & Paul
02 Dec 2011 08:25:15 PST