In Orca: Shared Waters, Shared Home journalist Lynda V. Mapes explores the natural history of the orca and the unique challenges for survival of the Southern Resident group that frequents Puget Sound. These whales are among the most urban in the world, a focus of researchers, tourists, and politicians alike. Once referred to as "blackfish" and still known as "killer whales," orcas were for generations regarded as vermin to be avoided or exterminated, then later were captured live for aquariums all over the world. With greater exposure, scientists realized how intelligent the mammal is and are learning about their matriarchal family groups, vocalizations, behavior, and different subspecies. Today only 74 Southern Resident whales are left, and they are threatened by habitat degradation, lack of chinook salmon (their primary food source), relentless growth, and climate change. Can we reverse the trend?

Not on My Watch by Alexadra Morton
Alexandra Morton came north from California in the early 1980s, following her first love--the northern resident orca. In remote Echo Bay, in the Broughton Archipelago, she found the perfect place to settle into all she had ever dreamed of: a lifetime of observing and learning what these big-brained mammals are saying to each other. She was lucky enough to get there just in time to witness a place of true natural abundance, and learned how to thrive in the wilderness as a scientist and a single mother. Then, in 1989, industrial aquaculture moved into the region, chasing the whales away. Her fisherman neighbours asked her if she would write letters on their behalf to government explaining the damage the farms were doing to the fisheries, and one thing led to another. Soon Alex had shifted her scientific focus to documenting the infectious diseases and parasites that pour from the ocean farm pens of Atlantic salmon into the migration routes of wild Pacific salmon, and then to proving their disastrous impact on wild salmon and the entire ecosystem of the coast. Alex stood against the farms, first representing her community, then alone, and at last as part of an uprising that built around her as ancient Indigenous governance resisted a province and a country that wouldn't obey their own court rulings. She has used her science, many acts of protest and the legal system in her unrelenting efforts to save wild salmon and ultimately the whales--a story that reveals her own doggedness and bravery but also shines a bright light on the ways other humans doggedly resist the truth. Here, she brilliantly calls those humans to account for the sake of us all.

The Lost Whale: The True Story of an Orca Named Luna by Michael Parfit and Suzanne Chisholm
The heartbreaking and true story of a lonely orca named Luna who befriended humans in Nootka Sound, off the coast of Vancouver Island.

One summer in Nootka Sound on the west coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, a young killer whale called Luna got separated from his pod. Like humans, orcas are highly social and depend on their families, but Luna found himself desperately alone. So he tried to make contact with people. He begged for attention at boats and docks. He looked soulfully into people's eyes. He wanted to have his tongue rubbed. When someone whistled at him, he squeaked and whistled back. People fell in love with him, but the government decided that being friendly with Luna was bad for him, and tried to keep him away from humans.

A Puget Sound Orca in Captivity: The Fight To Bring Lolita Home by Sandra Pollard
On August 8, 1970, the Southern Resident orcas of Puget Sound were herded into Penn Cove on Whidbey Island by explosives, spotter planes and speedboats in a coordinated effort to capture seven young whales. Between 1964 and 1976, dozens of these now-endangered orcas were torn from their home and sent to marine parks around the globe. Just over a decade later, all but one had died. This lone survivor is Tokitae, also known as Lolita, and she's spent most of her life performing at the Miami Seaquarium. For twenty years, the Orca Network has called for her release, and now the indigenous Lummi Nation, People of the Sea, have joined the fight. Author Sandra Pollard chronicles the extraordinary effort to bring Tokitae home.

Puget Sound Whales for Sale: The Fight to End Orca Hunting by Sandra Pollard
Author and certified marine naturalist Sandra Pollard traces the story and destinies of the many Southern Resident orcas captured for commercial purposes in or near the Puget Sound between 1964 and 1976. During this time, these highly intelligent members of the dolphin family lost nearly one-third of their population.

The Killer Whale Who Changed the World by Mark Leiren-Young
The fascinating and heartbreaking account of the first publicly exhibited captive killer whale — a story that forever changed the way we see orcas and sparked the movement to save them.

Beneath the Surface: Killer Whales, SeaWorld, and the Truth Beyond Blackfish by John Hargrove
Over the course of two decades, John Hargrove worked with 20 different whales on two continents and at two of SeaWorld's U.S. facilities. For Hargrove, becoming an orca trainer fulfilled a childhood dream. However, as his experience with the whales deepened, Hargrove came to doubt that their needs could ever be met in captivity. When two fellow trainers were killed by orcas in marine parks, Hargrove decided that SeaWorld's wildly popular programs were both detrimental to the whales and ultimately unsafe for trainers.

Endangered Orcas: The Story of the Southern Residents by Monika Wieland-Shields
The Southern Resident killer whales are icons of the Pacific Northwest, a beloved population of orcas that are considered the most-watched whales in the world. Despite decades of research and focused conservation efforts, they are on the brink of extinction.

The Killer Whale Who Changed the World by Mark Leiren-Young
Killer whales had always been seen as bloodthirsty sea monsters. That all changed when a young killer whale was captured off the west coast of North America and displayed to the public in 1964. Moby Doll — as the whale became known — was an instant celebrity, drawing 20,000 visitors on the one and only day he was exhibited. He died within a few months, but his famous gentleness sparked a worldwide crusade that transformed how people understood and appreciated orcas. Because of Moby Doll, we stopped fearing “killers” and grew to love and respect “orcas.”

Orcas Everywhere: The Mystery and History of Killer Whales by Mark Leiren-Young
Orcas are found in every ocean on the planet. But can they survive their relationship with humans? Orcas Everywhere looks at how humans around the world (Indigenous and non-Indigenous alike) related to orcas in the past, how we relate to them now and what we can do to keep cetacean communities alive and thriving.

