Monika Wieland Shields
@orcawatcher.bsky.social
Killer whale researcher, author, and photographer 🐳
Hockey fan, bird-watcher, part-time crusader 🌟
San Juan Island, WA 🌅
Hockey fan, bird-watcher, part-time crusader 🌟
San Juan Island, WA 🌅
Pinned
A stunning look at Tahoma (Mt. Rainier) from on the water near Bainbridge Island last week
#salishsea #pugetsound
#salishsea #pugetsound
November 24, 2025 at 5:23 PM
A stunning look at Tahoma (Mt. Rainier) from on the water near Bainbridge Island last week
#salishsea #pugetsound
#salishsea #pugetsound
Fall dock walks - Roche Harbor edition
October 23, 2025 at 6:21 AM
Fall dock walks - Roche Harbor edition
I saw my first-ever northern fur seal in the Salish Sea earlier this month! This was out by Race Rocks in BC.
October 19, 2025 at 1:00 AM
I saw my first-ever northern fur seal in the Salish Sea earlier this month! This was out by Race Rocks in BC.
One last September sunset at Smith
September 29, 2025 at 6:11 AM
One last September sunset at Smith
Living a charmed life and not taking one minute of it for granted. September in the Salish Sea = pure magic ✨
🎶 Oh what a night! 🎶
Stay tuned for tonight's edition of Monika's play-by-play to hear how it unfolded, but the way it ended was with a T-Party of 33 Bigg's killer whales in Rosario Strait. Present were the T36A1s, T63, T65, T65A5, T75Bs, T90s, T99B, T100s, T101s, T123s, T124Ds, T137s 🤯
#whalesky
Stay tuned for tonight's edition of Monika's play-by-play to hear how it unfolded, but the way it ended was with a T-Party of 33 Bigg's killer whales in Rosario Strait. Present were the T36A1s, T63, T65, T65A5, T75Bs, T90s, T99B, T100s, T101s, T123s, T124Ds, T137s 🤯
#whalesky
September 24, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Living a charmed life and not taking one minute of it for granted. September in the Salish Sea = pure magic ✨
A little end of summer staycation and a peaceful night on the west side 🔥🌅✨
September 13, 2025 at 7:14 PM
A little end of summer staycation and a peaceful night on the west side 🔥🌅✨
Reposted by Monika Wieland Shields
The Southern Residents were present in inland waters for just 3 days from May through August 2025. Monika takes a moment in this blog post to reflect on just how much things have changed in the last 20 years.
#whalesky #orcas #killerwhales
#whalesky #orcas #killerwhales
Summer Without the Southern Residents
No Southern Residents visited the Salish Sea in May, June, or August 2025. Monika takes a moment to reflect on just how much things have changed over the last 20 years.
www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org
September 2, 2025 at 6:10 PM
The Southern Residents were present in inland waters for just 3 days from May through August 2025. Monika takes a moment in this blog post to reflect on just how much things have changed in the last 20 years.
#whalesky #orcas #killerwhales
#whalesky #orcas #killerwhales
"Think of your energy as if it's expensive, as if it's a luxury item. Not everyone can afford it." -Taylor Swift
August 25, 2025 at 5:16 PM
"Think of your energy as if it's expensive, as if it's a luxury item. Not everyone can afford it." -Taylor Swift
Magical night on the water last night - make sure to have your audio on when you watch the short clip below 🥰
🔊 Audio on to hear the underwater calls of the A25s, a family of Northern Resident killer whales, recorded via our hydrophone while @jayjayfoshizzay.bsky.social was filming this footage during a stunning summer sunset encounter off Vancouver Island, BC 😍
youtu.be/JDLwRvTvoXw
#orcas #whalesky
youtu.be/JDLwRvTvoXw
#orcas #whalesky
Northern Resident killer whales with echoing underwater vocals
YouTube video by Orca Behavior Institute
youtu.be
August 23, 2025 at 1:41 AM
Magical night on the water last night - make sure to have your audio on when you watch the short clip below 🥰
Sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck. Today was one of those days.
August 21, 2025 at 5:28 AM
Sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck. Today was one of those days.
It ain’t an OBI field research trip without a “span” game - in this case Finspan by @stonemaiergames.com 😎🐠
#boardgames
#boardgames
August 15, 2025 at 9:22 PM
It ain’t an OBI field research trip without a “span” game - in this case Finspan by @stonemaiergames.com 😎🐠
#boardgames
#boardgames
Still “Weynton” on whales, but the scenery off northern Vancouver Island is always stunning
August 9, 2025 at 2:14 AM
Still “Weynton” on whales, but the scenery off northern Vancouver Island is always stunning
Reposted by Monika Wieland Shields
Our 2025 T-shirt fundraiser is now live! Snag your limited edition shirt featuring the one and only T49A6 Charlie II by August 22nd.
www.customink.com/fundraising/...
