Center for Whale Research
@whaleresearch.bsky.social
Dedicated to the study and conservation of the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whale (Orca) population in the Pacific Northwest since 1976
www.whaleresearch.com
www.whaleresearch.com
Applications are now open for the CWR Summer 2026 Research Internship Program!
During the three-month program, interns will assist with field research, data analysis, and science communication. Housing and a $1,000/month stipend are provided.
Apply: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
During the three-month program, interns will assist with field research, data analysis, and science communication. Housing and a $1,000/month stipend are provided.
Apply: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
November 12, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Applications are now open for the CWR Summer 2026 Research Internship Program!
During the three-month program, interns will assist with field research, data analysis, and science communication. Housing and a $1,000/month stipend are provided.
Apply: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
During the three-month program, interns will assist with field research, data analysis, and science communication. Housing and a $1,000/month stipend are provided.
Apply: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
Big news!
Our latest paper, “Manufacture and use of allogrooming tools by wild killer whales” has been published in “Current Biology”.
This is the first known evidence of a marine mammal making tools out of objects in their environment.
Explore more here: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Our latest paper, “Manufacture and use of allogrooming tools by wild killer whales” has been published in “Current Biology”.
This is the first known evidence of a marine mammal making tools out of objects in their environment.
Explore more here: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
June 23, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Big news!
Our latest paper, “Manufacture and use of allogrooming tools by wild killer whales” has been published in “Current Biology”.
This is the first known evidence of a marine mammal making tools out of objects in their environment.
Explore more here: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Our latest paper, “Manufacture and use of allogrooming tools by wild killer whales” has been published in “Current Biology”.
This is the first known evidence of a marine mammal making tools out of objects in their environment.
Explore more here: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Today is #WorldOceansDay— On this day, we would like to celebrate the incredible work being done by countless individuals and organizations worldwide to protect, preserve, and restore the oceans.
Happy World Oceans Day!
Artwork by CWR's Katie Jones
#OrcaActionMonth #OrcaActionMonth2025
Happy World Oceans Day!
Artwork by CWR's Katie Jones
#OrcaActionMonth #OrcaActionMonth2025
June 8, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Today is #WorldOceansDay— On this day, we would like to celebrate the incredible work being done by countless individuals and organizations worldwide to protect, preserve, and restore the oceans.
Happy World Oceans Day!
Artwork by CWR's Katie Jones
#OrcaActionMonth #OrcaActionMonth2025
Happy World Oceans Day!
Artwork by CWR's Katie Jones
#OrcaActionMonth #OrcaActionMonth2025
June is Orca Action Month!
On our socials, we will be participating in the 2025 theme: “Threads of Life: Connecting Orcas, People, and the Future We Share.”
We look forward to joining together to take action for orcas during this month!
#orcaactionmonth
On our socials, we will be participating in the 2025 theme: “Threads of Life: Connecting Orcas, People, and the Future We Share.”
We look forward to joining together to take action for orcas during this month!
#orcaactionmonth
June 1, 2025 at 7:59 PM
June is Orca Action Month!
On our socials, we will be participating in the 2025 theme: “Threads of Life: Connecting Orcas, People, and the Future We Share.”
We look forward to joining together to take action for orcas during this month!
#orcaactionmonth
On our socials, we will be participating in the 2025 theme: “Threads of Life: Connecting Orcas, People, and the Future We Share.”
We look forward to joining together to take action for orcas during this month!
#orcaactionmonth
Another encounter on Apr 11, 2025 with members of both J and K pod is up on our encounters map! We were able to document J40 with the newest calf J63, as well as other active whales like J45 and J31!
April 18, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Another encounter on Apr 11, 2025 with members of both J and K pod is up on our encounters map! We were able to document J40 with the newest calf J63, as well as other active whales like J45 and J31!
Our first encounter with the newest calf in the SRKW population J63 is up! We also documented all members of both J pod and K pod, as well as the other young calf J62!
#killerwhale #srkwpopulation #whaleresearch #centerforwhaleresearch
#killerwhale #srkwpopulation #whaleresearch #centerforwhaleresearch
April 11, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Our first encounter with the newest calf in the SRKW population J63 is up! We also documented all members of both J pod and K pod, as well as the other young calf J62!
