No orcas present.
Good morning! Yesterday afternoon we heard the A4s & A5s again in Johnstone Strait. We think they left the area during the night. We did not hear the A12s. Have a great day! The 2005 IWC has ended. Paul will be back soon.
Helena
24 Jun 2005 09:05:36 PDT
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staff
24 Jun 2005 18:52:05 PDT
Friday, June 24, 2005
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
Superb sounds!!
The A12s,A4s and A5s are back! They swam past this morning and are in the Strait now. We first heard them just before 5am in Blackfish Sound. They are headd east toward the Reserve now.
Helena
22 Jun 2005 07:15:27 PDT
Orcas rubbing on the shore bottom.
The whales have gone in for a rub.
Helena
22 Jun 2005 08:40:01 PDT
The A12s,A4s and A5s are back! They swam past this morning and are in the Strait now. We first heard them just before 5am in Blackfish Sound. They are headd east toward the Reserve now.
Helena
22 Jun 2005 07:15:27 PDT
Orcas rubbing on the shore bottom.
The whales have gone in for a rub.
Helena
22 Jun 2005 08:40:01 PDT
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Good afternoon ! I have posted the OrcaLab website below for those interested in Paul's report from the IWC. He is inUlsan, Korea at the moment. The last two days of the main meeting have been tense and exciting. Results have been close. The BBC are also filing pretty coprehensive reports. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4114368.stm. Meanwhile, we here at the Lab have been enjoying the humpbacks in the area. The mum & calf pair just went by on their way to the Strait. We have heard reports of the A1s and the Rs being seen on the northern coast. http://cetacealab.org It won't be long now! http://www.orcalab.org
Helena
21 Jun 2005 11:21:20 PDT
Helena
21 Jun 2005 11:21:20 PDT
Monday, June 06, 2005
Sunday, June 05, 2005
No orcas present.
Hello everyone! It is rapidly becoming that time of year again. As many of you already know, the entire southern community has returned to the San Juan area. We are still waiting for the northern residents to arrive. There have been a few sightings on the north coast but so far it has been pretty quiet down here. There are three humpbacks in the area. Jackie Hinderling thinks that one of the humpbacks may have been around last year and has returned with a calf. We have been also watching dalls porpoise, lots of sea lions and many eagles. We are looking forward to the start up of "Live" and have been busy getting ready.
Helena
05 Jun 2005 17:00:12 PDT
Hello everyone! It is rapidly becoming that time of year again. As many of you already know, the entire southern community has returned to the San Juan area. We are still waiting for the northern residents to arrive. There have been a few sightings on the north coast but so far it has been pretty quiet down here. There are three humpbacks in the area. Jackie Hinderling thinks that one of the humpbacks may have been around last year and has returned with a calf. We have been also watching dalls porpoise, lots of sea lions and many eagles. We are looking forward to the start up of "Live" and have been busy getting ready.
Helena
05 Jun 2005 17:00:12 PDT
Monday, April 25, 2005
No orcas present.
Hello everyone! It has been a very long time since we have made any comment. There hasn't been any northern resident activity around here although the A36s were seen on the northern coast at the beginning of April. Around April 20th there were numerous transient sightings from Port Hardy to here in Blackney Pass. We recorded several hours of transient calls in Blackfish Sound on the 21st. This was an unusually long session (for transients) and unfortunately, the fog defeated our attempts to find out which whales were calling. Dolphins have been around through the winter and spring. Perhaps the most exciting news came from Donna MacKay, Nic Dedeluk and Alex Morton that humpbacks are back in the area. We haven't seen any yet but are keeping a watchful eye on the Pass just in case. We can definitely sense that the seasons are turing and summer will not be long in coming!
