26 April 2008. Cetaceanlan reports:

It was early Friday morning, the waters were choppy in Whale Channel as we travelled north to Money Point, our day's destination to work on a storm damaged hydrophone station. We were almost there, just halfway across the mouth of Verney Passage, when Hermann yelled "WHALE!!!". I lifted my ski goggles, which were covered in sea spray, to see the telltale mist above the unmistakable dorsal fin of a male orca. Splashing in the distance followed, and a bigger group of Orcas revealed themselves with small explosions of mist from their blows. As we detoured into the picturesque channel shrouded with steep-walled hanging valleys and snow capped peaks, it became apparent that these were Transients, about 8, travelling quickly down the north shoreline of the channel. Travelling down the center of the channel angling towards the main group was T162, the big male we first spotted, who has a distinguishing cut out of the base of his dorsal fin. While we were taking ID photos and soaking in the grace and mystery of these beings, it became apparent that this wasn't the only group of orcas in the passage. More blows on the other side of the channel! As we slowly made our way across the channel jumping from group to group trying to get ID shots, Hermann estimated that there were over 20 whales spread across the channel! Among them, T162, T54, T58, and possibly T59. It is so rare to observe that many transients travelling together, we were truly lucky to have been there to witness it. What could be the reason for such a gathering of transients? Could they have been searching for a large group of dolphins? Do they come together like this more often than we think? Whatever the reason for such a large group of transients, prey populations must be healthy and abundant enough to support such behaviour. Over the past 2 weeks transients have been dominating the hydrophone activity, as well as sitings. Just before dinner on Saturday evening the T69's swam right by the house! Luckily, we spotted them through the living room window or else they would have passed right by without even the slightest sound over the hydrophone! Not even an echolocation click! How do they find their way? With every encounter and vocalization, my wonder and respect for these whales grow.