Kelp Creature!

The days are now rolling by, seeming to pass more quickly which each new dawn. This morning the waters in front of the lab were shrouded in a blanket of mist, so thick that the far shore was visible only for fleeting moments ever now and then. Around noon Blackney Pass cleared, but the sun has been shy and came out only for a few minutes before hiding once again. The rain is perpetual. Welcome to another typical day up north!

The tension around here is rising as the orcas draw nearer and nearer with each hour. When will they arrive? It could be today, tomorrow, or even weeks, depending on their moment. Around 9:50 am this morning there were a few calls over the hydrophones. However, it was only a small pod of PWD’s foraging about two-hundred meters off the lab.

The past few days have been quite quiet in terms of marine mammal action. Perhaps this is the calm before the storm. Positively, it has allowed for some time to rest and reflect on the beautiful creation around here. Not even a humpback has travelled through the pass in the last 48 hours, which is unusual as they often seem to be a constant presence on the horizon. A well known humpback in the area, "KC", which is short for Kelp Creature, was spotted by the locals around the corner from us several hours ago. Perhaps he will pass by sometime soon.



Last night, however, was a different story. I sleep with a speaker by my ear, ready to descend the stairs to the lab if the cetaceans decide to become vocal during the early morning hours. Yesterday evening, trying to get some rest was quite challenging as the boat noise never seemed to quiet down and there were strange dragging noises coming from one of the hydrophones. Apparently this is caused by either kelp rubbing or small animals crawling across it.

The intertidal community on the beach out front is amazingly diverse. Taking advantage of the extremely low tides of the last few days, I had ventured down to test my knowledge from the Salt Spring courses. Much to my delight, I found gumboot chiton amongst the boulders near the low tide mark. Quite inconspicuous except for their pinkish colouring, the members of this massive chiton species are very close to the size of my rubber boots and have a sort of furry appearance.

Unlike the marine mammals, the terrestrial life here has been quite active and entertaining to watch. The trees around the lab are a favourite roosting place for many bald eagles who often decide to hop onto the beach in search of a tasty meal of crabs and other invertebrates. The small brown mink, a daily visitor, has been taking advantage of the low tides to gather sea urchins for snacks, though his cache is often confiscated by the resident eagles.

So here I sit, transferring DAT recordings to a hard drive, listening to the lovely boat noise provided by local fishermen, and intently watching the horizon for some sign of life coming up from the depths. Things are bound to get interesting in the next few days considering the circumstances... I just have a feeling. :)

Fair Winds