orcabehaviorinstitute.org - Profile | ThreadSky | a Reddit-style client for Bluesky

Whether you've been there from day one or just joined the OBI community this weekend: thank you, thank you, thank you, for believing in our vision and helping to create this incredible organization and community from the ground up. Here's to the next 10 years!

submitted 16 hours ago • 2 comments

We kicked off our 10th anniversary celebrations this weekend with a live taping of the @afterthebreach.bsky.social ! This will be an episode you won’t want to miss with an audience Q&A.

submitted 3 days ago • 0 comments

10 years ago this weekend we had our first OBI field encounter. Some of our most memorable moments ever came that month, including this morning with K26. While those predictable summer mornings on the water with Southern Residents are gone, our commitment to bold advocacy is stronger than ever.

submitted 4 days ago • 0 comments

Our auction goes live in 1 week! You can bid on going whale-watching with @sjiwhalewatch.bsky.social or All Aboard Sailing from Friday Harbor, @eaglewingtours.bsky.social from Victoria, or Puget Sound Express from Port Townsend! Preview the full auction here: www.32auctions.com/OBI2025

submitted 5 days ago • 0 comments

16:00 large group of Bigg’s killer whales heading SW down President’s Channel #wssjis

submitted 5 days ago • 0 comments

It's already June, and we have got the stickers to celebrate! 🏳️‍🌈 It's Pride Month, and no one says Love is Love quite like J26 Mike 🎉 It's OBI's 10th anniversary! This sticker features J53 and L122 who were also born in 2015 Snag yours here: www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/shop #orca #whalesky

submitted 6 days ago • 0 comments

7:45 3-4 orcas northbound off Deadman Bay in Haro Strait #wssjis

submitted 6 days ago • 1 comment

📣 OBI's 10th anniversary fundraising auction is coming from June 11-14, and you can now browse our dozens of listings on the preview page! www.32auctions.com/OBI2025 Mark your favorite items with a ❤️ and make sure to check back June 11th when our auction goes live!

submitted 8 days ago • 0 comments

Another fantastic weekend, this time with our first-ever Bigg’s 301 class! This advanced research class looked at extended killer whale family groups and covered topics like dispersal and acoustics. Learn more about our Whale University classes here: www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/whale-univer...

submitted 14 days ago • 0 comments

Registration is open for our fully virtual Bigg's 201 class running this fall and winter! Take a deep dive into the world of orca research and work with real-world sightings data. Scholarships and payment plans available. Learn more and register here: www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/whale-univer...

submitted 17 days ago • 0 comments

Last Saturday we had the finale trip for our spring Bigg's 201 class, and while on the water with Island Adventures we caught up to the T123s near Sidney, BC! Here's a highlight video from our trip filmed by @jayjayfoshizzay.bsky.social #whalesky #orcas #killerwhales #salishsea

submitted 18 days ago • 0 comments

Gray whale southbound off Reuben Tarte at 8:45 on 5/22 #wssjis

submitted 18 days ago • 0 comments

5/22/25 at 8:40 4 orcas southbound in Spring Passage, east side of Jones Island #wssjis

submitted 18 days ago • 0 comments

9:05 report that the T18s are northbound in Griffin Bay #wssjis

submitted 19 days ago • 0 comments

A scenic look at T123A Stanley near Sidney, BC last Saturday #orca #killerwhale #whalesky #salishsea

submitted 20 days ago • 0 comments

One of our new classes this fall is Drawing and Painting orcas taught by @hysazu.bsky.social! If you're intimidated by trying an art class, you haven't yet experienced Sara's incredible instruction or the welcoming Whale U community. Learn more here: www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/whale-univer...

submitted 21 days ago • 1 comment

Congratulations to our 2025 Bigg's 201 students who gave final presentations today! We celebrated by getting on the water with Island Adventures and seeing the T123s! This fall we'll have a virtual version of our Bigg's 201 class. Learn more here: www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/whale-univer...

submitted 23 days ago • 1 comment

Starting 4 weeks from today: OBI's second-ever online fundraising auction in celebration of our 10th anniversary! We are curating dozens of unique items and packages for you to bid on. The auction will run from June 11-15th. Stay tuned for an early opportunity to browse the listings.