#killerwhale #srkwpopulation #whaleresearch #centerforwhaleresearch
#killerwhale #srkwpopulation #whaleresearch #centerforwhaleresearch
We have some incredibly exciting news to share! J Pod has a new calf! Designated J63, we observed this little one traveling with J40. This will be her first known calf! While we have no immediate health concerns at the moment, we’ll continue to update when we can.
April 8, 2025 at 6:34 PM
We have some incredibly exciting news to share! J Pod has a new calf! Designated J63, we observed this little one traveling with J40. This will be her first known calf! While we have no immediate health concerns at the moment, we’ll continue to update when we can.
Our first K Pod encounter of the year just happened on March 30! Earlier in the month, K Pod had been seen in Monterey Bay, CA and made their way back to the Salish Sea in ~11 days! That’s roughly 1000 miles in under two weeks!
April 7, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Our first K Pod encounter of the year just happened on March 30! Earlier in the month, K Pod had been seen in Monterey Bay, CA and made their way back to the Salish Sea in ~11 days! That’s roughly 1000 miles in under two weeks!
Our 13th encounter of the year is up! We were able to photograph and document all 26 members of J Pod including newest member J62.
#whaleresearch #centerforwhaleresearch #srkws
#whaleresearch #centerforwhaleresearch #srkws
March 28, 2025 at 1:33 AM
Our 13th encounter of the year is up! We were able to photograph and document all 26 members of J Pod including newest member J62.
#whaleresearch #centerforwhaleresearch #srkws
#whaleresearch #centerforwhaleresearch #srkws
The Center for Whale Research (CWR) is seeking part-time, seasonal education staff to join our team and assist with the daily operations of our ORCA SURVEY Outreach & Education Center in beautiful, vibrant Friday Harbor, San Juan Island for Summer 2025! Link for more info below!
March 21, 2025 at 8:23 PM
The Center for Whale Research (CWR) is seeking part-time, seasonal education staff to join our team and assist with the daily operations of our ORCA SURVEY Outreach & Education Center in beautiful, vibrant Friday Harbor, San Juan Island for Summer 2025! Link for more info below!
We had an early morning encounter with J Pod as they traveled North up Haro Strait on March 6, 2025. The whales were spread but we managed to locate everyone.
#whaleresearch #centerforwhaleresearch #srkw #killerwhale #endangeredspecies
#whaleresearch #centerforwhaleresearch #srkw #killerwhale #endangeredspecies
March 12, 2025 at 6:30 PM
We had an early morning encounter with J Pod as they traveled North up Haro Strait on March 6, 2025. The whales were spread but we managed to locate everyone.
#whaleresearch #centerforwhaleresearch #srkw #killerwhale #endangeredspecies
#whaleresearch #centerforwhaleresearch #srkw #killerwhale #endangeredspecies
Two new encounters with Biggs killer whales are up on our encounters map from Feb 27, 2025. We spent some time with three of the T46 siblings as they hunted a porpoise. We heard that their brother T46D was separated from them but was not too far away so we went to collect photo ID’s of him as well!
March 6, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Two new encounters with Biggs killer whales are up on our encounters map from Feb 27, 2025. We spent some time with three of the T46 siblings as they hunted a porpoise. We heard that their brother T46D was separated from them but was not too far away so we went to collect photo ID’s of him as well!
Our 8th encounter of the year was with J pod along the west side of San Juan Island as they traveled all together in a single group on Feb 17, 2025. We were able to make several drone flights for behavioral data observations.
#centerforwhaleresearch #whaleresearch #killerwhales #salishsea
#centerforwhaleresearch #whaleresearch #killerwhales #salishsea
February 25, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Our 8th encounter of the year was with J pod along the west side of San Juan Island as they traveled all together in a single group on Feb 17, 2025. We were able to make several drone flights for behavioral data observations.
#centerforwhaleresearch #whaleresearch #killerwhales #salishsea
#centerforwhaleresearch #whaleresearch #killerwhales #salishsea
Check out these amazing photos of J35 and her son J47 from our latest encounter with J Pod as they porpoised west into big waves on Feb 15, 2025! Encounter 7 is up on our interactive encounters map! Link below!
#centerforwhaleresearch #whaleresearch #killerwhales #southernresidentkillerwhales
#centerforwhaleresearch #whaleresearch #killerwhales #southernresidentkillerwhales
February 20, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Check out these amazing photos of J35 and her son J47 from our latest encounter with J Pod as they porpoised west into big waves on Feb 15, 2025! Encounter 7 is up on our interactive encounters map! Link below!
