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
Action alert for Washington state residents: two more environmental bills are being heard next week. Learn the details and find the instructions to register your position via the link below.
One is being heard on Monday, so it's important to take action this weekend!
tinyurl.com/janboldaction2
One is being heard on Monday, so it's important to take action this weekend!
tinyurl.com/janboldaction2
January 18, 2026 at 1:56 AM
Action alert for Washington state residents: two more environmental bills are being heard next week. Learn the details and find the instructions to register your position via the link below.
One is being heard on Monday, so it's important to take action this weekend!
tinyurl.com/janboldaction2
One is being heard on Monday, so it's important to take action this weekend!
tinyurl.com/janboldaction2
Last weekend we had an incredible encounter in western Haro Strait when the T19s took down a Steller sea lion.
This is just a clip, but you should definitely check out the full highlight video in 4K on our YouTube channel.
⭐️ Link to the 4K video in the comments!
#orca #killerwhale #salishsea
This is just a clip, but you should definitely check out the full highlight video in 4K on our YouTube channel.
⭐️ Link to the 4K video in the comments!
#orca #killerwhale #salishsea
January 16, 2026 at 7:24 PM
Last weekend we had an incredible encounter in western Haro Strait when the T19s took down a Steller sea lion.
This is just a clip, but you should definitely check out the full highlight video in 4K on our YouTube channel.
⭐️ Link to the 4K video in the comments!
#orca #killerwhale #salishsea
This is just a clip, but you should definitely check out the full highlight video in 4K on our YouTube channel.
⭐️ Link to the 4K video in the comments!
#orca #killerwhale #salishsea
A few more stats from December 2025 orca sightings in the Salish Sea!
- A new calf was seen traveling with T252.
- Another new calf was seen in K-Pod, K47 is the first known offspring of K36.
- The 6th month of the year where Biggs sightings were down Vs 2024.
Which one surprises you the most?
- A new calf was seen traveling with T252.
- Another new calf was seen in K-Pod, K47 is the first known offspring of K36.
- The 6th month of the year where Biggs sightings were down Vs 2024.
Which one surprises you the most?
January 16, 2026 at 4:23 AM
A few more stats from December 2025 orca sightings in the Salish Sea!
- A new calf was seen traveling with T252.
- Another new calf was seen in K-Pod, K47 is the first known offspring of K36.
- The 6th month of the year where Biggs sightings were down Vs 2024.
Which one surprises you the most?
- A new calf was seen traveling with T252.
- Another new calf was seen in K-Pod, K47 is the first known offspring of K36.
- The 6th month of the year where Biggs sightings were down Vs 2024.
Which one surprises you the most?
We'll have an overall summary of 2025 to share soon, but for now here is our final monthly sightings map of the year summarizing killer whale sightings in the Salish Sea in December.
Read the full description for this map on our website here:
tinyurl.com/obidec2025
#orcas #whalesky
Read the full description for this map on our website here:
tinyurl.com/obidec2025
#orcas #whalesky
January 14, 2026 at 1:11 AM
We'll have an overall summary of 2025 to share soon, but for now here is our final monthly sightings map of the year summarizing killer whale sightings in the Salish Sea in December.
Read the full description for this map on our website here:
tinyurl.com/obidec2025
#orcas #whalesky
Read the full description for this map on our website here:
tinyurl.com/obidec2025
#orcas #whalesky
The world is a lot right now, but we can still take actions on the local level. In this BOLD action guide we've outlined a quick way Washington State residents can take action on a suite of bills that will impact the health of the Salish Sea. Each will just take a moment!
tinyurl.com/jan26bills1
tinyurl.com/jan26bills1
January 13, 2026 at 12:29 AM
The world is a lot right now, but we can still take actions on the local level. In this BOLD action guide we've outlined a quick way Washington State residents can take action on a suite of bills that will impact the health of the Salish Sea. Each will just take a moment!
tinyurl.com/jan26bills1
tinyurl.com/jan26bills1
Last week, we shared a post about our first orca encounter of the year on January 2nd, where we came across the T77s in Sidney Channel, BC.
Today, we are excited to share a highlight clip from that day, filmed and edited by Jason! We hope you enjoy it!
⭐️ Link to the 4K video in the comments!