submitted 26 days ago • 0 comments

T86A1 Nahanni and her two year-old calf T86A1B Denali in Padilla Bay last Sunday #orca #killerwhale #salishsea #whalesky

submitted 27 days ago • 0 comments

A very cool sighting off the Oregon Coast yesterday shared with us by Léna Hardivillier! She was lucky enough to be on the Newport crabbing pier as the T49Bs and T50D entered Yaquina Bay. The extended T49s have a history of being seen in Oregon over the years. #orcas #killerwhales #whalesky

submitted 28 days ago • 0 comments

A study in contrasts: T124A2 led her family on a successful harbor seal hunt today with the Anacortes Refinery in the background. If Bigg's killer whales can not just survive but thrive in an urban environment like the Salish Sea, it offers hope that one day, so too can the Southern Residents.

submitted 29 days ago • 2 comments

9:25 on 5/11 Orcas reported on the west side of Clark Island - no numbers or direction of travel initially reported #wssjis

submitted 29 days ago • 1 comment

A few more stats from April's killer whale sightings in the Salish Sea: Both Bigg's and Southern Resident sightings (defined as a unique group seen on a unique day) were up compared to April 2024. April 13th was the busiest day, with 12 unique groups of orcas reported. #whalesky

submitted 30 days ago • 0 comments

Here's our sightings map for Salish Sea killer whale sightings in the month of April! Read about it in detail here: www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/sightings-ma... And check out our new map FAQ page: www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/orca-updates... #orcas #whalesky

submitted 31 days ago • 1 comment

Bigg's killer whales currently vocalizing on the Lime Kiln hydrophone #wssjis Listen here: pro.stream101.com/player2/?ip=...

submitted 32 days ago • 4 comments

Here are 10 more Bigg's killer whales nicknames to share with you! These names were suggested and voted on by a regional group made up of captains, naturalists, researchers, and educators. (Some whales might have more than one nickname, and it's okay to call them whatever is meaningful to you!)

submitted 35 days ago • 0 comments

Yesterday we came across a humpback who has achieved local legendary status after migrating back from Hawaii in 6 weeks despite having lost a tail fluke! Read more about the whale nicknamed Schooner here: www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/orca-updates...

submitted 36 days ago • 0 comments

Single male orca reported northbound outside Friday Harbor at 7:38 per @orcanetwork.bsky.social #wssjis

submitted 39 days ago • 0 comments

The T65Bs have been patrolling the central Salish Sea of late, and we've been lucky enough to catch up with them 3 times over the last 10 days. From left to right here are the three offspring of T65B Chunk: T65B1 Birdsall, T65B2 Corvus, and T65B3 Rook. #orcas #whalesky #killerwhale

submitted 40 days ago • 1 comment

15:45 on 4/29 Report of ~7 orcas northbound off Fisherman Bay in San Juan Channel #wssjis

submitted 41 days ago • 0 comments

Last weekend we wrapped up our first whale book club with a pair of excursions: sailing in Penn Cove and whale-watching out of Anacortes! Read about our book club finale here: tinyurl.com/bookclubfinale Get on our e-mail list so you don't miss our next book club: mailchi.mp/orcabehavior...

submitted 41 days ago • 1 comment

11:50 on 4/28 - T65Bs southbound mid Haro approaching D’Arcy Island #wssjis

submitted 42 days ago • 0 comments

Likely SRKW southbound in President’s Channel 17:15 #wssjis

submitted 51 days ago • 0 comments

Last Saturday was a whale of a day in the Salish Sea! Community scientists helped us document no fewer than 79 orcas in the region: 41 Southern Residents and 38 Bigg's killer whales! Read more about the day here: www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/orca-updates...

submitted 52 days ago • 0 comments

This June is our 10th anniversary! 🎊 We have six spots left for our whale-filled San Juan Island weekend. Learn more and sign up here: tinyurl.com/OBIanniversary We will also be hosting an online auction, and are welcoming donations of regional experiences or whale-themed items. #whalesky #orca

submitted 53 days ago • 0 comments

A pleasant surprise this morning to see all of J-Pod grouped up and heading north from Reuben Tarte County Park overlooking San Juan Channel in Washington State. 🥰 We got our first glimpse of baby J63, and saw J62, too! #southernresidentkillerwhales #salishsea #whalesky

submitted 54 days ago • 1 comment

April 16th 4-6 orcas heading NW from north of Friday Harbor at 7:58 per @orcanetwork.bsky.social #wssjis

submitted 54 days ago • 1 comment

J-Pod on the North San Juan Channel hydrophone! 18:00 on 4/15 live.orcasound.net/listen/north... #wssjis

submitted 55 days ago • 1 comment

4/15 @ 14:35 - J-Pod on the SIMRES.ca hydrophone in Boundary Pass #wssjis

submitted 55 days ago • 1 comment