#a23 matriline

[hungerandthirst]

quick update from the outpost if I can get enough service to upload pictures:

pictures of pictures i took this week (haven’t gotten them off the work laptop yet) – breaching humpback, A23 matriline of the northern rezzies, and a humpback named Freckles with her new calf :) all taken with a telephoto lens in accordance with marine mammal regulations

me with bean tower, me in the office, me experiencing post-fishing euphoria (i never understood why fishing people are like that but reader i admit i was taken by the moment)

where i literally live. havin a ball.

[littlewalken]

Some good news Northern Resident Midsummer (neice of Corky II) had a third calf. As her mother Ripple’s only surviving calf this is great news for their family. She already has a son and a daughter.

This is also the matriline that has bad luck around boat propellers, so when you hear a blow, go slow.

[whaletalesorg]

Resting Lines of Killer Whales. To read this story (and more!), follow the link in our bio⠀ Photo: A resting line of members of the A23, A25 and A8 matriline by @themarinedetective ⠀ #whaletales #orca #killerwhale #NRKW #whales #exploreBC #getonaboat #storytelling #whalewatching

[a24matriline]

The A24s 2016: Sightings and Movement

The 2016 season began with some early sightings in the southeastern Alaskan panhandle during the spring and winter, followed by multiple encounters around northern Vancouver Island and Johnstone Strait. About half the time sightings of the A24s also occurred simultaneously with other northern residents, mainly other A Pod orcas. For a recap of the A24s major events and overall makeup this year you can go here.

On February 22nd all A24s were spotted in the southern passages of the Alaska panhandle and again on May 24th with another pod, the I33s, by Niki Finnerty Weiss.

During the summer season the A24s were spotted on July 9 among several other northern residents in the Port Hardy area.

The A24s entered Johnstone Strait area the morning of July 19.

The A24s came through Blackfish and into Blackney Pass briefly then retreated back to Blackfish as the A5s came into Blackney Pass from Johnstone Strait. The A5s are also now moving into Blackfish. Helena,Niklas,Myriam,Momoko 19 Jul 2016 02:17:06 PDT

The A24s lingered on in Blackfish Sound and Johnstone Strait with the A5s on July 20, before heading out west while the A5s went east.

From Seasmoke Whale Watching:

On our morning tour we encountered the A24’s near the Sophia Islands in Johnstone Strait where our viewing was wonderful and free from fog. 

On the afternoon tour we encountered the A24’s once again at the top end of Johnstone Strait. It was really awesome for everyone to see the little calf[A110] doing head stands and mini breaches! We had beautiful sunny patches and the orcas were back lit by the sun for much of our viewing.

The A24s were seen off the northern tip of Vancouver Island on July 24th by crew and passengers with Mackay Whale Watching.

Report by: Kyle & Connie Cassidy

Trip Highlights: (where we went, what we saw, etc.) We went to the northern tip of the Island. On the way, we saw 3 humpback whales, including a mother and calf. Then we saw a pod of orcas (Residents A24), sea lions, and after lunch, we saw more resident orcas.

The A24s returned to Johnstone Strait on July 28th.

Sorry. We had problems with the Internet this morning but we are back now. While we were sorting the Internet out we were listening to calls in Blackfish Sound from just after 6am.. Eventually the calls became clearer and closer and the whales rushed through on the flooding tide and into Johnstone Strait just now. We believe we had the A5s along with the A24s, the A34s and A46. We are now filming again and you can watch on www.explore.org. Helena 28 Jul 2016 08:12:07 PDT

The A24s’ cousins and their niece Springer(A73) came to Johnstone Strait on July 31st.

Beautiful sounds from the A4s and A5s close to Robson Bight. Today, was not a complicated day and the whales were obligingly vocal so tracking them was not a problem. We had suspected that the A42s had travelled east in the early morning and that they probably had A4 company. Just as they moved past Critical Point and Robson Bight around 1:40am a humpback became vocal. This was a surprise as they don't usually vocalize very often at this time of year. The calls did not last long but it was a nice conclusion to the orca event. The rest of the night was uneventful and everyone got a bit of sleep. Around 11am, there was a report of whales heading west from the Adam River. It soon became apparent that they were travelling along in two groups, one on the Vancouver Island shore and the other on the Cracroft side. An hour and a half later the group on the Vancouver Island shore came into view of the Rubbing Beach camera. And an hour later we began to hear calls off Robson Bight. The Cliff excitedly reported the A35s (of A4 pod) were below the Cliff heading west and that A70 has a new baby! Basically the groups continued west through the afternoon. By 3:35am, they were crossing the entrance to Blackney Pass. An hour later they were off the entrance to Weynton Pass. About 5pm, the groups had turned and started to make their way east again. Then came a slight diversion. As the whales approached the entrance to Blackney Pass again a few moved into the actual Pass and A77 plus two others ventured into our view making it almost all the way through before finally turning back south and rejoining the others who by this time had decided to carry on going east in Johnstone Strait. This brings us nearly up to date. And for the last while they have basically stalled off Robson Bight. But by doing so they have offered up a pretty nice recording. It is now past 11pm, 12 hours after returning to the western part of Johnstone Strait. Quite the day! Again! And by the way, Springer with her baby Spirit (A104) is here once again! everyone 31 Jul 2016 23:26:30 PDT

On August 3rd the A24s came back into Blackfish Sound/Johnstone Strait with the A34s, where they met up with their cousins and niece (A35s/A56/A73). On August 4th all A4 pod whales traveled together for a few hours before separating back into their respective matrilines(A24s and A35s/A56/A73s).

