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Find a wide range of books related to orcas at the Orca Network Amazon store.
Orca Network recommends:
The Lost Whale, by Michael Parfit and Suzanne Chisolm  
An intensely personal story...but this person is a young orca.  

Lost Whale book...ver scaled  

 To learn more about orcas: 

Orcas in Our Midst, volume 3, by Howard Garrett

Orcas in Our Midst,

Vol. 3: Residents and Transients, How Did That Happen?

Click here  

to order YOUR copy!

~~~~~~~~~~~~

The bestseller about orcas in captivity.

Death at SeaWorld, by David Kirby 

DeathatSeaWorld


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orca Lolita/Tokitae,

captured in Penn Cove,

Whidbey Island, WA

in 1970, somehow surviving in a small tank at the Miami Seaquarium ever since.

Tokitae looking up at us from her tank in Miami, FL in the late 1990s 

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January 9, 2014

We are watching and visiting the whales in their home~

Please observe, love and respect them from a distance.

Having trouble viewing this Sightings Report? Archived Reports can be found HERE.
Orcas of both types have been conspicuously absent from our reports since around noon on Monday, Jan. 6th, when K pod made their way north past Port Townsend and out of Admiralty Inlet. K pod had come in past Victoria on the 4th, then foraged and frolicked their way past Seattle and Vashon Island on the 5th, before heading out the next day. The latest word about L87 was NOAA Fisheries'
Update on the tagged whale:

Although it appeared from our last post that L87 (and J pod) were headed to the outer coast, that didn't happen. The whales spent a day and a half in the central Strait of Juan de Fuca making two close approaches to the Victoria waterfront, both at night. They then headed north up Haro Strait and through Active Pass and then up the east side of Texada Island and have remained north of there for the past 2 days in an area they visited about a week ago. 

So it's been three days since we've heard anything on the whereabouts of So. Residents, or Biggs/Transients for that matter, which is fairly typical for this time of year, especially in the windy weather we've had lately.

Join us for Ways of Whales 2014 on Whidbey Island!  
"Saving Iconic Pacific Northwest Species"
Southern Resident Orcas and Salmon 
Saturday January 25, 2014  
9:30 AM to 4:30 PM

The 2014 Ways of Whales workshop will focus on endangered Southern Resident orcas, and the endangered salmon they depend upon for survival. The day will feature presentations by the region's top orca and salmon experts and advocates, with a panel discussion to wrap up the day. Our hope is to begin a dialogue that will lead to effective partnerships and actions to save these species so central to the ecosystems, identity and culture of the Pacific Northwest.

Presenter and panelists include (note recent changes):
Ken Balcomb, Center for Whale Research
Lynne Barre, NOAA Fisheries NW Region: Southern Resident Orca Recovery
Joseph Bogaard, Save our Wild Salmon
Brad Hanson, NOAA Fisheries NWFSC: Southern Resident orca diet research
Jim Lichatowich, author of Salmon, People and Place
Howard Garrett, Orca Network - Lolita and Blackfish updates
Orca - Salmon Video by Florian Graner, SeaLife Productions
Orca - Salmon Panel discussion

There are still seats for the 2014 Ways of Whales Workshop in Coupeville, Whidbey Island, on January 25. You can register for Ways of Whales HERE.

Environmental education displays and a silent auction will be available in the lobby, and networking during breaks and lunch is encouraged. 
Photo of the Day
K34 Cali, male, born to K13 Skagit in 2001, passing Pt. Robinson, Vashon Island. K34's dorsal fin is just beginning to sprout.
Photo by Marla Smith, January 5, 2014.

Southern Resident orcas
