No orcas present. We heard one call around 10pm last night but were unable to ascertain where it cam from. However, it sounded more transient like than resident. Beautiful,starry morning here! Leah 04 Feb 2012 06:30:02 PST Superb sounds!! It sounds as though the A4s are in Johnstone Strait as well!!! Leah and Marie:) 03 Feb 2012 15:36:05 PST Superb sounds!! We are hearing lovely A5 calls in Robson Bight! Unfortunately a boat is approaching the Bight as well. Marie & Leah 03 Feb 2012 13:56:36 PST Superb sounds!! We are hearing A-clan calls in Jonhstone Strait on this beautiful calm sunny morning!! Marie 03 Feb 2012 08:42:26 PST No calls but orcas nearby At 0745 this morning we heard 2 faint transient calls but could not decipher where they were located. Then at 0845 we spotted the T018/019s heading into Parson Bay. It seemed as though they caught a few seals before they continued traveling south in Blackney Pass. They have been quiet throughout but it's great to know they are around! Marie & Leah 31 Jan 2012 10:38:30 PST Orcas relaxing. We're so sad to hear about Rose Anne (Inish)'s passing, and want to extend our heartfelt condolences to Jon and her family & friends, many of whom are part of the Orca-live community. We are smaller without you, dear Inish, and very thankful for your presence among us. Paul & Helena 28 Jan 2012 11:43:37 PST Performing maintenance After installing 4 newly charged batteries up Parson Hill and a new computer for streaming we are good to go!! Thanks to Jesse for the computer help and to P&H for running around to get everything together. And last but not least, Marie's return to Hanson which makes hauling batteries so much more fun. UPDATE: There have been no whales sighted or heard since the internet went down! Leah 27 Jan 2012 19:17:17 PST Performing maintenance Sorry everyone, we have another power problem, this time at the Parson Island link in our network. There's a storm blowing here today, as well as very cold weather. It may be a week before we can get things back to normal again. Please excuse the inconvenience! Paul & Helena 18 Jan 2012 10:44:03 PST Jared Towers reported that he was with the A8s and A61 yesterday as they headed east past Robson Bight. Leah 15 Jan 2012 09:42:08 PST No calls but orcas nearby The A5s are heading east in Johnstone Strait, but unfortunately the hydrophone in Robson Bight just went down :( That's winter for you! Leah 14 Jan 2012 15:31:59 PST Boat noise I had just come into the Lab when I spotted two orcas near Parson Island hydrophone. Within seconds I could hear them vocalizing. They were pointed south and I haven't seen them since, however Jared Towers is on his way for photos. Leah 14 Jan 2012 14:52:05 PST Fairly quiet seas this morning after yesterdays steady stream of vessel traffic. It appears as though there is a fishery opening up north as numerous trawler's traveled north in Blackney Pass. A fresh smattering of snow is managing to stick as the NW wind lightly blows in. Leah 14 Jan 2012 11:50:52 PST UPDATE: We have received the remaining ID's from Jared Towers at the Pacific Biological Station from some of our previous sightings. The porpoising T's, in Johnstone Strait on Dec. 5th, included the T046Cs, T049As, T049B/B2 and T075B/B1/C. Distant photos from Dec. 29th revealed T074, T146/D/E. Leah 13 Jan 2012 16:49:55 PST Performing maintenance We are streaming again! We haven't heard any of the orcas that Bill and Donna MacKay reported in Queen Charlotte Strait this afternoon, so you didn't miss anything :) Leah 11 Jan 2012 17:49:07 PST Distant calls audible. The transients are still calling in Johnstone Strait. They passed the mouth of Blackney and are slowly continuing to the west. Beautiful, calm and starry night tonight! Leah 10 Jan 2012 19:07:32 PST Distant calls audible. All day we have been hearing "something" then at 5:25pm finally definite transient calls! Not yet sure where but earlier today Leah saw a small group of transients heading east from Weynton Pass. Helena 10 Jan 2012 17:30:36 PST Distant calls audible. Sounds like the I31s are still around? We can hear very distant calls in Johnstone Strait. Leah 09 Jan 2012 19:07:57 PST No calls but orcas nearby It was the I31s that we heard in Johnstone Strait as they traveled west. A blow was also spotted