Want a splash of whale to enliven your day?
That’s now possible with a new texting feature that alerts you when whales appear at any of four sites equipped with cameras in Johnstone Strait off northeastern Vancouver Island.
The new feature is a joint initiative of OrcaLab, which has been tracking killer whale behaviour since 1970 in Johnstone Strait, and the social media organization, explore.org. The sites include Hanson Island, Parson Island, Cracroft Point, and a rubbing beach at Robson Bight.
OrcaLab founder Paul Spong said that when whales are observed, text messages are sent out identifying on which of the four sites they can be found.
OrcaLab staff will adjust the camera to track the whales, which may be observed moving from one site to another. Often the whales are first heard on underwater hydrophones.
“When we hear orcas in the area,we start looking for them with our cameras,” Spong said.
He said the cameras are a way to learn more about whales and to raise public awareness without disturbing the whales.
Register for text alerts at explore.org.