#centerforwhaleresearch #whaleresearch #killerwhales #southernresidentkillerwhales
#centerforwhaleresearch #whaleresearch #killerwhales #southernresidentkillerwhales
We got out with J Pod for our 6th encounter of the year! We were able to confirm that J62 is female and document all 26 members! We were also able to confirm that J35 is no longer carrying the carcass of J61. Check out the encounter and more photos at the link below.
February 15, 2025 at 6:40 PM
We got out with J Pod for our 6th encounter of the year! We were able to confirm that J62 is female and document all 26 members! We were also able to confirm that J35 is no longer carrying the carcass of J61. Check out the encounter and more photos at the link below.
To all the whale lovers out there, Happy Valentine's Day from the CWR!
We posted a blog titled "Whale Love Stories" which includes short stories from CWR members and supports. It can be found at the link below. Share your love of whales by commenting your favorite whale, encounter or memory!
We posted a blog titled "Whale Love Stories" which includes short stories from CWR members and supports. It can be found at the link below. Share your love of whales by commenting your favorite whale, encounter or memory!
February 14, 2025 at 7:58 PM
To all the whale lovers out there, Happy Valentine's Day from the CWR!
We posted a blog titled "Whale Love Stories" which includes short stories from CWR members and supports. It can be found at the link below. Share your love of whales by commenting your favorite whale, encounter or memory!
We posted a blog titled "Whale Love Stories" which includes short stories from CWR members and supports. It can be found at the link below. Share your love of whales by commenting your favorite whale, encounter or memory!
Did you know that we have an email list? It’s the best way to stay up-to-date with our most recent whale encounter reports and the latest information about our research, education and conservation work! Sign up at the link below!
#whaleresearch #salishsea #srkww #southernresidents #killerwhale
#whaleresearch #salishsea #srkww #southernresidents #killerwhale
February 3, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Did you know that we have an email list? It’s the best way to stay up-to-date with our most recent whale encounter reports and the latest information about our research, education and conservation work! Sign up at the link below!
#whaleresearch #salishsea #srkww #southernresidents #killerwhale
#whaleresearch #salishsea #srkww #southernresidents #killerwhale
Our most recent encounter with SRKWs was tricky due to challenging weather conditions but we were able to document members of J Pod, including the newest calf J62, as well as members of the L4 matriline. Read the full report and see more photos from Encounter 5 - Jan 23 2025 at the link below.
January 28, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Our most recent encounter with SRKWs was tricky due to challenging weather conditions but we were able to document members of J Pod, including the newest calf J62, as well as members of the L4 matriline. Read the full report and see more photos from Encounter 5 - Jan 23 2025 at the link below.
We had the rare opportunity to encounter Northern Resident Killer Whales within our study range! We documented members from the A5 Pod and even observed what appeared to be beach rubbing! Read the full report and see more photos from Encounter 4 at the link below.
www.whaleresearch.com/encounters
www.whaleresearch.com/encounters
January 27, 2025 at 6:18 PM
We had the rare opportunity to encounter Northern Resident Killer Whales within our study range! We documented members from the A5 Pod and even observed what appeared to be beach rubbing! Read the full report and see more photos from Encounter 4 at the link below.
www.whaleresearch.com/encounters
www.whaleresearch.com/encounters
Our research director @drwhale.bsky.social is currently presenting at @orcanetwork.bsky.social Way of Whales about the current research and updates on the Southern Resident killer whale population.
#endangeredspecies #whaleresearch
#endangeredspecies #whaleresearch
January 25, 2025 at 10:29 PM
Our research director @drwhale.bsky.social is currently presenting at @orcanetwork.bsky.social Way of Whales about the current research and updates on the Southern Resident killer whale population.
#endangeredspecies #whaleresearch
#endangeredspecies #whaleresearch
Hello! We’re officially on bluesky and also currently tabling at @orcanetwork.bsky.social Way of Whales today! Come say hello and learn about the work we do for endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales!
January 25, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Hello! We’re officially on bluesky and also currently tabling at @orcanetwork.bsky.social Way of Whales today! Come say hello and learn about the work we do for endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales!