23 june 2008, Cetaceanlab reports:

Since about two weeks we are listening to a whole new part of the north coast, as we installed a new hydrophone station at the north east side of Aristabazal Island. We are now able to listen to Caamano and Estevan Sound which the whales use quite often during their travels through this area. The timing of installation could not have been better as late last night the under water world of Caamano Sound was filled by the excited calls from A, G and R-Clan members of the northern resident orcas. The whales were first vocal on our “Home station” as they traveled south in Squally Channel at about 11pm. By that time the ocean was totally quiet below the surface after another noise polluted day filled with up by 100 sport fishing lodge boats operating day after day during the summer months in this area. We got the impression that the whales really enjoyed the silence underwater as their calls were so absolutely excited and did not stop for another four (!) hours. It was one of these rare occasions where no man-made noise interrupted their “All-Clan” meeting. Acoustically, we were able to make out the: A36, A4, A5, a B,C,D group, G and R-Clan matrilines, this may have been well over 100 whales. The whales were very close to the hydrophone at Aristazabal Island at 4:10am before fading away towards perhaps Laredo Channel.

March 4, 2008 Ceteceanlab reports:

March 5th 2007 marked the first time that we heard the B7 matriline acoustically in the “Off” season. Almost exactly a year later on March 3rd, they were filling the underwater world with their calls in Caamano Sound once again. Faint calls were first heard early in the afternoon and a little later distant blows were visible in Squally Channel. The “Bees” were on their way north and soon after their blows and calls faded away as they rounded the corner of Gil Island. Just before midnight we heard them once again, this time as they travelled south in Whale Channel. They most likely did a “Gil Island circle”. At 1:30am the B7s were out of our acoustical range and most likely back in Caamano Sound. It sure would be nice to hear and perhaps see them again soon.

05 March 2007, Cetaceanlab reports:

In the morning of March 5th, we started hearing A-calls on our “Home” station. The whales were most likely traveling north in Squally Channel. It may have been a fairly large group and we were able to determine that an A1 group was present (most likely the A36s), and a B,C,D group. It was a pleasant surprise for us to listen to the B,C,D Orcas as we never had them this early in the season in our study area.

05 March 2007, Cetaceanlab reports:

We had a small group of transient Orcas close to Taylor Bight and enjoyed a close encounter of a juvenile/young adult humpback whale that came very close to the shore of our Lab. We also had the first acoustic recording of a group of resident Orcas. In the morning of March 5th, we started hearing A-calls on our “Home” station. The whales were most likely traveling north in Squally Channel. It may have been a fairly large group and we were able to determine that an A1 group was present (most likely the A36s), and a B,C,D group. It was a pleasant surprise for us to listen to the B,C,D Orcas as we never had them this early in the season in our study area.

04 September 2006, Orcalab reports:

Orcas near mics.

The A12s moved quickly to Robson Bight. The Bs are there as well and the two groups seem to be travelling together. It is a nice mix of their calls.
Helena
04 Sep 2006 16:49:32 PDT

Distant calls audible.

The Bs and the A12s continued west past CP.
Helena
04 Sep 2006 20:18:15 PDT

03 September 2006, Orcalab reports:

Boat noise

The whales decided not to go Weynton Pass after all.We just had the B07s,A12s and I33s pass through Blackney Pass. They are now east bound in the Strait. B13 has flopped over even further. The A12s and the Bs were travelling together in mixed groups. A55 looked very interested in B14 at one point.
Helena
03 Sep 2006 11:11:15 PDT

Orcas rubbing on the shore bottom.

As the Bs,A12s,I33s move further east we have become aware of other groups moving west into the eastern part of the Reserve. So far, at the beahces we have heard: I11s,Gs,I15s,As and now I11s again I31s. There are, to put it mildly, a lot of whales in Johnstone Strait - all near and around the Michael Bigg/Robson Bight Ecological Reserve.
Helena
03 Sep 2006 12:35:26 PDT

Multiple pod calls audible.

