A Superpod, a Greeting, and a Goodbye
A superpod is a time of great joy and celebration, both for the Southern Resident orcas and the humans who love them. When all three pods...
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Rivers & Watersheds
During Orca Month in 2022, through stories and videos, we'll explore some of the watersheds and rivers that are essential to Pacific Northwest salmon and vitally important to the endangered Southern Resident orcas and a healthy marine ecosystem.
Dave Ellifrit
- Jun 30, 2021
Momma Says… A Short L35 Story from 1995
Clockwise top left: L1 and L35, L1 and L35, L35 Breach, L1 breach 1995, photo by Mindy Zushlag, L1 and L35 1995, L35 with rest of L pod...
Amy Eberling
- Jun 29, 2021
An Orca is an Orca
Many think an orca is an orca.
How lucky are we to know that couldn't be further from the truth.
Sara Hysong-Shimazu
- Jun 28, 2021
L25 Ocean Sun - The Babysitter
It was a foggy day out in the Strait of Juan de Fuca years ago when L119 was just about a year old and L113 was just a few years older....
John Boyd
- Jun 27, 2021
A Memorable Superpod Gathering
Superpod photo by John Boyd, Superpod recording by Monika Wieland Shields. I remember the day so vividly. We were on the west side near...
Ariel Yseth
- Jun 26, 2021
L121 Windsong
Windsong is very in tune with his surroundings, tactile and curious. I first met him in August of 2016 when he was a year and a half old....
Brooke McKinley
- Jun 25, 2021
L119 Joy
L119 Joy Story and Photos by Brooke McKinley After spending 15 years working on the Salish Sea as a whale watching naturalist, I have had...
Gayle Swigart
- Jun 24, 2021
L87 Onyx
On the Summer Solstice of 2015, friends and I received the words we anxiously await when on San Juan Island: orcas are northbound in Haro...
Orca Month
- Jun 23, 2021
L79 Skana, Chief of the Undersea World
In the late ‘’80’s and early ’90’s I would accompany my husband on his business trips to Vancouver, British Columbia. While he worked I...
Orca Month
- Jun 22, 2021
Beautiful Powerful, L57 Faith
L57 Faith Bonnie Gretz 9/4/06: I was on San Juan Island and out on a whale watch aboard Odyssey. On a warm, sunny day with glassy smooth...
Cindy Hansen
- Jun 21, 2021
The Extraordinary Life of K7 Lummi
Lummi, K7 was the monumental matriarch of K Pod, and one of the most easily recognizable whales in the Southern Resident community, with...
Bonnie Gretz
- Jun 20, 2021
Summer Solstice Superpod
6/21/08: In the afternoon, I was out on Western Prince. First we met up with some of J pod near Cattle Point, and then most of J, K and...
Ariel Yseth
- Jun 19, 2021
L82 Kasatka
What I love most about Kasatka is her calm, quiet presence. She is the oldest daughter and is really starting to take the reins of her...
Bonnie Gretz
- Jun 18, 2021
L43 Jelly Roll L95 Nigel
7/11/99: While attending "Whale School" in the San Juan Islands with a professor from Orange Coast College in California, Dennis Kelly, I...
Debbie Stewart
- Jun 17, 2021
K44 Ripple
It was a glorious Independence Day in 2011. Azure blue skies with a few wispy clouds provided a canopy over Tahoma and Kulshan bursting...
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