Little did we know on the morning of August 12 that the day would be filled with enough orca activity to keep us busy from morning to evening. At 8:30am, we received a report from Korry, the guide with Discovery Island Kayak, who had spotted a small group of Bigg’s orcas heading east from the Sofia Islands, While this group made its way toward the “Pig Ranch” just east of the aforementioned Sophia’s, two other Bigg’s orcas, brothers, T069D and T060E passed the Lab between 8:35 and 8:48am while travelling fairly close to Hanson Island.
Meanwhile, the group already in Johnstone Strait continued east along the Cracroft Island shoreline. “Eagle Eye”, CETUS’ research site, on the cliff opposite Robson Bight, then spotted them at 8:52am.
The two brothers, who had just passed the Lab, meanwhile, turned around and headed back into Blackney Pass by 9:11am. Shortly afterward, they reappeared in front of the Lab, this time travelling north along the Hanson Island shore. And as goes the saying “all good things come in threes”, they didn’t leave us with only two passings. Thanks to Jared Towers, who had been following them for research purposes, we got a heads-up that they were on their way back. Sure enough, they came into view again at 12:05pm, passing the Lab one last time before finally clearing our sight and heading toward Johnstone Strait at 12:25pm.
During the next hour the Lab relaxed into its normal routines while keeping track of any subsequent reports of the Bigg’s orcas. Our remote hydrophone picked up the familiar calls of the A34s in Blackfish Sound at 1:38pm. As we listened to the distant and sporadic calls of this matriline, Jared reported that the A50s were halfway down from Bold Head. Due to the high tide, the current direction, and the pause in calls shortly afterward, we expected the Residents to continue their journey into the area through Weynton Passage. All the greater then was our surprise when, at 4:16 pm, Straitwatch reported that the A34s and A50s, who were now travelling together, were heading back east toward Blackney Pass. Half an hour later they entered Blackney Pass.
It had been nine days without Resident orcas! So unusual for August. Moving, at first without any clear direction they eventually made Johnstone Strait passing the remote camera at Cracroft Point spyhopping and showing plenty of surface activity. Surprisingly they did not continue east. Instead by 8:45pm, the A34s and A50s were seen off Telegraph Cove, heading west tight along the Vancouver Island shore. After crossing over they travelled through Weynton Passage completing their all day circuit around Hanson Island. Their calls lasted until 10:41pm,.
On a bittersweet note, we said goodbye to Mary Margaret, who had been with us for the first half of the summer. At the same time, we welcomed Momoko back for her 14th stay on Hanson Island. This truly is a place people become attached to – it’s hard to leave, and it always seems to call you back.
Words by Freddy
