Day 2 cont'd

When we arrived at Eagle Eye we quietly made ourselves comfortable on the warm bluff and gazed at the spectacular panorama. Inside the make-shift tarpaulin shelters, the researchers worked frantically writing down data, scanning with their high powered spotting scope and passing information to other stations on their marine radio.

The prime site of Eagle Eye has been used for over 15 years. It is situated on West Cracroft I. directly opposite the reserve, making it a superb location for observation and study of the whales. This is no easy task and the devotion the researchers have to these whales is unimaginable.

Then we saw them. Straight below us surfaced eight Orcas including one tiny calf. Out in the middle of the strait another pod surfaced and one particularly excited male made a large breech exposing his entire underside and causing us to gasp in joy.

The B.C. coast has four different populations of Killer Whales, each keeping to themselves. The main distinction is between the Transients and the Residents. The Residents (both the Southern and the Northern populations) are exclusively fish-eating. They live in large pods, follow certain patterns through out the year (such as summering in Johnstone Strait) and are highly vocal.

The Transients on the other hand, who have been genetically separate from the Residents for over ten thousand years, follow no particular pattern, travel in small groups, are not very vocal and most significantly, eat mammals. The difference in the amount of vocalization between the two populations is a result of the methods of hunting used to catch their dinner. The mammals of the coast (seals, sea lions, and porpoises being the Transients main source of food) are wise to the sound of Transient calls and upon hearing them quickly head for safety. Fish on the other hand do not respond to Orca calls so the Residents vocalizations do not effect their foraging. A interesting recent study on harbour seals actually shows that they have learned to differentiate between Resident and Transient calls and appear to have no fear of Resident Orcas. So it is from the Transients that the "Killer" whales got their name. A fourth population are the Off Shores. Little is known about these whales although they appear to resemble the Residents.

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	Meet the Staff
	Our Green Ethics
	Our Food Philosophy
	History of the Kayak
	Safety First