The A42s and the A35s (+A73/A104) who came back from the east to our hydrophone range, their calls are on CRPT hyrophone. Meanwhile, we had a report of 10+ orcas off Bere point coming this way. At 18:50 we started hearing A34s and A24s on Flower Island hydrophone. Some of them came into Blackney pass 19:08, but they turned the north and headed back to the north. Tomoko and the Lab crew 03 Aug 2016 20:00:15 PDT

The A30s with the A25s and A23s in a close group just passed the Lab headed south close to the Hanson Island side. The A42s went west in Johnstone Strait earlier and now the A24s, A35s/73 are passing the Cliff now as well also headed west. Great coordination of groups. Helena 04 Aug 2016 11:35:17 PDT

The A4s (yes, all the A4s) came past the Cliff at 11:32. (Cliff report). The A42s after coming east along the Vancouver Island side appeared to have crossed into mid strait from west of Kaikash where they met up with the A24s who had travelled west with the A35s/A73. The A4s passed Cracroft Point around 1:45pm and at that time separated into their respective matrilines. The A35s continued up the Hanson Island shore. They turned back east at 2:20pm. The A42s and the A24s finally became vocal as they travelled east together toward Izumi Rock area. The A30s/A23s/A25s got as far as just west of the main rubbing beach before they turned west at 2:37pm and now just before 3pm they have turned east again off Strider beach. Meanwhile the A34s/A46 are in Blackfish Sound meaning we have for the first time all the "As" in the same area! This is exciting. Helena 04 Aug 2016 15:01:54 PDT

The A24s were last spotted in the Johnstone Strait area on August 7 2016, before heading northward.

[miss-rhapsody]

Confirmed by Paul Spong!

Corky's family is growing, Midsummer (A69) has given birth to her second offspring! :) Picture shows grandma Ripple (A43) with the new baby.

Via Killer Whales of B.C. Photo was taken by Garry Henkel.

[littlewalken]

Today’s philosophical killer whale question: How can you wish Corky was free to swim with her matriline if the capture of wild killer whales for marine parks in the 60s-70s weren’t the catalyst for Dr Michael Biggs to discover pods, matrilines, ecotypes, and how to identify wild killer whales?

[littlewalken]

Corky II’s matriline, she was captured in 1969. Ripple and Fife are her siblings. The A23s often travel with the A25s and share the distinct A25-A25 “woo-oo-woo-oo-woop” call. Tall female dorsal fins run in this family.

[littlewalken]

The only time a gender reveal matters is when it’s a wild killer whale. This is Fern/A95 of the A23s*, they’re 10 years old, when the Northern Residents return in 2020 we’ll see if Fern has sprouted and is a bull or hasn’t and is a cow. 

*Corky II’s matriline and the one with terrible luck around boats.

[respectanimalrights]

Credit © @orcalabbc There is a new baby in town! Find the story below. Recently, the A30s and the A25s disappeared to the east for a few days. Nobody knew were they were until we heard calls on the rubbing beach two nights ago. Later during that day it became clear why, Cordero (A85), had a baby! Cordero belongs to the A5 family and sadly her mother, Nodales, (A51) died very young. Cordero was only six years old and now an orphan. She was “taken in” by the A23s and travelled with them. Her uncle Surge (A61) elected to travel with the A42s for about a year before he joined the A23s too. They have had quite the journey together and lost a lot of family members during the previous years leaving only the two of them behind. Surge, himself, was a three year old orphan, when his mother Sharky (A25) died prematurely and with only his eleven year old sister Nodales to look after him. Late last year Cordero began to spend a lot of time with Cutter (A86) who is from the A30 matriline. Even after Cutter had a baby earlier this year Cordero continued to be her constant companion, bonded seemingly by their similar condition. It will be great to watch these two new mothers now. Yesterday evening, Cordero with her baby and Uncle Surge led a very large gathering of families through Blackney Pass on their way to Johnstone Strait. It was a beautiful sight with the A30s together in a line following at a respectful distance. We managed to get these snapshots of them when they travelled in front of the lab (all taken from land). What a day it was. For the entire summary of yesterday go to http://www.orca-live.net/community/index.html. It is definitely worth the read :) Photocredit: @soundwaveontheroad . . To help orcas in the wild and keep the project going at OrcaLab, you can donate at our website www.orcalab.org . . . . #orca #orcas #killerwhale #cetacean #seeablowgoslow #whalealert #dogood #nature #wildlife #wildandfree #emptythetanks #conservation #protect #explorebc #donate #nonprofit #discorverocean #oceanresearch #observation #wildlifephotography #canada https://www.instagram.com/p/B24LD4nCTZb/?igshid=ftrazuqlzp0y