Orcas off the coast of Western Australia

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Tomorrow, Vince’s brother is travelling to the tiny of hamlet of Bremer Bay on Western Australia’s south coast to join a boat tour. About 65 kilometres (40 miles) out to sea is the Bremer Canyon, a deep-sea cleft 5000-metres (3 miles) deep. Somewhere between early January and mid-April, the area teems with sea-life, proving an irresistible drawcard for killer whales or orcas. Since full-day boat tours to the area first started, 150 individual orcas have been identified and recorded with more to come. A hydrophone hooked to the boat records whale chatter. The orcas may be in stealth mode for up to an hour then suddenly 100 orcas come from every direction and the feeding frenzy begins. The tour operator says the best way to see the orcas is to watch the sky for birds. They circle and dive around the pods, cleaning up the debris. Bird-watchers are also attracted to the area as shearwaters, giant petrels and wandering albatross frequent the area. Those going on the tour have been advised to take tablets to guard against sea-sickness. The photo is in the free domain.