Orca Behavior Institute
@orcabehaviorinstitute.org
A non-profit based on San Juan Island, Washington with the mission of inspiring conservation of wild killer whales through non-invasive research, bold advocacy, and science-based education.
www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org
www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org
If you're looking to add more orca-related items to your whale collection, or scouting for unique gift-giving opportunities as the holidays approach, new items have just been added to our online store!
🎁 Orca soap, 2026 SRKW Calendar, Whale U sticker & more!
www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/shop
🎁 Orca soap, 2026 SRKW Calendar, Whale U sticker & more!
www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/shop
November 14, 2025 at 8:21 PM
If you're looking to add more orca-related items to your whale collection, or scouting for unique gift-giving opportunities as the holidays approach, new items have just been added to our online store!
🎁 Orca soap, 2026 SRKW Calendar, Whale U sticker & more!
www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/shop
🎁 Orca soap, 2026 SRKW Calendar, Whale U sticker & more!
www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/shop
Calf check in: here are some photos from earlier this week of the youngest members of J- and L-Pods who we were lucky enough to see while out doing field work with the @whaleresearch.bsky.social
#whalesky #orcas #killerwhales #srkw #southernresidents #salishsea #pugetsound
#whalesky #orcas #killerwhales #srkw #southernresidents #salishsea #pugetsound
November 13, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Calf check in: here are some photos from earlier this week of the youngest members of J- and L-Pods who we were lucky enough to see while out doing field work with the @whaleresearch.bsky.social
#whalesky #orcas #killerwhales #srkw #southernresidents #salishsea #pugetsound
#whalesky #orcas #killerwhales #srkw #southernresidents #salishsea #pugetsound
The last two days were very productive in the field with @whaleresearch.bsky.social and a Southern Resident killer whale superpod in Puget Sound. In between making hydrophone recordings, this was one of my favorite snaps featuring members of L-Pod on 11/10.
#whalesky #killerwhales #salishsea
#whalesky #killerwhales #salishsea
November 13, 2025 at 1:24 AM
The last two days were very productive in the field with @whaleresearch.bsky.social and a Southern Resident killer whale superpod in Puget Sound. In between making hydrophone recordings, this was one of my favorite snaps featuring members of L-Pod on 11/10.
#whalesky #killerwhales #salishsea
#whalesky #killerwhales #salishsea
⏰ Registration is NOW OPEN for our Spring 2026 Book Club!
We've compiled books about "solitary sociables"-- orcas that seek out human interaction after they have been apart from their own species. (Springer, Luna, & Keiko)
More details below!
www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/whale-univer...
We've compiled books about "solitary sociables"-- orcas that seek out human interaction after they have been apart from their own species. (Springer, Luna, & Keiko)
More details below!
www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/whale-univer...
November 12, 2025 at 4:43 AM
⏰ Registration is NOW OPEN for our Spring 2026 Book Club!
We've compiled books about "solitary sociables"-- orcas that seek out human interaction after they have been apart from their own species. (Springer, Luna, & Keiko)
More details below!
www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/whale-univer...
We've compiled books about "solitary sociables"-- orcas that seek out human interaction after they have been apart from their own species. (Springer, Luna, & Keiko)
More details below!
www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/whale-univer...
Today we were lucky enough to encounter a superpod while on the water in Puget Sound with the @whaleresearch.bsky.social !
For now, we wanted to share an update on 2 of the Southern Resident orcas we get asked about the most: both L25 Ocean Sun and L87 Onyx were there!
#whalesky #killerwhales
For now, we wanted to share an update on 2 of the Southern Resident orcas we get asked about the most: both L25 Ocean Sun and L87 Onyx were there!
#whalesky #killerwhales
November 11, 2025 at 1:52 AM
Today we were lucky enough to encounter a superpod while on the water in Puget Sound with the @whaleresearch.bsky.social !
For now, we wanted to share an update on 2 of the Southern Resident orcas we get asked about the most: both L25 Ocean Sun and L87 Onyx were there!
#whalesky #killerwhales
For now, we wanted to share an update on 2 of the Southern Resident orcas we get asked about the most: both L25 Ocean Sun and L87 Onyx were there!
#whalesky #killerwhales
Have you ever wondered about the different roles on a research boat?
We’d like to give you a behind-the-scenes look at what each of the six people on board from OBI & @whaleresearch.bsky.social are responsible for!
Is this what you imagined? Which role would you most want to do?
#whalesky #orca
We’d like to give you a behind-the-scenes look at what each of the six people on board from OBI & @whaleresearch.bsky.social are responsible for!
