This morning we began our journey with a visit to the First Nation group of people known as the Kwakwaka'wakw who live in the small community of Alert Bay. After a most interesting cultural performance at their big house, and a visit to their excellent museum housing an outstanding collection of potlatch paraphernalia we set out in search of the resident pods of killer whales that live in the area.
We had hardly left the dock at the village when Captain Graves spotted a group of killer whales swimming in nearby Johnstone Strait. We headed toward the whales and found an incredible number swimming in various patterns mostly in search of the salmon that serve as their primary food source. These resident whale pods are part of a large and carefully studied group numbering over 220 individuals. A local whale guide explained their behaviors and described what is known about these animals. We were treated to a spectacular show of killer whale behaviors. We saw the groups feeding, breaching, spy hopping, tail-lobbing and swimming together in formation.
We were able to drop the hydrophone that we have on the ship into the water and listen in on the whales as they communicated with each other and sought out information about the water world in which they live. After such a wonderful time spent with these truly amazing creatures we reluctantly left them behind and headed southward on our journey along the eastern shore of Vancouver Island.
We had hardly left the dock at the village when Captain Graves spotted a group of killer whales swimming in nearby Johnstone Strait. We headed toward the whales and found an incredible number swimming in various patterns mostly in search of the salmon that serve as their primary food source. These resident whale pods are part of a large and carefully studied group numbering over 220 individuals. A local whale guide explained their behaviors and described what is known about these animals. We were treated to a spectacular show of killer whale behaviors. We saw the groups feeding, breaching, spy hopping, tail-lobbing and swimming together in formation.
We were able to drop the hydrophone that we have on the ship into the water and listen in on the whales as they communicated with each other and sought out information about the water world in which they live. After such a wonderful time spent with these truly amazing creatures we reluctantly left them behind and headed southward on our journey along the eastern shore of Vancouver Island.