Lobo (K26) heading out past Port Townsend (The boat looks a lot closer to him than it was).
Photo by Sara Hysong-Shimazu, January 6, 2014.
Sequim (K12) and Opus (K16) heading past Port Townsend.
Photo by Sara Hysong-Shimazu, January 6, 2014.
K pod heading north past Port Townsend.
Photo by Sara Hysong-Shimazu, January 6, 2014.
January 6
1130 - I see them still in the distance heading north but farther off now. They were very tactile rolling around with each other just having family time. Lovely views. Definitely K's. Saw Scoter and Lobo for sure.
Sara Hysong-Shimazu

January 6
08:45 - Orcas off Bush Point in Admiralty Inlet, heading north, traveling and possibly feeding.
Lisa Kois

January 5
5:00 - as darkness falls, from Owens Beach Point Defiance I watched them bunch up and form a resting line heading north towards Colvos. Night K pod, been a sweet and beautiful day.
4:42 - watching from Pt Defiance they stalled out between Colvos/Gig Harbor and here. trending towards Colvos it appears but meanwhile foraging, breaching, tail lobbing...
3:10...Wow! just pulled up to Dash Point pier and two whales like 100 yards off shore, rounded the bend!
Alisa Lemire Brooks

January 5
4:34 - 1st & 2nd view points from Pt. Defiance are the best right now.
4:23 - Trailing Whales just passed Vashon Ferry Dock. There's at least 6. They have changed direction & are headed towards Vashon.
4:05 - They are in front of the Browns Point Lighthouse headed into Commencement.
Melissa Bird

January 5
428pm - Seeing blows. More towards Pt Defiance at the moment.
4:27 - Headed towards Colvos Pasage/Narrows.
Sara Hysong-Shimazu

January 5
4:25 - Heading west now.
Taleen Venesky

January 5
4:10 - Yep , we see them between the ferry and Anthony's!
Lara Pate

January 5
Just saw two orcas breach in front of Pt. Defiance Marina and Anthony's Restaurant in Tacoma!! They were headed south toward Gig Harbor.
Sarah English

January 5
3:59 - We saw them from Owen beach- looking way across towards browns point! Thanks y'all.
Julie Merriam

January 5
3:55 - They're here! About to board the ferry and they are crossing through the bay towards Ruston.
Durand Dace

January 5
3:42 - Finally saw my first orcas today thanks to you all!! Incredible!
Chaz Bizar

January 5
3:40 - Whales are past Browns Point and heading toward Ruston.
3:18 - Whales are milling near yellow buoy north of Browns Point.
Meg McDonald WildNorthwestBeautyPhotography:

January 5
Was at Point Defiance about 3:30 p.m. today. Saw at least 8-10 male and female orcas in the passage between Pt. Defiance and Talequah on S. Vashon Island heading west. Watched them pass from the parking lot between Anthony's and the ferry dockfor at least 15 minutes. A fair number of people seemed to find out about it, although some may not have seen them.
Randy Johnson

Spock K20 passing by today at Pt. Robinson.
Photo by Jessica Pagan, January 5, 2014.

January 5
3:13 - they're still going south, 3 orcas only.
3:05 - They are in Dash point now, wow!
Cokis Trejo

NOAA researchers observe orcas passing Pt. Robinson.
Photo by Marla Smith, January 5, 2014.

An orca in mid-taillob, passing Pt. Robinson.
Photo by Marla Smith, January 5, 2014.

An inverted taillob while passing Pt. Robinson.
Photo by Marla Smith, January 5, 2014.

January 5
2:46 - Now nearing Browns Point.
2:28 - Whales now resting closer to mainland near Dash point/Brown's point.
1:57 - Wow. Super sweet pass at Point Robinson. Whales southbound still under a brilliant Mount Rainer.
Amy Carey

January 5
2:30 - Orcas are mid channel heading south between Maury island marine park and Dumas Bay on the mainland.
Matt Wilson

January 5
2:10 - Two adult males are more mid channel with females and younger whales more towards Vashon moving southwesterly still spread out.
1:33 - finally spotted them from above Des Moines Marina... spread in in ones & twos nearing Pt Robinson. NOAA just came on scene.