Helena & Paul
25 Apr 2005 13:18:21 PDT
Hello everyone! It has been a very long time since we have made any comment. There hasn't been any northern resident activity around here although the A36s were seen on the northern coast at the beginning of April. Around April 20th there were numerous transient sightings from Port Hardy to here in Blackney Pass. We recorded several hours of transient calls in Blackfish Sound on the 21st. This was an unusually long session (for transients) and unfortunately, the fog defeated our attempts to find out which whales were calling. Dolphins have been around through the winter and spring. Perhaps the most exciting news came from Donna MacKay, Nic Dedeluk and Alex Morton that humpbacks are back in the area. We haven't seen any yet but are keeping a watchful eye on the Pass just in case. We can definitely sense that the seasons are turing and summer will not be long in coming!
Helena & Paul
25 Apr 2005 13:18:21 PDT
Friday, February 25, 2005
No calls but orcas nearby
Hi, It has been a couple of days since we have heard any more resident calls but this morning 8 transients, reported by the Herberts on Pearse Island, were seen headed west in the Strait. The MacKays (Naiad Explorer) later reported that they found them off Sointula quite involved in a kill of a Harbor porpoise. The adults allowed the young ones make the kill. Donna & Bill noted that the whales were silent but quite physical, breaching and pec slapping. The good weather continues around here but it is forecast to change over the weekend. We need both rain here and snow higher up so a change will be welcome although it has been unbelievably nice to pretend that winter has disappeared. Have a great day wherever you may be.
Helena & Paul
25 Feb 2005 14:22:03 PST
Hi, It has been a couple of days since we have heard any more resident calls but this morning 8 transients, reported by the Herberts on Pearse Island, were seen headed west in the Strait. The MacKays (Naiad Explorer) later reported that they found them off Sointula quite involved in a kill of a Harbor porpoise. The adults allowed the young ones make the kill. Donna & Bill noted that the whales were silent but quite physical, breaching and pec slapping. The good weather continues around here but it is forecast to change over the weekend. We need both rain here and snow higher up so a change will be welcome although it has been unbelievably nice to pretend that winter has disappeared. Have a great day wherever you may be.
Helena & Paul
25 Feb 2005 14:22:03 PST
Monday, February 21, 2005
Superb sounds!!
We finally got to see some of the whales who have been around. This afternoon, the A11s (no A35s) with A73 headed west from the Bight toward Blinkhorn. A73 was travelling with A56 with A11 slightly ahead of the pair. A13 was travelling parallel to the others, across the Strait, closer to Cracroft Island. They were all moving fairly quickly up the Strait. We are still hearing calls from the Strait (7pm). They are possibly heading back to the east. A73 looks like she has grown.
Helena & Paul
21 Feb 2005 19:04:14 PST
We finally got to see some of the whales who have been around. This afternoon, the A11s (no A35s) with A73 headed west from the Bight toward Blinkhorn. A73 was travelling with A56 with A11 slightly ahead of the pair. A13 was travelling parallel to the others, across the Strait, closer to Cracroft Island. They were all moving fairly quickly up the Strait. We are still hearing calls from the Strait (7pm). They are possibly heading back to the east. A73 looks like she has grown.
Helena & Paul
21 Feb 2005 19:04:14 PST
Sunday, February 20, 2005
No calls but orcas nearby
It just gets more interesting! Last night we heard possibly both A1 and A5 calls in Johnstone Strait. The calls were never close to any hydrophone and we were unable to get a final impression of what happened in the end. We did not hear A4 calls.
Helena & Paul
20 Feb 2005 10:36:37 PST
It just gets more interesting! Last night we heard possibly both A1 and A5 calls in Johnstone Strait. The calls were never close to any hydrophone and we were unable to get a final impression of what happened in the end. We did not hear A4 calls.
Helena & Paul
20 Feb 2005 10:36:37 PST
Friday, February 18, 2005
Thursday, February 17, 2005
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
Orcas near mics.
Good Day! We began hearing "A" calls, whistles and echo location near to Critical Point. We are assuming that the A4s of yesterday are returning from the east. We are waiting to here more descriptive calls before confirming this hunch. We also received a report of more whales near to Port Hardy. After the long quiet stretch it makes one wonder what is going on!
Helen & Paul
16 Feb 2005 12:49:13 PST
Distant calls audible.
