It was wild coming back from our first trip on the water out of Telegraph Cove after having seen the A23s and running into a group of Bigg's. Even wilder was the very first fin that popped up belonging to T63 Chainsaw! 🤩

With some questions about whale-watching on our recent posts, it seemed timely to highlight a paper we published in 2022: "Commercial whale-watching reduces vessel incidents in the vicinity of killer whales in Washington State." Learn more and access our study here: tinyurl.com/46wb46rf

K-Pod returned to inland waters this morning, ending a 7 week drought with no Southern Residents in the inland waters of the Salish Sea! In case you missed it, here's a short clip off the Lime Kiln hydrophone: soundcloud.com/orcabehavior...

K-Pod on August 2, 2026

Listen to K-Pod on August 2, 2026 by Orca Behavior Institute #np on #SoundCloud

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Here is our July 2026 Salish Sea killer whale sightings map! July was a record-breaking month, but not in the ways that we would have hoped: There were no SRKW visits and our consecutive days present streak for Bigg’s killer whales was broken! Read our full recap: tinyurl.com/4z6ac594

We wrapped up our researcher-led trips with @sjiwhalewatch.bsky.social this week! Monika was a guide for 5 trips this month and we saw orcas each time, including 11 Bigg's on Wednesday night Is this the type of trip you'd be interested in attending in the future? If so, let us know in the comments!

Our brand new T46 sticker sheets are here! Each sheet measures 8.3 x 5.8” & includes individual stickers of T46 Wake, T46D Strider, T46E Thor, T46E Loki & T122 Centeki along with accessory stickers inspired by their nicknames. Only limited quantities available; get yours today! tinyurl.com/yapf55xp

I've been guilty of calling the T75Bs inefficient hunters in the past because of the number of times I've seen them abort a prey pursuit.... T75B2 made sure I counted this seal hunt as a success tonight in the San Juan Islands! -MWS #orcas #whalesky #salishsea

This is the final week to apply for financial assistance scholarships for our Drawing and Painting Orcas, Fluking Around with Humpbacks, and Whale Book Club classes all coming up this fall! Learn more, sign up, or apply for a scholarship before 8/1 on each class page here: tinyurl.com/Whale-U

HR 9621 would permit culling seals and sea lions in WA State in the name of salmon recovery Learn why we oppose this bill via this link and by listening to the new @afterthebreach.bsky.social podcast episode with a guest from @sr3sealife.bsky.social www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/orca-updates...

While on the water out of Seward, Alaska last month, we had the incredible experience of encountering a group of ~20 uncatalogued Alaskan resident orcas on back-to-back days. Check out this incredible mid-air salmon grab that was one of the highlight moments of the trip! #orcas #whalesky #alaska

The T35As and T38As returned to the Salish Sea for their first visit of 2026 with a new calf in tow! First seen last weekend, we met this little one near Friday Harbor this AM. It was traveling with T35A1 Opal, though it will take several encounters for the mom to be confirmed. #whalesky #orcas

While on the water out of Seward last month we were lucky to encounter mammal-eating orcas in the Gulf of Alaska! We got to see part of a matriline known as Matushka's group, named after their presumed matriarch AT109 Matushka. Read Monika's full report here: tinyurl.com/mr3fmjf9

Last call: our 2026 T-shirt fundraiser ends tonight! Each year, people request these shirts after the fact, but they print to order. That means today is your last chance to grab one before they're gone for good! All proceeds support our work. Snag yours here: www.customink.com/fundraising/...

Yesterday T65B2 live stranded on a beach near Minor Island, south of the San Juans. Thankfully, he was able to self-rescue on the incoming tide a few hours later. It was a relief to see all four of the T65Bs together in Spieden Channel this evening. T65B2 appeared to be behaving normally!

We hope you enjoy this video highlight reel of all the incredible wildlife and scenery we saw on a trip to Alaska last month! Killer whales, humpback whales, and Dall's porpoise all make an appearance, plus much more.

A Trip to Alaska | Whale & Wildlife Highlights | 2026

YouTube video by Orca Behavior Institute

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📣 Important action alert! Letters needed by 7/22 to oppose the alteration of Canada's Species At Risk Act; the proposal would remove criteria to allow fast-tracking of projects like the Roberts Bank terminal. actionnetwork.org/letters/98dc...