Available in unisex, women's, and youth cuts!
Artwork by @hysazu.bsky.social
#whalesky #orcas
www.customink.com/fundraising/...
Available in unisex, women's, and youth cuts!
Artwork by @hysazu.bsky.social
#whalesky #orcas
August 8, 2025 at 10:52 PM
Our 2025 T-shirt fundraiser is now live! Snag your limited edition shirt featuring the one and only T49A6 Charlie II by August 22nd.
www.customink.com/fundraising/...
Available in unisex, women's, and youth cuts!
Artwork by @hysazu.bsky.social
#whalesky #orcas
www.customink.com/fundraising/...
Available in unisex, women's, and youth cuts!
Artwork by @hysazu.bsky.social
#whalesky #orcas
July 28, 2025 at 2:43 PM
One of my favorite places in the islands with some of my favorite people last night 😎
The best summer nights are those spent on the water 🌅
The best summer nights are those spent on the water 🌅
July 28, 2025 at 4:50 AM
One of my favorite places in the islands with some of my favorite people last night 😎
The best summer nights are those spent on the water 🌅
The best summer nights are those spent on the water 🌅
July 26, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Reposted by Monika Wieland Shields
CBS canceled Colbert’s show just THREE DAYS after Colbert called out CBS parent company Paramount for its $16M settlement with Trump – a deal that looks like bribery.
America deserves to know if his show was canceled for political reasons.
Watch and share his message.
America deserves to know if his show was canceled for political reasons.
Watch and share his message.
July 18, 2025 at 12:15 AM
CBS canceled Colbert’s show just THREE DAYS after Colbert called out CBS parent company Paramount for its $16M settlement with Trump – a deal that looks like bribery.
America deserves to know if his show was canceled for political reasons.
Watch and share his message.
America deserves to know if his show was canceled for political reasons.
Watch and share his message.
Sunset. Friends. A warm summer breeze. Foraging seals. Stars. J-Pod. Peace.
July 16, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Sunset. Friends. A warm summer breeze. Foraging seals. Stars. J-Pod. Peace.
To all the Toms, Dicks, and Harrys of the world: I couldn't say it better myself, so I'll just reference the immortal words of Taylor Swift.
#youneedtocalmdown
#youneedtocalmdown
July 14, 2025 at 4:40 PM
To all the Toms, Dicks, and Harrys of the world: I couldn't say it better myself, so I'll just reference the immortal words of Taylor Swift.
#youneedtocalmdown
#youneedtocalmdown
I met my 105th humpback whale yesterday, an individual known as BCY1706 Pepper 🐋
@adventuresbethany.bsky.social were you aboard Wex? 👀
#salishsea #whalesky
@adventuresbethany.bsky.social were you aboard Wex? 👀
#salishsea #whalesky
June 27, 2025 at 8:40 PM
I met my 105th humpback whale yesterday, an individual known as BCY1706 Pepper 🐋
@adventuresbethany.bsky.social were you aboard Wex? 👀
#salishsea #whalesky
@adventuresbethany.bsky.social were you aboard Wex? 👀
#salishsea #whalesky
Horse friend met on our bird walk today 🐴
June 22, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Horse friend met on our bird walk today 🐴
June 18, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Where are my orca-loving Swifties at? One more chance to snag our The Salish Sea Tour shirts....AND get an Eras Tour shirt at the same time!
www.32auctions.com/OBI2025
www.32auctions.com/OBI2025
Last chance for some of our all-time most popular shirts from the OBI Vault 👀
Eras Tour + Salish Sea Tour Sets
Salmon Are Life, K14s, and T2Cs in M, L, and XL
Get your bids in now! Auction ends Sunday night at 9 PM PST 🕘
www.32auctions.com/OBI2025
Eras Tour + Salish Sea Tour Sets
Salmon Are Life, K14s, and T2Cs in M, L, and XL
Get your bids in now! Auction ends Sunday night at 9 PM PST 🕘
www.32auctions.com/OBI2025
June 14, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Where are my orca-loving Swifties at? One more chance to snag our The Salish Sea Tour shirts....AND get an Eras Tour shirt at the same time!
www.32auctions.com/OBI2025
www.32auctions.com/OBI2025