Orca Behavior Institute

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Orca Behavior Institute

Inspiring conservation of wild killer whales through non-invasive research, bold advocacy, and science-based education.

The Orca Behavior Institute is a non-profit whale research organization based on San Juan Island, Washington. Founded in 2015, OBI was created by a small group of passionate community scientists. Our goal is to establish long-term data sets documenting changes in whale behavior in the Salish Sea to inform protection of Bigg’s killer whales and recovery of Southern Resident killer whales. By tracki

ng and confirming whale sightings throughout the region, conducting field observations of whale behavior, and recording and analyzing whale acoustic communication, we aim to publish current data and trends in a timely manner to inform other research efforts and on-going policy decisions. As we’ve grown in recent years, our work has expanded to include science-based continuing education programs and partnerships aimed towards promoting bold advocacy on behalf of regional killer whales and the ecosystem they rely on.

05/31/2026

As we begin Orca Action Month, we are pleased to share the first of several new resources on our website that support and enrich this year’s community art initiative.

Southern Resident Killer Whales: 20 Years Endangered—is a new StoryMap now available for anyone wishing to gain an initial understanding of the whales represented in the dorsal fin displays appearing throughout June.

This immersive StoryMap provides a basic overview of the Southern Residents, including their family structure, travel patterns and history; the elements that contributed to this population becoming endangered; and initial primary risk factors identified impeding their recovery.

We invite you to explore the StoryMap and share it with those around you. By increasing public awareness of who the Southern Residents are, what makes them unique, and why their recovery is urgent, we strengthen the collective impact of this year’s Orca Action Month efforts and help build the support needed to advance the bold and meaningful protections to ensure a population increase for these iconic orcas.

You access this StoryMap via the link below or from the Southern Resident page on our website and by selecting “THE WHALES” in the top navigation bar.
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/592a91bc211f428983901156ab2a375b

05/30/2026

Take action this June 🐋💙

June is Orca Action Month, a time to learn, advocate, and support the protection of Southern Resident killer whales and the Salish Sea. Meet our partners, Orca Behavior Institute and The Whale Museum, who work every day to protect these incredible animals through research, education, and on-the-water conservation efforts.

Learn how you can join them in taking action for orcas!

Orca Behavior Institute:
“We have not done enough for these iconic whales,” said Monika Wieland Shields, co-founder and director of the Orca Behavior Institute. “Every action matters, but we have yet to tackle the most difficult and complex issues surrounding their lack of abundant prey. The majority of their year-round diet is Chinook salmon, and we need to find ways to help these wild salmon stocks recover.”
The dorsal fins, created out of everything from plywood and cardboard to metal and stained glass, will be on display for all of Orca Action Month (June 1-30, 2026) throughout Washington State and beyond. A map of all the fin locations, details on how to sign up to create your own additional fin, and more information on the plight of the Southern Residents can be found on the Orca Behavior Institute’s website orcabehaviorinstitute.org/southern-resident-killer-whales

The Whale Museum:
For more than 40 years, The Whale Museum has worked to protect Southern Resident killer whales and the ecosystem that supports them through education, readiness and response for in-distress individuals, and on-the-water programs like Soundwatch which monitor boat activity around whales and help boaters operate responsibly around marine life. As June marks the beginning of peak boating season in Southern Resident killer whale critical habitat, we've launched Soundwatch's boat, R/V Solstice! Spring chinook salmon are currently returning to their natal rivers, some of which rivers directly feed the Salish Sea. These fish once reliably brought Southern Residents into the inland waters of the Salish Sea. Today, with fewer Chinook returning and increasing vessel disturbance, underwater noise, and harmful pollutants in the water, these whales are using this part of their historic home range less and less. For Orca Action Month, we are committed to helping people understand the science, conservation and everyday actions that support Southern Resident killer whale recovery and a healthier Salish Sea ecosystem for all. whalemuseum.org/pages/soundwatch-boater-education-program

05/28/2026

🔉Audio on!
The Southern Residents have now been on the endangered species list for just over 20 years, an anniversary that quietly came and went at the end of last year. They spend far less time in the Salish Sea than they used to, but even if they are out of sight, they are never out of our minds.

To help raise awareness of the fact that after two decades, they have yet to show signs of recovery, I had a wild idea. What if we built 75 life-sized dorsal fins, one for every living Southern Resident orca? What if when people saw one, they were inspired to learn about the whale behind it?

We asked, and the OBI community responded. Beginning June 1, 75 dorsal fins made out of wood, paint, cardboard, glass, metal, fabric, and more will be on display throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Each one will have a QR code leading to a brand new page on our website that highlights the plight of the Southern Residents and the key actions needed to reverse their continued population decline.

The passion and creativity invested in this project have been inspirational. This reel is just a teaser of all the work that has been going on behind the scenes, as dozens of people have donated time, materials, and space to make this vision a reality. For the entirety of the month of June - Orca Action Month - we will ensure the story of the Southern Residents is front and center. -MWS

You can learn more about the project, the whales, our research, and the hope for the future here:
https://www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/southern-resident-killer-whales

05/26/2026

Earlier this year, the Salish Sea whale community lost one of our own far too soon, captain Nick Templeman from Campbell River.

Nick was known for many things, including his love for whales and his love for dogs. His white husky Yukon, aka the Chief Whale Spotter, was a regular passenger aboard his vessel "Guardian".

Over the last few years, an extended community of naturalists, researchers, captains, and educators have been suggesting and voting on common names for our regional Bigg's killer whales as a way to help the public connect to individual orcas more easily than through an alphanumeric designation.