Into Great Silence: A Memoir of Discovery and Loss among Vanishing Orcas by Eva Saulitis
Ever since Eva Saulitis began her whale research in Alaska in the 1980s, she has been drawn deeply into the lives of a single extended family of endangered orcas struggling to survive in Prince William Sound. Over the course of a decades-long career spent observing and studying these whales, and eventually coming to know them as individuals, she has, sadly, witnessed the devastation wrought by the Exxon Valdez oil spill of 1989—after which not a single calf has been born to the group. With the intellectual rigor of a scientist and the heart of a poet, Saulitis gives voice to these vital yet vanishing survivors and the place they are so loyal to. Both an elegy for one orca family and a celebration of the entire species, Into Great Silence is a moving portrait of the interconnectedness of humans with animals and place—and of the responsibility we have to protect them.

Orca: How We Came to Know and Love the Ocean's Greatest Predator by Jason Colby
Historically reviled as dangerous pests, killer whales were dying by the hundreds, even thousands, by the 1950s… But that all changed in 1965, when Seattle entrepreneur Ted Griffin became the first person to swim and perform with a captive killer whale. Over the following decade, live display transformed views of Orcinus orca.

Of Orcas and Men: What Killer Whales Can Teach Us by David Neiwert
The orca—otherwise known as the killer whale—is one of earth’s most intelligent animals. Remarkably sophisticated, orcas have languages and cultures and even long-term memories, and their capacity for echolocation is nothing short of a sixth sense.

For Love of Orcas: An Anthology edited by by Andrew Shattuck McBride (Editor), Jill McCabe Johnson (Editor)
After the Southern Resident orca Tahlequah swam with her newly born dead calf for 17 days, scientists, poets, and writers responded to her grief and the plight of the endangered orcas in this moving anthology. Edited by poets Andrew Shattuck McBride and Jill McCabe Johnson, the anthology features poetry, essays, and environmental writing from more than ninety esteemed authors.

Death at SeaWorld - Shamu and the Dark Side of Killer Whales in Captivity by David Kirby
From the New York Times bestselling author of Evidence of Harm and Animal Factory — a groundbreaking scientific thriller that exposes the dark side of SeaWorld leading up Tilikum’s shocking violence.

The Sounding of the Whale: Science and Cetaceans in the Twentieth Century by D. Graham Burnett
With The Sounding of the Whale, D. Graham Burnett tells the fascinating story of the transformation of cetaceans from grotesque monsters, useful only as wallowing kegs of fat and fertilizer, to playful friends of humanity, bellwethers of environmental devastation, and, finally, totems of the counterculture in the Age of Aquarius. When Burnett opens his story, ignorance reigns: even Nature was misclassifying whales at the turn of the century, and the only biological study of the species was happening in gruesome Arctic slaughterhouses. But in the aftermath of World War I, an international effort to bring rational regulations to the whaling industry led to an explosion of global research—and regulations that, while well-meaning, were quashed, or widely flouted, by whaling nations, the first shot in a battle that continues to this day. The book closes with a look at the remarkable shift in public attitudes toward whales that began in the 1960s, as environmental concerns and new discoveries about whale behavior combined to make whales an object of sentimental concern and public adulation.

The Grandest of Lives by Douglas H. Chadwick
Wildlife biologist Chadwick's fascination with whales began when he found himself floating nose to nose with an inquisitive humpback off the coast of Maui. Since that heady experience, he has traveled the seas with whale researchers, becoming ever more enchanted with these great mammals. In this compelling book, he records what he has learned and observed of five whale species, including the humpback, described by Melville as "the most gamesome and light-hearted of all the whales"; the bottlenose, an exceptionally intelligent whale that can dive to great depths; and the orca, misnamed the "killer" whale, a very social whale that does not attack humans. As he observes the whales' habits and listens to the sounds they use to communicate with each other, Chadwick (The Fate of the Elephant) struggles to remain objective. But this is difficult. Whales have such a complex assortment of lifestyles, cultures and social relationships, it's hard to avoid anthropomorphizing them, especially since they seem to be as curious about humans as humans are about them. The author's enthusiasm for these extraordinary creatures effectively draws the reader into the whales' underwater environment and makes a powerful case for increased efforts to preserve that environment.

Togetherness is Our Home by Astrid Maria van Ginneken
Think of orcas, and you may instantly imagine the killer whales prowling the high seas in search of prey. Yet, these predators are much more than ruthless killers, and are in fact, complex creatures that feel and love within the groups they live. In pitch-perfect prose, orca expert Dr. Astrid M. van Ginneken puts the reader into the orca’s mind as she tells the story of the young killer whale Tuschka. Born in the wild, Tuschka learns the ways of her pod of fellow creatures and experiences the never-ending search for food, the joy of play, and the sadness of loss. But then Tuschka is mercilessly taken from her home waters and transferred to a marine park, where her only solace is a trust in her human trainers. Will she ever again join her family in the wild? Fascinating and heartfelt, this is a novel that is an astonishing account of the bonds between whales, and the relationship of man and orca. Astrid van Ginneken has co-directed research at the Center for Whale Research with Ken Balcomb each summer for nearly 20 years. Her expertise, attention to detail and effervescent personality have proved invaluable for maintaining the essential continuity of the photo-identification studies of the Southern Resident orca community. The resulting demographic information keeps us all aware of the overall health and welfare of this extended orca clan, and was crucial to the orcas' "endangered" listing under the ESA in November, 2005.

Togetherness Is Our Home tells the story of an orca in the course of her daily life, in her relationships with her family as they face the challenges of surviving in their habitat. Eventually her life interescts with humans who capture and train her for display in a marine park. When the time comes to return Tuschka to her home and family, the soul-searching and conflicts among the humans, and between the orcas, are intensely dramatic and brilliantly clarify the issues involved in reuniting a captive orca with the togetherness of her pod. The parallels with the continuing controversy about returning Lolita, the only surviving captive orca from the Southern Resident community, are clear and present on every breath-taking page. –Howard Garrett

Killer Whales: The Natural History and Genealogy of Orcinus Orca in British Columbia and Washington State by John K. B. Ford, Graeme M. Ellis, Kenneth C. Balcomb, III
The authors have been studying killer whales since the early 1970s. Led by the late Michael Bigg, they began photographing dorsal fins and the gray saddle patches at the base of the fins in order to identify individual whales. They present the latest information on killer whale natural history; suggestions on how, when, and where to best watch killer whales; and a catalog of some 300 photographs of "resident" killer whales which can be used to identify individuals and their family groups.

