August 30 2020: A30s, I15s, [Cs/Ds Discovery Passage], Humpbacks, PWD, more Jet-skiers! Before we get to the orcas we have to discuss the jet-skiers who were back in Blackney Pass harassing dolphins and other marine mammals again this evening. Seemingly oblivious of us (or just don’t care) two jet-skiers drove around a small group of dolphins close to Parson Island. It was difficult to say if they were the same persons as yesterday. The colours of the skis were similar and one of the men resembled the younger man from yesterday. But they were further away today and we could not read the license number of the black ski. The behaviour,however, was the same. Four jet skis were seen leaving Telegraph Cove this morning. After harassing the dolphins, they joyrode around Blackney Pass, going through the little pass between Hanson Island and “Little Hanson”, straight out to the entrance of Blackney Pass where they paused before turning back and skirting over to Parson and Harbledown Islands where they paused again,and then sped along Parson Island to the Parson Island Light where Steller Sea Lions were hauled out. The Sea Lions were agitated by the closeness of the boats. Some went into the water and splashed about. The skiers left our view into Blackfish Sound. This occurred from 6:40pm to 7:13pm. Once was disturbing enough but watching for a second time is extremely worrisome. We had just sent our report to Fisheries and Oceans Canada and will now do a follow-up report on today’s incident. Backtracking to the night’s events: After midnight Pacific White-sided dolphins were clearly heard in Blackney Pass (12:13am). Their calls shifted back and forth between Cracroft Point and Parson Island over the next 11/2 hours. A humpback chimed in at 1:39pm in Blackfish Sound. Then just before 2am there were a few sounds of rubbing on Kaizumi Beach. The dolphins grew faint but the humpback continued in Blackfish Sound from time to time. By 2:24pm the rubbing sounds became more pronounced and there were close A30 calls by now as well. They seemed excited. A surprise was in the works! Orca calls and echo location were heard in Blackfish Sound. Jenn was surrounded by calls! Humpback, dolphins and orca! It turned out to be the I15s arriving in the area. Tomoko in Japan helped Jenn with the identification of the I15s. At first the I15s were distant but gradually they got closer just as the A30s were moving away from Kaizumi Beach and headed west. Then came a rash of boats transiting Johnstone Strait, creating a fairly noisy environment and making it difficult to hear fainter calls. The I15s fell silent in Blackfish Sound. At 3:42am the A30s, still in the Strait, were heard briefly and faintly. Just before 4am (3:47am), the I15s resumed calling. They most likely had travelled south through Blackney Pass. Their calls and echo location became stronger by 3:56am. Over the next hour or so, the I15s and dolphins carried on calling while in the entrance to Blackney Pass. By 4:38am, both were loud and clear. Afterwards they moved into Johnstone Strait. But wait! At 5:04am, there were more I15 and dolphin calls in Blackfish Sound. Two groups! The advanced party, who had gone into the Strait to perhaps connect with the A30s, shifted over closer to Cracroft Point and once again back into the entrance of Blackney Pass. Lovely calls! Unbelievably, a humpback joined in as well not far away. Surrounded by calls once again! Pretty sure the I15s and the dolphins backtracked north through Blackney Pass, maybe even the humpback along with them. And indeed, they had also gathered up the A30s. As a faint light in the sky began to show the calls in Blackfish continued till about 6am. Several boats, coming in both directions at one point, made hearing next to impossible. By the time the noise settled down to reasonable levels the whales had moved on. They didn’t go far and we caught snatches of reports over the VHF. After Blackfish they moved toward the White Cliff Islets and strayed not too far. At 9:30am, the “Cliff “ researchers relayed a report of the A30s off Spring Passage headed to Bold Head. At 11am, the A30s and I4s were off the Egeria Shoals, really still the same vicinity as earlier. The humpback in Blackfish called for an hour between 7:05 and 8:06am. Pippa recognised Argonaut a short while later in Blackney Pass. Inukshuk was possibly there too. Both these males may have been the humpbacks who were vocalising earlier. Suzie offered a report of possible Bigg’s orcas in Christie Pass. She saw two large males. Meanwhile, we began to also hear about the Cs and Ds who, as you may remember, travelled through Johnstone Strait two days ago and disappeared eastward. At 8:50am they were off Granite Point in Discovery Passage, south Chatham Point. Rather unusual but not unheard of for Northern Resident orcas. The Cs and Ds continued to move south toward Seymour Narrows. They went through the Narrows and rested in Menzies Bay from 11am to 4pm. From there they headed south to Campbell River passing in front of the fishing pier at 6pm. They then turned to the north and crossed over to Quadra Island. They were last reported at Whisky Point which is opposite Campbell River. It may take them a while to get back this way! It was a very rainy day here and setting aside all the outside chores wanting to be done, most of the day was spent quietly inside. Then the intrusion of the jet-skis around 6-7pm, then the sounds of a humpback in Blackney Pass and the calls of the I15s and later the dolphins in Blackfish Sound starting at 9pm. Just recently the A30s began calling too not long before the Wardens in Boat Bay reported hearing blows heading east past their camp. This brings a rather soothing end to a day for which there were mixed emotions.  