2024 Limestone Log 6 (Orcas and Oyster Catchers)
East Limestone Island News - Week 11 & 12
We’ve had an eventful and great two weeks in camp. From June 28th to July 5th we were joined in camp by Professor David Green from SFU and his research assistant Katie Chettle to celebrate BLOY (Black Oystercatcher) day! We celebrated the newly minted holiday by conducting a week’s worth of Black Oystercatcher adult and chick banding, as well as territory visits and collecting prey remains. We went ashore to conduct surveys on Reef Island, Low Island and the Skedans islands.
Below, Katie releases an adult Black Oystercatcher after it was caught to be weighed, the tarsus (toe knuckle to elbow) to be measured, as well as a feather and toenail clippings collected for DNA analysis. The large Black Oystercatcher chick in the lower photo has grown big enough to be banded. Banding chicks helps determine individuals, help age them and see where they go throughout their lives.
Banding increases the number of marked birds in the overall BLOY breeding population each season, and provides important information on breeding sites, pair longevity, adult survival and nesting success. (Please note, LBCS follows research permit guidelines for all wildlife handling practices.)
Sea-watches
Interspersed with Black Oystercatcher research were sea-watch surveys from the Lookout Point Blind, to look for dolphins, whales, and porpoises, oh my! While only two Harbor Porpoises were spotted during the official surveys, researchers observed an incredible incidental orca pod sighting of transients cruising the shoreline during the Black Oystercatcher surveys. The team is eagerly awaiting confirmation of ID of the pod, with the potential to add this year’s new calf to the photo ID directory.
Wildlife trees are still bustling with active Tree Swallow and Northern Flicker cavity nesting, and Rian patiently taught us all tree-ginometry to measure the heights of our wildlife trees. Camp was also treated to a visit by Fred, Leo and Francois, Fred’s dad, during their sailboat Cizano’s maiden voyage.
The photo below was taken for identification purposes with a zoom lens, cropped, and in accordance with the Be Whale Wise guidelines; to stay 200m from transient orcas and 100m from other marine mammals! (400m for Southern Resident orcas in Southern Vancouver Island). Give marine mammals their space!
Orca photo by Amaya Black
Crew Changeover
In one breath we said “See you soon,” to Rian, David and Katie and a “Hello and welcome!” to the newest crew joining our team. We were joined by Steve Walsh and Paul Campbell, two Irish Vancouverites as well as newly graduated Gitxsan Youth Intern Shauna from Hazelton. Congratulations Shauna!
The incoming crew observed humpback whales on their boat ride into camp that included breeching, pec slapping and flick feeding displays. With the new crew also came the first real taste of summer as the winds shifted to light north westerlies giving the crew ideal boat days with hardly a cloud in the sky. Boots hit the ground with teams conducting vegetation plot surveys to catalogue and monitor plant community composition and changes over time. Crew learned and “brushed up” on their plant identification skills.
Abundance of Life
A pod of orcas were observed even before Steven and Amaya made it up to lookout point for a sea-watch survey, displaying robust surface behaviour including tail lobbing. We wrapped up some final Black Oystercatcher surveys on Lost Island and Kingsway rock, mindfully giving space to all the new Glaucous Winged Gull chicks that were there too. Crew conducted sea surveys, long transects across Laskeek Bay to observe bird species as well as count sea lions and seals.
During sea surveys there were some exciting bird observations including five Ancient Murrelets and two Cassin’s Auklets—a lifer species for both Kim and Amaya. Seeing exciting birds wasn’t the only new experience in camp, Shauna swam in the ocean for the first time! We were given an excellent tour and visit to K’uuna Llnagaay Site, hosted by Allan Davidson Jr. and Daatsii Sankey. A high energy week met with enthusiasm and cooperation. In the words of Paul: "Giddy up!"
Fun Fact
There are three ecotypes of Orcas in BC: residents, transients and offshore whales. Residents eat Chinook salmon, transients eat marine mammals and offshores eat sharks! Each ecotype has unique language, feeding strategies and range of distribution.
Above: The Lookout Point Blind overlooks the large expanse of Laskeek Bay, and during sea-watches LBCS crew monitor Orcas and other cetaceans in the area.
Haiku
Even facing east
Bubble gum color sunsets
Shine bright on ELI
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Boat ride and peeper
Saw a few birds together
Yawn in unison
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Chai on the oven
Memories in a fragrance
On a chipping tempo
With only a couple more weeks of field camp left to report, we thank our researchers, crew and volunteers as well as our supporters, for helping us to make this 2024 field season a huge success! Stay tuned for one more Limestone Log with news of the last weeks of field camp.