Transients : Mammal-Hunting Killer Whales of British Columbia, Washington, and Southeastern Alaska by John K. B. Ford, Graeme M. Ellis
Describes the natural history of killer whales and provides a catalogue of identification photographs for whale enthusiasts. With a focus on transient killer whales, Ford (director of marine mammal research, Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre and professor at the U. of British Columbia) and Ellis (marine mammal research technician, Pacific Biological Station) give the latest information on their feeding habits, social lives, and distribution patterns. The catalogue section contains color and b&w photographs of and notes on about 200 individual whales, and sidebars present interesting observations on encounters with transients as well as where and how to watch for them.

Beyond the Whales: The Photographs and Passions of Alexandra Morton by Alexandra Morton
Amazon’s Description: She arrived in the area in 1984 as a whale researcher, and at first, she was absorbed in studying the orca and admiring the magnificent scenery. It is a coast with a long history: dolphins have pulsed in and out for 10,000 years; First Nations people have lived here for almost as long; European settlers arrived a scant century ago. As time passed, Morton began to observe the lives of other creatures that share the sea and land—humpback whales, bears, salmon, eagles, deer, and humans—and understand how they are all interconnected. As one example, "Bears drag salmon beneath the trees of the forest, feeding the giant plants that shade the river nursery, protect its banks and allow it to make more fish." In this book Alexandra explains what is going on beyond the beauty of the images: "One of the joys of watching a place for 20 years is being able to read the signs upon the sea—bubbles on the surface mean tons of herring below; three birds over an orca mean the whale has brought fish to the surface; shearwaters in Blackfish Sound mean autumn is here. The ocean feeds the rivers and the rivers feed the ocean."

About the Author - Alexandra Morton is a biologist, photographer, artist, and writer who is well known for her slide shows, films, television appearances and books: Listening to Whales; Siwiti: A Whale’s Story; In the Company of Whales; and Heart of the Raincoast (co-written with Billy Proctor). She says of her home in the Broughton Archipelago, "It is my place on the planet."  

Operation Orca by Daniel Francis (Author), Gill Hewlett (Author)
Publisher's Description: Not many years ago, killer whales had a reputation that was even fiercer than their name. But in 1964 the Vancouver Aquarium obtained its first killer whale, Moby Doll, and for the first time the public got a personal look at one of these much-feared marine mammals. It was soon discovered that they were not the vicious man-eaters of legend. Attitudes began to change and today they are revered as loveable, intelligent creatures, iconic symbols of the marine environment.

In January 2002, a young killer whale was discovered alone in the waters of Puget Sound near Seattle. Determining that the whale would not survive alone so far from home, a team of scientists captured "Springer" and transported her by boat north to her home range where she rejoined her family.

At the same time Springer was making her historic journey, another lone whale turned up in Nootka Sound on the west coast of Vancouver Island. The people of Nootka Sound adopted "Luna" as their own, but he was a large, boisterous youngster who liked to cuddle boats and the government feared he would get into trouble. Another rescue was planned to return Luna to his family but this time there was no happy ending.

In Operation Orca, award-winning author Daniel Francis gives breadth to the complications, contradictions, and political posturing that twice engulfed the debate of whether to interfere or let nature take its course. Through the amazing story of these two "orphan" whales, Operation Orca tells the larger story of orcas in the Pacific Northwest, the people who have studied them and the transformation of the whale's image from killer to icon.

Orca Encounters by Rich Osborne (Foreword), Monika Wieland (Photographer)
Publisher's Description: "Encountering wild orcas is an unforgettable experience. Having them approach you within a few yards as you sit on shore and observing them as they travel in their family groups, hunt salmon, and play at the surface is indescribable. This book captures in images what cannot be put into words: intimate face-to-face meetings with one of the most charismatic, mysterious, and intriguing animals in the ocean. The Southern Resident Community of orcas lives in the Salish Sea near the San Juan Islands of Washington and the inland waters of British Columbia. Although they have intensively studied over the last several decades, there is still much about these intelligent, social creatures that remains unknown. Recently listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act, this population of whales represents the wild ecosystem of the Pacific Northwest. This collection of photographs gives you a glimpse into the lives of J-, K-, and L-Pods."

Between Species: Celebrating the Dolphin-Human Bond by Toni Frohoff (Editor), Brenda Peterson (Editor)
Publisher's Description: Dolphins and humans have always been curious about each other, and since ancient times the kinship between our species has been celebrated across cultures and continents in myth, art, literature, and science. Only recently, however, have we gone beyond our own view of this interspecies connection and begun to ask: What might this bond look like from the dolphins' perspective?

Now, Between Species brings together for the first time eminent scientists and gifted writers to help shed light on this intriguing question. The book selections range from tales of transforming dolphin encounters to views on how to protect cetaceans and their habitats, and from poems honoring dolphins to provocative critiques of swim-with-the-dolphins programs and acoustic pollution. Pieces include an interview with Jean-Michel Cousteau, Diane Ackerman's essay on "deep play" with a wild dolphin; Marc Bekoff's ethical questions concerning our intrusion in dolphins' lives; and the late Dr. John Lilly's call for a "Cetacean Nation."

This groundbreaking anthology not only explores the depths and beauty of the dolphin-human bond but encourages new generations to respect the complexities and responsibilities inherent in such interspecies kinship. Dr. Sylvia Earle of The National Geographic Society has commented: BETWEEN SPECIES combines the deep wisdom of science, the magic of poetry, and the perspective of history in a rare and moving tribute to the natural affinity people have for dolphins and vice versa. A treasure-trove of information, it is a valuable volume for all who care about the ocean.

