Sept 13 - Noise is a food killer for our orcas

Good morning !

It’s Friday the 13th. I hope that doesn’t concern triskaidekaphobians (those who fear the number 13) too much. And best of luck today to anyone with friggatriskaidekaphobia. That mouthful comes from Frigg, the Norse goddess of wisdom after whom Friday is named, and the Greek words triskaideka, for 13, and phobia, meaning fear.

— Mark

Today’s approx. read time: 5 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌦️ 16 / 12

Tomorrow: 🌦️ 19 / 11

Sunday: 🌤️ 16 / 11

7-day forecast

NEWS

Salish Sea too noisy for killer whales to hunt

There’s a multitude of factors threatening the Southern Resident killer whale (SRKW) population in the Salish Sea—water contamination, a lack of Chinook salmon (SRKW’s food of choice), and the lingering effects of live captures for aquariums in the 1960s have all led this whale population to struggle, leaving only 74.

One of the main concerns highlighted by scientists is noise below the waves, caused by commercial ships and recreational boats. 

In April, scientists sounded the alarm with a study showing the population is on a fast track to extinction. A study published last week in Global Change Biology highlights the specific effects noise can have on the survival of both Northern and Southern Resident orcas.

The team of researchers—including representatives from the DFO, Wild Orca, the Cascadia Research Collective, and the University of Cumbria in the UK—collected foraging data on both the population of killer whales and the ambient noise in the Salish Sea, with recordings starting in 2009.

While conservationists have worked to reduce the noise by pushing for slower speeds—the faster a boat goes, the noisier it becomes—and directing ships away from typical SRKW hunting grounds, the din of noise has increased alongside the rise in commercial vessels in the Salish Sea, according to the study.

Northern and Southern Resident orcas search for food via echolocation, using a series of clicks and buzzes to identify their food and communicate with each other in group hunts. When the ambient noise in the ocean becomes too loud, they’re no longer able to hear themselves or the bounceback. 

What’s worse, the orcas don’t give up the hunt—they simply try harder to no avail. The study found that these whales expend more energy and burn more calories while hunting in noisy areas, but they don’t collect enough food to meet that expenditure. 

Read the full story by Robyn Bell.

⚠️ Capital Bulletin

Overnight repaving on Malahat: Sun-Thu until mid-Oct. 

Poet and you know it? The City of Victoria is looking for a new Poet Laureate.

Driving today? Check the current traffic situation via Google.

NEWS

Victoria author Jane Bow’s novella Homeless finds an audience

We’ve had the pleasure of reading and writing about several of the Island’s great writers over the last few months.

Last year, we spotlighted James Bay’s Jean Paetkau and her first murder mystery Blood on the Breakwater, which she has followed up with the just-released The Sinking of Souls. Our summertime look at Dorothea L. Gordon’s Daring Decisions was a popular read, and so we now turn to Homeless, and Victoria author Jane Bow. 

Bow is a relative newcomer to the city, having spent most of her adult life in Ontario and previously, in the US, Spain, France, and England. She’s hardly a newcomer to writing, having excelled in the newspaper and magazine lanes before joining the world of academia.

But she never. Stopped. Writing.

Hundreds of thousands of words and three novels later, Bow was nominated for an award for her novella Homeless, the story of a woman who breaks into a house, and her lawyer, who tries to stabilize her client’s social foundation.

Read about Jane Bow and Homeless here.

⭐️ Capital Picks

🐳 🐳 Synchronized swimmers: Orcas breach in unison near Victoria. [Facebook photo]

🐏 Bighorn sheep on a beach? Passersby were surprised by the non-native animal carcass on a Royal Bay beach. Conservationists identified it as a domestic mouflon ram, not a wild sheep.

💮 Rare Gnome plant: No stem. No leaves. No kidding. [Photos]

🤝 Now hiring: Nursing Opportunities in Senior Care at Amica Senior Lifestyles Victoria

🗞️ In Other News

Central Saanich police officer in stable condition after single-vehicle collision
The officer was in a marked police vehicle when it crashed early yesterday morning at the intersection of Hovey and Wallace. The officer had to be extracted from the vehicle by the Central Saanich Fire Dept. No members of the public were involved and the cause of the crash is still being investigated. 

