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August 11 2022 Orcas: A50s, A54s, BiggÕs heard Humpbacks: Tag, Tee, ?Dominio (off CP) Wait for it! No resident orcas were heard overnight! An uneventful night mostly because the A50s and A54s were east and out of range of our hydrophone network. The very foggy morning belonged briefly to BiggÕs orcas in Blackfish Sound. It was a postscript to the exciting and dramatic BiggÕs events of the previous day when one of the rarely sighted California type BiggÕs orcas turned up and then became temporarily stuck in Beaver Cove. From 6:24am to 6:45am several clear, and at times close, calls, echolocation and whistles cut through the fog and pierced our waking senses. The dense fog prohibited identification of any humpbacks in Blackney so it became a question of just listening to their breaths and breaches. Approaching noon we became aware of the A30s in the Ecological Reserve off Strider beach. At 11:51am they began a rub that continued for ten minutes. It was really part of their general movement to the west and not a serious delay. The fog dissipated enough by 12:20pm for the Cliff to see orcas pulling away from the Tsitika Estuary. They were still westbound. Their course over the next hour brought them past Kaizumi and headed over to Cracroft Point where Shari and Megan watched at least the A50s approach and pass through the remaining fog. The orcas were not ambitious enough to head into Blackney Pass and after some vacillating they decided to head back eastward at 2:16pm. This turn led them right back towards Strider at 3:36pm. The almost inevitable rub began at 4pm. As the A50s rubbed at Strider, the A54s were fairly close to Main beach for a while but did not rub and soon joined the A50s back at Strider. It wasnÕt a super long rub by standards set previously and it ended twenty-eight minutes later with both groups going west once again. They now steadily followed the Vancouver Island shoreline past Robson Bight by 4:42pm, Kaizumi by 5:47pm and Kaikash Creek by 6:26pm. Within this time frame the A30s made some interesting calls near Kaizumi and later calls that echoed from Kaizumi to Cracroft Point that marked their progress to the west. Just after 8pm they were in Beaver Cove, the very same location as those California type BiggÕs of the day before. But there was no such drama with the residents and by 8:42pm they were reported going north through Weynton Pass. We picked up their calls on the Blackfish Sound side at 9:21pm. All the while the whales were making this circuit we were gathered in the main house to listen to HervŽ Glotin explain to us his examination of the bioacoustics of several whale species including, humpbacks, pilot whales, dolphins, orcas, blue whales, sperm whales and fin whales who he has studied from many locations around the world. He explained the equipment he built at the lab to enable recording of high frequency sounds with particular attention to sonar echolocation clicks. It was fascinating to learn about the propagation of different whale sounds and the possible reasons why some species may or may not modify their signals for better communication depending on their response and evolution to specific needs. A beautiful cake made by LucyÕs sister was served as we also digested HervŽÕs fascinating presentation. When it concluded the beautiful rising moon grabbed our attention and everyone moved quickly outside to absorb the sight of the generously full moon shining down on Blackney Pass as it brightened the calm waters and sky alike with soft warm yellows and other warm hues. Shortly afterwards, at 10:36pm, the A30s came to Blackney Pass. With beautifully clear calls still in Blackfish Sound a few ventured as far as Parson Bay by 10:42pm then retreated back to Blackfish Sound. The ocean was quiet of their sounds by 11:30pm. We too dispersed, some to our tents, beds or back to the inside of the lab to listen and keep notes, others to finish up projects, emails and of course the summary of the day.
OrcaLab
12 Aug 2022 08:57:22 PDT |
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