Contributors: Diane Ackerman, Ph.D.; Giovanni Bearzi, Marc Bekoff, Ph.D., Leigh Calvez, Rochelle Constantine, Ph.D., Jean-Michel Cousteau (interview), Horace Dobbs, Ph.D., Kathleen Dudzinski, Ph.D., Cathy Englehart, Toni Frohoff, Ph.D., Howard Garrett, Oz Goffman, Linda Hogan, Erich Hoyt, Cathy Kinsman, John Lilly, M.D., Christina Lockyer, Ph.D., Ashley Montagu, Ph,D., Sy Montgomery, Monica Müller, Ph.D., Jim Nollman, Mark Orams, Ph.D., Brenda Peterson, Naomi Rose, Ph.D., Marcos Santos, Betsy Smith, Ph.D., Paul Spong, Ph.D, Helena Symonds, Lindy Weilgart, Ph.D., Pat Weyer, Ph.D., Richard Wilbur, Ben White, Bernd Würsig, Ph.D., Melany Würsig, Joana McIntyre Varawa, Suzanne Yin, and Sharon Young.

Sperm Whales: Social Evolution in the Ocean by Hal Whitehead
Famed in story as "the great leviathans," sperm whales are truly creatures of extremes. Giants among all whales, they also have the largest brains of any creature on Earth. Males can reach a length of sixty-two feet and can weigh upwards of fifty tons.

With this book, Hal Whitehead gives us a clearer picture of the ecology and social life of sperm whales than we have ever had before. Based on almost two decades of field research, Whitehead describes their biology, behavior, and habitat; how they organize their societies; and how their complex lifestyles may have evolved in this unique environment. Among the many fascinating topics he explores is the crucial role that culture plays in the life of the sperm whale, and he traces the consequences of this argument for both evolution and conservation. Finally, drawing on these findings, Whitehead builds a general model of how the ocean environment influences social behavior and cultural evolution among mammals as well as other animals.

A Sea Less Traveled by Patrick Pillsbury.
“Join Patrick and the Bon Accord on this introspective journey through the San Juan Islands and ponder the questions that arise while cruising through this urban wilderness. Patrick explores the inter-connectedness of all things in Northwest Island life—from the forests that provided the planks for the Bon Accord, to the salmon that nourished those forests and the future of the salmon runs that nourish the Orcas—leading us to the hard questions about the impacts of an ever-increasing and consumptive human population on the land, waters, and whales we love so dearly. An honest, sincere look at the issues and threats our islands and whales face each day, and the importance of education about the fragility of this entire ecosystem if we want to preserve it for future generations.” —Susan Berta, Orca Network

“A Sea Less Traveled—a voyage of one man’s reawakening to a sense of wonder. An honest search for reconciliation between the desire to pursue others’ happiness through the pursuit of the Orcas and the knowledge that the pursuit may be threatening the whales, their home, and everything that makes the San Juan Islands a special place of magic.” —Kari Koski, Soundwatch, The Whale Museum

Orca, the Whale Called Killer by Erich Hoyt, Susan Dickinson (Editor), Susan Brody (Editor)
Even 20 years after the first edition, this is by far the best book on orca that is out there so far. Informative, enthralling and insightful. Eric tells of his personal introduction to the mysterious and amazing orcas. This book also has appendix containing comprehensive info on captive whales all over the world.

Namu, Quest for the Killer Whale by Ted Griffin
The quest to befriend a killer what at a time when most people believed the worthless deadly predators, causing many to doubt his sanity.
Perhaps inadvertently the author describes how orcas would devise evasive maneuvers to avoid capture, including learning the noises made by the capture boats and sending decoy whales to distract the boats while mothers with young went elsewhere. Also the brutal killing of the mother of the first Shamu is told. Missing is .remorse for these assaults on orcas.

Killer Whale Saga of Miracle by Paul Jeune
The true and incredible story of a tortured and starving baby whale and the fisherman who would not let her die - a most dramatic and moving account of wildlife rescue! This little whale was discovered in a small cove on the British Columbia coast.

Freeing Keiko: The Journey of a Killer Whale from Free Willy to the Wild by Kenneth Brower
Captured as a two-year-old calf off the coast of Iceland in 1979 by a fishing vessel, the killer whale who would become Keiko was soon sent to North America, struggling for many of his early years in captivity. Sent to live at an amusement park in Mexico City, the orca languished in a tank too small, in water too warm, and received an improper diet—and was soon beset by a vicious skin virus. But after he starred in director Richard Donner’s hit film Free Willy in 1993, Keiko gained international celebrity as the most famous marine mammal in the world, as millions learned of his plight. With the help of a dedicated team of environmentalists led by the Earth Island Institute and $7.5 million from the deep pockets of eccentric cellular-phone billionaire Craig McCaw, he was rescued from his critical illness and installed in a $7.3-million facility in Oregon that was designed to prepare him for a return to the wild. In a move that would cause controversy within the scientific, environmental, and marine park communities, he ultimately would return to his native Iceland where a team of keepers would attempt to release him, making the cinematic story that had captivated the world’s children a reality.

Whales and Dolphins of the North American Pacific by Graeme Cresswell, Dylan Walker, Todd Pusser
Whales and Dolphins of the North American Pacific is the most comprehensive photographic guide to the marine mammals of the North American Pacific (Baja California, Mexico to South East Alaska), covering all 38 species of cetacean (whales, dolphins and porpoises), six species of seals and sea lions, and the sea otter.

Whales and Dolphins of the North American Pacific covers each species' key identification features and includes information on behaviour, status and distribution. Colour distribution maps and full-colour artwork accompanies the text for each species. The book's 38 remarkable colour plates depict typical views of cetaceans at sea, including images of some species never previously published.
Whales and Dolphins of the North American Pacific provides extensive information on where, when and how to go whalewatching and a guide to the best places to watch, including four accounts of outstanding days on the water. There are additional chapters on the geography, climate and oceanography of the North American Pacific.

