Distant calls audible. August 21 2020: A50s, A54s, T046Bs humpbacks, PWD Today was a rainy inside kind of day. The very welcomed rain poured down and soaked the thankful forest. You could almost hear an audible sigh of relief as everything freshened and looked green once again. Were those mushrooms starting? Thoughts went out to the folks battling the Okanagan and California fires born of unrelenting dryness. At midnight, the exiting orcas of yesterday passed by Bere Point in the dark, in the rain, close to shore. Here, the same enveloping dark did not deter Paul readjusting the boats in the wee hours of the morning. Sigh! It used to be getting light at 4am. The wind had fortunately calmed down and the task was able to be completed. It meant that Mark would have a ride back to Telegraph Cove in the morning rather than having to wait till the afternoon. He could get the early start he needed to get back to Duncan. Mark has been working the past week on the living-room ceiling transforming it from its old look to its new face of cedar tongue and groove, matching the skylights he put in two years ago. During the early morning a distant humpback chimed in his approval of the darkness and solitude. Afterwards nothing much more happened over the next few hours whale-wise. That is usually an invitation to do the other things put off by the usual busyness of monitoring whales 24/7. At 3:40pm we had word via Jackie Hildering that James Furney saw the T46Bs in Weynton Pass. They headed into Johnstone Strait. The T46Bs are the group with the very lightly coloured juvenile Tl’uk (T46B1B), quite the renowned whale! At 5:30pm the A30s turned up in Blackfish Sound presumably coming from the west where they had dropped off the others. They called for a long time before dropping down into Blackney Pass by 8pm. The A54s were “in” first. They were accompanied by a large group of dolphins. There was a good deal of stop and go as the orcas leapt and chased fish along with the dolphins. Finally they came together and headed for Johnstone Strait. The A50s followed. They were in a daily tight group and closer to Hanson Island. Once in the Strait they all headed east toward Kaizumi Beach for what can only be described as “one crazy rub” at 8:45pm. Great calls for a while as they tried out all sorts of different sounds. It is dark once again. The whales have settled down now to a more pedestrian pace as they move eastward. They are still calling if you care to tune into www.orca-live.net.  OrcaLab 21 Aug 2020 21:42:42 PDT Superb sounds!! The lovely A30s are back and enjoying a rub at Kaizumi Beach. Great calls! OrcaLab 21 Aug 2020 20:51:20 PDT Orcas approaching Orcalab. Yesterday afternoon, many of us were very concerned and dismayed to see two research vessels enter the Robson Bight (Michael Bigg) Ecological Reserve while the orcas were actively engaged in rubbing at Strider Beach. Many of us felt that this was unnecessary. The event was captured on the remote camera and broadcast to the public via the www.explore.org website. The BC Parks Wardens were also watching from their Cliff observation site opposite on Cracroft Island. They contacted the larger of the two vessels, the Gikumi and voiced their concern regarding these boats being in the Reserve. Researchers from the University of British Columbia for the last two years have been conducting a “D” tag project to monitor the success rate of predation and compare the results with similar efforts on the Southern Resident orcas who as you may know are critically endangered. The effort involving the Northern Residents will act as a comparison control as it is felt their situation is less dire. The explanations offered were that the weather was bad (it was), that the individual who had been tagged in Blackfish Sound earlier, and who was now at Strider Beach, needed to be monitored along with the collected hydro-acoustic data to assess prey abundance and distribution. “D” tags are an expensive and important research tool. They provide a range of useful data. These suction cup tags are deployed at the end of a long pole and attach near the dorsal fin and are designed to fall off after a period of time. Retrieval is important. However, they emit a signal long after they fall off so that they can be later located if need be. The whales on this occasion rubbed for over 3 hours. The research team said that their activity did not deter the whales from rubbing. The Robson Bight (Michael Bigg) Ecological Reserve was first established in 1982 because the Bight and the adjacent rubbing beaches were under direct threat from logging operations. A log sorting area had been planned to accommodate old growth logging of the Tsitika River watershed which runs into the Bight. Because of the Northern Resident orcas’ unique behaviour of rubbing in the shallows, on the smooth pebbles of nearby beaches, the area was deemed a sanctuary. Whale Watch boats operating when the Reserve was first established voluntarily declined to enter into the Reserve. This habit endured, became part of the area’s “culture”. All newcomers were encouraged to follow the lead created by the existing whale watch operators and longterm researchers. Researchers, who are not technically required to comply if under permit, usually will choose times when the whales are not present to enter the Reserve. BC Parks established Wardens to oversee compliance and offer public education as to why it was important to leave the whales this space. Within their entire range, from mid Vancouver Island to southeast Alaska, this is the only area set aside for the orcas. It is now recognized on nautical charts. OrcaLab has worked