July 10th started with a ‘bang’ – literally – as Quartz the humpback became very active out front of the Lab at 6:30am! Pec slapping, fluke slapping and breaching he went through Blackney Pass with impressive effect. We saw him several times throughout the day, a testament to the site fidelity that many humpbacks in this area exhibit.
We did not have to wait long for another dose of excitement, as a report from Scotty, at 10:23am, out in Queen Charlotte Strait told us that Northern Residents were pointed our way! The A34s were at Lizard Point on Malcolm Island and heading east. A34, her oldest son Echo (A55), her second oldest son Hope (A80), youngest daughter Rainy (A96) and her little one, A132 chose not to commit wholly to Blackfish Sound, foraging back and forth before heading back to the west. Simoom’s daughters Misty (A62) and Eclipse (A67), and their immediate families were not there. At 11:15am they were spread out between the Penfolds and Donegal. Good news, they were foraging – a hopeful sign. Alex commented that fishers had been catching Chinook salmon in that locale. Nearby neighbours west of OrcaLab at Double Bay Sanctuary, at approximately 11;40am, heard the group edge closer in the direction of Blackfish Sound.
In the meantime, at 12pm, Quin, who had been working on network systems at Cracroft Point, saw two Bigg’s orcas heading west past the Sophias. Later identified by Jared Towers as T125A and T128. Jared mentioned these two Boigg’s orcas had been seen departing the Campbell River area the day before. The West Coast Bigg’s orca population has such a remarkable range, from California to Alaska, and often make up vast distances in relatively short spaces of time.
A few hours later, we found out from Jared Towers that the A34s had elected to turn back to the west and were currently off Lizard Point. They were still foraging but definitely westbound for now.
Olivia returned with former assistants, Freddy and Jianna around this time and the technicians were still hard at work afield figuring out and solving issues.
As the sun began to set, all local boats headed in for the evening, and Blackney Pass was filled with the familiar sound of distant humpback blows amidst the evening calm. Then, finally, at 8:30pm, there came the unmistakable calls of the A34s in Blackfish Sound! Alex could see them right in front of her house. They were still foraging, and they had a humpback for company. Both orca and humpback whales were tail slapping. The humpback trumpeted and pec slapped as well. The orcas then encouragingly, began to slip into Blackfish Sound but disappointedly, at 9:41pm, they turned once again. Progress west must have been slow because calls were still being heard at 10:40pm. During the night they stayed out west in Queen Charlotte Strait.
Some of our assistants had been listening to their very first ‘live’ orca calls, and the Lab had been filled with a beautiful energy. It had been, even though no one at the Lab saw the A34s, a gratifying day just knowing that this orca family was nearby.
We even, thanks to Megan had been able to understand something of the movements and whereabouts of the A42s who, still with A94, were headed toward Lund by 11:22am.
The rest of the night was largely uneventful, and the 11th began with a morning report from Scotty of the the A34s near Foster Island at 10:20am, spread out and foraging. By midday, they were once again skirting the edge of Blackfish Sound, even passing Donegal Head spread out with A55 by the Egeria Shoals off Swanson Island. At 1:36pm, Straitwatch reported that they were once again heading northwest. Darn! So close! This pattern of behaviour makes us wonder if they are ‘waiting’ for other groups, or checking out the area for good food density before committing fully or perhaps it is conveniently both of these speculations.
Elsewhere, we heard something of the movements of the A42s with A94 around Quadra and the Discovery Islands. At 1:24pm they were between Hill Island and Centre Rock heading south. An hour later, they were heading southwest off Marina Reef. This has become their pattern in recent years. From Scotty, we heard that the A23s were sighted on the 9th in Fitz Hugh Sound, some distance north of Vancouver Island. From Dylan, we heard that the G16s had been identified about a mile away from all three Southern Resident pods (J, K & L) on the Swiftsure Bank off Vancouver Island’s southeast shores. The event was remarkable in that both the Gs, who are Northern Residents, and the Southern Residents were vocal at the same time. This is a known popular site for both Resident orca communities who, despite having similar cultures, do not associate with each other.
Tomoko noted an encouraging sign of a school of salmon swimming above the remote Strider underwater camera around 6:20pm.
Hydrophone and network issues continued to be worked on throughout the day, and the crew working on the bath-house roof continued to focus on completing this difficult challenge.
The day was not quite done. We continued to wait, with ears and eyes attuned to our surroundings, hoping that the Northern Residents would choose to finally get “stuck in” someday soon. Then, at 10:44pm, Alex reported hearing 4-5 blows off Donegal Head and by 10:50pm came calls on the Flower Island hydrophone station in Blackfish Sound hinting that perhaps the A34s may still be thinking about it!
