26 October Orcalab reports:

Performing maintenance

We are experiencing connection problems & are unable to stream live audio at the moment. Please excuse the inconvenience - we'll be back again as soon as possible, hopefully later today. Just now, all the "A1" groups are in Johnstone Strait, along with several G clan groups.
Paul & Helena
26 Oct 2006 09:05:13 PDT

Distant calls audible.

Currently we are listening to the A30s and possibly the A12s as well. Earlier today the A30s left the Strait (around 2:30am) and then returned to the Strait with the A12s,A36s and G clan groups possibly via Weynton Pass. We were experiencing a power outage around the time the whales arrived in the Strait and so can't be sure which route they actually took. Regardless, they continued east past CP and Robson Bight. The A12s and the A30s hung back for a while and the A30s came back to the entrance of Blackney Pass. Since then, and quite recently, the A12s resurfaced. Both groups continue to be vocal in Johnstone Strait.
Helena
26 Oct 2006 17:20:32 PDT

25 October 2006, Orcalab reports:

Distant calls audible.

This sounds like the A36s coming back west with some of the G clan groups. There were several low, unusual calls near Critical Point as well.
Helena
25 Oct 2006 14:49:47 PDT

Orcas near mics.

The whales are off CP. We have heard the A12s along with other G clan groups. Not sure where the A36s are at the moment but there seems to be groups still closer to Critical Point. There is also a tug heading into JS right now.
Helena
25 Oct 2006 16:42:28 PDT

No orcas present.

The way it looks right now we think the whales continued off to the west. The distant A36s were quite vocal before we lost track of the calls but we could still a few Gs as well. Since then it has been steady boat noise.
Helena
25 Oct 2006 20:06:40 PDT

24 October 2006, Orcalab reports:

Orcas near mics.

The A36s have pulled some of the Gs back with them to Johnstone Strait via Weynton Pass. They are headed eastward.
Helena
24 Oct 2006 08:11:01 PDT

Distant calls audible.

The A1 calls we heard a short while ago were in Blackfish Sound. We have been waiting to see what might develop. The tide is flooding and this may mean this group might make it to Johnstone Strait.
Helena
24 Oct 2006 13:33:53 PDT

Distant calls audible.

Hmmm...the last note made need a bit of revision. We are now hearing both A1 and G clan calls off the very top end of Blackfish Sound. So we are going to wait a bit longer to see if these groups are "incoming" or as we now suspect "out going". The flooding tide is a confusing factor but : Time will tell.
Helena
24 Oct 2006 13:49:09 PDT

Distant calls audible.

Should have stuck with the first guess! The flooding tide did bring the whales into Johnstone Strait. It sounds like A12 vocals along with some of the G groups.
Helena
24 Oct 2006 14:27:55 PDT

Distant calls audible.

The 200+ dolphins that rushed through Blackney Pass to Johnstone Strait sound like they have found the A12s & Gs! By the way a lone humpback also transited Blackney Pass bound for the Strait as well.
Helena
24 Oct 2006 15:28:44 PDT

Multiple pod calls audible.

it does sound like there are a lot of G clan groups on hand. We are also wondering if the A12s might be reunited now as there has been quite an increase in their type of calls. The groups sound like they are off the CP area now. We are finally getting real rain - only trouble is - we are not use to it now!
Helena
24 Oct 2006 16:16:40 PDT

Orcas near mics.

Forgot to mention that the A36s are there too.
Helena
24 Oct 2006 16:17:55 PDT

Boat noise

We believe the groups carried on to the east. There have been a few bouts of dolphin calls since.
Helena
24 Oct 2006 22:10:35 PDT

22 October 2006, Orcalab reports:

No calls but orcas nearby

We got a report this morning that one group of orcas (probably G group)was seen near Port McNeill heading west. We don't know anything of the other groups from yesterday evening. They might be still in the east.
melanie
22 Oct 2006 11:12:39 PDT

Distant calls audible.

Finally the other groups from yesterday are coming up to Crpt from the east now. We are hearing some of the G's,the A36's and probably the A12's as well. It sounds like they are going into the bight.
Melanie
22 Oct 2006 15:41:00 PDT

Distant calls audible.

Now the G's, A36's and A12's are coming up to CP. But we are hearing them still on Crpt too. It starts to ebbing 1/2 hour ago...so hopefully they will visit us in Blackney Pass.
Melanie
22 Oct 2006 17:08:07 PDT

No calls but orcas nearby

The G's, A36's, A33 and A12 came into Blackney and stopped with calling. Now they cleared already to the north into Blackfishsound and started with calling again. Nice to see them again.
Melanie
22 Oct 2006 18:18:26 PDT

21 October 2006, Orcalab reports:

No orcas present.

As you may have guessed the whales continued to the east. We just received a report from DFO that they are currently off Adam River and heading west. if they keep their direction it will be a few hours before we are able to hear them.
Helena
21 Oct 2006 08:59:47 PDT

Distant calls audible.

Now the A36's and the big group of G's are coming up to CRPT from the east and aproaching the bight. But there are also a lot of Tugboats in the strait.
melanie
21 Oct 2006 12:45:59 PDT

Distant calls audible.

We hearing sporatic distant calls from the G's and A36's on CP with louder echo to Crpt. So probably they turned and going east again.
Melanie
21 Oct 2006 15:57:07 PDT

No orcas present.

After the A36's, A12's and the G's visited the bight, they are on the way to the east again.
melanie
21 Oct 2006 18:44:14 PDT

20 October 2006, Orcalab reports:

Multiple pod calls audible.

