Scott Veirs
65 posts
L90 and her new calf vocalize & echolocate alone
This evening a very rare acoustic event was heard live and recorded on the Orcasound Lab hydrophone: a mother and… Read more L90 and her new calf vocalize & echolocate alone
J pod calls, but doesn’t click?
It could just be the springtime kelp rubbing on the hydrophone causing a lot of noise, but I noticed today… Read more J pod calls, but doesn’t click?
Bigg’s calls, including T08, & whistles?
Thanks to a sighting of “large group of orcas” southbound in Haro Strait near Kelp Reef at 11:50 on Sunday… Read more Bigg’s calls, including T08, & whistles?
Underwater baby shower? Listen to J pod with new calf J59
Thanks to the coordinated efforts of community scientists participating in sighting and listening networks monitoring the west side of San… Read more Underwater baby shower? Listen to J pod with new calf J59
Orcasound’s Greatest Hits of 2021
2021 was a fantastic bioacoustic year in the critical habitat of the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKWs, salmon-eating type).… Read more Orcasound’s Greatest Hits of 2021
First recording of humpback calls in Puget Sound
Thanks to Sound Action‘s heroic efforts at installing and maintaining the Orca and Nearshore Cam (underwater web cam + hydrophone)… Read more First recording of humpback calls in Puget Sound
A Haro humpback howls as Halloween harkens
Today around noon, Val was listening to the Orcasound hydrophones that he and Leslie host (as part of Beam Reach)… Read more A Haro humpback howls as Halloween harkens
Exciting (S10) L pod calls as the sun sets over Orcasound Lab
Humans and machines both detected the sounds of Southern Resident killer whales (SRKWs) this evening (Wed 25 Aug 2021). For… Read more Exciting (S10) L pod calls as the sun sets over Orcasound Lab
Orcasound’s 2nd year with Google Summer of Code
For the past ~18 months, Orcasound has been honored to be a host organization for the Google Summer of Code… Read more Orcasound’s 2nd year with Google Summer of Code
Lon first to hear J+K pods entering Puget Sound at Bush Point
This morning at around 8:30, Lon Brocklehurst texted that he was hearing orcas on the Bush Point hydrophone. Though it… Read more Lon first to hear J+K pods entering Puget Sound at Bush Point
Election night humpback calls at Orcasound Lab
For about a half hour starting around 20:00 this evening (Tues, 3 Nov 2020), humpback calls were recorded at Orcasound… Read more Election night humpback calls at Orcasound Lab
Listeners detect J pod’s fourth fall visit to Puget Sound
With no warning from her sighting network, Susan Berta of Orca Network was first to hear the Southern Resident Killer… Read more Listeners detect J pod’s fourth fall visit to Puget Sound
Acoustic inference as J pod departs Puget Sound & heads to Canada
After their first foray of the Southern Resident Killer Whales into Puget Sound this fall over the last couple days,… Read more Acoustic inference as J pod departs Puget Sound & heads to Canada
Orcas head north & south for Salish Sea salmon
Today (9/27/2020) at least two pods of the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW) came into the Salish Sea from… Read more Orcas head north & south for Salish Sea salmon
Orcasound wins 2020 Environmental Excellence award from the Port of Seattle
Today during a remote-only meeting of the Port Commissioners, the Port of Seattle’s 2020 Marine Environmental Excellence awards were announced.… Read more Orcasound wins 2020 Environmental Excellence award from the Port of Seattle
911: superpod northbound at Orcasound Lab on a smokey night
After not being present in the Salish Sea throughout August, the Southern Resident Killer Whales have visited Haro Strait this… Read more 911: superpod northbound at Orcasound Lab on a smokey night
Happy 4th! Bigg’s killer whales heard at Bush Point
Thanks to Orca Network — both for hosting the Bush Point hydrophone and for alerting the network (via a post… Read more Happy 4th! Bigg’s killer whales heard at Bush Point
Orcasound becomes host for Google Summer of Code students
Building on the successful generation of Orcasound open-source software through hackathons during 2018-2019, Orcasound applied in early 2020 to be… Read more Orcasound becomes host for Google Summer of Code students
Orcasound 2.0 launched via all-virtual hackathon
Thanks to multiple hall-of-fame Orcasound hackers joining forces with a few Orcasound Google Summer of Code students yesterday, we’re excited… Read more Orcasound 2.0 launched via all-virtual hackathon
First Orcasound recording of humpback song in Haro during January!
This evening Val and Leslie Veirs of the Orcasound Lab node reported hearing humpback whale sounds. Here is a sample… Read more First Orcasound recording of humpback song in Haro during January!
New Lab-core hydrophones on the Bush Point B&B pilings!
As of Monday (12/16/2019), new and vastly improved hydrophones are now operating at Bush Point B&B on Whidbey Island. Because… Read more New Lab-core hydrophones on the Bush Point B&B pilings!
