Recent whale sightings in the Salish Sea

In and around the Salish Sea, including Puget Sound, Northwest Straits, Gulf Islands and Georgia Strait, and along the Pacific coast.

To find viewpoints along shorelines from Deception Pass to Olympia, go to:
Whale Sightings Viewpoints Map Page

To report whales please go to the Orca Network Sightings Report Page.

SIGHTINGS
with Summary Map Below

Sightings through May 18th include:

SUMMARY

Bigg's Killer Whales - T46Bs, T90s, T123s, and T124A2s.

Humpbacks - BCY0660 "Raptor", BCY0324 "Big Mama" 2006 calf "Split Fluke" and 2016 calf "Pop Tart", BCX1057 "Divot" 2018 calf "Olympus", Sparrow/Casper BCXuk2012#6 calf 2016.

Gray Whales - Some North Puget Sound gray whales ("Sounders") are still around the Whidbey Basin bulking up on ghost shrimp before heading out of the Salish Sea. ID'd grays in this report: CRC- 44, 185, 531, 723, 1364, and 2356.

VENTS/ARTICLES/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Event: Orca Month Kick-Off - SUNDAY, JUNE 6, 2021 AT 11 AM PDT

Join the Orca Salmon Alliance as we kick off the 15th annual Orca Month. This year’s theme “We Are Family” underscores the distinct connection between Southern Resident orca lives and human lives while recognizing the whales’ individual community, strong family bonds, and unique culture.

The virtual kick-off event is emceed by Alan Budwill of the Kent and Alan radio show, and includes:

- Presentations by Washington Poet Laureate Rena Priest, Washington Representative Debra Lekanoff, and California U.S. Representative Jared Huffman

- Narrated video footage of Southern Resident orcas

- Research webinar with Ken Balcomb of the Center for Whale Research and Mike Ford of NOAA Fisheries

- Video series – Southern Resident Orca research updates

- Video series – Zoom Around the World with Orcas

Register for the event here!

Langley Whale Center: We will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., May 20th, 23rd, 24th, 27th, 29th, and 31st. Always FREE Admission! For updates call message phone at 360-221-7505.

Your support enables Orca Network to continue our work to connect people & whales, educate & inspire people to take action, and collect & disseminate data for research & education.

With Gratitude!
Orca Network

FOR REAL-TIME WHALE SIGHTINGS FOLLOW OUR FACEBOOK PAGE ~

Tue, May 18 - Strait of Juan de Fuca

Had 3 T's inside Port Angeles Harbor. By the time I got there, they were outside heading west. Stopped just a little east of the mill, doing a lot of surface activity. Assuming they were chasing porpoise or seabirds ...Looked like a mom, a young male and a smaller calf...one had a pretty distinct notch on the right fluke. [Maybe the T75Bs and Cs per Melisa Pinnow]
Alethea Leddy

Orca Network is a 501 c3 nonprofit organization, dedicated to raising awareness about the whales of the Pacific Northwest, and the importance of providing them healthy and safe habitats.

Orca Network's Whale Sighting Network involves citizens in helping researchers track the movement of whales, and encourages people to observe whales from their homes, businesses, ferries, and shorelines.

Whale reports are sent in to our Sighting Network and emailed out to researchers, agencies, and citizens on our network, and posted on our website (MAP of sightings also on website) and social media pages. Whale reports and observations are sent in by a variety of sources, and while we do our best to obtain accurate species and individual IDs, Orca Network does not guarantee the accuracy of any report or whale identification.

Report Sightings to Orca Network:

• Call 1-866-ORCANET (1-866-672-2639)

• Email info@orcanetwork.org

• Post to our Facebook page

• Please include: Date/Time - Species (describe if unknown) - # of Animals - Location of Cetacean(s) - Direction of Travel - Behaviors

Visit Orca Network's Langley Whale Center - Whidbey Island:

• Location: 105 Anthes Ave, Langley, WA 98260

• Telephone: 1-360-221-7505

• Hours: Please call for weekly days/hours during the pandemic.

• Museum: Exhibits - Specimens - Educational Materials - Lending Library - Movies to view

• Gift Shop: Books - DVDs & CDs - Field Guides - Clothing - Jewelry & more

Be Whale Wise:

All marine mammals are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Killer whales have special protection in Canadian and U.S. waters. Be sure to educate yourself about current protections, including regulations with specific distances and recommendations for viewing killer whales. The rules apply to all types of watercraft, including motor boats, sail boats, kayaks, and paddle boards in Washington State.

Report Harassment of Whales:

• In WA/US waters call NOAA Enforcement: 1-800-853-1964

• In CANADIAN waters call DFO Violations Hotline: 1-800-465-4336

(Include watercraft name, registration #, description, and photos/video when possible)