Monika Wieland Shields
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orcawatcher.bsky.social
Monika Wieland Shields
@orcawatcher.bsky.social
Killer whale researcher, author, and photographer 🐳
Hockey fan, bird-watcher, part-time crusader 🌟
San Juan Island, WA 🌅
Pinned
A lovely day with lovely people 🫶🏻
Find the beauty in the world. We need it now more than ever - but I promise it’s there.

#salishsea
January 11, 2026 at 4:11 AM
A pied-billed grebe at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, one of my all-time favorite places to birdwatch.

#birdsky #birding
December 27, 2025 at 9:15 PM
December 18, 2025 at 3:55 PM
A beautiful end to a beautiful day 💕💜

#salishsea #sanjuanislands
December 13, 2025 at 5:19 AM
The fly amanita (Amanita muscaria) mushroom we saw on our walk this afternoon 🍄 I’ve never seen one like this on San Juan Island before!

#fungi #washingtonstate #nature
December 6, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Reposted by Monika Wieland Shields
We're 25% of the way to our year-end fundraising goal!

A generous donor has offered a matching contribution, meaning that any amount you support this week is doubled.

$10 becomes $20, $25 becomes $50, like magic! 🪄

No matter how big or small, your contributions matter 🫶

givebutter.com/obi2025
December 3, 2025 at 12:56 AM
Reposted by Monika Wieland Shields
This year for #GivingTuesday we are raising funds to cover open-access fees for upcoming publications, which ensures our peer-reviewed papers are accessible to everyone for free.

All donations up to $4k will be matched dollar for dollar!

givebutter.com/obi2025

#communityscience #whalesky
December 2, 2025 at 4:40 PM
I made a new friend today! 😽
#catsky
December 2, 2025 at 6:54 AM
Cold but beautiful out there today! That's the Patos Island Lighthouse in front of Kulshan/Mt. Baker.

#salishsea #onthewater
November 30, 2025 at 12:46 AM
A stunning look at Tahoma (Mt. Rainier) from on the water near Bainbridge Island last week

#salishsea #pugetsound
November 24, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Fall dock walks - Roche Harbor edition
October 23, 2025 at 6:21 AM
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
One last September sunset at Smith
September 29, 2025 at 6:11 AM
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
September 24, 2025 at 5:29 PM
A little end of summer staycation and a peaceful night on the west side 🔥🌅✨
September 13, 2025 at 7:14 PM
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
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
I got Queen Bee!
How many words can you make with 7 letters?
www.nytimes.com
August 29, 2025 at 3:15 PM
"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
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
Northern Resident killer whales with echoing underwater vocals
YouTube video by Orca Behavior Institute
youtu.be
August 23, 2025 at 1:41 AM
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
It ain’t an OBI field research trip without a “span” game - in this case Finspan by @stonemaiergames.com 😎🐠

#boardgames
August 15, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Still “Weynton” on whales, but the scenery off northern Vancouver Island is always stunning
August 9, 2025 at 2:14 AM
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
August 8, 2025 at 10:52 PM
@rawieland.bsky.social

Wordle 1,500 X/6

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😣
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 🌅
July 28, 2025 at 4:50 AM