February’s Lab book reflected the almost daily toggle between encounters with Bigg’s orcas and Northern Residents throughout the month. Pacific White-sided dolphins and Dalls Porpoise added lovely add-ons to some days as well. Caretakers Cam and Mat were very busy!
The month began with an evening report of Bigg’s orcas heard on the Echo Bay hydrophone on 1 February. Echo Bay is a very small unincorporated settlement located on the west side of Gilford Island in the Broughton Archipelago. It was once Alex Morton’s home and before she left she set up the Salmon Coast Field Research Station to carry on work related to the impacts of salmon farming and other environmental concerns. The station is now equipped with a new hydrophone.
The very next day, there was a rub at Strider beach in Johnstone Strait. It is only the Northern Residents who rub so even though they did not “tell” us who was there we knew Resident orcas were around.
Two days later Bigg’s orcas were heard briefly, too briefly it turned out for their calls to be sourced but they were out there and not far away.
Then, Cam and Mat caught sight of the T60s in Blackney Pass on 10 February.
True to how this month was unfolding, Northern Residents took a turn on 11 February. In came the I15 pod, in the dark, and through Blackney Pass. They stayed just a day in Johnstone Strait before heading back out to Queen Charlotte Strait. Alex was able to get a few pictures convincing us that I98 was there along with his family.
Again, 13 and 16 February were notable for the presence of Bigg’s orcas in Blackney Pass, Blackfish Sound and Cormorant Channel. Later, the so far mild winter, produced its first snow of the season. Big, sloppy flakes covered the Lab and its surrounds temporarily changing the look and feel of everything. Then mild weather took over once again and the first signs of Spring began to show in the garden.
We were now half way through the month but the pattern established in the first half continued.
Northern Residents were back 17 February when A5 calls were heard in Johnstone Strait at midnight. This was followed by a passage through Blackney Pass later in the day.
Almost predictably, the very next day, Bigg’s orcas were heard.
Finally on 23 February, we were given enough acoustic clues to think that the A23s, Fife’s family, were in the area.
After this the scene shifted once again to Echo Bay. On 24 February Bigg’s orcas (the T55s) were seen. The very next day, sure enough, Northern Residents – A5s – were heard near Echo Bay. This was BIG news! Any indication that Northern Residents are resuming use of this area confirms the positive outcome of removing the fish farms once and for all.
Cam and Mat had one last thrill before this month was done. On 27 February, Pacific White-sided dolphins shot past close to the Lab. An hour later, the T19s followed them north. Cam had never seen dolphins during her winter months caretaking of the Lab. She certainly got a clear impression as to their extraordinary energy as they whizzed by. The next day, the last day of February, Bigg’s calls were heard in Blackfish Sound. Perhaps they had found something to hunt. Dalls Porpoise, meanwhile were seen in Blackney Pass, another sign that Spring was getting closer.
This brought the month of February to a close. But two events, right at the beginning of March, are worth mentioning. Holly’ family was seen, still in the Salish Sea, in Calm Channel and her cousins, Cordero’s small A25 family, was seen near Echo Bay making for more reason to celebrate that these Northern Residents orcas are reclaiming areas they once abandoned.