K & L pods call in boat noise at Orcasound Lab
In a year when Southern Resident killer whales have been scarce in the inland waters of Washington, today was a… Read more K & L pods call in boat noise at Orcasound Lab
Quick tune-up for the Bush Point hydrophone
Over the last month or two the Bush Point hydrophone signal has been getting slowly weaker. Recently, I’ve had to… Read more Quick tune-up for the Bush Point hydrophone
King5 story: Orcasound & ship noise
Alison Morrow put together a great King5 piece presenting the Orcasound hydrophone network and the issue of underwater noise pollution… Read more King5 story: Orcasound & ship noise
Unusual SRKW calls at 2 a.m. in Haro Strait, and then ship noise (again)
I couldn’t sleep last night and ended up in front of the computer. Wondering whether to read about the Muller… Read more Unusual SRKW calls at 2 a.m. in Haro Strait, and then ship noise (again)
Bigg’s bangs: the sound of marine mammal death heard live?
In the December darkness of a recent Friday night (~18:00 on 12/7/18) Orcasound app listeners witnessed a rare and unprecedented live… Read more Bigg’s bangs: the sound of marine mammal death heard live?
A Bush Point 1st: J pod & L87 heard live!
Today the Orca Network sighting team was working like a well-oiled machine. The steady stream of sighting reports from dedicated… Read more A Bush Point 1st: J pod & L87 heard live!
Humpback and Bigg’s killer whales serenading in the darkness
A couple hours ago in the dark December night, attentive listeners monitoring the live stream from the Orcasound Lab hydrophones… Read more Humpback and Bigg’s killer whales serenading in the darkness
Antique phone booth becomes an ocean listening exhibit with a Raspberry Pi and HTML5 content
On Sunday, June 10, 2018, to help celebrate Orca Month, the Langley Whale Center unveiled the Pat Price Ocean Listening… Read more Antique phone booth becomes an ocean listening exhibit with a Raspberry Pi and HTML5 content
When ships go bang in the night (in orca habitat)
Yesterday in the wee hours of the morning (1:38 a.m.), I received an email from Susan Berta of Orca Network… Read more When ships go bang in the night (in orca habitat)
Happy Kickstarter Anniversary & thanks to the Founders
To celebrate a year of progress since the successful completion of our 2017 Kickstarter campaign, today we’ve published a list… Read more Happy Kickstarter Anniversary & thanks to the Founders
Orcasound’s new live-audio solution: from hydrophone to headphone with a Raspberry Pi computer and HLS/DASH streaming software
Over the winter of 2017-2018 a team of acoustic experts, hardware geeks, and software developers have been working to realize… Read more Orcasound’s new live-audio solution: from hydrophone to headphone with a Raspberry Pi computer and HLS/DASH streaming software
Sperm whale echolocation clicks heard 50 kilometers away within the Salish Sea?
One of the most intense sounds emitted by animals on Earth is the echolocation click of the sperm whale. When… Read more Sperm whale echolocation clicks heard 50 kilometers away within the Salish Sea?
After 3 decades, a sperm whale is heard in the Salish Sea
This month we have an incredibly rare opportunity to listen for a lone sperm whale in the Salish Sea. Known… Read more After 3 decades, a sperm whale is heard in the Salish Sea
Shortcuts for listening to the Canadian Pacific
Last update: 11/18/2023 There are a wonderful and growing array of hydrophones monitoring the ocean soundscapes of British Columbia, Canada.… Read more Shortcuts for listening to the Canadian Pacific
Synopsis of raw data: behavioral, acoustic, & AIS (ship tracking)
We have now backed up all of the visual, acoustic, and AIS data that we collected during the 2017 vessel… Read more Synopsis of raw data: behavioral, acoustic, & AIS (ship tracking)
Theodolite tracks of ships and killer whales
Not all whale studies take place on the water. With some patience (letting the whales come to you) and a… Read more Theodolite tracks of ships and killer whales
Tracking southern resident killer whales among different combinations of boats and ships
Wednesday, September 6, 2017 After quite a few reports of killer whales in our vicinity this morning, we decided to… Read more Tracking southern resident killer whales among different combinations of boats and ships
Second week highlight: welcoming home the southern resident killer whales!
Monday, September 4, 2017 We heard somebody describe today’s dispersion of whales on the west side of San Juan Island… Read more Second week highlight: welcoming home the southern resident killer whales!
