Orca lovers, if you’re still on the hunt for orca-themed goodies to add to your whale collection or searching for the perfect gift, this is your last chance! Make sure to snag everything you need by December 12th so your gifts arrive right on time for the holidays!
www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/shop
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
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
Members of the A50 matriline on a beautiful rainy morning in Queen Charlotte Strait, BC.
📸 A84 (left) and A50 (right)
#orcas #vancouverisland #killerwhales #nrkw
📢 Registration is NOW OPEN for our spring 2026 iteration of Bigg’s 201 - an adult research experience!
-Collect whale behavioral data in the field
-Learn to create visuals
-Have access to 5 years of OBI's real-world sightings data
More details below!
www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/whale.../big...
T60C "Yelnats" cruising near Cormorant Channel Marine Provincial Park, off Telegraph Cove, BC.
#orcas #killerwhales #telegraphcove #vancouverisland
Last August, on a misty morning with the A50s (Northern Resident orcas), near Broughton Archipelago Marine Provincial Park.
📷 From left to right: A99 “Alder”, A50 “Clio”, A84 “Klaoitsis”, and A123 “Sambo”.
#orcas #killerwhales #vancouverisland
A grizzly bear attempts to catch a salmon near Thompson Sound in British Columbia.
#grizzly #grizzlybear #vancouverisland
🔊 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
Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) kit on San Juan Island, WA. 🦊
"Although they are called “red” fox, visitors are often surprised to discover that they can be orange, silver, black, or multi-colored."
#fox #silverfox #sanjuanisland #pnw #wildlife #canon #blackfox
It's the FINAL DAY of our online auction! There are some great deals to be had, and we added 4 bonus items.
You can also make a direct donation in our effort to reach $10k for our 10th. Click the "Donate" button on the auction page.
Get in on the action here:
www.32auctions.com/OBI2025
#whalesky
This shot features the one and only T63 ¨Chainsaw, taken off Race Rocks in the Strait of Juan de Fuca during our boat trip last Sunday.
#WhaleSky #MarineLife #WildlifePhotography #Orcas #Biggs
#transients #Whales #nature #wildlife #killerwhales #pnw #salishsea #ocean
Here is T75C, who is easily recognized by her unique eyepatch
with a faded trailing edge, surfacing just a few meters away from our boat.
#WhaleSky #MarineLife #WildlifePhotography #Orcas #Biggs
#transients #Whales #nature #wildlife #killerwhale #pnw #salishsea
Here are a couple more shots of that same red fox from San Juan Island. 🦊 It was such a thrill to see this animal up close for the very first time!
#redfox #sanjuanisland #wildlife #nature #pnw #pacificnorthwest #salishsea #fox #canonphotography #canonusa #canon
OBI's online auction is now live! There's something for everyone; check it out here:
www.32auctions.com/OBI2025
A red fox on San Juan Island 🦊
T87 "Harbeson" is estimated to be at least 63 years old, making him the oldest known male in the Bigg's (transient) population. I couldn’t have asked for a better way to conclude an amazing day on May 11, 2025, on the west side of Lummi Island. (San Juan Islands)
#orcas #killerwhales #whales
A very cool sighting off the Oregon Coast yesterday shared with us by Léna Hardivillier! She was lucky enough to be on the Newport crabbing pier as the T49Bs and T50D entered Yaquina Bay. The extended T49s have a history of being seen in Oregon over the years.
#orcas #killerwhales #whalesky
Have you ever had the chance to see a hummingbird catch a mosquito in mid-flight? 🪰 👀
On April 19th, T65Bs made a close pass during our encounter between Moresby Island and Pender Island, BC. #orca #salishsea #killerwhale #whales
Here is the fearless T49A6, also known as "Charlie II," close to his mother and always ready to lead the charge. (Spieden Channel, WA) #orca #killerwhale #salishsea
A gray whale spyhops in the beautiful waters of Puget Sound. #graywhales #pugetsound
T49A and T49A3 heading south on Spieden Channel during last Sunday's encounter on the southeast shore of Spieden Island, WA. #orca #killerwhale #salishsea
From Facebook:
9:05 "Three orcas just now snide mineral point, milling"
#wssjis
12:35 J Pod - NW of Lime Kiln, about 3 miles off. Moving very slowly. #wssjis
From Whale Sightings in the San Juan Islands Facebook group
Here's our first monthly whale sightings map of 2025 showing all the unique orca reports in the Salish Sea for the month of January! Bigg's killer whales were confirmed on all 31 days and Northern Residents outnumbered Southern Residents. Read more at the link below!
#WSSJIs #PSWS #WSCRQB
A short video from @jayjayfoshizzay.bsky.social of J-Pod all grouped up heading north up Haro Strait this afternoon 🤩
#orca #killerwhale #salishsea #sanjuanislands #srkw #wssjis
Here's our 2024 map for Bigg's killer whales in the Salish Sea. In 2024, sightings were up nearly 30% compared to 2023! 🤯
Read more about this map on our website:
www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/sightings-ma...
And use our starter pack to track whale sightings on Bluesky:
go.bsky.app/FfwCsoo
We have also started making summer visits to observe the Northern Resident killer whales, a group of fish-eating orcas that is doing better than the endangered Southern Residents. This photo of members of A-Clan was taken in Blackfish Sound near Johnstone Strait in British Columbia in 2024.
We also study mammal-eating Bigg's killer whales. They look similar to the Southern Residents, but have a different diet, social structure, behavior, and vocalizations. Even though they live in the same region, the two groups of orcas don't interact or interbreed. Bigg's are not endangered.