through the rain near TC just shortly after 1:30pm. Then Bill and Wendy reported 7-8 orcas slowly traveling north through the rain in Pearse Passage around 4pm. Hope they stick around! Leah and Hella 09 Jan 2012 16:47:39 PST Distant calls audible. We are hearing very faint sporadic calls in Johnstone Strait. At the moment it is hard to tell if they are resident or transient calls, but we are leaning towards resident's :) Leah 09 Jan 2012 12:46:45 PST Performing maintenance We're streaming again! The winds have calmed and it is a beautiful day here while the NW seas rolling in. Leah 09 Jan 2012 10:10:35 PST Distant calls audible. It was the I31s (possibly all) and they obliged by going through Blackney Pass on their way to Johnstone Strait. They were in a hurry, rushing through the stormy seas. Helena,Leah,Paul,Hella 08 Jan 2012 14:15:55 PST Orcas near mics. Sounds like the I31s are back! Helena,Leah,Paul,Hella 08 Jan 2012 12:30:40 PST Distant calls audible. The Lab tells us there has been the hint of calls in Blackfish Sound and that they are possibly Northern Residents! Stand by! Helena,Leah,Paul,Hella 08 Jan 2012 11:41:34 PST Boat noise The transient calls began to fade as they headed west in Johnstone Strait. Now a boat is getting louder as it travels in the same direction. Leah 06 Jan 2012 03:51:03 PST Superb sounds!! Beautiful transient orca calls in Johnstone Strait this morning! Leah 06 Jan 2012 02:45:00 PST No calls but orcas nearby We think we have sorted out today's resident whales, their location and movements. The whales were actually first heard in Johnstone Strait and not Blackfish Sound as first thought. Soon after, Bill and Wendy on Pearse Island saw fins disappearing into Pearse Passage. Then calls were heard off Blackfish Sound. Later, whales were sighted travelling past Mitchell Bay (thanks Grasshopper) and Sointula (thanks Alex & Jackie). From the calls recorded at the Lab we think these were the I31s and that perhaps the wonky fin seen belonged to I46. The other possibility was that it was the I11s who sound so much like the I31s and that it was I64 who was seen. We are leaning to the I31s right now. However you slice it, this was a great start to the New Year. Thanks again to everyone for the reports. As all this was unfolding the T2Cs were in Blackney having brunch. Busy day! AND now a beautiful afternoon! Helena,Leah,Hella & Paul 05 Jan 2012 15:35:40 PST Distant calls audible. Upon returning from some maintenance on the local hydrophone a short resident call could be heard on the speakers, but no location or identification could be ascertained. However, while we were out we spotted some blows, at ~1030, just south of Parson Bay. We found the T002C's munching on their catch while sea gulls dipped in for some scraps. Also, Bill and Wendy reported orcas heading north in Pearse Pass. Busy day out there! Leah and Hella 05 Jan 2012 11:53:42 PST Distant calls audible. The whales have moved into johnstone Strait. Helena 05 Jan 2012 08:26:06 PST Distant calls audible. The Lab is hearing northern Resident calls in Blackfish Sound. Helena 05 Jan 2012 08:11:43 PST Performing maintenance As Lori mentioned, all is a go hear with the internet up and running. The winds have subsided but the rain continues to fall, making the forest floor a sight to behold! Leah 04 Jan 2012 15:51:36 PST Performing maintenance We're streaming live audio again, thanks to Leah & Hella, who got a break in the weather and managed to change & charge batteries at CP! Paul & Helena 04 Jan 2012 15:49:56 PST Performing maintenance We've lost our internet connection, and will be unable to stream live audio again until Leah checks out one of the radios in our wireless network. This may take a few days, as weather conditions are bad just now, and the forecast is bad. Paul & Helena 02 Jan 2012 18:32:11 PST The New Year came in with storm force SE winds. The waves are a sight to behold from the warm friend filled cabin. HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone! We are all wishing you a wonderful day and happy and healthy year from Hanson Island!! Leah and Crew!! :) 01 Jan 2012 11:27:28 PST No calls but orcas nearby 6+ transients just headed south ~250 off the lab, just as the light was fading!!! HAPPY NEW YEARS EVERYONE!!!!! Leah, Angela, Hella, Cindy, Conrad, Benton