It is definitely A4s and they seem to be headed west. We can now hear them on CP and Critical Point.
Helena & Paul
16 Feb 2005 14:22:34 PST
Good Day! We began hearing "A" calls, whistles and echo location near to Critical Point. We are assuming that the A4s of yesterday are returning from the east. We are waiting to here more descriptive calls before confirming this hunch. We also received a report of more whales near to Port Hardy. After the long quiet stretch it makes one wonder what is going on!
Helen & Paul
16 Feb 2005 12:49:13 PST
Distant calls audible.
It is definitely A4s and they seem to be headed west. We can now hear them on CP and Critical Point.
Helena & Paul
16 Feb 2005 14:22:34 PST
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
Superb sounds!!
We thought that you would like to know that this has been a very exciting morning! After an unusually quiet winter we suddenly heard A4 calls in Johnstone Strait. It sounds like the whales are headed east and are currently near to Robson Bight.
Helena & Paul
15 Feb 2005 12:10:26 PST
Orcas rubbing on the shore bottom.
After spending nearly 2 hours in Robson Bight, the orcas (A4s) headed east past Critical Point & are now engaged in a good rub at the Main rubbing beach. This is the first rub of 2005!
Paul & Helena
15 Feb 2005 13:08:39 PST
We thought that you would like to know that this has been a very exciting morning! After an unusually quiet winter we suddenly heard A4 calls in Johnstone Strait. It sounds like the whales are headed east and are currently near to Robson Bight.
Helena & Paul
15 Feb 2005 12:10:26 PST
Orcas rubbing on the shore bottom.
After spending nearly 2 hours in Robson Bight, the orcas (A4s) headed east past Critical Point & are now engaged in a good rub at the Main rubbing beach. This is the first rub of 2005!
Paul & Helena
15 Feb 2005 13:08:39 PST
Saturday, February 05, 2005
Good evening! It is a blustery, windy night but there are also dolphins close to Critical Point & Robson Bight. The weather turned cold again here after many days of quite warm temperatures. We hope everyone is keeping safe and warm. We have not heard or seen any orcas for a very long time.
Helena & Paul
05 Feb 2005 21:13:48 PST
Helena & Paul
05 Feb 2005 21:13:48 PST
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
No orcas present.
Good evening everyone! Sorry it has been so long since you have heard from us. We have been enjoying the warm weather even though it has come with rain & grey skies. We seemed to have missed all the weather which caused everyone else on the coast & interior so much grief and our thoughts go to those still struggling with the effects of the Great Melt. The rest of Canada and parts of the US & England also experienced very severe winter conditions and we are thinking of you as well. It has been quiet around here - there don't even seem to be any dolphins in our area. - so our focus has drifted to other matters. We are still listening but we haven't had to run to the lab for a long time now. We hope everyone has had a good start to the new year. We will check in again soon.
Helena & Paul
26 Jan 2005 18:19:14 PST
Good evening everyone! Sorry it has been so long since you have heard from us. We have been enjoying the warm weather even though it has come with rain & grey skies. We seemed to have missed all the weather which caused everyone else on the coast & interior so much grief and our thoughts go to those still struggling with the effects of the Great Melt. The rest of Canada and parts of the US & England also experienced very severe winter conditions and we are thinking of you as well. It has been quiet around here - there don't even seem to be any dolphins in our area. - so our focus has drifted to other matters. We are still listening but we haven't had to run to the lab for a long time now. We hope everyone has had a good start to the new year. We will check in again soon.
Helena & Paul
26 Jan 2005 18:19:14 PST
Sunday, January 09, 2005
No orcas present.
Good day everyone! It's a lovely, cold & sunny morning here, with a brisk easterly wind blowing & a very high tide coming. The sun rose over Mt. Derby (Robson Bight) just before 9am, so we are already gaining visible light! We've heard no resident orcas calling so far this year (not since the day after we closed the Orca-live season mid November) we've heard transients calling occasionally, including just before midnight lasat night. We are fine, keeping as warm as possible, and continuing to focus our thoughts on the victims of the Tsunami, & we hope you are doing well, wherever you are.