under permit from BC Parks for years to establish remote hydrophone and camera systems for monitoring the whales during these special moments. When rubbing, the whales need to come in close to shore, they are very focused, it is an intensely social activity, and they are, as such, vulnerable to disturbance. Hence the restrictions. “Robson Bight (Michael Bigg) Ecological Reserve is legally designated (under the Species at Risk Act) as Critical Habitat for Northern Resident Killer Whales. As such, this area is a sanctuary for killer whales and all boaters (motorized and non-motorized) are expected to refrain from entering the reserve to reduce disturbance to these whales while they feed, socialize and use rubbing beaches.” http://bcparks.ca/eco_reserve/robsonb_er.html So what exactly was the problem yesterday? The researchers were under permit, under pressure to find their tag and, in their view, not disturbing the whales. Simply put, this was a human choice, which declared that human needs trumped those of the whales. So instead of holding back, being patient, waiting for the whales to finish, the researchers felt they needed urgently to solve their problem. It was definitely a miscalculation. As people heavily invested in the welfare of these orcas they needed to give thought and consideration to the whales before rushing in. Instead of moving in closer to shore in risky swells they could have waited safely offshore. It would have taken more of their time for sure but they would not have excited so much outcry and the possibility of disturbing the whales. As it was, they abused the privilege that research is granted and became poor models of behaviour around the whales. Poor judgement on their part has undermined the efforts of everyone else to protect the whales from human intrusions and boat the noise. The researchers involved have promised to never do this again. Perhaps a lesson learned but it would have been better if they had not needed the reminder in the first place. Yesterday afternoon, many of us were very concerned and dismayed to see two research vessels enter the Robson Bight (Michael Bigg) Ecological Reserve while the orcas were actively engaged in rubbing at Strider Beach. Many of us felt that this was unnecessary. The event was captured on the remote camera and broadcast to the public via the www.explore.org website. The BC Parks Wardens were also watching from their Cliff observation site opposite on Cracroft Island. They contacted the larger of the two vessels, the Gikumi and voiced their concern regarding these boats being in the Reserve. Researchers from the University of British Columbia for the last two years have been conducting a “D” tag project to monitor the success rate of predation and compare the results with similar efforts on the Southern Resident orcas who as you may know are critically endangered. The effort involving the Northern Residents will act as a comparison control as it is felt their situation is less dire. The explanations offered were that the weather was bad (it was), that the individual who had been tagged in Blackfish Sound earlier, and who was now at Strider Beach, needed to be monitored along with the collected hydro-acoustic data to assess prey abundance and distribution. “D” tags are an expensive and important research tool. They provide a range of useful data. These suction cup tags are deployed at the end of a long pole and attach near the dorsal fin and are designed to fall off after a period of time. Retrieval is important. However, they emit a signal long after they fall off so that they can be later located if need be. The whales on this occasion rubbed for over 3 hours. The research team said that their activity did not deter the whales from rubbing. The Robson Bight (Michael Bigg) Ecological Reserve was first established in 1982 because the Bight and the adjacent rubbing beaches were under direct threat from logging operations. A log sorting area had been planned to accommodate old growth logging of the Tsitika River watershed which runs into the Bight. Because of the Northern Resident orcas’ unique behaviour of rubbing in the shallows, on the smooth pebbles of nearby beaches, the area was deemed a sanctuary. Whale Watch boats operating when the Reserve was first established voluntarily declined to enter into the Reserve. This habit endured, became part of the area’s “culture”. All newcomers were encouraged to follow the lead created by the existing whale watch operators and longterm researchers. Researchers, who are not technically required to comply if under permit, usually will choose times when the whales are not present to enter the Reserve. BC Parks established Wardens to oversee compliance and offer public education as to why it was important to leave the whales this space. Within their entire range, from mid Vancouver Island to southeast Alaska, this is the only area set aside for the orcas. It is now recognized on nautical charts. OrcaLab has worked under permit from BC Parks for years to establish remote hydrophone and camera systems for monitoring the whales during these special moments. When rubbing, the whales need to come in close to shore, they are very focused, it is an intensely social activity, and they are, as such, vulnerable to disturbance. Hence the restrictions. “Robson Bight (Michael Bigg) Ecological Reserve is legally designated (under the Species at Risk Act) as Critical Habitat for Northern Resident Killer Whales. As such, this area is a sanctuary for killer whales and all boaters (motorized and non-motorized) are expected to refrain from entering the reserve to reduce disturbance to these whales