and dogs! 31 Dec 2011 17:14:02 PST Superb sounds!! Nice clear calls with no boat noise!! Leah 31 Dec 2011 14:02:12 PST Distant calls audible. We just heard a distant call on Flower Island. We can only see ~6 orcas at the bottom of Blackfish Sound at the moment. Also, a correction...we have not seen the T19s today. Leah 31 Dec 2011 13:37:01 PST No calls but orcas nearby It appears that the group of 4 females (maybe one is a sprouter) and 2 juveniles are eating their sea lion as numerous gulls hang over head. The T002Cs, T020 & T021 are in the area too, but have been doing there own thing. At one point T020 took to hunting another sea lion 10m off the lab!!! We don't think he was successful. They are all still in the area spread in their original groups, but even though we put a new battery at our local hydrophone it is still not working. We cannot be sure if they are vocalizing or not?!? What a morning!!! Leah and amazing crew! 31 Dec 2011 13:11:28 PST No calls but orcas nearby Leah reports that about a dozen transient orcas, including the T2Cs and T19s, are in Blackney Pass - some of them are attacking a sea lion. Paul & Helena 31 Dec 2011 11:37:36 PST No calls but orcas nearby Angela and James reported 2 male and 2 female transients heading west at Ledge Pt. (Pt. McNeill) around 1:30 this afternoon. There may have been more orcas, but there was quite a bit of chop with the strong SE winds. Leah 29 Dec 2011 21:14:27 PST No calls but orcas nearby 8 transients quietly traveled south in Blackney Pass at 11am. A group consisting of 1 male, 1 female and a juvenile swam along the far side of the pass while 2 females, 2 juveniles and a calf swam ~200m off the lab. We were able to observe them for half an hour before they headed into Johnstone Strait. ID's to come!! Leah and Hella :) 29 Dec 2011 12:19:30 PST No calls but orcas nearby Just got a report from Jim Borrowman that 4 orcas were off Telegraph Cove heading east at dusk, including T19B. The wind was blowing SE 30kts at the time! The T18/19s were in the group off the lab yesterday, so it appears that they are still in the area. Perhaps that was them chatting on Flower Island earlier this afternoon...unless there are more orcas around?!? Leah 27 Dec 2011 16:59:34 PST No calls but orcas nearby The transient calls only lasted for about 5 minutes. The orcas have not ventured south into view even though the current is flooding in. Leah 27 Dec 2011 14:00:22 PST Distant calls audible. Transient calls in Blackfish Sound! Leah 27 Dec 2011 13:24:44 PST No calls but orcas nearby 5-6 transients headed south past the lab towards the sea lion haul out where they milled, spyhopped, tail slapped and circled off the rock. One very large male sea lion remained hauled out while approximately 10 sea lions made the jump in, but it appeared that there were no casualties. The orcas then turned north and headed 20m off the lab at high tide towards Blackfish Sound. They were vocal on Flower Island before harassing the sea lions. Leah and Angela 26 Dec 2011 15:44:31 PST No orcas present. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from Hanson Island!!! It is a beautiful, rainy day here with a light NW wind blowing through, as we sit here hoping for some orcas to sing everyone a merry tune! Hope you all have a wonderful day or night, wherever you are :) Leah, Angela, Pat, Derek and dogs :) 25 Dec 2011 09:48:40 PST No orcas present. Merry Christmas and happy holidays everyone! http://on.fb.me/sXJwWA Helena & Paul 24 Dec 2011 09:34:56 PST Performing maintenance Right after I installed the new batteries on Parson Island the sun came out and lit up the solar panels!! It is overcast now, but everything is a go!! Leah 20 Dec 2011 14:33:20 PST Performing maintenance Sorry everyone, but our internet connection from Hanson Island has gone down. It will probably be down for a couple of days, but we hope to be back again by the Solstice. Thanks to Leah! Paul & Helena 19 Dec 2011 19:19:06 PST No orcas present. Jim Borrowman caught up with the humpbacks in Beaver Cove for photo ID. They then continued east in Johnstone Strait :) Leah 17 Dec 2011 17:05:44 PST Maureen and Dave Towers just reported 2 humpbacks traveling east in front of Alert Bay!! Wonder who they are?? Leah 17 Dec 2011 13:40:55 PST