Is this what you imagined? Which role would you most want to do?
#whalesky #orca
November 10, 2025 at 5:02 AM
Have you ever wondered about the different roles on a research boat?
We’d like to give you a behind-the-scenes look at what each of the six people on board from OBI & @whaleresearch.bsky.social are responsible for!
Is this what you imagined? Which role would you most want to do?
#whalesky #orca
We’d like to give you a behind-the-scenes look at what each of the six people on board from OBI & @whaleresearch.bsky.social are responsible for!
Is this what you imagined? Which role would you most want to do?
#whalesky #orca
We had a beautiful day on the water in Puget Sound today with the @whaleresearch.bsky.social and J-Pod. They were pretty quiet in the morning but started getting a little chattier in the afternoon. Here are a few photos from our encounter.
#srkw #orcas #killerwhales #whalesky
#srkw #orcas #killerwhales #whalesky
November 9, 2025 at 4:48 AM
We had a beautiful day on the water in Puget Sound today with the @whaleresearch.bsky.social and J-Pod. They were pretty quiet in the morning but started getting a little chattier in the afternoon. Here are a few photos from our encounter.
#srkw #orcas #killerwhales #whalesky
#srkw #orcas #killerwhales #whalesky
As we near the end of our second week of field work with the @whaleresearch.bsky.social, here is a highlight clip which includes some drone footage and hydrophone recordings we captured just a few days ago of J-Pod, K-Pod, & L-Pod!
Take a look and see if you can spot J45 snagging a salmon! 👀 🎣
Take a look and see if you can spot J45 snagging a salmon! 👀 🎣
November 7, 2025 at 8:28 PM
As we near the end of our second week of field work with the @whaleresearch.bsky.social, here is a highlight clip which includes some drone footage and hydrophone recordings we captured just a few days ago of J-Pod, K-Pod, & L-Pod!
Take a look and see if you can spot J45 snagging a salmon! 👀 🎣
Take a look and see if you can spot J45 snagging a salmon! 👀 🎣
Here's our October Salish Sea orca sightings map! Did it feel like there were fewer orcas around this October? If you thought so, you were right! Sightings were down for both Bigg’s and Southern Resident killer whales vs Oct 2024.
Learn more here:
www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/sightings-ma...
Learn more here:
www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/sightings-ma...
November 6, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Here's our October Salish Sea orca sightings map! Did it feel like there were fewer orcas around this October? If you thought so, you were right! Sightings were down for both Bigg’s and Southern Resident killer whales vs Oct 2024.
Learn more here:
www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/sightings-ma...
Learn more here:
www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/sightings-ma...
Fall Whale U courses are in full swing & our Bigg's 201 virtual cohort is getting acquainted with their Bigg's killer whale family groups in several ways, including a sketching component.
Here are some drawings from our students: Maria, Zoe, and Jess!
www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/whale-univer...
Here are some drawings from our students: Maria, Zoe, and Jess!
www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/whale-univer...
November 6, 2025 at 12:57 AM
Fall Whale U courses are in full swing & our Bigg's 201 virtual cohort is getting acquainted with their Bigg's killer whale family groups in several ways, including a sketching component.
Here are some drawings from our students: Maria, Zoe, and Jess!
www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/whale-univer...
Here are some drawings from our students: Maria, Zoe, and Jess!
www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/whale-univer...
The 59 Js, Ks, and Ls were already leaving Puget Sound on the morning of 11/3, but we and @whaleresearch.bsky.social were able to catch up with them in Admiralty Inlet. Best of all, they were social and vocalizing! We hope they come back south soon. 🤞
#whalesky #orcas #killerwhales
#whalesky #orcas #killerwhales
November 5, 2025 at 2:18 AM
The 59 Js, Ks, and Ls were already leaving Puget Sound on the morning of 11/3, but we and @whaleresearch.bsky.social were able to catch up with them in Admiralty Inlet. Best of all, they were social and vocalizing! We hope they come back south soon. 🤞
#whalesky #orcas #killerwhales
#whalesky #orcas #killerwhales
We had our first successful day with Southern Residents in Puget Sound on 11/2. While out with our partners at the @whaleresearch.bsky.social , we were able to get the drone over vocalizing whales and collect our first data of this field season. Here are a few shots from the day!
#orcas #whalesky
#orcas #whalesky
November 4, 2025 at 12:00 AM
We had our first successful day with Southern Residents in Puget Sound on 11/2. While out with our partners at the @whaleresearch.bsky.social , we were able to get the drone over vocalizing whales and collect our first data of this field season. Here are a few shots from the day!