while they feed, socialize and use rubbing beaches.” http://bcparks.ca/eco_reserve/robsonb_er.html So what exactly was the problem yesterday? The researchers were under permit, under pressure to find their tag and, in their view, not disturbing the whales. Simply put, this was a human choice, which declared that human needs trumped those of the whales. So instead of holding back, being patient, waiting for the whales to finish, the researchers felt they needed urgently to solve their problem. It was definitely a miscalculation. As people heavily invested in the welfare of these orcas they needed to give thought and consideration to the whales before rushing in. Instead of moving in closer to shore in risky swells they could have waited safely offshore. It would have taken more of their time for sure but they would not have excited so much outcry and the possibility of disturbing the whales. As it was, they abused the privilege that research is granted and became poor models of behaviour around the whales. Poor judgement on their part has undermined the efforts of everyone else to protect the whales from human intrusions and boat the noise. The researchers involved have promised to never do this again. Perhaps a lesson learned but it would have been better if they had not needed the reminder in the first place. Yesterday afternoon, many of us were very concerned and dismayed to see two research vessels enter the Robson Bight (Michael Bigg) Ecological Reserve while the orcas were actively engaged in rubbing at Strider Beach. Many of us felt that this was unnecessary. The event was captured on the remote camera and broadcast to the public via the www.explore.org website. The BC Parks Wardens were also watching from their Cliff observation site opposite on Cracroft Island. They contacted the larger of the two vessels, the Gikumi and voiced their concern regarding these boats being in the Reserve. Researchers from the University of British Columbia for the last two years have been conducting a “D” tag project to monitor the success rate of predation and compare the results with similar efforts on the Southern Resident orcas who as you may know are critically endangered. The effort involving the Northern Residents will act as a comparison control as it is felt their situation is less dire. The explanations offered were that the weather was bad (it was), that the individual who had been tagged in Blackfish Sound earlier, and who was now at Strider Beach, needed to be monitored along with the collected hydro-acoustic data to assess prey abundance and distribution. “D” tags are an expensive and important research tool. They provide a range of useful data. These suction cup tags are deployed at the end of a long pole and attach near the dorsal fin and are designed to fall off after a period of time. Retrieval is important. However, they emit a signal long after they fall off so that they can be later located if need be. The whales on this occasion rubbed for over 3 hours. The research team said that their activity did not deter the whales from rubbing. The Robson Bight (Michael Bigg) Ecological Reserve was first established in 1982 because the Bight and the adjacent rubbing beaches were under direct threat from logging operations. A log sorting area had been planned to accommodate old growth logging of the Tsitika River watershed which runs into the Bight. Because of the Northern Resident orcas’ unique behaviour of rubbing in the shallows, on the smooth pebbles of nearby beaches, the area was deemed a sanctuary. Whale Watch boats operating when the Reserve was first established voluntarily declined to enter into the Reserve. This habit endured, became part of the area’s “culture”. All newcomers were encouraged to follow the lead created by the existing whale watch operators and longterm researchers. Researchers, who are not technically required to comply if under permit, usually will choose times when the whales are not present to enter the Reserve. BC Parks established Wardens to oversee compliance and offer public education as to why it was important to leave the whales this space. Within their entire range, from mid Vancouver Island to southeast Alaska, this is the only area set aside for the orcas. It is now recognized on nautical charts. OrcaLab has worked under permit from BC Parks for years to establish remote hydrophone and camera systems for monitoring the whales during these special moments. When rubbing, the whales need to come in close to shore, they are very focused, it is an intensely social activity, and they are, as such, vulnerable to disturbance. Hence the restrictions. “Robson Bight (Michael Bigg) Ecological Reserve is legally designated (under the Species at Risk Act) as Critical Habitat for Northern Resident Killer Whales. As such, this area is a sanctuary for killer whales and all boaters (motorized and non-motorized) are expected to refrain from entering the reserve to reduce disturbance to these whales while they feed, socialize and use rubbing beaches.” http://bcparks.ca/eco_reserve/robsonb_er.html So what exactly was the problem yesterday? The researchers were under permit, under pressure to find their tag and, in their view, not disturbing the whales. Simply put, this was a human choice, which declared that human needs trumped those of the whales. So instead of holding back, being patient, waiting for the whales to finish, the researchers felt they needed urgently to solve their problem. It was definitely a miscalculation. As people heavily invested in the welfare of these orcas they needed to give thought and consideration to the whales before rushing in. Instead of