Shaping up to be an interesting day. The A36s made it to the top end of Hanson Island, Strait side and then turned. They then turned and headed east before 11am. Sounds like they intercepted a few dolphins on the way and now are headed past the Sophia Islands toward a large group of G groups who are headed west from the Boat Bay area. Rather neat surprise all these whales returned to the Strait virtually undetected! It is the kind of surprise that is easy to take.
Helena
20 Oct 2006 12:38:56 PDT

Orcas near mics.

The G clan groups have moved westward to the entrance of Blackney Pass. The A1s have been quiet for a while.
Helena
20 Oct 2006 14:31:35 PDT

Distant calls audible.

Most likely at least some of the whales carried on to the west. However, we wonder if others remained east of CP.
Helena
20 Oct 2006 16:19:34 PDT

Multiple pod calls audible.

The whales have returned to Robson Bight and seem, despite the ebbing tide, to be continuing on to the east. We have not heard the G17s so don't believe they are part of the G groups today.
Helena
20 Oct 2006 18:55:18 PDT

Superb sounds!!

Very close and very beautiful! The A12s,A36s are in good company with the Gs and the I31s and perhaps the I11s as well. All groups are lingering near Robson Bight: Friday night and all dressed up and somewhere to go.
Helena
20 Oct 2006 20:00:23 PDT

19 October 2006, Orcalab reports:

Distant calls audible.

Throughout the night we have heard the A36s in Johnstone Strait. Their calls are distant now, however, a group from G clan (? the G17s) are now in range as well.
Helena
19 Oct 2006 08:14:43 PDT

Distant calls audible.

The last calls were from the A36s as they crossed the top end of Blackfish Sound. There is a good chance the G group was with them and that both groups went out via Weynton Passage.
Helena
19 Oct 2006 12:30:01 PDT

16 October 2006, Orcalab reports:

Multiple pod calls audible.

Finally, the whales have given up their mystery tour of the east. Sounds like they are westbound on the flooding tide. So far both Gs and A1s (? the A36s) have been heard.
Helena
16 Oct 2006 08:04:02 PDT

Superb sounds!!

The Gs,the A36s and the A12s have come up to Cracroft Point and the entrance to Blackney Pass. Great calls!
Helena
16 Oct 2006 10:45:57 PDT

Distant calls audible.

A short while ago the Gs and the A36s together with A12 and A33 travelled north through Blackney Pass. We saw the G3s, G12s,G18s, G29s and the G2s. We did not see the A34s, I31s or G17s.
Helena
16 Oct 2006 13:52:55 PDT

Distant calls audible.

It sounds like the G17s have just crossed the top end of Blackfish Sound after travellling through Weynton Pass. They will be following the others into Queen Charlotte Strait. Meanwhile, both dolphins and transients have occupied the Strait after the resident orcas left to the west.
Helena
16 Oct 2006 16:15:08 PDT

No calls but orcas nearby

We just heard blows in Blackney Pass. The silent orcas were Strait bound along the far side of Blackney. A few dolphin calls is all we have heard since.
Helena
16 Oct 2006 22:37:32 PDT

14 October 2006, Orcalab reports:

No calls but orcas nearby

Jim Borrowman let us know that he thinks the I11s are between the Penfold Is. and Bold Head. They are foraging but generally headed east. The A30s,A36s and the Gs are still to the east and the humpbacks are quiet. The sun is trying after a refreshing rain.
Helena
14 Oct 2006 11:54:53 PDT

12 October 2006, Orcalab reports:

No orcas present.

No calls overnight lead us to believe the Gs, the A30s and the A36s kept to the eastern regions of Johnstone Strait. We now know, thanks to reports from DFO, that neither the i11s or I31s were present, only "G" groups.
Helena
12 Oct 2006 09:41:07 PDT

No orcas present.

We have still not heard the Gs and the A1s return from the east, although, we did hear a report that they were not too far from the eastern end of the Ecological Reserve.
Helena
12 Oct 2006 18:51:17 PDT

Orcas near mics.

Before the inevitable boat noise those beautiful G calls were on Critical Point. Finally, the whales are coming back to the west.
Helena
12 Oct 2006 21:36:25 PDT

No calls but orcas nearby

We've heard no calls for over an hour, but think the G & A clan groups we were listening to earlier (before boat noise intruded) are probably not far away. We are waiting.
Helena
12 Oct 2006 23:08:28 PDT

11 October 2006, Orcalab reports:

Orcas relaxing.

It sounds like the groups that were reported in Queen Charlotte Strait yesterday afternoon have now come into Johnstone Strait. We've been hearing occasional A & G clan "resting" calls since around 5am, when the orcas were in Blackfish Sound. They were silent going through Blackney Pass but became briefly vocal when they entered Johnstone Strait.
Helena
11 Oct 2006 06:45:02 PDT

Superb sounds!!

We've been listening to several G clan groups (I31s, I11s, G17s, probably others) along with the A30s and A36s, since they arrived in the vicinity of Robsn Bight about 2 hours ago. Boat noise has intruded occasionally, but there have been periods with just lovely orca calls as well. At the moment, we're hearing no calls, so it's possible the orcas have now moved to the east, past Robson Bight.
Helena
11 Oct 2006 09:50:03 PDT

No orcas present.

All those whales and all to the east since 10am this morning! Most likely most of G clan were with the A30s and the A36s. We didn't hear the I15s and it was unclear if both the I11s and the I31s were there. Fortunately, what goes east will come back at some point.
Helena
11 Oct 2006 21:55:41 PDT