The A12s,Bs & A5s have gone in for a rub as the other groups make their way eastward toward them.
Helena
03 Sep 2006 17:58:16 PDT

Superb sounds!!

The I15s & the I31s have just led the I11s through Blackney Pass. It is possible the Bs & A12s continued east, we have not heard their calls since they were at the beaches. We have heard a report that the very large group that was to the east all day today were westbound at St Vincent's Bight. Also, there was another group reported headed "in" from Donegal Head - our heads are spinning.
Helena
03 Sep 2006 21:05:22 PDT

28 August 2006, Orcalab reports:

Boat noise

We have been following reports alll morning about the whales coming east from Queen Charlotte Strait. Very briefly we heard the G3s and the Bs. Jim Borrowman of Stubbs Island Whale Watching also heard R clan calls. Since then the fog confounded everyone. The Gs (including the G18s) took the unusal path of rounding Donegal Head and began to go west past Mitchell Bay on the last of the ebb. They have since turned and are headed to Johnstone Strait now. But the Bs and the Rs have been lost. We have not heard anything. The tide is now in flood so we are hoping things will develop.
Helena
28 Aug 2006 14:16:18 PDT

No orcas present.

The G3s, G18s and G29s were almost toally silent as they made their way the entire length of the upper Johnstone Strait area. They woke up in time to go for a rub around 6:40pm. from the beaches they continued east. We heard an update from the eastern part of Johnstone Strait this evening, thanks to Nick of Painter's Lodge. Apparently, the large group (the A12s,A30s, I11s,I15s, A4s, A5s, possibly the G2s and I31s ended up near Bear Bight. This is almost as far east as the Strait goes. It may be a quiet night up here. Nothing developed from the idea that the Rs and the Bs were in town earlier.
Helena
28 Aug 2006 22:22:33 PDT

14 August 2006, Orcalab reports:


Multiple pod calls audible.

Good Morning! The A12s,A4s,A5s and the Bs continued to wait off Robson Bight/Boat Bay until around 2am and then finally shifted east. This was very close to when we started to first hear the I15s and the A30s in Blackfish Sound. They were joined by the A36s and several Gs groups, who then proceded ahead to Blackney Pass. After passing through Blackney Pass in a BIG rush all these groups entered the Strait and continued east. They are currently still passing Robson Bight. The tide is in full flood.
Helena
14 Aug 2006 05:36:24 PDT

No calls but orcas nearby

The whales who went east early this morning are returning and the lead groups are already up to Boat Bay. Meanwhile, the Naiad has been reporting a very large group (included are Ws,Ds,Rs and more) off the Port Hardy area. They are not yet committed to fully coming down to the east.
Helena
14 Aug 2006 13:56:15 PDT

Multiple pod calls audible.

The A36s are once again leading the several G groups westward in the Strait. We are also hearing A4s,A5s,A12s & Bs but i don't think we have heard the a30s and the I15s yet. It is,however, a BIG crowd.
Helena
14 Aug 2006 16:18:51 PDT

Multiple pod calls audible.

My goodness what a day. The OLers were here after their encounter with the Rs, Ws,Ds,C6s,C10s mid Queen Charlotte Strait off Pine Island on the Naiad Explorer. Meanwhile, the A30s,A36s, I15s, A12s, A35s,A24s,A51s, A43s, Bs and the several G groups came out of the east and travelled toward WeyntonPassage. There the Gs probably took off through Weynton Passage and the others returned to the entrance of Blackney Pass where after sorting themselves out they headed into Blackney Pass and past the Lab. The A24s and the Bs were the last through. CP saw the A12s continue to the west in the Strait and it is still unclear what they are going to do.
Helena
14 Aug 2006 20:48:52 PDT

Boat noise

A little bit confusing... the A112s along with one of the A5 groups have rounded Critical Point and have gone east. The Gs,the other A5s, A4s and Bs who were further west have disappeared. Did they go back out? Or did they fall asleep?
Helena
14 Aug 2006 23:31:36 PDT