The A34s were only heard from again at 5:10am when, in Johnstone Strait, they made a series of loud bangs with either tail or pectoral fin close to the hydrophone. The bangs were quickly followed by a rub. Before the rub ended at 5:16am there had been more bangs. The rub was followed by faint calls to 6:48am. There was discussion as to whether this rub had taken place at Strider Beach or further to the west.
What was more certain was the echolocation heard at 7:36am and the general movement west to the Cracroft Point area by 9:43am. Dolphins had been heard in the Strait at 9:10am and in Blackfish Sound twenty minutes after. Humpbacks had been vocal in Blackfish Sound from around 2am and then again at 7:36 – 7:40am.
The A34s remained distant on Cracroft Point but gradually grew stronger.
Preparations were underway all morning for the departure of Lydia, Rich and Jianna. Rich and Lydia, by coming to Hanson Island, were completing a year of travel abroad from their home in the UK. OrcaLab was lucky that they chose to come to experience whales and join in helping. Jianna had been at OrcaLab for 3 months and had proven herself invaluable. She kept track of the Lab in Claire’s absence and developed an even deeper appreciation for Northern Resident calls. All three were to spend the night in Alert Bay before catching the bus in Port McNeill.
As they were getting ready Megan, Helena and Paul waited for Nicolette to pick them up to go to the memorial for Billy Proctor who had died in May at the age of 90. The weather had been easing off from the NW storm and passage was now doable to Telegraph Cove where Nicolette had her car. When they arrived there were already many people gathered in the Lion’s Hall, testament to how important Billy was to many and to the coast.
Billy had been born in Port Neville in eastern Johnstone Strait and had moved, at the age of two, to Freshwater Bay, on Swanson Island, across from OrcaLab in Blackfish Sound. His mother ran the Post Office there and Billy grew up in Nature observing all the wildlife around him. He managed to avoid authorities trying to take him away to school by hiding in the forest. He taught himself to read.
At various stages of his life Billy was a hand logger, fisherman, keen observer, constant collector and protector of the environment. He became a husband, father and grandfather and made both a home and museum in Echo Bay. His knowledge of the natural world was extensive and he was always willing to share his knowledge, his time and energy with others. Though there will never be another Billy, he was a legend, and legends live forever.
Just before the respective departures to Port McNeill and Alert Bay, the A34s came through Blackney Pass, past the Lab mid channel, and into Blackfish Sound. They had dolphins with them. Pausing briefly, one of the A34s in the lead, spyhopped. Dolphins leapt all around, before the whales resumed travel north. The last report came from Seasmoke who accounted for all the A34s spread out from the Egeria Shoals to Freshwater Bay. The distant last calls were at 1:09pm.
Evening brought no further calls from the A34s but some beautiful clear humpback sounds in Blackfish at 7:41pm, then another in Johnstone Strait at 10:20pm. Dolphins closed out the day at 10:48pm in Johnstone Strait.
