In the early morning hours of August 3rd, the A24s (A64 plus A78) and the I31s were near Strider Rubbing Beach. By 3:09am, they were joined by the A23s, and by 3:30am, A54s, A23s and I31s were traveling all together westward towards Robson Bight. As they continued west, our remote hydrophone at Kaizumi Rubbing Beach picked up a vibrant mix of calls at 4:21am. Meanwhile, the A24s, further behind the others, were only now closer to Strider Rubbing Beach after coming from the east.
The A24s, who have been around for the last day or so, are an interesting group. The entire A24 matriline has split with the A64s (A64’s immediate family and brother A78) travelling separately from the rest of the matriline, which includes Springer and her offspring and A94, A64’s brother.
A64 was A24’s daughter and Springer her granddaughter. Ever since Springer reunited with her Northern Resident community in 2002 after being temporarily separated after the death of her mother, A45, she has favoured travelling with the A11 and A35 matrilines, both close A4 pod groups but not her actual natal group. A64s’s other brother, A94, for some unknown reason, decided at some point years ago to travel with the A42s. The A42s are not of A4 pod but belong to the A5 pod.
As a way of further explanation, the I31 pod has three matrilines, the I33s, the I35s and I68s and as of yet we are not able to distinguish these groups acoustically. So when listening at night or without visual confirmation we simply identify the pod and not the matriline.
At 4:44am, the A23s, A54s, and I31s continued toward Critical Point and then raced along quickly through Johnstone Strait to Blackney Pass. The ping-like calls of the I31s were picked up by the hydrophone directly in front of the Lab at 5:15am. From the Lab’s deck, we could also hear the distinct blows of orcas as the A54s, I31s, and A23s made their way north. Loosely spread out, the final group of the I31s entered Blackney Pass by 5:51am.
The A24s were still back in the Strait.
Shortly afterward, Blackfish Sound filled with the excited calls. Then too soon the vocalizations of the A54s, A23s, and I31s began to fade – becoming increasingly distant and sporadic as they continued their hurry to the west. At 7:36am, Alexandra Morton reported the first whales exiting Blackfish Sound to the northwest moving quickly into Queen Charlotte Strait.
Meanwhile, the trailing A24s were closing in on Kaizumi Rubbing Beach by 7:03am. Crossing Johnstone Strait and passing Cracroft Point, they followed the same route as the others and were sighted entering Blackney Pass at 7:36am. Travelling against the current, it took them considerably longer to pass the Lab, with the last fin disappearing from view at 8:44am. By around 9:00am, their calls were picked up loud and clear in Blackfish Sound.
After a fairly quiet morning, we received a report from Troy Bright at 2:32pm that the A54s and I33s were west of Malcolm Point. Just half an hour later, our remote hydrophone at Kaizumi Rubbing Beach picked up distant calls from the A24s. They had circumnavigated Hanson Island via Weynton Pass having not elected to follow the larger group into Queen Charlotte Strait. At 3:30pm, CETUS reported the A24s heading east toward the Western Boundary of the Robson Bight Ecological Reserve, travelling close to the Vancouver Island shoreline. By around 6:00pm, they arrived at Strider Rubbing Beach and engaged in a rubbing session that lasted approximately 40 minutes. While the rubbing session continued, the assistants on deck were treated to a stunning sight of two humpback whales in Blackney Pass, tail and pectoral-slapping and breaching in the warm, golden light of the setting sun while a fairly good sized group of Dall’s Porpoise charged around just in front of the Lab. A lot to take in all at once!
Shortly after, the A24s in Johnstone Strait stopped in for a brief two-minute “fly-by” rub at Strider Rubbing Beach between 6:46pm and 6:48pm, before continuing westward. Over the next two hours they would continue on a path back to Blackney Pass. At 9:07pm, they re-entered Blackney Pass quietly, travelling north alongside a group of Dall’s porpoises. Moving once more against the current, their passage in the fading evening light lasted about 40 minutes. A78, passed particularly close to the Lab.
Until 10:30pm, the calls and echolocation clicks continued in Blackfish Sound then gradually faded as the whales moved westward.
Today, we also welcomed two returning assistants from France, Sandra and Adrien, back for their second season at OrcaLab. We were equally delighted to welcome Katie’s dog, Rozie, who has already gained a whole island of fans.
Words by Freddy & Helena