Today, we are excited to share a highlight clip from that day, filmed and edited by Jason! We hope you enjoy it!
⭐️ Link to the 4K video in the comments!
January 11, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Last week, we shared a post about our first orca encounter of the year on January 2nd, where we came across the T77s in Sidney Channel, BC.
Today, we are excited to share a highlight clip from that day, filmed and edited by Jason! We hope you enjoy it!
⭐️ Link to the 4K video in the comments!
Today, we are excited to share a highlight clip from that day, filmed and edited by Jason! We hope you enjoy it!
⭐️ Link to the 4K video in the comments!
Today was another incredible day on the water: we caught up with the T19s who successfully took a Steller sea lion in western Haro Strait! The winter lighting was reminiscent of the photos you see of foraging killer whales in Norway.
#orcas #killerwhales #whalesky
#orcas #killerwhales #whalesky
January 11, 2026 at 1:39 AM
Today was another incredible day on the water: we caught up with the T19s who successfully took a Steller sea lion in western Haro Strait! The winter lighting was reminiscent of the photos you see of foraging killer whales in Norway.
#orcas #killerwhales #whalesky
#orcas #killerwhales #whalesky
We have another BOLD action available to help guide you through three upcoming public comment periods that have the potential to impact the endangered Southern Resident killer whales and other coastal marine life:
tinyurl.com/janboldaction
Please join us in taking action on behalf of the orcas!
tinyurl.com/janboldaction
Please join us in taking action on behalf of the orcas!
January 8, 2026 at 6:14 PM
We have another BOLD action available to help guide you through three upcoming public comment periods that have the potential to impact the endangered Southern Resident killer whales and other coastal marine life:
tinyurl.com/janboldaction
Please join us in taking action on behalf of the orcas!
tinyurl.com/janboldaction
Please join us in taking action on behalf of the orcas!
This graph comparing Southern Resident killer whale monthly presence in the Salish Sea from 2015 to 2025 is a snapshot in time, but illustrates the longer-term trend of the whales no longer being here from May through August, the time period that used to be their peak.
#orcas #whalesky
#orcas #whalesky
January 7, 2026 at 6:44 PM
The last episode of our three-part Q&A with Monika from OBI and Michael from CWR is already up on our YouTube channel!
Make sure to check out the full video, you definitely don’t want to miss this one.
ℹ️ You can find the link to the third episode in the comments below.
#whalesky #orca
Make sure to check out the full video, you definitely don’t want to miss this one.
ℹ️ You can find the link to the third episode in the comments below.
#whalesky #orca
January 7, 2026 at 4:12 AM
As we wrap up logistics for 2025, we've taken some time to reflect on what OBI has accomplished over the last year.
2025 was fantastic, in large part thanks to our ever-growing community, and we are continually grateful for all of it!
Here are a few highlights "by the numbers".
2025 was fantastic, in large part thanks to our ever-growing community, and we are continually grateful for all of it!
Here are a few highlights "by the numbers".
January 5, 2026 at 12:48 AM
As we wrap up logistics for 2025, we've taken some time to reflect on what OBI has accomplished over the last year.
2025 was fantastic, in large part thanks to our ever-growing community, and we are continually grateful for all of it!
Here are a few highlights "by the numbers".
2025 was fantastic, in large part thanks to our ever-growing community, and we are continually grateful for all of it!
Here are a few highlights "by the numbers".
We only had to wait 2 days for our first orcas of 2026! We found the T77s near Sidney, BC and while on scene with them they met up with T73A2.
I only saw the T77s once in 2025, so certainly didn't expect them to be my first Bigg's killer whales of 2026!
#whalesky #salishsea
I only saw the T77s once in 2025, so certainly didn't expect them to be my first Bigg's killer whales of 2026!
#whalesky #salishsea
January 4, 2026 at 12:12 AM
We only had to wait 2 days for our first orcas of 2026! We found the T77s near Sidney, BC and while on scene with them they met up with T73A2.
I only saw the T77s once in 2025, so certainly didn't expect them to be my first Bigg's killer whales of 2026!
#whalesky #salishsea
I only saw the T77s once in 2025, so certainly didn't expect them to be my first Bigg's killer whales of 2026!
