The A34s returned to our ears overnight, entering Blackfish Sound from the west shortly after midnight. They made some progress towards Flower Island, echolocating and travelling slowly, before eventually turning back to the west and out of our range by 4:30am. Fortunately, they did not disappear far, as Alex Morton up on Donegal Head could see and hear them foraging near Bold Head on Swanson Island shortly before midday. Once again, they made their way slowly down the Swanson shoreline reaching Flower Island before turning north again around 3pm. Alex could also see a group much further out in Queen Charlotte Strait – from her description of a large male, it was very likely the A23s. By 5:15pm, that group was westbound far out of our range, and the A34s had turned again in Blackfish Sound, slowly making their way towards Blackney Pass in a sleepy resting line.
Suzie, on return from Alert Bay, could see them as she approached Burnt Point in our vessel Sonic at 6:25pm. They were still angling for Blackney Pass, still very slowly as they rested. Finally, at 7pm, they entered our view from the lab deck. They were still in a tight resting line, surfacing every few minutes and – most notably – bucking the ebbing current! Their final “about turn” of the day happened just 10 minutes later, as they once more drifted lazily back into Blackfish Sound. We heard sporadic calls from them until about 8:30pm, when our evening fell quiet of orca calls.
The A25s were also reported up Knight Inlet near Glendale Cove this afternoon, which was wonderful news to receive. Since the removal of the open-net salmon farms a few years ago, the A5 families have started to reclaim these inlets which – historically – have held an abundance of salmon and provided a “back route” down to the Salish Sea.