#orcas #whalesky
#orcas #whalesky
🔥Special discount on 50 Shades of Gray Whale class!
Does the time change have you feeling gray? We have a fantastic offer for you to join our exciting, brand-new course!
Learn more and register here:
www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/whale-univer...
Does the time change have you feeling gray? We have a fantastic offer for you to join our exciting, brand-new course!
Learn more and register here:
www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/whale-univer...
November 3, 2025 at 4:23 PM
🔥Special discount on 50 Shades of Gray Whale class!
Does the time change have you feeling gray? We have a fantastic offer for you to join our exciting, brand-new course!
Learn more and register here:
www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/whale-univer...
Does the time change have you feeling gray? We have a fantastic offer for you to join our exciting, brand-new course!
Learn more and register here:
www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/whale-univer...
This is my 16th time of writing a Day of the Dead tribute to honor of the Southern Residents we have lost over the previous year. This year pays homage to K26 Lobo and unnamed calves J61 and J64.-MWS
You can read this year's blog post at the link below.
www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/day-of-the-d...
You can read this year's blog post at the link below.
www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/day-of-the-d...
November 2, 2025 at 5:51 PM
This is my 16th time of writing a Day of the Dead tribute to honor of the Southern Residents we have lost over the previous year. This year pays homage to K26 Lobo and unnamed calves J61 and J64.-MWS
You can read this year's blog post at the link below.
www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/day-of-the-d...
You can read this year's blog post at the link below.
www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/day-of-the-d...
Last night, all 3 Southern Resident pods made their way into Puget Sound - amazingly, one year to the day since the last superpod down here!
We saw some distant dorsal fins from shore this evening when the weather cleared, and are hopeful to have a successful day of data collection tomorrow! 🤞
We saw some distant dorsal fins from shore this evening when the weather cleared, and are hopeful to have a successful day of data collection tomorrow! 🤞
November 2, 2025 at 1:49 AM
Last night, all 3 Southern Resident pods made their way into Puget Sound - amazingly, one year to the day since the last superpod down here!
We saw some distant dorsal fins from shore this evening when the weather cleared, and are hopeful to have a successful day of data collection tomorrow! 🤞
We saw some distant dorsal fins from shore this evening when the weather cleared, and are hopeful to have a successful day of data collection tomorrow! 🤞
🎃 👻 Happy Halloween! 👻 🎃
Who needs scary movies when you have whales like this roaming the Salish Sea? ⛓️🪚
Say his name three times and the legendary Chainsaw might make an appearance today 👀
#orcas #spookyseason #halloween2025 #killerwhales
Who needs scary movies when you have whales like this roaming the Salish Sea? ⛓️🪚
Say his name three times and the legendary Chainsaw might make an appearance today 👀
#orcas #spookyseason #halloween2025 #killerwhales
October 31, 2025 at 3:39 PM
🎃 👻 Happy Halloween! 👻 🎃
Who needs scary movies when you have whales like this roaming the Salish Sea? ⛓️🪚
Say his name three times and the legendary Chainsaw might make an appearance today 👀
#orcas #spookyseason #halloween2025 #killerwhales
Who needs scary movies when you have whales like this roaming the Salish Sea? ⛓️🪚
Say his name three times and the legendary Chainsaw might make an appearance today 👀
#orcas #spookyseason #halloween2025 #killerwhales
Environmental writer Christopher Dunagan summarizes the current state of the Southern Residents and the fall chum salmon forecast for Puget Sound. Js and Ks are back in the Salish Sea, and we're hopeful they'll make their way south in the days ahead! 🤞
#orcas #killerwhales #whalesky
#orcas #killerwhales #whalesky
Experts expect the recent arrival of chum salmon to bring orcas back to Puget Sound | Puget Sound Institute
Chum salmon are on the run into Puget Sound, and our southern resident killer whales may not be far behind. The observed number of orcas in the three pods now stands at 75, including a new calf born i...
www.pugetsoundinstitute.org
October 27, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Environmental writer Christopher Dunagan summarizes the current state of the Southern Residents and the fall chum salmon forecast for Puget Sound. Js and Ks are back in the Salish Sea, and we're hopeful they'll make their way south in the days ahead! 🤞
#orcas #killerwhales #whalesky
#orcas #killerwhales #whalesky
We saw our first whales of the Puget Sound research trip this afternoon from shore in Henderson Bay: members of the T38s, T99s, and T137s!
We've tracked reports of whales in these southern inlets of Puget Sound for years but have not had many opportunities to see them here firsthand.
#whalesky
We've tracked reports of whales in these southern inlets of Puget Sound for years but have not had many opportunities to see them here firsthand.