Paul
09 Jan 2005 13:38:05 PST
Good day everyone! It's a lovely, cold & sunny morning here, with a brisk easterly wind blowing & a very high tide coming. The sun rose over Mt. Derby (Robson Bight) just before 9am, so we are already gaining visible light! We've heard no resident orcas calling so far this year (not since the day after we closed the Orca-live season mid November) we've heard transients calling occasionally, including just before midnight lasat night. We are fine, keeping as warm as possible, and continuing to focus our thoughts on the victims of the Tsunami, & we hope you are doing well, wherever you are.
Paul
09 Jan 2005 13:38:05 PST
Thursday, January 06, 2005
No orcas present.
Good day everyone! It is still fairly quiet here: a few days ago there were transients heard in Johnstone Strait in the early hours of the morning, we have had reports of dolphins in the inlets and we do occasionally see sea lions travelling by. After several days of below freezing temperatures we woke up this morning to much milder temperatures and no snow unlike most of the rest of the coast. There is still a dusting of frost on the logs so winter has not totally disappeared yet. Keep well and safe.
Helena
06 Jan 2005 11:45:59 PST
Good day everyone! It is still fairly quiet here: a few days ago there were transients heard in Johnstone Strait in the early hours of the morning, we have had reports of dolphins in the inlets and we do occasionally see sea lions travelling by. After several days of below freezing temperatures we woke up this morning to much milder temperatures and no snow unlike most of the rest of the coast. There is still a dusting of frost on the logs so winter has not totally disappeared yet. Keep well and safe.
Helena
06 Jan 2005 11:45:59 PST
Saturday, July 03, 2004
No orcas present.
Good afternoon and welcome back! The A36 matriline of the A1 pod was seen earlier today in Queen Charlotte Strait. Two humpbacks are making their way west along Cracroft Island in Johnstone Strait but are still east of Robson Bight. The orcas (specifically the C10s) returned June 10 and since then several groups have come in for brief visits.
Helena
03 Jul 2004 16:19:15 PDT
No orcas present.
There are 2 humpbacks going west, just passed CP.
Tomoko@CP
03 Jul 2004 17:52:08 PDT
No calls but orcas nearby
We have just received a report that all the "A" matrilines except for the A36s are headed east past Port McNeilland Alert Bay... if they continue, they will be within range of our hydrophones within a few hours... stay tuned!
Paul&Helena&Anna@OL
03 Jul 2004 20:44:14 PDT
Distant calls audible.
We've started hearing distant "A" calls amidst constant boat noise in Johnstone Strait... it sounds like the groups of orcas that were heading east past Port McNeill earlier are now coming within range of our hydrophones. Hopefully, the boat noise will end & the calls will become closer & clearer over the next couple of hours.
Paul
03 Jul 2004 22:32:14 PDT
Good afternoon and welcome back! The A36 matriline of the A1 pod was seen earlier today in Queen Charlotte Strait. Two humpbacks are making their way west along Cracroft Island in Johnstone Strait but are still east of Robson Bight. The orcas (specifically the C10s) returned June 10 and since then several groups have come in for brief visits.
Helena
03 Jul 2004 16:19:15 PDT
No orcas present.
There are 2 humpbacks going west, just passed CP.
Tomoko@CP
03 Jul 2004 17:52:08 PDT
No calls but orcas nearby
We have just received a report that all the "A" matrilines except for the A36s are headed east past Port McNeilland Alert Bay... if they continue, they will be within range of our hydrophones within a few hours... stay tuned!
Paul&Helena&Anna@OL
03 Jul 2004 20:44:14 PDT
Distant calls audible.
We've started hearing distant "A" calls amidst constant boat noise in Johnstone Strait... it sounds like the groups of orcas that were heading east past Port McNeill earlier are now coming within range of our hydrophones. Hopefully, the boat noise will end & the calls will become closer & clearer over the next couple of hours.
Paul
03 Jul 2004 22:32:14 PDT
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