Distant calls audible.

We just had some of the I31s travel through blackney Pass to Johnstone Strait. They are now east bound in the Strait.
Helena
29 Jan 2007 14:29:14 PST

No orcas present.

There was a lot that happened today. The I33s along with I46 and I80 went through Blackney Pass as reported and then headed east. The I35s (the other members of the I31s) unexpectedly turned up off Cracroft Point and went west. We are not sure if they had followed the others in un-noticed and then went on their own way. Just as this was happening several transients were also westboud further "up" the Strait. They went out via Alert Bay. It is a crazy amount of activity for this time of year. The day was gorgeous and if we weren'ty having to wear our sweaters and warm clothes we might believe it was summer!
Helena
29 Jan 2007 18:48:11 PST

Distant calls audible.

Well here they are! A short while ago we started hearing A5 calls in Johnstone Strait. We are still trying to figure out exactly where.
Helena
28 Jan 2007 09:12:13 PST

No orcas present.

It was the A8s who we heard this morning. After disappearing past Critical Point they returned this afternoon. By evening they were eastbound again. Alex morton was hearing G clan calls once again.
Helena
28 Jan 2007 23:56:26 PST

No orcas present.

We found out from Jared Towers that all the I31s were found together off Port McNeill late this afternoon. They continued west toward Pulteney Point. The earlier report of the I33s were thanks to the Pearse Islannd gang.
Helena
27 Jan 2007 00:10:32 PST

No calls but orcas nearby

The I33s have been spotted travelling west through Johnstone Strait, Pearse Passage and most recently, Cormorant Channel. This report leaves us wondering about the A8s who were travelling with the I33s the other day. Are they still east? Or have they too travelled quiety out to the west?
Helena
26 Jan 2007 13:40:11 PST

Superb sounds!!

Around 1pm some of the A5s and I33s travelled south into Johnstone Strait via blackney Pass. The groups stalled off the entrance to Blackney Pass for a very long time. They seem to have finllay made the move towards the Ecological Reserve. The A5s are in the lead.
Helena
24 Jan 2007 17:48:37 PST

Orcas near mics.

The I31s have definitely put us on their winter rounds. We just caught a glimpse of fins disappearing toward Johnstone Strait. It was the sudden calls that first alerted us to their presence.
Helena
21 Jan 2007 12:20:13 PST

No orcas present.

The whales certainly did not linger in this part of Johnstone Strait. They rushed eastward past Robson Bight and were soon out of range.
Helena
21 Jan 2007 18:47:48 PST

No orcas present.

It has been pretty "quiet" for the last while. The snow is all but gone. Nice soft rain right now and no wind to speak of. Back to a west coast winter.
Helena
19 Jan 2007 21:05:23 PST

Distant calls audible.

We just began to hear A5 calls in Blackfish Sound.
Helena
16 Jan 2007 12:46:14 PST

Distant calls audible.

We have been hearing G clan resting calls along with the A5s. All in Blackfish Sound.
Helena
16 Jan 2007 14:08:33 PST

Distant calls audible.

We are listening to transients in Johnstone Strait.
Helena
15 Jan 2007 22:23:37 PST

No orcas present.

We never heard the I31s again but a few hours later Alexandra Morton reported hearing whales. Possibly then, the I31s had been crossing the western end of Blackfish Sound on their way to the inner waters. An exciting chain of events for wintertime. Slightly warmer here. The warmer southeast winds are now pushing away at the cold front, For now, still lots of snow around.
Helena
14 Jan 2007 20:09:01 PST

Orcas near mics.

Surprise! The I31s are back and in Blackfish Sound.
Helena
12 Jan 2007 15:03:49 PST

No orcas present.

From a cold, clear, sparkly Blackney Pass, no further calls or reports. We did have a small group of dolphins pass close to the Lab the other day and we also heard them last night. Incredibly beautiful here, deep, crisp snow, sunshine today, stars out tonight.
Helena
10 Jan 2007 21:38:24 PST

No orcas present.

Yesterday we had a treat. The A11s went by headed for Johnstone Strait. They had been calling in Blackfish Sound before they made the move into Blackney Pass. A13 was closest, the rest (including Springer and the new little one with A11) were on the far side. They continued eastward once they were in the Strait. As we were watching them, the I31s were apparently headed off towards Port McNeill after passing Alert Bay around 10am. Thanks to Jared & Robin for this sighting and the earlier heads-up about A11's new calf.
Helena
07 Jan 2007 10:33:14 PST

Distant calls audible.

This morning around 9am we heard I31 type calls close to Robson Bight. Possibly, they went off to the east. Just now we are hearing distant As (?A4) in Blackfish Sound...
Helena
05 Jan 2007 15:19:38 PST

Performing maintenance

Hello everyone! Thank you for your patience regarding the technical difficulties we have experienced since mid-November. These problems, which could not be solved, caused our 2006 season to come to an early end. Please excuse any inconvenience we have caused you. We will do our best to bring you another season of Orca-live in 2007. Meanwhile, we will continue to post comments; and we will let you know you when we begin our live webcast again. We hope you will continue to enjoy the information on our site, and the conversation on our "Community" page. Thank you, one and all, for your support of our efforts!
Paul & Helena
05 Jan 2007 22:07:10 PST

Distant calls audible.

We are hearing very distant G clan calls in Johnstone Strait!
Helena
04 Jan 2007 02:33:50 PST

Distant calls audible.

Around 7pm we began to hear G clan calls in Johnstone Strait once again.
Helena
04 Jan 2007 20:27:01 PST

Superb sounds!!

The I31 type calls have moved up the Strait to the entrance of Blackney Pass. The tide is ebbing.
Helena
04 Jan 2007 21:17:42 PST

Multiple pod calls audible.

good morning! Once again we are hearing A5 and I31 type calls in johnstone Strait. They seem to have connected with A4s. All these groups, travelling together, may be heading west for the moment.
Helena
02 Jan 2007 10:47:16 PST

Multiple pod calls audible.

A good start to the New Year! A short while ago we were startled by loud A5 calls on the Parson Island hydrophone. We probably missed the first A5 group, but there were other whales in sight in Blackney Pass headed for Johnstone Strait, by the time we got to the Lab. As the first A5 group passed close to CP, the rest of the groups were negotiating the last part of Blackney Pass. As they neared Johnstone Strait, we heard I31 type calls along with other A5 calls. They now sound like they are slowly going east in the Strait. They are still calling frequently.
Helena
01 Jan 2007 15:49:11 PST

Distant calls audible.

Just before 8pm we heard A4 calls briefly and two hours later (10pm)we heard them again. They are in Johnstone Strait just past the entrance of Blackney Pass.
Helena
29 Dec 2006 22:27:02 PST

No orcas present.

We have not heard calls since Dec. 24th when the A4s and A5s left the area to the west. We hope everyone has had a happy holiday. The mountains here are snowcapped and tonight the skies are clear and sparkly.
Helena
27 Dec 2006 20:54:29 PST

Distant calls audible.

We began to hear A5 calls once more in Johnstone Strait.
Helena
24 Dec 2006 13:45:07 PST

Distant calls audible.

And A4s as well!
Helena
24 Dec 2006 14:26:27 PST

Distant calls audible.

The A4s and a5s who wer in Johnstone Strait moved around to Blackfish Sound perhaps taking the ebbing tide out to Queen Charlotte Strait.
Helena
24 Dec 2006 19:19:18 PST