#whalesky #salishsea
🎉 We are very excited to announce the winners of our Patreon Giveaway!
Congratulations to Margot K, who won a 6-month free membership at the Jack's Summer Camp tier, and to Rachel L, who won a 6-month free upgrade!
Thank you so much to our Patreon supporters and welcome to the new members!
Congratulations to Margot K, who won a 6-month free membership at the Jack's Summer Camp tier, and to Rachel L, who won a 6-month free upgrade!
Thank you so much to our Patreon supporters and welcome to the new members!
January 2, 2026 at 11:09 PM
🎉 We are very excited to announce the winners of our Patreon Giveaway!
Congratulations to Margot K, who won a 6-month free membership at the Jack's Summer Camp tier, and to Rachel L, who won a 6-month free upgrade!
Thank you so much to our Patreon supporters and welcome to the new members!
Congratulations to Margot K, who won a 6-month free membership at the Jack's Summer Camp tier, and to Rachel L, who won a 6-month free upgrade!
Thank you so much to our Patreon supporters and welcome to the new members!
Our final orca encounter of 2025 was an acoustic one on the evening of 12/29, as we heard Southern Resident calls for over 2 hours on the North San Juan Channel hydrophone!
You can listen to the recording of this bout here courtesy of @orcasound.bsky.social:
tinyurl.com/dec29bout
#whalesky
You can listen to the recording of this bout here courtesy of @orcasound.bsky.social:
tinyurl.com/dec29bout
#whalesky
December 31, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Our final orca encounter of 2025 was an acoustic one on the evening of 12/29, as we heard Southern Resident calls for over 2 hours on the North San Juan Channel hydrophone!
You can listen to the recording of this bout here courtesy of @orcasound.bsky.social:
tinyurl.com/dec29bout
#whalesky
You can listen to the recording of this bout here courtesy of @orcasound.bsky.social:
tinyurl.com/dec29bout
#whalesky
Join OBI's monthly giving community at patreon.com/orcabehavior as a free or paid member by 12/31 for a chance to win a 6 month subscription or tier upgrade!
We've also just released a freebie collection of content available to all so you can check out what we offer at different tiers.
#giveaway
We've also just released a freebie collection of content available to all so you can check out what we offer at different tiers.
#giveaway
December 29, 2025 at 4:10 AM
Join OBI's monthly giving community at patreon.com/orcabehavior as a free or paid member by 12/31 for a chance to win a 6 month subscription or tier upgrade!
We've also just released a freebie collection of content available to all so you can check out what we offer at different tiers.
#giveaway
We've also just released a freebie collection of content available to all so you can check out what we offer at different tiers.
#giveaway
Watch Monika try our whale edition of the Say the Word on the Beat challenge here, then give it a try yourself via the link below! Let us know how you do in the comments 😎
youtu.be/LPAbHARxd_Y
youtu.be/LPAbHARxd_Y
December 26, 2025 at 3:56 AM
Watch Monika try our whale edition of the Say the Word on the Beat challenge here, then give it a try yourself via the link below! Let us know how you do in the comments 😎
youtu.be/LPAbHARxd_Y
youtu.be/LPAbHARxd_Y
We’re excited to share that Part 2 of our three-part Q&A with Monika from OBI and Michael from the Center for Whale Research is up on our YouTube channel!
This is just a sneak peek, make sure to check out the full video!
ℹ️ You can find the link to the second episode in comments.
This is just a sneak peek, make sure to check out the full video!
ℹ️ You can find the link to the second episode in comments.
December 21, 2025 at 5:29 PM
We’re excited to share that Part 2 of our three-part Q&A with Monika from OBI and Michael from the Center for Whale Research is up on our YouTube channel!
This is just a sneak peek, make sure to check out the full video!
ℹ️ You can find the link to the second episode in comments.
This is just a sneak peek, make sure to check out the full video!
ℹ️ You can find the link to the second episode in comments.
T34 Grace, a 50+ year old Bigg's killer whale great-grandmother, is sporting a bit of a different look! We saw her and her family as part of a T-Party last weekend, and the notch on the trailing edge of her dorsal fin has gotten larger. We can only speculate what she's been up to!
#whalesky #orcas
#whalesky #orcas
December 19, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Lately, the bad weather has kept us from getting out to look for whales, so we’ve been looking back at some of our favorite summer encounters.