Eye of the Whale : Epic Passage from Baja to Siberia by Dick Russell
If there is an Ishmael for our time, it is Dick Russell. As Ishmael told the story of the sperm whales in the killing time of the great whaling fleets, Russell paints the panorama of gray whales today – from their persecution to their amazing comeback, from their extraordinary migration to their engaging lifeways, from our love affair with whales to the peril we place them in with modern commerce. Dick Russell is our Ishmael all right, and Captain Scammon is his Ahab, in a magnificent yarn of human and natural history that Melville himself would read with gusto and praise to the skies like a whale’s high blow. Look into this big bright eye, and prepare to be struck to the heart. —Robert Michael Pyle, author of "Chasing Monarchs"

Mission at Stellwagen by Donald Angell
The story of Walter Jaspers, a marine mammal researcher. Things are looking up for him and his expedition to Cape Cod, as he has everything he needs to make this round of research a successful one. He has the people, the supplies, and the mind to accomplish what he wants most; if only he had the time. Mission at Stellwagen is an intriguing novel of science, highly recommended.
Mission At Stellwagen is totally engrossing! The main theme - that whales might be capable of mental feats far surpassing conventional scientific wisdom - flies into the nearly total inability of many biologists to even discuss such possibilities. While I don't read many novels, I liked the vivid imagery and shocking plot turns in this excellent story.
-Howard Garrett, WA. President of the Orca Network

Whales and Dolphins in Question by James G. Mead and Joy P. Gold
This comprehensive book is a collective response to thousands of letters and phone calls received annually by the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. Students, teachers, and scientists all have amazingly varied questions about whales and dolphins, and the most revealing inquiries are presented here with detailed answers.

Gray Whales: Wandering Giants by Robert H. Busch
With 80 color photographs, this well researched natural history of the gray whale includes chapters on conservation, whaling, aboriginal life and mythology.

Encyclopedia of Animal Behavior : [Three Volumes] Edited by Marc Bekoff
Like any encyclopedia, this one is organized alphabetically. Some 290 experts in the field contributed essays on everything from Aggressive Behavior to Play, from Siblicide to Zoos. There also are sidebars with titles like "Amusing Tales of Animal Mind," lots of black-and-white photos and illustrations, and a few color photographs in each volume. And the entire thing is pleasantly accessible, readable and informative.

The Encyclopedia of Animal Behavior will utterly engross anyone who is interested in animals and wants to know how they are like and unlike humans. It's certainly the kind of book that every reasonable library should have available for student research, and it's nice to see the field getting this kind of serious attention.

Included in this encyclopedia under "Culture" is an article by Orca Network board president Howard Garrett on culture in some animals, along with a sidebar on the successful reunion of Springer, an orca calf who rejoined her family after a year's absence.

Sierra Club Handbook of Whales and Dolphins by Stephen Leatherwood, Randall Reeves, Larry Foster (Illustrator)
Included is a map of the world that divides the oceans into 8 zones for convenience in discussing geographic ranges of the animals covered in the text.

The book includes overview material on the ecology and natural history of whales and dolphins. It also has a section dedicated to each individual species. Each species section includes an extremely nice painting of the animal, BW photographs, a narative description, and information on the animal's range, behavior, natural history, and conservation status. Overall an excellent handbook on the cetacea.

Listening to Wild Dolphins : Learning Their Secrets for Living With Joy by Bobbie Sandoz
This story unfolds in three phases. First, the author befriends the dolphins and observes how they embody the characteristics of the higher self: kindness, joy, harmony, wisdom, clarity, and mystery. Second, she notices that the dolphins are communicating telepathically with her. Finally, she transfers to the human sphere what she has learned - that adopting the spirit of the dolphins can lead to joy.

Whales and Dolphins of the World by Mark Simmonds
Whales, dolphins, and porpoises have fascinated humankind for centuries. Amazingly diverse, they have evolved specializations that allow them, despite being air-breathing mammals, to exploit habitats ranging from surface waters to ocean depths. Whales and Dolphins of the World is a celebration of the variety (more than 80 species), behavior, and natural history of these remarkable animals. Stunningly illustrated by 180 color photographs, it describes what we know of their lives, including feeding, reproduction, communication, and social structures, and surveys the factors that affect them, from hunting to pollution. The book explores the strong relationship between our species and theirs, with a look at dolphin therapy and the pros and cons of whale-watching. It details the forces that threaten whales, dolphins, and porpoises, including hunting, whaling, fisheries, pollution, and habitat destruction, and also describes the conservation actions that must take place in the twenty-first century to save them. A color map of the world highlights the waters in which whales and dolphins are found.

Whales and Other Marine Mammals of Washington and Oregon by Tamara Eder
This beautiful full-color book features photos, illustrations and range maps, as well as notes on conservation status, displays, similar species and more. The rugged coasts of Washington and Oregon offer some of the best whale-watching opportunities in the world. Our bays, straits and sounds are prime habitat for 32 species of marine mammals, and people come from all over for close-up views of Orcas, Gray Whales, Humpback Whales and Dall's Porpoises. The marine mammals are grouped and color-coded: gray whales, rorquals, right whales, dolphins, porpoises, beaked whales, dwarf sperm whales, sperm whales, eared seals, walruses, hair seals and otters. Whale accounts feature graphics of dive sequences to assist with identification.

Whales, Dolphins, and Porpoises of the Eastern North Pacific and Adjacent Arctic Waters : A Guide to Their Identification by Stephen Leatherwood, Randall R. Reeves, William F. Perrin, W. Evans
This manual contains the technical information necessary for distinguishing similar species at sea. Numerous black-and-white photos show all important field characteristics. Detailed analysis of the field characteristics separating the various large Balaenopterids is especially useful.

