It is 530am and once again we awake to the early morning bubble net feeding calls of resident humpback whales on the hydrophone speakers. I have become dependent on this routine of feeding calls filling the lab at first light as the start to another day filled with the joy of knowing whales are close by. This morning is different though. By the time we approach Squally Channel in our boat, Elemiah, not a single blow can be seen. How can this be after so many days of whales in sight with a glance in every direction? We travel, stop, listen; not a sound. It is then that I realize that just like us, whales also need to rest. Sure enough, with this moment of insight we hear a soft blow, then another. They are sleeping, spread out across the channel, floating at peace until another breath ripples the stillness of the water. We have a choice, do we disturb these sleeping giants to take photo IDs or do we show respect and move on? Of course, there is no real decision to be made and we slowly make our way out of this sleepy whale heaven. This is when karma comes into play. A call from the lab, Hermann is excited and instantly my gut senses he’s going to report ORCA!  Sure enough, James at Ulric Pt has spotted at least 20 Orca heading NW from Rennison, the R5’s (including R5, R24’s and R4’s), the R17’s, and the old man himself, R12.  If we decide to join this group of Blackfish it means crossing open ocean. We call Hermann back for a weather update; it is supposed to pick up late this afternoon but should be fine for the rest of the morning. We decide to just go for it and fly like the wind over the water to spend at least a few hours with the most dynamic whales ever encountered, the Orca! It takes us 40 minutes but the water was in our favour and the crossing was quite calm with just a bit of swell. There they are,  3 different matrilines of orca, in each group there are at least 3 to 4 large males, females and even a few juveniles, and oh, the cutest new born, so young he or she is still quite orange. To observe this new one, just beginning life, trying to keep up with her/his older siblings, moving by his mother’s side with such joy and spirit, right across the entrance to Enbridge’s proposed tanker routes, reminds me deep inside why we must save this place from even the thought of giant oil tankers traveling these waters. I must admit, in most of my days with whales, watching how they move through this environment with such grace and innocence, thinking of what may come truly breaks my heart but also fills me with the strength and courage necessary to do all we can to save this place for whales. Then, just as all these thoughts are passing I see a sight I would have never imagined.

A young fin whale is now following this group of orca. I shake my head, is this even possible! Sure enough, just as the family of orca come up for another breath, so does the fin whale, just 50 meters behind, curious and showing no fear. How does he know these are the fish eating orca? If he made this mistake with transient orca he would be risking his life. The orcas appear to accept this lone traveler at their side, as he gently comes a bit closer, now traveling 50 meters to the side of the group, then 25 meters; is this lone baleen whale trying to communicate with his fellow toothed whales? Does he instinctively know that he is safe when in close proximity to this family of killer whales? There is another group of 15 orca to the north so we decide to leave this group with their baleen companion. To our shock, when we arrive to the second group of orca there is another fin whale, this one is huge, probably about 70 feet long and is also attempting to be a part of this orca family, traveling at a distance of 50 meters behind, breathing when they breathe, diving when they dive. I am so excited to witness this unusual behaviour and desperately try to get a picture, but I cannot get both groups in the same frame. There is no doubt that the more we learn about whales, the more we realize how much we don’t know! We travel out towards the Estevan Group of islands. I have never been this far west, the rocky shorelines are an obvious hint that the weather here can turn fierce, and quickly. We know we cannot go any further but the desire to follow this parade of orca families is strong; we do not know when we will see them again. I take a deep breath in time with the orca; my soul soars as their perfect bodies glide effortlessly past the shore, giving Caamano Sound that picture perfect moment that says, beautiful BC. The wind picks up from behind, we know we must be wise and consider our own safety. We turn back and travel home to Whale Point.

Enbridge, beware; your oil tankers are not welcome here!