Transportation group CEO John Wilson to run for provincial Conservatives
The head of The Wilson Group of Companies is motoring into the riding of Esquimalt-Colwood. New Democrat Mitzi Dean, who has represented the riding since 2017, is not running again, opening the NDP candidacy to newcomer Darlene Rotchford. Camille Currie is the BC Greens’ hope, while the BC United suspended its campaign to avoid splitting the right-wing vote. The provincial election is scheduled for Sat. Oct. 19. [Times Colonist]

Shelbourne construction leads to parking problems in Oaklands
First, it was bike lane construction that had residents scrambling to find parking on side streets off lower Shelbourne between Haultain and North Dairy. Now, CRD road maintenance means those side streets aren’t up for grabs anymore. Residents say they have no place to park and yet the city continues to hand out tickets. The city says anyone who gets a ticket has two weeks to ask for a review. [CHEK]

🗓️ Things to do

👟 Terry Fox Run: Dallas to St. Charles and back. There are no entry fees, and while donations are encouraged, no minimum donations are required. Sun. Mile Zero/Terry Fox statue. 10am. [Info]

🎭 Field Research: Two one-act plays by Nicholas Guerreiro, Annie Konstantinov, and Ryan Kniel. Intrepid Theatre Company Society. Tonight. 7pm; Tomorow. 2pm. & 7pm. [Info]

🏠 Guided tours of the Ross Bay Villa Historic House and Garden: Learn about the Roscoe family and their myriad connections in Victoria and England. Tomorrow. 2pm. [Video] [Info]

🏒 Victoria Royals ‘24-25 Season Kickoff: Meet the players & coaching staff and get excited for the Home Opener on Sept. 20. Ship Point. Tomorrow. 2pm. [Info]

🎸 10th SALT New Music Festival: Featuring diverse and thought-provoking free music from the 20th and 21st centuries. Various venues at UVic. Through Sept. 20. [Info]

🍵 The Victoria Tea Festival Revival: Activities include a tea fair with tastings, a tea symposium, live music, food, a ceramics gallery, documentary screenings, and the World Tea Championship. Nootka Court. Oct. 5. [Info]

🧑‍🎤 Pacific Edge Chorus: Are you a woman who likes to sing?  Learn to sing a cappella in a fun, free, six-week workshop. Gordon United Church Hall. Sept. 17-Oct. 22. [Info]

🎶 Rifflandia: Victoria’s biggest music festival is back in its new location, featuring headliners REZZ, TLC, and Feist. Matullia Lands at Rock Bay. Today-Sun. [Info]

🏮 Esquimalt Lantern Festival: Check out this annual festival to explore beautiful lanterns lit after sundown. Enjoy live music, local food vendors, and glow-in-the-dark face paint. Gorge Park. Today. 6pm. [Info]

🏮 Autumn Lantern Festival 2024: Come dressed up with your own battery-lit lantern creations or visit the lantern-making station ($5 for a small lantern kit—open until 7:30pm). Gordon Head Rec. Centre. Tomorrow. 5-8:30pm. [Info]

🍞 Sourdough workshop: Join Megan Hennis for a comprehensive sourdough baking class where you will learn to create a loaf from start to finish. Victoria Public Market. Sun. 5-8pm. [Info]

🍷🖌️ Pinot & Paint Night. Sip on complimentary wine while painting your masterpiece at Oaklands Community Centre. Tonight. 6-9pm. [Info]

💃 La Forastera Flamenco: Flamencolia Dance Company tells the tale of one woman's creative quest via live flamenco music, dance, archival imagery, and film shot in Seville, Spain. Metro Studio Theatre. Tonight. 8-10pm. [Info]

🎵 Siglo de Oro: Renaissance Reflections: The UK choir makes its Canadian debut with a concert of beautiful music from the Renaissance to today. Christ Church Cathedral. Tomorrow. 7:30-9:30pm. [Info]

💻 Strictlyroots &Clean Heart Youth present Komasava: Showcasing Dj Rexx with the best spinning dancehall, reggae, and soca. Victoria Event Centre. Tomorrow. 10pm-2am. [Info]

🌽 Vic West Corn Roast: Munch on delicious roasted and boiled corn, sip fresh apple juice made from Vic West apples, visit with friends and neighbours while local musicians perform. Raynor & Craigflower. Sun. 12-4pm. [Info]

👀 In Case You Missed It

Thursday’s headlines: First Nations buy Elements Casino; BC to set up panel on bear killings; Bizarre James Bay bathtub visit; And more. [Sept. 12] 

Pandora-Ellice Safety Plan moves to next phase. [Capital Daily] 

Safety concerns on the Goose. [The Westshore]

Man’s final minutes captured on camera before he died at Jube. [Times Colonist] 

$14M emergency wing almost ready on Salt Spring. [CHEK]

Fall flowers: Crocuses bloom in the Lieutenant Governor's gardens. [Facebook photo]

Soaring raptors & drifting fog in Desolation Sound. [Kristian Gillies photos]

That’s it!

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