A Guide to Marine Mammals of Greater Puget Sound by Richard Osborne, John Calambokidis, Eleanor M. Dorsey, Illustrations by Albert Shepard and Ed Newbold

Field Guide to the Orca by American Cetacean Society, Chuck Flaherty, David G. Gordon

National Audubon Society Field Guide to Marine Mammals of the World by Pieter A. Folkens (Illustrator), Randall R. Reeves (Editor) Photographs, drawings and paintings combine with maps, charts and essays to provide not only data but also insight into the behavior of these highly evolved and specialized animals. The introduction provides a general guide to marine mammals: their habitat, behavior, reproduction, diet and conservation status. The individual articles are packed with facts about each species and the best ways to find and identify them in the wild. The articles also describe ways of identifying similar species whose ranges overlap. Among this guide's best features are the appendixes, which break down the species by region and offer a chart of species morphology and an illustrated glossary. This book is ideal for students and amateur animal watchers. Color illus. and paintings, maps.

Whale Rescue: Changing The Future For Endangered Wildlife by Erich Hoyt
This book covers whale physiology, diet, lifespan, complex behaviors and habitats. Specific whale species covered in detail are: - Gray whales - Humpback whales - Blue whales - Sperm whales - Right whales - Orca whales.

Whale conservationists and their efforts to protect whale populations are profiled. Also addressed are the pros and cons of extreme measures used against illegal whalers, such as ramming whaling boats and destroying fishnets. A full list of organizations dedicated to protecting whales is provided for readers who want to help.

Guardians of the Whales: The Quest to Study Whales in the Wild by Bruce Obee, Graeme Ellis (photographer). Tales of the history of North Pacific whale research, profiles of whale researchers and their latest findings on the magnificent creatures they follow, from humpback, to gray, to orca.

The Lives of Whales and Dolphins : From the American Museum of Natural History by Richard Conner, Dawn Micklewaite Peterson
An informative look at the compelling world of whales and dolphins from Connor, vice president of the Shark Bay Research Foundation, and Peterson, a freelance science writer. Connor and Peterson paint a broad canvas of the cetacean's natural history, including conjecture and theory. It describes cetacean social dynamics: from tender courting rituals to domestic tendings and squabbles, from extraordinary displays of cooperation and affection to what can only be understood as gang behavior--hooligans looking for trouble. There are loners, too, as Connor and Peterson note, rebels among the compassionate midwives, protective circlers, and baby sitters. But this is also a hardheaded science text with comparative anatomy, orientation and navigation techniques, migration routes, foraging activities, and measures of intelligence prominently figuring in the text. And cetacean communication skills--those clusters of whistles, clicks, pops, growls, and moans now available on audio cassette--receive up-to-date ponderings. A thorough and engaging overview of magnetic creatures that have kept humans lost in amazement for thousands of years.

Orca - Visions of the Killer Whale by Peter Knudtson, with foreword by David Suzuki
From a discussion of orca evolution to an examination of their anatomical, physiological, and behavioral development, this book creates a compelling portrait of these majestic, magnificent creatures. A reverent and scientific explication of the orca whale, combining both cultural and historical perspectives with the biological facts, Knudtson discusses tribal identification with the orca, compares the intelligent whale to landlocked humans and wolves, and describes in detail the hunting, mating, and communication talents of the orca whale. Beautiful color photographs enhance the text. Illustrated with 55 dramatic, full-color photos.  

The Killer Whales of Prince William Sound by Craig Matkin, 1994.

Animal Heart by Brenda Peterson
Isabel Spinner is a forensic wildlife pathologist with a mystical oceanic heritage living on the Oregon coast. She's involved with Marshall, whose life is saved by the heart of a baboon. His disorienting visions of baboon life on the African savannah complicate the investigation of a tragic mass stranding of dolphins and whales caused by secret tests of low-frequency active radar the U.S. Navy is conducting. This highly controversial new weapon has actually proven to be brutally deadly to marine life. Peterson's plot also revolves around primates subjected to genetic-engineering experiments and chimps who know sign language. This engrossing tale delivers Peterson's fact-checked portrayal of animals, her compassionate view of eco-activism, and profound insights into the realities of our bonds with other species.

Sightings: The Gray Whales' Mysterious Journey by Brenda Peterson, co-authored with Linda Hogan
For 50 million years, the gray whale—the most ancient of all great whales—has evolved along the western shores of North America. Its 10,000-mile migration from its summer feeding grounds in the Bering Sea to its winter birthing lagoons in Baja, Mexico, represents a timeless story—one that exceeds the rational boundaries of science and speaks to many worlds, both human and cetacean.

In Sightings, celebrated Chicksaw writer Linda Hogan and acclaimed novelist and naturalist Brenda Peterson look at the rich past and divisive present of the gray whale, including the conflict between environmentalists who seek to protect the species and Native American tribes who traditionally hunt them. The authors illuminate as never before the complex and fascinating perspectives that surround this monumental migration—from tribal members, scientists, and fishermen to eco-warriors, businessmen, and historical whalers. Suffused with the authors’ lyricism and clear-eyed passion, Sightings is a revelatory, often haunting, and altogether triumphant amalgam of accessible science, compelling history, incisive anthropology, and powerhouse storytelling.

Singing to the Sound: Visions of Nature, Animals & Spirit by Brenda Peterson

Whether she is discussing her wind-rattled studio on the shore of Puget Sound or her deep relationships with marine and land animals, Peterson writes with spiritual maturity and environmental authority. Each passionate story examines the way humans commune or collide with the natural world, so that a pearl of wisdom is always found beneath the surface. One chapter, Listening to the Sea Breathing, tells of Paul Spong and Helena Symonds tuning in to orca conversations as the whales glide through Johnstone Strait.

Listening to Whales: What the Orcas Have Taught Us by Alexandra Morton
For the past twenty-five years, Alexandra Morton has been at the forefront of whale and dolphin research, dedicating her life to the study of orcas (also known as killer whales). Now in Listening to Whales, Morton shares the spellbinding story of her career, her adventures in the wilderness, the heartbreak she has endured, and the rewards of living her life on her own terms.

