Summary: July 28th 2025

The A1 calls in Blackfish Sound, which were first detected at 9:09pm on the previous day, continued into the early hours of July 28 and were later confirmed to be from the A34 matriline. Around 2:19am, A5 calls – likely the A23s – joined the acoustic soundscape and quickly intensified in clarity and volume.

Between 3:05am and 3:26am, sharp and distinctive blows of orcas were heard in Blackney Pass, as the whales moved southward. Based on both acoustic data and surface blows, the whales appeared to be loosely spread out, with a group of A34s in the lead. By 4:29am, both A23s and parts of A34s had entered Johnstone Strait and were traveling eastward. The remaining members of the A34s, presumably the A67s, were vocally active around 4:30am in Blackfish Sound and may have been observed traveling east in Cormorant Channel around 6:20am.

Simultaneous to the A23s and A34s entering Johnstone Straight, additional A5 calls were recorded at 4:01am in Blackfish Sound, followed by A30 calls at 4:30am. These overlapping vocalizations raised the question of whether new groups had joined the area or if existing groups had temporarily separated. This uncertainty was resolved around 5:45am, when a group of nine orcas – identified as the A42s accompanied by A94 – was visually observed moving through Blackney Pass toward Johnstone Strait in the low morning light. A30 calls persisted in Blackfish Sound until approximately 6:14am, after which they left the hydrophone range heading north. At approximately 6:45am, Alexandra Morton reported a small group of females and juveniles traveling north along the edge of the archipelago, likely the A54s based on group composition and location.

Meanwhile, at 5:28am, the A23s initiated a short rubbing session at Strider Rubbing Beach in Johnstone Strait before reversing direction and heading west through Robson Bight. At 7:50am, there was a distinct chorus of excited A5 calls in the Kaikash Creek area, indicating renewed social and vocal activity between the A23s and A42s + A94.

Shortly thereafter, our hydrophone network remained quiet for an extended period. Based on Alexandra Morton’s report of the A42s along with A94 traveling tightly grouped with others past Donegal Head at 11:05am in a northbound direction, we infer that this group had continued west in Johnstone Strait and through Weynton Passage crossing Blackfish Sound before heading northwest. Around noon, we heard faint calls from the A34s in Blackfish Sound. This acoustic observation was supported by a concurrent visual report from Alexandra Morton, who sighted a group of six orcas – including two adult males – just north of Blackney Pass, idling near the entrance to Blackfish Sound. Based on group size and composition, we inferred that this was likely the A34s, excluding the A62s and A67s. The group was slowly drifting, almost stationary, westward in the direction of the A23s and A42s accompanied by A94. At 1:42pm, approximately two hours later, Troy Bright confirmed that the smaller A34 group had just departed from Bere Point, located on Malcom Island.

Later in the afternoon, at approximately 3:30pm, four Bigg’s orcas were observed westbound near Stubbs Island. They were later identified as the T060s. About 1.5 hours afterwards, likely the same group, was seen again along the western shoreline of the Pearse Islands.

At 5:51pm, Scotty excitedly reported that the I65 matriline was west off Hardy Bay, heading east. This sighting generated considerable anticipation at the Lab, as it indicated the arrival of potential newcomers to the area.

Later in the evening, at approximately 6:30pm, Troy reported observing a group and an individual – possibly A94 – near Malcolm Point. At the same location, a group of approximately 18 whales was seen traveling eastward. Among them, the A23s were positively identified while engaged in rubbing behavior. Shortly thereafter, a smaller group of four individuals entered the rubbing beach and departed again around 7:38pm.

At 11:30pm, faint calls from A30s were detected on the hydrophones in Blackfish Sound. The vocalizations continued until midnight, suggesting that another night of rich acoustic activity lay ahead.

Words by Freddy