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orcabehaviorinstitute.org
Orca Behavior Institute
@orcabehaviorinstitute.org
1.8K followers 90 following 480 posts
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
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After 6 weeks of learning how to draw and paint orcas from our very own, very talented, Sara Hysong-Shimazu, our fall iteration of Drawing and Painting Orcas class met for the last time earlier this month.

📧 If you're curious when we'll offer another art course, sign up for our email list!
November 25, 2025 at 4:21 PM
orcabehaviorinstitute.org
Today, in this "Throwback Monday," we are going to take a look back to almost exactly one year ago, on November 23rd.
On that day, we met T34A2, the second known calf of T34A Pachamama.

Can you recall the relationship between T34A2 and T37B3?

We will share the answer tomorrow in the comments!
November 24, 2025 at 11:27 PM
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After returning to San Juan Island from Puget Sound on Saturday, I didn't even make it home before having a shore-based killer whale encounter. T36 and the T36Bs, T75Bs, T75Cs, and T137s (17 orcas!) were on a prolonged sea lion hunt off Cattle Point. Here are a few photo highlights!

#whalesky
A double spyhop from two Bigg's killer whales A tailslap from an orca while three other whales surface beside it A mammal eating killer whale lunges after a Steller sea lion in the San Juan Islands Two killer whales in hot pursuit of their prey, a sea lion, in the Salish Sea
November 24, 2025 at 1:59 AM
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Our 2026 Southern Resident killer whale photo calendars are now available! All images were taken by OBI director Monika Wieland Shields during shore-based field encounters from San Juan Island throughout 2025, and proceeds support our ongoing research.

#whalesky #orcas
2026 SRKW Calendar
Co-founder and Director Monika curated a collection of Southern Resident photos (taken from the shores of San Juan Island in 2025) that can be found in a new calendar for 2026, featuring some of the n...
www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org
November 21, 2025 at 7:45 PM
orcabehaviorinstitute.org
A still shot from drone footage of Bigg's killer whales stalking sea birds in the shallows off Bainbridge Island earlier this week. This was the first time we recorded Bigg's vocals in conjunction with aerial observations of behavior in our work with @whaleresearch.bsky.social !

#whalesky #orcas
A drone view of four killer whales in shallow waters approaching unsuspecting marine birds
November 21, 2025 at 2:16 AM
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Quintessential Seattle 💙🩵

T36B2 Greenfelder this afternoon with the @spaceneedle.bsky.social and snow-capped Cascade Mountains in the background

#whalesky #orcas #salishsea #pugetsound
A Bigg's killer whale surfaces in front of the Seattle skyline and Space Needle in Washington State
November 20, 2025 at 4:05 AM
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One of the coolest moments from our Bigg's killer whale encounter off Bainbridge Island on Sunday was when the wake of a passing cargo ship came in to the beach prompting the whales to breach and surf! Here's T36B2 Greenfelder, a 12 year-old orca, leaping over a wave.

#whalesky #salishsea
Bigg's killer whale T36B2 Greenfelder breaching in Puget Sound
November 18, 2025 at 11:22 PM
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A clip of the active orcas we saw off Bainbridge Island while out with the @whaleresearch.bsky.social yesterday 🤩

In addition to being very surface active, they were also vocalizing, allowing us to get our first-ever Bigg's killer whale calls paired with drone video.

#whalesky #salishsea
November 17, 2025 at 7:25 PM
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Earlier this week, we were thrilled to witness back to back days of a Southern Resident superpod. Here is our map covering their movements over the course of three days.

A true superpod occurs when all members of the J, K, and L pods gather together in the same location. That’s 74 whales!
#orcas
A map of the Puget Sound area showing Southern Resident orca movements over three days, from November 9 to November 11.
November 16, 2025 at 11:18 PM
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Today we and the @whaleresearch.bsky.social caught up with the T46s and T46B1s in Puget Sound near Seattle! It was a spectacular sight to see them all grouped up together, including the massive fin of T46E Thor and the little fin of 2 month-old T46B1D.

#orcas #killerwhales #whalesky #salishsea
The T46 and T46B1 matrilines of Bigg's killer whales surfacing together in a tight group off Seattle, Washington
November 16, 2025 at 2:31 AM
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Today is the scholarship deadline for our spring 2026 Bigg's 201 class! This adult program lets you dive into the world of whale research through virtual lectures and in-person field trips. Learn more, register, or apply for the scholarship here:

www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/whale-univer...
An infographic for OBI's spring 2026 Bigg's 201 program with a notification that the financial assistance scholarship deadline is November 15th
November 15, 2025 at 5:53 PM
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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
November 14, 2025 at 8:21 PM
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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
L126 Balcomb J62, the third offspring of J41 Eclipse L127 Scuba and her amazing saddle patch J63 next to mom J40 Suttles
November 13, 2025 at 9:23 PM
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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
From right to left these dorsal fins belong to L105 Fluke, L72 Racer, L117 Keta, and L54 Ino, four members of L-Pod of the endangered Southern Resident killer whale community.
November 13, 2025 at 1:24 AM
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⏰ 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...
November 12, 2025 at 4:43 AM
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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
L25 Ocean Sun, the oldest living Southern Resident killer whale L87 Onyx, who has a unique history in that he has spent years traveling with all three pods: J, K, and L
November 11, 2025 at 1:52 AM
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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
November 10, 2025 at 5:02 AM
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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
Grouped up J-Pod whales in Possession Sound A breach from J35 Tahlequah with the snow-capped foothills of the Cascade Mountains in the background An inverted tail slap in the sunshine The second youngest member of J-Pod, J62, peeks above the surface
November 9, 2025 at 4:48 AM
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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! 👀 🎣
November 7, 2025 at 8:28 PM
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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...
Our October Salish Sea orca sightings map
November 6, 2025 at 4:37 PM
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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!

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A few of the renderings from some of our current Bigg's 201 students (Maria, Zoe, and Jess).
November 6, 2025 at 12:57 AM
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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
J35 Tahlequah with Whidbey Island in the background K42 Kelp - common murre for scale. L82 Kasatka being amorously pursued by J45 Se-Yi-Chn K37 Rainshadow with a freighter in the background
November 5, 2025 at 2:18 AM
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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
A cartwheeling Southern Resident killer whale alongside other dorsal fins in Puget Sound with fall colors of western Washington in the background A breaching male orca Southern Residents pass Point Robinson Lighthouse in southern Puget Sound as excited onlookers view from shore A group of six Southern Resident killer whales surface side by side in Puget Sound, Washington State
November 4, 2025 at 12:00 AM
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🔥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...
November 3, 2025 at 4:23 PM
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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...
Male Southern Resident killer whale K26 Lobo does a half breach in the glassy calm, sky blue waters of the Salish Sea.
November 2, 2025 at 5:51 PM