Born into an artistic family in Connecticut, Morton experienced a seismic jolt when at age twelve she first read the work of primatologist Dr. Jane Goodall and knew she wanted to study wild animals. Soon afterward, listening for the first time to orcas communicating with each other, she knew she had found her life work. In the late 1970s, while working at California’s Marineland, Alexandra pioneered the recording of whale sounds by dropping a hydrophone into the tank of two kille whales. She recorded the varied language of mating, childbirth, and even grief after the birth of a stillborn calf. At the same time she made the startling observation that the whales were inventing and perfecting wonderful synchronized movements, a behavior that was soon recognized as a defining characteristic of orca society.

In 1978, Alexandra moved with her husband, photographer Robin Morton, to a remote bay in British Columbia to continue her research with wild orcas. For a few idyllic years, Alexandra and Robin shared their passion for whales, cruising the green northern waters and raising a baby boy. But tragedy struck when Robin died in a terrible accident while filming orcas underwater. Only the love of her son and her abiding dedication to whale research gave Alexandra the strength to continue her groundbreaking work. Her recordings of the whales that swim by her house have led her to a deeper understanding of the mystery of whale echolocation, that enables the mammals to find their way in the dark sea. She continues to be among the renowned researchers attempting to break down the barriers of interspecies communication.

At once an inspiring story of a woman’s determination to live her life on her own terms and a fascinating study of the profound communion between humans and whales, this book will open your eyes anew to the wonders of the natural world.

Born and raised in Connecticut, Alexandra Morton began her career in marine mammal research in 1976, when she moved to California to work for noted dolphin researcher, Dr. John C. Lilly. Since 1984 she has lived on the isolated central British Columbia coast, where she studies and records the language and habits of the various pods of orcas that swim the waters there.

The Presence of Whales: Contemporary Writings on the Whale by Frank Stewart (Editor). Stewart's contemporary essays on whales blends works by marine scientists and nature writers who share both science and their personal experiences with whales. Enjoy an exceptionally diverse collection of insights and works which creates a well-rounded portrait of whales.

Among Whales by Roger Payne
Roger Payne is an advocate, poet, explorer, and musician and a leading expert on whales. Among Whales gives us perspectives from cetology, cultural mythology, philosophy, and literature, including questions about the composition of seawater, whales' songs, and the human brain. The appendix includes a primer of ocean acoustics.

Orcas, Eagles and Kings by Steve Yates
The long body of water formed by Puget Sound, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and Georgia Strait has one of the richest marine environments in the world and a fascinating geological and human history. Orcas, Eagles and Kings guides readers through this unique and spectacular ecosystem. Yates's book features 180 full-color photographs by locally an nationally respected photographers, including Edward S. Curtis and Art Wolfe.

My Story As Told by Water by David James Duncan
When David James Duncan was growing up in suburban Portland, Oregon, he had no river to call his own, so he would routinely create one by flooding his mother's garden with a hose. He would then revel in his creation until he received the inevitable scolding. The poor kid couldn't help himself: "Running water ... felt as necessary to me as food, sleep, parents, and air," he explains. In time, he exchanged his nozzle for a fly rod and went in search of grander gardens, eventually developing an "interior coho compass" which he has traveled by ever since.

In the Company of Whales: From the Diary of a Whalewatcher by Alexandra Morton
Morton is a whale watcher who "supports her research through her writings, photography and artwork," records her observations of groups (pods) of orca that frequent the waters near her home. Her observations reveal much about the creatures' behavior, and by introducing the beasts by name ("often these names refer to a mark or shape on the whale"), she give readers a captivatingly intimate view. Boxed insets deliver a wealth of facts about the animals as well as how scientists study them, and the many photographs capture them in their native habitat. A book that brings us amazingly close to understanding the behavior of one of nature's most majestic creatures.

For Young Readers:

Granny's Clan by Sally Hodson
Just imagine - you are a young orca whale. Your special friends are two cousins and your 100 year-old great grandmother, the clan leader. You learn to play with them, face danger with them, hunt with them - and even go people-watching with them! Based on actual orca, or killer whale, research, this book combines science with the real story of how family, friendship, and a grandmother's love are helping this magnificent but endangered orca clan to survive.

Davy's Dream by Paul Owen Lewis
Davy dreams of sailing with a pod of wild orca, the famous killer whales or "wolves of the sea." Ignoring the discouraging words of the townspeople, Davy struggles to find a way to make his dream a reality. His first attempts fail, but he eventually proves that dreams pursued can come true.

Storm Boy by Paul Owen Lewis An adaptation from traditional oral sources of the Haida and Tlingit peoples of the northwest coast of North America, this adventure story concerns a chief's young son who is thrown from a canoe and finds himself on the shore of a strange village. Welcomed as a "son of a chief from above," the boy joins the welcome celebration, learns the dances of his hosts, and teaches his rescuers the dances of his own people. When he returns to his native village, he is greeted with joy because he was believed drowned. Because the narrative style is direct and concrete and the book design is so effective (the type is large and readable; the paintings fill double-page spreads), the tale is worth reading aloud. The artwork is powerful and arresting: large geometric shapes and strong details in red, white, and black reflect the ceremonial art of the Haida and Tlingit. Extensive notes are provided. Winner of the American Book Award, Washington State Governor's Award, Best Children's Book of the Pacific Northwest, and also a PBS "Storytime" selection. Full color.

For Scientists:

Marine Protected Areas for Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises: A World Handbook for Cetacean Habitat Conservation by Erich Hoyt
Hoyt makes clear that Marine Protected Areas offer a realistic and informed approach to immediate and future marine conservation. The science and logistics are complex, but the theory behind MPAs is simple. It's a holistic approach to conservation in which single factors are considered cumulatively, rather than individually. So for example, the effects of all human activities in one area (say, fishing, recreational boating and waste management) are considered all together, not just for one particular species but on the entire local ecosystem, from whale to coral reef to microorganism. The emphasis is strongly on the management of human activities.

