Report Sightings
Orca Network’s Whale Sighting Network collects and shares data on sightings of endangered Southern Resident orcas and other whales, dolphins, porpoise and unusual sightings. This data is shared with the public to encourage shore based whale watching. It is also shared with Washington State Ferries, the Navy, NOAA Fisheries and researchers. This data has helped inform scientists and managers of travel patterns and critical foraging areas for Southern Resident orcas and has documented recent changes in use of the Salish Sea by resident and Bigg’s/transient orcas, humpbacks and gray whales. It is also regularly used in comment letters regarding proposed projects in Southern Resident orca critical habitat and important foraging areas.
HOW TO REPORT - choose one of 4 ways:
WHAT TO REPORT - please provide:
Date
Time
Type of whale, dolphin, or porpoise (if uncertain please report as uncertain & describe)
If orcas: any adult males (5+ foot dorsal fin)? if so how many?
If orcas: open saddle patches?
Number of whales
Location of whale(s) – Body of water (for example Puget Sound, Elliot Bay, Admiralty Inlet, etc.), closest landmark (for example Point No Point, Bainbridge Isl., Sandy Point, etc.), city or town, or GPS coordinates. Please include where in channel - (for example: mid, east side, west side, etc.)
Direction of travel
Speed of travel: slow, medium, fast pace
ADDITIONAL DETAILS & behavioral observations add valuable data and insights:
Surface Active Behaviors: breach (launches body out of the water); spyhops; tail lobs; tail slaps; cartwheels
Traveling
Porpoising (high speed travel - body out of water, leaving wake or rooster tail)
Circling
Many directional changes (which can indicate hunting, milling, foraging)
Milling
Foraging
Feeding
Hunting
PHOTOS and/or VIDEOS help confirm species and individual/pod IDs etc. Highest resolution possible, but even lower res and cellphone photos can be good enough to confirm species.