A12 left with the A30s to the east

A12
July 16, 2009
Hanson Island, B.C.
Photo by Florent Nicolas

Orcas relaxing.

We're hearing A1 "resting" calls on the Flower island hydrophone.
Helena
16 Jul 2009 07:31:36 PDT

Superb sounds!!

The A30s have just entered Johnstone Strait via Blackney Pass. Lovely calm morning, the A30s passed us in the edges of fog, numerous breaches as they went by. We're hearing the calls on the CP & CrPt hydrophones.
Helena
16 Jul 2009 08:03:13 PDT

Superb sounds!!

The A30s are in Robson Bight. We're listening to them on the Critical Point hydrophone. A short while ago, we also heard a brief rub, possibly by A12.
Helena
16 Jul 2009 09:10:27 PDT

Orcas rubbing on the shore bottom.

Sounds like the A30s are having a rub!
Helena
16 Jul 2009 09:31:58 PDT

Distant calls audible.

There was a brief power outage in Alert Bay which caused the interruption in streaming. While this was happening, the A30s and A12 moved off the beaches and back to the west. A12 travelled along Cracroft Island, crossed the entrance to Blackney pass and carried on up the Hanson Island shore. The A30s travelled along Vancouver Island and are now nearing Blinkhorn.
Helena
16 Jul 2009 13:18:46 PDT

Orcas near mics.

The A30s and A12 turned off of Telegraph Cove. The are now heading back to the east.
Helena
16 Jul 2009 14:35:15 PDT

No orcas present.

After the turn, the A30s and A12 continued east to the beaches where they rubbed briefly and then continued east out of the Reserve at 5:30pm.
Helena
16 Jul 2009 20:10:21 PDT

Seasmoke reports
It was a calm and very peaceful day to be out on tour and our encounter with the orcas was very early on as they neared Blinkhorn. The A30’s were making their way foraging along the VI shore. A30 was in the lead with A38 close by, another male was sighted (A39) foraging opposite across the Strait on the Hanson Island shoreline and A12 was further east of him. A54 and her off-spring followed behind A30 & A38 and lastly, A50 and her calves with A72 in the lead. It was especially beautiful to sit listening to their A-Clan calls via the hydrophone, some resting calls were heard amongst others and suddenly as is usual, they all turned and began proceeding to travel back to the east.