Handbook of Marine Mammals: The Second Book of Dolphins and the Porpoises (Handbook of Marine Mammals, Vol 6) S. H. Ridgway (Editor), R. Harrison (Editor)
Some of the world's most beautiful, intelligent and highly adapted mammals inhabit our seas and oceans, and have stirred the human imagination for many centuries. As our knowledge of marine mammals grows, the need exists for a reliable and complete reference to the ecology and biology of these fascinating creatures. The Handbook of Marine Mammals series was founded with this in mind and now reaches its conclusion with this sixth and final volume. Within the pages of this classic series, scientists, conservationists and informed layperson alike can find the definitive review of all the world's whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, sea lions, and related species as well as sea otters and sea cows.

Volume 6 covers the remaining dolphins and porpoises in a series of 17 chapters, each written by a specialist author with extensive personal research experience of the species. Each chapter provides a description of the species, and includes sections on the aspects of distribution and abundance, anatomy, physiology, behavior, reproduction, parasites and diseases and the impact of human activity on the animal's population and well-being. Numerous maps, photos and drawings illustrate the text.

Marine Mammal Biology; an Evolutionary Approach A Rus Hoelzel (Editor)
This book provides a general introduction to the biology of marine mammals, and an overview of the adaptations that have permitted mammals to succeed in the marine environment. Each chapter, written by experts in their field, will provide an up-to-date review and present the major discoveries and innovations in the field. Important technical advances such as satellite telemetry and time-depth-recorders will be described in boxes.

Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals William F. Perrin (Editor), Bernd Wursig (Editor), J. G. M. Thewissen (Editor)
The Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals is a comprehensive, scientifically accurate work devoted to all aspects of marine mammals, including their anatomy, physiology, evolution, behavior, reproduction, ecology, and disease, as well as issues of exploitation, conservation, and management. Special emphasis is given to marine mammal interaction with humans. Each article is authoritative and up to date, prepared by one or more internationally recognized experts on the topic.

Biology of Marine Mammals
John E., III Reynolds (Editor), Sentiel A. Rommel (Editor) Taking an integrated approach to the biology of marine carnivores, cetaceans, and sirenians, twenty-two prominent researchers compare marine mammals with one another and with terrestrial mammals, providing a framework for fundamental biological and ecological concepts.
Scientific advances in the study of marine mammals such as whales, seals manatees, otters, polar bears, and dolphins have increased exponentially in recent decades, yet few books have fully surveyed the biology of this group. As an introduction for students, a reference for professionals in related fields, and a comprehensive resource for marine mammal biologists and managers, Biology of Marine Mammals provides a wealth of information that can be broadly applied.

Marine Mammals: Evolutionary Biology by Annalisa Berta, James L. Sumich, Pieter Arend Folkens (Illustrator)
Designed both as an advanced text and as a reference for professionals, this book employs a comparative phylogenic approach to marine mammal diversity. By establishing an evolutionary framework for the principal lineages, it provides a phylogenic context for chapters on major organ systems, diving physiology, diet, sound production and echolocation, reproductive behavior, and conservation.

Conservation and Management of Marine Mammals by John R. Twiss (Editor), Randall R. Reeves (Editor)
Emphasizing the complex and diverse issues surrounding the conservation of marine mammals, 31 scholars, researchers, and conservationists review the history, current status, and future implications of national and international marine mammal legislation, the concept of ecosystem management, interactions of marine mammals with fisheries, the contemporary whaling debate, and public attitudes toward marine mammals.

Marine Mammals: Biology and Conservation by Peter G. H. Evans (Editor), Juan Antonio Raga (Editor)
The field of marine mammal science has made enormous strides in the last ten years as well as attracting a large amount of interest, due no doubt to the public appeal of whales, dolphins, and seals, which are never out of media attention. The purpose of this book is to review key topics through chapters on the major disciplines from invited authorities around the world. Subjects covered include evolution and genetics, life histories, ecology, physiology, behaviour, medicine (diseases, parasitology), survey methodology, and all the main conservation issues (pollution, fisheries interactions, and sound disturbance). The book has an ecological and conservation emphasis since these are subject areas calling for the most attention in the modern world, but other areas such as evolution, physiology, and medicine are also given in-depth treatment. The book is written at the level of the undergraduate or above, although its style should appeal to anyone with a serious interest in marine mammal science.

CRC Handbook of Marine Mammal Medicine, Second Edition by Leslie A. Dierauf (Editor), Frances M. D. Gulland (Editor)

Cetacean Societies by Janet Mann (Editor), Richard C. Connor (Editor), Peter L. Tyack (Editor), Hal Whitehead (Editor). Contributors are Robin Baird, Phillip Clapham, Jenny Christal, Richard Connor, Janet Mann, Andrew Read, Randall Reeves, Amy Samuels, Peter Tyack, Linda Weilgart, Hal Whitehead, Randall S. Wells, and Richard Wrangham.
Long-lived, slow to reproduce, and often hidden beneath the water's surface, whales and dolphins (cetaceans) have remained elusive subjects for scientific study even though they have fascinated humans for centuries. Until recently, much of what we knew about cetaceans came from commercial sources such as whalers and trainers for dolphin acts. Innovative research methods and persistent efforts, however, have begun to penetrate the depths to reveal tantalizing glimpses of the lives of these mammals in their natural habitats.

Cetacean Societies presents the first comprehensive synthesis and review of these new studies. Groups of chapters focus on the history of cetacean behavioral research and methodology; state-of-the-art reviews of information on four of the most-studied species: bottlenose dolphins, killer whales, sperm whales, and humpback whales; and summaries of major topics, including group living, male and female reproductive strategies, communication, and conservation drawn from comparative research on a wide range of species. Written by some of the world's leading cetacean scientists, this landmark volume will benefit not just students of cetology but also researchers in other areas of behavioral and conservation ecology as well as anyone with a serious interest in the world of whales and dolphins. A common theme runs through many chapters of this book, suggesting that individual-specific social relationships may be important elements of the social behavior of many dolphins and toothed whales.