18 October Orcalab reports:

Distant calls audible.

Good morning everyone! We've been listening to the A12s in Johnstone Strait since a bit before 5am. At the moment, they are mid-Strait off Blackney Pass, heading east. We're hearing them on the Critical Point, CP & Parson Island hydrophones.
Paul
18 Oct 2005 07:52:20 PDT

Orcas (may be) approaching cameras.

It;s now light enough to use the surface camera - the A12s are vicible in the distance on Channel A.
Paul
18 Oct 2005 07:59:48 PDT

Distant calls audible.

We're hearing occasional calls on the Critical Point hydrophone as the A12s make their way to the east. At present, they are mostly on the Vancouver Island side of the Strait, approaching Izumi Rock.
Paul
18 Oct 2005 09:10:32 PDT

Orcas (may be) approaching cameras.

The A12s are back in the entrance of Blackney Pass (Channel A). They may head north through Blackney soon.
Paul
18 Oct 2005 10:07:15 PDT

Distant calls audible.

The A12s have gone into Blackfish Sound while the A36s headed east toward the Bight. Today is A55's birthday! Sixteen years ago we saw the four adult A12s in Blackney Pass in the morning. They disappeared for a while to the west and when they came back in the afternoon A34 had her little calf beside her. A12 was positioned not too far away while A33 and his brother A31 waited off to the side.
Helena
18 Oct 2005 11:20:48 PDT

Distant calls audible.

How cool is this? The birthday boy A55, all by himself, came into Blackney and foraged mid channel opposite the Lab! AND he was vocal! - now what did Dave just say to Libby? While alone in Blackney his family continued to call in Blackfish Sound. Eventually he turned north to rejoin his group. The are calling now in Blackfish Sound. Meanwhile, we heard the A36s again in the Strait. Just for interest sake, A55 did a variety of calls while opposite us. Its all on the tape!
Helena
18 Oct 2005 12:28:31 PDT

Orcas (may be) approaching cameras.

While we continue to hear the A12s at the "top" of Blackfish Sound, we're watching the A36s, who are now foraging mid-Strait off Blackney Pass, on Channel A.
Paul
18 Oct 2005 15:07:31 PDT