There is a Humpback whale calling on our Critical Point hydrophone. There is also terrible boat noise so we are not entirely shore if the whale is still calling. Megan  30 Apr 2020 23:03:03 PDT

We're not entirely sure, but we have heard a few 'whoops' and 'squeaks' that sound like they could be Humpbacks!  Orcalab 29 Apr 2020 18:48:52 PDT No orcas present. The two humpbacks have stayed close by and are now on Parson cam milling in east Blackney Pass! We have confirmed them as Guardian and Nova. Thank you Jackie Hildering for confirmation of Nova's ID. Watch with us on this grey but whale-filled day: https://explore.org/livecams/orcas/orcalab-parson-island Orcalab 29 Apr 2020 11:59:44 PDT No orcas present. We have two Humpback whales heading North in Blackney Pass. SUPER EXCITING TIMES, Watch live on Explore!  Orcalab 29 Apr 2020 11:59:18 PDT

Distant calls audible. We are hearing Biggs calls on our Critical Point hydrophone, some Pacific white sided dolphins are also present.  Megan  23 Apr 2020 01:43:19 PDT

No orcas present. This afternoon at 15:36 Megan first spotted some orca in Parsons Bay from the lab. At first we thought there was only one male and one smaller fin but soon discovered another larger male much closer to the lab with quite a recognizable fin. The whales cleared from our view heading north into Blackfish around at 15:47. After examining the photographs later we could ID two males as Biggs T019B and T019C. We also think that T018 and T019 were also present although we only managed to spot one smaller fin and it was too far away for a positive identification photograph. No vocals from the whales but with a beautiful flat calm day in Blackney Pass made fora really stunning encounter.  Quin, Suzie and Megan  21 Apr 2020 20:27:42 PDT No calls but orcas nearby Orcas now in Blackney Pass! We have seen one male and one smaller fin, mid-channel in the glassy calm water. Watch with us: https://explore.org/livecams/orcas/orcalab-base Orcalab 21 Apr 2020 15:41:49 PDT

No orcas present. It's been quite the Bigg's week! We haven't had too many sightings out front of the lab, but we have received many reports from Jared Towers in Alert Bay almost each day, as more and more Bigg's travel up from the Salish Sea, through the Johnstone Strait and continue on their way west. Jared writes: "Every spring several groups of Bigg’s killer whales move north up the east side of Vancouver Island in what I call the Salish Sea exodus. It’s a little early this year but with 70 individuals documented swimming past the little island I live on and reports of over 20 others in the area all in the last 7 days, I think it’s the biggest departure yet. T087 here, the eldest male killer whale on record at 63 years of age, practiced a little social distancing when he went past..." In other news, we received a report from Nicole and Bunker that the A25s were seen at Hartley Bay (northern BC coast) on the morning of the 18th April. So great to get news of Northern Resident families over the winter and spring months.  Suzie, Quin and Megan  19 Apr 2020 22:11:59 PDT

No calls but orcas nearby We have Bigg's in Blackney Pass! Watch with us: https://explore.org/livecams/orcas/orcalab-base OrcaLab 17 Apr 2020 15:57:21 PDT

No calls but orcas nearby Today is Suzie Halls 27th Birthday, Horrar! To celebrate this, Quin, Suzie and Megan took the Badarka (large three person kayak) out for its first spin in many many years. We headed over to white beach across from Orcalab and searched for sea glass and ate snacks in the sunshine. A little while after around 13:01 we received a report from Helena back in Alert Bay that there were Biggs calls. Lucky we had left a recording going but never the less we jumped into the boat and headed back to the lab. The calls were distant but trailed off into silence around 13:24 according to Helena. As usual assistants from all over the world had chimed in to listen from their computers! We are unsure of the location of the calls or which direction the whales were headed in but hopefully we will hear them again soon. Another exciting adventurous day in Blackney Pass. Happy Birthday to Suzie, Photos to follow soon!  Megan, Quin and Suzie. 16 Apr 2020 12:09:13 PDT

Distant calls audible. Quin, Suzie and Megan spotted Bigg's Orca T068, T068A and others (7 in total) on their way to clean the Cracroft Point camera on this beautiful Easter Sunday evening. They were initially found at the entrance to Blackney pass and it looked like they were heading north towards the lab. They then turned around and headed back towards the Johnstone Strait and continued to head east as we left them to return home. Shortly after dark they began to vocalise on the Critical point hydrophone. The whales are still calling very distantly. A wonderful end to a beautiful Easter Sunday notably also due to our first Humpback Whale sighting! BCX0545's baby from last year. Looking much bigger and all on its own it was so special that during the beginning of spring, a time that celebrates new life this little whale was the first to be spotted of the 2020 season. Goodnight and stay safe everyone!  Megan Quin and Suzie  12 Apr 2020 22:46:32 PDT No orcas present. We just saw our first humpback since November back in Blackney Pass! Safe to say, all are ecstatic at the lab. He/she is milling and feeding and surfacing sporadically, but see if you can spot them on camera with us! Incidentally, it was Easter Sunday 1982 when Paul saw his first humpback back in the area following a 15 year absence, after they had been hunted to near extinction. What a day! Happy Easter everyone! https://explore.org/livecams/orcas/orcalab-base Orcalab 12 Apr 2020 10:54:30 PDT

No calls but orcas nearby We have a group of slowly traveling Orcas in Blackney Pass, believed to be Biggs. Follow along on Explore https://explore.org/livecams/orcas/orcalab-base Lab 04 Apr 2020 18:51:25 PDT