Dolphin and porpoise biology

© Robin W. Baird

Orcas off Vancouver Island, British Columbia, can be tracked with suction-cup radio tags. The movements of resident orcas here are relatively well known, but transient pods, such as these individuals from 0 pod and M pod, are sometimes seen only once or twice a year. Where do they go? Are their living Patterns different from those of the residents? Through radio-tagging, researchers working with Robin W. Baird are learning more about the transients. The radio transmitter signals when the whale surfaces, From such signals, the researchers can determine the location of the whale and how long it has stayed down. Regular patterns of submerging and surfacing indicate travelling or resting; irregular patterns are often a sign of hunting activity. Transients travel along much of the B.C. coast, but one day, we may be able to track their movements at sea.