#whalesky
October 27, 2025 at 3:30 AM
We saw our first whales of the Puget Sound research trip this afternoon from shore in Henderson Bay: members of the T38s, T99s, and T137s!
We've tracked reports of whales in these southern inlets of Puget Sound for years but have not had many opportunities to see them here firsthand.
#whalesky
We've tracked reports of whales in these southern inlets of Puget Sound for years but have not had many opportunities to see them here firsthand.
#whalesky
October 26, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Over the next 4 weeks, we will be in Puget Sound with @whaleresearch.bsky.social for our second season of pairing drone observations of killer whale behavior with localized hydrophone recordings.
Here's a look at what a day in the field is like on this project, filmed last year!
#whalesky #orcas
Here's a look at what a day in the field is like on this project, filmed last year!
#whalesky #orcas
October 26, 2025 at 2:19 AM
Over the next 4 weeks, we will be in Puget Sound with @whaleresearch.bsky.social for our second season of pairing drone observations of killer whale behavior with localized hydrophone recordings.
Here's a look at what a day in the field is like on this project, filmed last year!
#whalesky #orcas
Here's a look at what a day in the field is like on this project, filmed last year!
#whalesky #orcas
A brand new class for spring 2026: 50 Shades of Gray Whale! Through a combination of expert lectures and field trips we will dive into discussions on complex topics including the recent UME, friendly whales, subsistence whaling, and more.
Learn more:
www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/whale-univer...
Learn more:
www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/whale-univer...
October 24, 2025 at 5:35 PM
A brand new class for spring 2026: 50 Shades of Gray Whale! Through a combination of expert lectures and field trips we will dive into discussions on complex topics including the recent UME, friendly whales, subsistence whaling, and more.
Learn more:
www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/whale-univer...
Learn more:
www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/whale-univer...
Male and female orcas have different belly markings, but with high individual variation, it can still be difficult to sex them reliably! To demonstrate that, our Drawing and Painting Orcas instructor Sara compiled this collage she shared with our class last night. Can you tell them apart?
#whalesky
#whalesky
October 22, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Male and female orcas have different belly markings, but with high individual variation, it can still be difficult to sex them reliably! To demonstrate that, our Drawing and Painting Orcas instructor Sara compiled this collage she shared with our class last night. Can you tell them apart?
#whalesky
#whalesky
Yesterday was my first time of the year crossing paths with the T37As!
Shown here are mom T37A Volker with her oldest son T37A2 Inky and youngest daughter T37A4 Crinkle. I love how this shows how each one of them as a notch in the trailing edge of their fin.
#orcas #killerwhales #whalesky
Shown here are mom T37A Volker with her oldest son T37A2 Inky and youngest daughter T37A4 Crinkle. I love how this shows how each one of them as a notch in the trailing edge of their fin.
#orcas #killerwhales #whalesky
October 19, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Yesterday was my first time of the year crossing paths with the T37As!
Shown here are mom T37A Volker with her oldest son T37A2 Inky and youngest daughter T37A4 Crinkle. I love how this shows how each one of them as a notch in the trailing edge of their fin.
#orcas #killerwhales #whalesky
Shown here are mom T37A Volker with her oldest son T37A2 Inky and youngest daughter T37A4 Crinkle. I love how this shows how each one of them as a notch in the trailing edge of their fin.
#orcas #killerwhales #whalesky
📢 Registration is NOW OPEN for our spring 2026 iteration of Bigg’s 201 - an adult research experience!
-Collect whale behavioral data in the field
-Learn to create visuals
-Have access to 5 years of OBI's real-world sightings data
More details below!
www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/whale.../big...
-Collect whale behavioral data in the field
-Learn to create visuals
-Have access to 5 years of OBI's real-world sightings data
More details below!
www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/whale.../big...
October 18, 2025 at 4:39 PM
📢 Registration is NOW OPEN for our spring 2026 iteration of Bigg’s 201 - an adult research experience!
-Collect whale behavioral data in the field
-Learn to create visuals
-Have access to 5 years of OBI's real-world sightings data
More details below!
www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/whale.../big...
-Collect whale behavioral data in the field
-Learn to create visuals
-Have access to 5 years of OBI's real-world sightings data
More details below!
www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/whale.../big...
Yesterday we got to catch up with the T49As on a beautiful (if a little chilly!) sunny October day. We saw them catch and share a seal and then dodge several BC Ferries in Active Pass. All part of a day in the life of a Bigg's killer whale in the Salish Sea!
#whalesky #orcas
#whalesky #orcas
October 16, 2025 at 6:38 PM