One encounter that really stands out for us was on July 1, 2023.
Here’s a short highlight clip from the longer video available on our YouTube channel!
One encounter that really stands out for us was on July 1, 2023.
Here’s a short highlight clip from the longer video available on our YouTube channel!
December 19, 2025 at 4:44 AM
Lately, the bad weather has kept us from getting out to look for whales, so we’ve been looking back at some of our favorite summer encounters.
One encounter that really stands out for us was on July 1, 2023.
Here’s a short highlight clip from the longer video available on our YouTube channel!
One encounter that really stands out for us was on July 1, 2023.
Here’s a short highlight clip from the longer video available on our YouTube channel!
🐋🎓There are still a few open spaces remaining for our Spring 2026 Whale University Course: 50 Shades of Gray Whale, and after confirming the speaker line up, we can't WAIT for this course to start!
Register online at our website:
www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/whale-univer...
Register online at our website:
www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/whale-univer...
December 18, 2025 at 12:03 AM
🐋🎓There are still a few open spaces remaining for our Spring 2026 Whale University Course: 50 Shades of Gray Whale, and after confirming the speaker line up, we can't WAIT for this course to start!
Register online at our website:
www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/whale-univer...
Register online at our website:
www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/whale-univer...
Last month, there was a fun group of Bigg’s killer whales that spent most of the month in the area! This set of 11 whales consisted of T36 and the T36Bs, the T137s, and T99B.
Here is the animated map we made to track their movements over the course of November!
#whalesky #orcas #killerwhales
Here is the animated map we made to track their movements over the course of November!
#whalesky #orcas #killerwhales
December 17, 2025 at 3:45 AM
Last month, there was a fun group of Bigg’s killer whales that spent most of the month in the area! This set of 11 whales consisted of T36 and the T36Bs, the T137s, and T99B.
Here is the animated map we made to track their movements over the course of November!
#whalesky #orcas #killerwhales
Here is the animated map we made to track their movements over the course of November!
#whalesky #orcas #killerwhales
📣 Important action alert: your comments are needed by December 22nd to help protect the Endangered Species Act!
Our BOLD Action guide helps guide you through the process:
tinyurl.com/boldactionesa
Comments can be brief but it's important many people register their opposition to these changes!
Our BOLD Action guide helps guide you through the process:
tinyurl.com/boldactionesa
Comments can be brief but it's important many people register their opposition to these changes!
December 14, 2025 at 9:18 PM
📣 Important action alert: your comments are needed by December 22nd to help protect the Endangered Species Act!
Our BOLD Action guide helps guide you through the process:
tinyurl.com/boldactionesa
Comments can be brief but it's important many people register their opposition to these changes!
Our BOLD Action guide helps guide you through the process:
tinyurl.com/boldactionesa
Comments can be brief but it's important many people register their opposition to these changes!
Welcome K47! The Center for Whale Research announced the official designation for the new K-Pod calf today.
Here’s a short video clip of Ks exiting Puget Sound yesterday, filmed by Jason Shields. Can you spot the tiny dorsal fin of the calf? 😍 It surfaces three times in this clip!
#whalesky #srkw
Here’s a short video clip of Ks exiting Puget Sound yesterday, filmed by Jason Shields. Can you spot the tiny dorsal fin of the calf? 😍 It surfaces three times in this clip!
#whalesky #srkw
December 14, 2025 at 4:01 AM
Every Southern Resident killer whale calf is a gift, but due to the pod's small size and low reproductive rate, K-Pod calves hit differently.
We were honored to have the chance to glimpse this newest little one in person today as the orcas were leaving Puget Sound.
#whalesky #salishsea
We were honored to have the chance to glimpse this newest little one in person today as the orcas were leaving Puget Sound.
#whalesky #salishsea
December 13, 2025 at 4:03 AM
Every Southern Resident killer whale calf is a gift, but due to the pod's small size and low reproductive rate, K-Pod calves hit differently.
We were honored to have the chance to glimpse this newest little one in person today as the orcas were leaving Puget Sound.
#whalesky #salishsea
We were honored to have the chance to glimpse this newest little one in person today as the orcas were leaving Puget Sound.
#whalesky #salishsea