Monday, August 22, 2005

22 August Orcalab reports
220805 A30s I15s
07:47 PDT Superb sounds!!
Good morning everyone! There is no fog this morning, and we've been listening to lovely calls from the A30s & I15s on the Critical Point hydrophone for hours. We think they are fairly close to Robson Bight, perhaps heading east, though we're not sure of their direction. The A11s & A8s were also in the Strait overnight, but we lost track of them around 2am.

09:10 PDT Distant calls audible.
The orcas are travelling back to the east - the back and forth has been happening throughout the night. Currently the A30s are eastbound crossing to the Vancouver Island shore from the area adjacent to the entrance off Blackney Pass. It is unclear, at this point, where the I15s are. Their calls have been distant all morning.

10:04 PDT Distant calls audible.
The I15s moved down to the entrance of Weynton after Telegraph Cove and have 'whipped" through Weynton Pass. They are pointed north still following the ebb tide. the A30s are continuing east toward the Reserve.

10:35 PDT Superb sounds!!
The a30s have excitedly moved into the Bight. I15s at the top end of blackfish Sound/ Queen Charlotte Strait.

11:38 PDT No calls but orcas nearby
Short lived event. The A30s took off to the west. The I15s are still westbound in the fog off Lizard Point and the a11s and the A8s are possibly not far from Kelsey Bay. Last report was Race Passage headed east. The a36s are currently off Kelsey Bay headed west. They came west from Bear Point this morning.

12:52 PDT Orcas near mics.
The A30s are still in fine form despite the boat noise. They are still not far from the Bight. meanwhile, we have started to hear the I15s at the western end of Blackfish Sound. they turned back to the east off Lizard just before noon.

13:55 PDT Distant calls audible.
The A30s are not far from Kaiaksh Creek on the Vancouver Island side. A39 moved out toward the middle on his own. The I15s, meanwhile, are just about to enter the Strait via Weynton Pass.

18:11 PDT Orcas near mics.
We can move the map along a bit now. The a30s after regrouping off of CP crossed to Vancouver island off the Sophias about 1 hour ago. The very slow sleepy I15s followed and both groups are now entering the Reserve and waking up!

20:35 PDT Orcas near mics.
The calls are on CP! The A30s and the i15s have picked up the A36s and all are westbound now.

21:28 PDT Distant calls audible.
The A36s and the I15s definitley went north through Blackney Pass from Johnstone Strait and carried on to Blackfish Sound. We are still trying to determine if the A30s have gone with them.

21:35 PDT Orcas near mics.
The A30s are definitely in Blackfish along with the I15s and the A36s.

22:50 PDT Multiple pod calls audible.
The calls of the I15s, mixed with those of the A30s & A36s, are on the Flower Island hydrophone.

23:51 PDT Superb sounds!!
The I15s, A30s & A36s are still in Blackfish Sound... their calls are now on the Local Left hydrophone (as well as Flower Island) so they may be heading back to the Strait soon.

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