Take Action to Protect Southern Residents and the Salish Sea from More Oil Tanker Traffic

It’s Orca Action Month and your action is needed to help protect the critically endangered Southern Resident killer whales from additional underwater noise, disturbance, and an increased risk of ship ...

actionnetwork.org

Reasons to get a T-shirt: ✅ Show off your love for the Southern Residents ✅ Encourage a youth artist who participated in Orca Action Month ✅ End up twinning with members of Team OBI ✅ Support our ongoing research, education, and advocacy efforts Snag yours here: www.customink.com/fundraising/...

The T123s were seen for 25 days throughout the month of June. This map takes a more in-depth look of everywhere they were documented, including a particular prevalence for Bellingham Bay that many observers noticed! Orcas will stick a bit longer in a place where the eating is good. #whalesky

We are 1/3 of the way to our goal for our 2026 T-shirt fundraiser! There are just 6 days left, and once the fundraiser ends, these T-shirts featuring L110 Midnight will no longer be available. Be sure to grab yours before it's too late! tinyurl.com/382tsr7m

The T46Bs have been around the San Juan Islands and their family group composition has looked a little different. Recently, T46B3 & her 2025 calf T46B3A Munro have split off, but what we did not foresee was that T46B3 would take one of her younger sisters with her! Read more: tinyurl.com/3hcr2dk7

Did no one sign up for Jack’s Summer Camp this year? 🥺 T137A was on his own in the San Juans yesterday, but we have some candidate enrollees for him! These three juveniles have all been seen roaming away from their natal matrilines of late. Jokes aside, dispersal is endlessly fascinating! #orcas

Our 2026 annual T-shirt fundraiser is now live! 🥳 This year's design features L110 Midnight and was created by a youth muralist who participated in our Orca Action Month campaign. Her full piece can be seen at the Southworth ferry terminal! Snag yours before the limited order period ends!

Orca Behavior Institute's 2026 T-Shirt Fundraiser

We are continuing our tradition of a summer T-shirt fundraiser into our 11th year! This year's design was created by one of our Orca Action Month artists, youth muralist Yaz. In addition to being feat...

customink.com

A look at more June orca sightings stats in the Salish Sea: -Biggest T-party of the year (44 whales) spotted near Sooke on June 2 -A record high of 260 Bigg's killer whale sightings for the month -The T123s were the most commonly seen group for the 2nd month in a row, documented on 25 days

Here is our June 2026 Salish Sea killer whale sightings map! While Bigg's killer whales keep painting our monthly maps red, the Southern Residents (J-Pod & the Greater L4s) came back after >60 days for a short 48h visit with a brand new calf, L130! Read our full recap: tinyurl.com/June-2026-Map

This weekend we were keepin' it 💯 on the land, the sea, the sky All thanks to T100 Hutchins, seen here porpoising down San Juan Channel last night with the peak of Mt. Baker visible in the background over the Lopez Island shoreline. #orcas #whalesky #salishsea #killerwhale

Thanks to everyone voted, we are happy to present our 2026 Firecraker award to T19B Galiano for having the best breach! (Take a look at the video from yesterday if you missed it!) T19B is a fitting recipient. Most adult male orcas don't breach too often, but Galiano is a regular! #whalesky #orca

We think the best kind of fireworks are whale fireworks! 🎆 🎇 Who do you think did it best? Add your vote in the comments below! #orcas #killerwhales #salishsea #4thofJuly #whalesky

We are back with the second matchup in our fun photo-ID challenge series! Jason (Board Member and Videographer) & Andoni (Webmaster and Social Media Assistant) will be challenged with flashcards featuring both Bigg's and Southern Resident orcas. Can you ID any of these whales as you play along?

While on vacation in Alaska last month, we had the incredible luck of seeing a group of ~20 uncatalogued resident killer whales, rare enough that they haven't been given pod designations, some of them never before photographed. It was a stark reminder of how wild and remote the North Pacific is!

Here is Jason Shields' latest video highlight compilation, featuring our field encounters with Bigg's killer whales in and around the San Juan Islands throughout this spring. #orcas #whalesky #salishsea

Spring 2026 Bigg's Killer Whales Compilation | Salish Sea

YouTube video by Orca Behavior Institute

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