moving in closer to shore in risky swells they could have waited safely offshore. It would have taken more of their time for sure but they would not have excited so much outcry and the possibility of disturbing the whales. As it was, they abused the privilege that research is granted and became poor models of behaviour around the whales. Poor judgement on their part has undermined the efforts of everyone else to protect the whales from human intrusions and boat the noise. The researchers involved have promised to never do this again. Perhaps a lesson learned but it would have been better if they had not needed the reminder in the first place. Yesterday afternoon, many of us were very concerned and dismayed to see two research vessels enter the Robson Bight (Michael Bigg) Ecological Reserve while the orcas were actively engaged in rubbing at Strider Beach. Many of us felt that this was unnecessary. The event was captured on the remote camera and broadcast to the public via the www.explore.org website. The BC Parks Wardens were also watching from their Cliff observation site opposite on Cracroft Island. They contacted the larger of the two vessels, the Gikumi and voiced their concern regarding these boats being in the Reserve. Researchers from the University of British Columbia for the last two years have been conducting a “D” tag project to monitor the success rate of predation and compare the results with similar efforts on the Southern Resident orcas who as you may know are critically endangered. The effort involving the Northern Residents will act as a comparison control as it is felt their situation is less dire. The explanations offered were that the weather was bad (it was), that the individual who had been tagged in Blackfish Sound earlier, and who was now at Strider Beach, needed to be monitored along with the collected hydro-acoustic data to assess prey abundance and distribution. “D” tags are an expensive and important research tool. They provide a range of useful data. These suction cup tags are deployed at the end of a long pole and attach near the dorsal fin and are designed to fall off after a period of time. Retrieval is important. However, they emit a signal long after they fall off so that they can be later located if need be. The whales on this occasion rubbed for over 3 hours. The research team said that their activity did not deter the whales from rubbing. The Robson Bight (Michael Bigg) Ecological Reserve was first established in 1982 because the Bight and the adjacent rubbing beaches were under direct threat from logging operations. A log sorting area had been planned to accommodate old growth logging of the Tsitika River watershed which runs into the Bight. Because of the Northern Resident orcas’ unique behaviour of rubbing in the shallows, on the smooth pebbles of nearby beaches, the area was deemed a sanctuary. Whale Watch boats operating when the Reserve was first established voluntarily declined to enter into the Reserve. This habit endured, became part of the area’s “culture”. All newcomers were encouraged to follow the lead created by the existing whale watch operators and longterm researchers. Researchers, who are not technically required to comply if under permit, usually will choose times when the whales are not present to enter the Reserve. BC Parks established Wardens to oversee compliance and offer public education as to why it was important to leave the whales this space. Within their entire range, from mid Vancouver Island to southeast Alaska, this is the only area set aside for the orcas. It is now recognized on nautical charts. OrcaLab has worked under permit from BC Parks for years to establish remote hydrophone and camera systems for monitoring the whales during these special moments. When rubbing, the whales need to come in close to shore, they are very focused, it is an intensely social activity, and they are, as such, vulnerable to disturbance. Hence the restrictions. “Robson Bight (Michael Bigg) Ecological Reserve is legally designated (under the Species at Risk Act) as Critical Habitat for Northern Resident Killer Whales. As such, this area is a sanctuary for killer whales and all boaters (motorized and non-motorized) are expected to refrain from entering the reserve to reduce disturbance to these whales while they feed, socialize and use rubbing beaches.” http://bcparks.ca/eco_reserve/robsonb_er.html So what exactly was the problem yesterday? The researchers were under permit, under pressure to find their tag and, in their view, not disturbing the whales. Simply put, this was a human choice, which declared that human needs trumped those of the whales. So instead of holding back, being patient, waiting for the whales to finish, the researchers felt they needed urgently to solve their problem. It was definitely a miscalculation. As people heavily invested in the welfare of these orcas they needed to give thought and consideration to the whales before rushing in. Instead of moving in closer to shore in risky swells they could have waited safely offshore. It would have taken more of their time for sure but they would not have excited so much outcry and the possibility of disturbing the whales. As it was, they abused the privilege that research is granted and became poor models of behaviour around the whales. Poor judgement on their part has undermined the efforts of everyone else to protect the whales from human intrusions and boat the noise. The researchers involved have promised to never do this again. Perhaps a lesson learned but it would have been better if they had not needed the reminder in the first place.  Paul 21 Aug 2020 19:01:07 PDT