With two members of Nick's favorite matriline - the T2Cs - being unnamed, the community came together to vote on two names in Nick's honor. T2C5, born in 2020, will be known as Guardian, and T2C6, born in 2025, will be known as Yukon.

While many orcas have multiple common names, you can find the full list of the community names given to Bigg's killer whales in the Salish Sea here:
https://tinyurl.com/biggnicknames

I know I won't be the only one who thinks of Nick every time I see the T2Cs. -MWS

05/25/2026

This weekend we wrapped up both our Bigg's 201 and Bigg's 301 classes, where adult students gave their final presentations after having the opportunity to work with real-world sightings data of specific Bigg's killer whale matrilines to conduct guided independent projects. We were blown away by all the hard they put in, which also gave us new things to think about regarding possible patterns we see in orca behavior in the Salish Sea!

To celebrate the conclusion of each class, we headed out on two separate whale-watching excursions and were lucky enough to encounter the T64Bs, T65As, and T123s the first evening and the T86As, T100E, T124As, T124A1s, and T124A4s the second evening. That's a total of 28 different killer whales! 🤩

There were so many highlights it's hard to choose, but one was definitely meeting the new calf that's traveling with T124A1 Bonapartes. In 2024, she was also seen with a calf that ultimately now travels with her sister T124A4 Sabio, so many watchful eyes are curious to see what happens to this new addition. So far this calf, who we estimate is about 2 weeks old, has stayed with Bonapartes as she's switched between a couple of different social groupings.

Thanks to our friends at Island Adventures Whale Watching and Outer Island Excursions for two spectacular evenings on the water!

Want to learn more about Whale University? Two of our fall classes still have space available:
https://www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/whale-university

05/23/2026

We still have seats available for two of our fall classes: Fluking Around with Humpbacks and whale book club!

If you're interested in exploring the fascinating world of humpback whales, this is a great opportunity to learn directly from the experts. Guest lecturers will cover a variety of topics including feeding strategies, calving, acoustics, and entanglements. Additionally, you will have the chance to learn how to draw humpback whales with Sara Shimazu. While the virtual version is sold out, the remaining full version seats include back-to-back all-day whale watch trips out of Friday Harbor the first weekend of October, where we will focus on finding the larger groups of humpbacks that gather in the fall.

For anyone interested in the book club, we have just three spots left. This three-book series will focus on the evolution of whales, the early exploration of the North Pacific by Western scientists, and indigenous perspectives on whaling. The class also includes an in-person field trip to the Burke Museum in Seattle.

You can learn more about these classes, sign up, or apply for financial assistance scholarships at the link below:

https://www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/whale-university

05/21/2026

How are we already two thirds through the month of May? Has your spring been absolutely flying by, too?

We've barely had time to process the media from some of our field encounters this month. At some point we will definitely have to circle back and share some more, because on the evening of May 11th we had a memorable encounter with a very vocal group of Bigg's made up of the T86A1s, T86A3, T90s, T100E, and the T124A4s (a long list, but just 11 whales in total).

The group had made a possible sea lion kill when they were found in the morning, and after prey sharing that, spent the afternoon and evening slowly meandering their way south down San Juan Channel. There were a lot of tail slaps from all members of the group, plus a couples breaches like this one thrown in for good measure, too!

One of the main reasons we haven't had as much time to share content from our fieldwork this month is because we have been working behind the scenes on some big things for Orca Action Month in June. 75 big things, you might say....more on that project soon! -MWS

05/19/2026

Do you have FOMO from missing that last whale passby? Did that perfect photo come out blurry? Or maybe your favorite matriline failed to win our sticker sheet contest? We've got the perfect solution for all of your "Bigg Feelings" with our brand new orca stress balls.

These soft, killer whale-shaped stress relievers are just under 6" in length and with the tail and fins, nestle perfectly in the palm of your hands. Work out all your emotions so you're mentally ready for your next orca encounter!

Snag yours now in OBI's webstore here:
https://www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/product/bigg-feelings-stress-ball

05/18/2026

Last Friday evening was quite busy for us as we observed the T90s and T124A4s moving back and forth in San Juan Channel. There was a lot of surface activity, including an auklet hunt, some lunges, and many tail slaps and inverted tail slaps. Check out this short clip; even the little ones joined in and practiced their own pec slap!

05/17/2026

We are excited to announce that this Monday, May 18th, at 6:30 PM PST, we will be hosting our next Patreon livestream event!

Join us for a screening of the 30-minute documentary "Echos of the Sound: The Story of Hugo and the Southern Residents," followed by a Q&A session with filmmakers Emma and Annie Stafki.

Through rare footage and expert insights, the film narrates the story of a young Southern Resident orca named Hugo, who was captured in Vaughn Bay in 1968 and lived in captivity at the Miami Seaquarium until his death in 1980. Inspired by the story they heard from their grandparents, who witnessed Hugo's capture firsthand, Emma and Annie decided to create this documentary to inspire action to protect these whales and their fragile ecosystems before it’s too late.

Emma and Annie Stafki are the dedicated sister duo behind My Actions Count and their production company Two Girls Take on the World, which has a mission to create films that inspire change. In October 2025, they launched the 365-Day Swim for the Orcas campaign, committing to cold plunge in the Salish Sea every single day for one year. You can follow their daily plunges on their Two Girls Take on the World Instagram account.

These livestreams are exclusive content created for those who support Orca Behavior Institute’s mission through the platform Patreon at the $10/mo tier and above.

We would love for you to join us live, as this session will not be recorded!

To view the monthly giving options, and join us on Patreon, click here:
https://www.patreon.com/cw/orcabehavior

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http://www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/

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