OrcaLab 30 Aug 2020 22:34:37 PDT August 29 2020: A50s, A54s: humpback: jet skiers harass PWD, The night was silent of orcas and dolphins, only a humpback calling for almost an hour near Flower Island, and it was beautiful. The quiet night turned into a calm morning with the fresh air of Fall settling in and a mesmerizing sunrise on Strider rubbing beach. And that's all there was until 1:05pm (talk about a slow morning!) when Helena heard distant Pacific white-sided dolphins from our Flower Island hydrophone. She had a feeling that along with the dolphins would be some action, and she was right. At 1:32pm, the A30s were heard faintly on our Kaizumi rubbing beach hydrophone! The strong northwest wind made it hard to locate the whales visually in between the choppy waves, especially with this hydrophone covering a lot of "ground," but we finally spotted the whales east of the Main Rubbing Beach by 2pm moving together against the choppy waves. As they passed along the shore one or two had a quick go at this rubbing beach and then all made their way west toward Strider rubbing beach, calling with excitement and jumping out of the water. Several angled offshore but then turned in for a rub between 2:37 and 2:45pm. We spotted A72 and A84, confirming the A50s were there. After clearing the beach they continued west. As the whales were making their way through Johnstone Strait, we became aware of two jet skiers driving fast in Blackney Pass alongside Pacific white-sided dolphins. It was 2:55pm. The two men were deliberately speeding towards and turning into the dolphins. The more persistent younger man was driving with one hand while filming the whole event on his cell phone. They were in complete violation of the regulations which clearly state: “ The rules for whale watching and approaching marine mammals, which are now in effect, provide a minimum approach distance of 100 metres for most whales, dolphins and porpoises to legally protect these animals from human disturbances. If dolphins or porpoises ride the bow wave of your boat, avoid sudden course changes. Hold course and speed or reduce speed gradually. Do not drive through groups of porpoises or dolphins.” https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/species-especes/mammals-mammiferes/watching-observation/index-eng.html No doubt about the harassment we were witnessing. Marine mammals are supposed to be leading their lives without humans interfering with them, let alone chasing them on jet skis. With no other way to contact the men involved we tried shouting from the lab deck to get their attention, but our voices didn't carry. Additionally, we contacted two of the nearby whale watch boats and one thankfully was eventually able to grab their attention and speak to them. It was now 3:02pm. Although we didn't hear the conversation, the two men slowed down and eventually left through White Beach Pass at 3:10pm. Megan filmed the entire incident, and Helena called the Incident Reporting Line and left a phone message about the incident. We will follow-up with additional calls. We have photos and video to offer as evidence. This flagrant incident left us feeling very unsettled about the vulnerability of cetaceans. With all of our attention diverted to the joy riding jet skiers, we had lost track of the orcas. At 3:55pm, the ever vigilant “Cliff” reported that the A30s were past the western boundary of the Robson Bight (Michale Bigg) Ecological Reserve - they had kept heading west. By 4:33pm, the whales made it to Kaizumi Rubbing Beach, where they enjoyed another quick rub, and then off they went, once again, quietly. It did make us wonder, why all the short rubs today? Suzie,reported over six whales in Christie Passage heading south at 3:07pm, two of which were males. From the photo we suggested the I15s. Suzie left OrcaLab yesterday for God's Pocket, leaving a beloved empty spot after a year of calling this place home. But we know she'll be back soon! It was now 5:30pm, and Pippa noticed the two jet skis had reentered Blackney Pass from Johnstone Strait. Curious if they were in proximity to marine mammals once again, she took a closer look. And there were the A54s, traveling north! The whales moved quickly through the Pass while the jet skis kept their distance. We do not know if they had followed the whales into Blackney Pass or been on their way elsewhere and happened to cross paths. We couldn't help but wonder if their more reserved behaviour was the result of knowing we were watching, or if they had been interacting with the whales before entering Blackney Pass. Before entering Blackfish Sound, one of the younger whales (either A120 or A118) breached twice through the waves. We continued to hear the A54s as they echolocated near Flower Island until 5:54pm. From then on, it was quiet again, just as the day had begun. Never two without three: at 6:11pm, the jet skiers were back in Blackney Pass. This time, they stopped right next to a Steller sea lion, and then speeded through Blackney Pass and left into Blackfish Sound. It should be noted that a strong Northwest wind had blown all day which made us further question the rationality of these guys on their contraptions. The rest of the night stayed quiet, leaving us with more unanswered questions. Where did the A50s go? And with no sign of the Cs and Ds, did they quietly leave last night, or can we expect them for a visit in the next few days? Only tomorrow will tell.  Gloria 30 Aug 2020 05:35:15 PDT