Land-based team observes Bigg’s (Transient) killer whales during first week
The highlight of our first week of observing the surface and acoustic behavior of marine mammals in Haro Strait during… Read more Land-based team observes Bigg’s (Transient) killer whales during first week
Back-up calibrated hydrophone deployed
After coming up with a new deployment scheme that we believe will be optimal for replacing or establishing Orcasound hydrophone… Read more Back-up calibrated hydrophone deployed
Orcasound hydrophones repaired for winter 2016
Thanks to some heroic, voluntary efforts by Val, Leslie, Tom, Don, Dave, Kurt, and other assistants (human and canine!), the… Read more Orcasound hydrophones repaired for winter 2016
J pod calls in Haro Strait and on the shelf
Below are a bunch of southern resident killer whale calls that were just auto-detected at the Orcasound hydrophones (~5km north… Read more J pod calls in Haro Strait and on the shelf
Endangered orcas in Haro Strait 18 hours after sonar use
Sounds of southern resident killer whales were detected late in the night on Monday (2/6/12), the same day that the… Read more Endangered orcas in Haro Strait 18 hours after sonar use
Canadian sonar in U.S. waters
Mid-frequency active (MFA) sonar pings were detected this morning (Monday, 2/6/12) on the Salish Sea Hydrophone Network by Jeanne Hyde… Read more Canadian sonar in U.S. waters
Early morning SRKW calls
SRKW calls auto-detected this morning during two periods: 04:02-04:12 and 04:48-04:50. 8 Detections 2012-01-05 04:02:14 node=pt dB=109 trigger=PKT 2012-01-05 04:02:24… Read more Early morning SRKW calls
California sea lions bark into hydrophones
Early this morning, a couple hours before sunrise, the repeated barks of a California sea lion were recorded automatically on… Read more California sea lions bark into hydrophones
Dawn chorus at Lime Kiln and Orcasound
Meg McDonald was first this morning (at 5:02 PST) to detect faint calls of southern resident killer whales at Lime… Read more Dawn chorus at Lime Kiln and Orcasound
Superpod southbound since Stuart
Yesterday (10/4/11) there were many southern resident killer whale calls automatically and manually detected and recorded on first the Orcasound… Read more Superpod southbound since Stuart
First catches of the Einar Nielsen Becky Barr Fishing Classic
Meg McDonald was the first to hear echolocation clicks and calls of southern resident killer whales this morning at 6:37.… Read more First catches of the Einar Nielsen Becky Barr Fishing Classic
Calling in a 40-knot storm
It’s really piping today in Haro Strait. The plot (above) from the NOAA buoy at Hein Bank (south Haro Strait)… Read more Calling in a 40-knot storm
Midnight transient calls at Lime Kiln?
At the same time Jeanne Hyde was listening and recording these calls at Lime Kiln last night, Val’s monitoring software… Read more Midnight transient calls at Lime Kiln?
Dawn calls & clicks at Lime Kiln
Lots of great SRKW calls (S3s, S4s) and clicks were automatically detected and recorded this morning, primarily on the Lime… Read more Dawn calls & clicks at Lime Kiln
Computers beat human listeners at dawn
Lots of whistles and calls (S1, S16) were detected by the WhoListener program this morning, first at Lime Kiln from… Read more Computers beat human listeners at dawn
L pod returns calling on hydrophones
The most common call used by L pod was automatically detected and heard by humans today on the Orcasound and… Read more L pod returns calling on hydrophones
J pod whistles past Port Townsend
J pod calls and whistles were heard by listening humans and computers tonight on the hydrophones at the Port Townsend… Read more J pod whistles past Port Townsend
Echoes of oldest J pod male Ruffles J1
As J pod re-entered the Salish Sea yesterday and their favorite S1 call was heard for the first time on… Read more Echoes of oldest J pod male Ruffles J1
First recording of J pod off Neah Bay
Thanks to a call from Jon Scordino, marine mammal biologist for the Makah Tribe, we were able to record J… Read more First recording of J pod off Neah Bay
Harsh screechy J pod calls
Just after Jane Cogan observed orcas southbound at Kellett Bluff (at 11:30) today, clicks and (S1, S2, +) calls began… Read more Harsh screechy J pod calls
J pod and L87 call on Lime Kiln hydrophones
Today J pod (and L87) came in through Baynes Channel and traveled north up Haro Strait (based on Ron Bates… Read more J pod and L87 call on Lime Kiln hydrophones
Orca acoustics featured at Port Townsend Marine Science Center
Chrissy McLean, Libby Palmer, and other innovators at the Port Townsend Marine Science Center have put together a very nice… Read more Orca acoustics featured at Port Townsend Marine Science Center
February fake out: J/K pods pass PT at night
After hearing that SRKWs had been sighted this morning in Puget Sound near Vashon Island, I checked through the Port… Read more February fake out: J/K pods pass PT at night
Distant calls can sound strange
This evening from about 17:00 to 21:00 there were some great calls heard by humans and auto-recorded at Orcasound (and… Read more Distant calls can sound strange
SRKWs go up Island at peak flood
After transiting the west side of San Juan Island last night on the ebb tide, a group went back up… Read more SRKWs go up Island at peak flood
K pod calls at Orcasound
The WhoListener program detected these calls and clicks at Orcasound today. os – PKTAveDb111_07_01_2010_17_10_51 os – PKTAveDb112_07_01_2010_17_11_15 os – PKTAveDb104_07_01_2010_17_11_30… Read more K pod calls at Orcasound