Alisa Lemire Brooks

January 5
1:50 pm - from Jamie Grundhauser: the orcas are now heading south off Pt. Robinson. Brad Hanson and the NOAA boat are with them, and they have been confirmed as K pod.

January 5
1:28 - Another group of about 5 following them seeing them straight off of Normandy Park Beach.
Roxane Jackson Johnson

January 5
1:24 - They are heading south into the sun it is hard to see them now from Normandy Park. The place to see him I think will be Des Moines in about five minutes or point Robinson.
1:15 - I am watching the orcas straight off of Normandy Park beach heading south midchannel.
Tanya Jackson Esparza

January 5
1:03 - Orca Pod, 6, Pt. Robinson on Vashon, traveling south.
Lisa Follett

January 5
1:01 - Headed south half way from Dilworth to Point Robinson on Vashon.
12:50 - Now south of Dilworth closer to Vashon.
12:27 - Finally ! Blows now mid channel Dilworth.
Amy Carey

January 5
12:32 - just saw two orcas passing vashon island. we are looking east to the sound they should be at Point Robinson soon.
Danielle White

January 5
12:20 - Trileigh Tucker sees orcas from Lincoln Park, heading sourh about 1.5 miles south of the Fauntleroy-Vashon ferry lane.

January 5
12:13 - Just saw them off Dolphin Point - saw fins and blows! Incredible.
Doug Rusk

January 5
12:05 - Jamie Grundhauser reports 5-6 orcas heading south just south of Vashon ferry near Dilworth.

January 5
12:04 - Just south of Dolphin Point (first point south of ferry terminal). I'm on the roof of a building in the junction - seeing some spouting mid channel just south of Dolphin Point.
Stephanie Beach

January 5
At noon, Maia of WA State Ferries called to report 6 orcas off Vashon Head, heading south.

January 5
11:58 - Seeing spouting, they've just passed Dolphin Point, moving south.
Ester Fajzi

January 5
11:50 - Viewing a pod just south of ferry lane. Several whales, spread out quite far apart. Some milling.
Holly Boaz

January 5
11:30 - Just saw orcas off the east side of Vashon. Watching from W. Seattle.
Joel Zylberberg

January 5
10:42 - WA State Ferries just reported 3-4 orcas in the shipping lane off south Bainbridge Island.

January 5
5-6 Orca spotted heading south from sea-Bain ferry at 10:35am. They were near the middle and very spread out.
Neal McCulloch

K25 in the Juan de Fuca.
Photo by Mark Malleson, January 4, 2014.

Coastal orcas
January 7
1:09 pm - Rocky creek Oregon Orcas!! (Lincoln County, northwestern Oregon, 2 miles south of Depoe Bay). Appeared to be at least three traveling north pretty fast.
Photo by Barbara Bechmann, January 7, 2014.
ABOUT ORCA NETWORK  
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 beaches.
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). Whale reports and observations are sent in by a variety of sources, and Orca Network does not guarantee the accuracy of any report or whale identification.

 

TO REPORT WHALES, CALL: 1-866-ORCANET (1-866-672-2638), email info@orcanetwork.org, or post sightings on our Orca Network Facebook page.

 

*BE WHALE WISE! BOATERS - NEW FEDERAL REGULATIONS IN EFFECT AS OF MAY 16, 2011:

 "The new rules prohibit vessels from approaching any killer whale closer than 200 yards and forbid vessels from intercepting a whale or positioning the vessel in its path. This doubles the current approach distance of 100 yards. The rules go into effect May 16 and apply to all types of boats, including motor boats, sail boats and kayaks, in Washington"

 

For more information on the new Federal Regulations, visit the NOAA Fisheries website. 

 

 
To report harassment of whales in US waters, call NOAA Enforcement: 1-800-853-1964;

In Canadian waters, call DFO's Observe Record and Report (ORR) Violations Hotline: 1-800- 465-4336

Report the boat name &/or a description of the boat, & get photos if at all possible.