Orca Behavior Institute

A map of the Salish Sea depicting unique reports of different groups of killer whales throughout February 2026. Blue dots are for Southern Residents, yellow dots for Northern Residents, red dots for Bigg's killer whales, and gray dots for groups that were confirmed to be orcas but were not identifiable to ecotype. Data were verified and compiled by the Orca Behavior Institute.

Here is our February 2026 Salish Sea killer whale sightings map, compiling orca reports from across the region.

We had 43 Bigg's killer whale sightings, a drop of more than 50% compared to February 2025!

Read our full monthly summary here:
www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/sightings-ma...

We are excited to offer another Marine Mammals 101 course this spring and registration for this program is now open!

You can learn more about this class, register, and/or apply for financial assistance via this link:

www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/whale-univer...

Our first Patreon livestream chat of 2026 is here!

🗓️ Monday, March 23, at 6 PM PST

Sara will join us to share amazing photos and experiences from Western Australia, where she spent time with orcas in Bremer Canyon.

If you want to join us on Patreon, click here:
www.patreon.com/cw/orcabehav...

In today's throwback video, we look back to two years ago when on March 5, 2023 we met up with the T99s in Active Pass, BC.

It's always fun to see how the whales have changed. Look how much smaller both T99C Barakat (the sprouter male) and calf T99E Qwiin qwiin oo qwii la are compared to today!

⏰ Reminder: The deadline to submit your comments is today!

We're dreaming of longer days and the lush green sweep that spring brings! Inspired by the coming new season, our Whale U hoodies are now available in a second color-forest green.

Visit our online store to snag one for yourself!

www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/product/whal...

An orange cat pawing at a computer screen with whale sightings coordinates mapped out

We host students from all walks of life in our Whale University classes, but this may be our first feline participant!

Noble, seen here, was quite taken with our Bigg's 301 lesson on mapping orca travel patterns. 🤓🗺️😻

A Surprise Visit from J-Pod (with J62) in Cattle Pass | Southern Resident Killer Whales YouTube video by Orca Behavior Institute

m.youtube.com/watch?v=hN1R...

With J Pod making a recent appearance in central Puget Sound, we thought it would be fun to look back and share a moment from an encounter we had with them (and J62) a year ago on Feb 20, 2025 at Cattle Point (San Juan Island).

Enjoy this short clip recorded by Jason! (full video link in comments)

The latest BOLD action guide covers the NPCC 2026 Draft Fish and Wildlife Plan. Your comments are needed by 3/2. Photo of a Southern Resident killer whale, a population of orcas that relies on the salmon runs of the Columbia River Basin.

Your comments are needed in support of prioritizing salmon and steelhead recovery in the Columbia River Basin! These fish include key Chinook stocks for the Southern Residents.

Our latest BOLD action guide will help you through the process:

www.canva.com/design/DAHCN...

Comments are due by 3/2!

www.afterthebreachpodcast.com/e/episode-50...

The 2nd episode of the series "Southern Resident Killer Whales: 20 Years Endangered" from the @afterthebreach.bsky.social is out now!

Episode one covered how the Southern Residents ended up endangered. This episode focuses on our accomplishments and shortcomings.

Take a listen via the link below!

T19 brothers set T19B Sticker and T19C Pin | Online Store

www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/product/t19-...

BREACHER FEATURE! Two of the most well-known Bigg's orca brothers are the stars of our newest OBI merch.

T19B Galiano is featured on the holographic sticker & T19C Spouter is featured on the shiny pin. For a limited time you can pick up the duo in this pin and sticker set!

🔗 Link in the comments!

One of the best ways to learn to ID killer whales is to draw them! Even if you aren’t an artist, it trains your eye in new ways. It’s one of our assignments in our Bigg’s 201 class, and we always love to see what everyone comes up with. Here are some recent examples!

🎼 Sound On: On February 16, the Greater L4s were spotted near Sooke, BC, while Js were likely further south in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Later, Js & Ls calls were heard on the Andrew's Bay hydrophone.

Here is the animated map of that day's events & a hydrophone clip of J-Pod recorded that night!

💯

New Southern Resident killer whale calf L129. Photo taken under permit by the Center for Whale Research.

Here's a photo from @whaleresearch.bsky.social of the new calf they documented with L-Pod on 2/16! Look at that saddle patch 😍

Cautious optimism is the name of the game for newborn Southern Residents, but we sure hope mom and baby are able to thrive.

#orcas #whalesky #salishsea

Endangered Southern Resident killer whales passing close to the beach in front of dozens of excited onlookers at Point Robinson in Washington's Puget Sound.

The Point Robinson Lighthouse with orcas surfacing in front of it

A cartwheeling Southern Resident killer whale offshore of excited onlookers at Point Robinson in Puget Sound

Dozens of excited shore-based viewers have a close encounter with Southern Resident killer whales in Puget Sound

By popular demand, more images from 11/2/25 and the Southern Resident killer whale pass at Point Robinson, as seen from on the water while we were conducting our research project with CWR. 😍

#orcas #whalesky #salishsea #pugetsound

J-Pod audible on the Andrew's Bay hydrophone in Haro Strait 23:00

live.orcasound.net/listen/andre...

#wssjis

A photo collage including members of OBI's Whale University class 50 Shades of Gray Whale around a gray whale statue in Langley on Whidbey Island; images of CRC53 Little Patch foraging close to shore; and some Valentine's Day themed whale tail cookies.

Yesterday was our 1st Whale U trip of 2026, as our 50 Shades of Gray Whale class went to Whidbey to look for some the Sounders. We lucked out with sunshine and CRC53 Little Patch feeding right off the Langley sea wall!

🐋🎓 Learn more about Whale U here:
www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/whale-univer...

That one was just for you! 😘

A pink-themed graphic asking Who Is Your Orca Crush? with photos of T63 Chainsaw, T46E Thor, and J27 Blackberry, three popular killer whales in the Salish Sea. There is also a last chance deal on a heart-themed sticker pack from the Orca Behavior Institute with 3 stickers for $12 today only in honor of Valentine's Day.

In honor of Valentine's Day, we want to know: who is your orca crush? 😍 Let us know in the comments below!

We're also offering a last chance deal on our heart-themed sticker packs: they are $12 today only! After today, they'll be gone.

www.orcabehaviorinstitute.org/product/2026...

14:20 they are now southbound off Snug Harbor

#wssjis

12:10 passing Reuben Tarte northbound - T125A and T128!

#wssjis

10:00 report of at least 3 orcas heading NW from Turn Island towards Friday Harbor

#wssjis #whalesky #salishsea

Who was at Point Robinson on November 2 when J-Pod, K-Pod, and part of L-Pod went south on an warm autumn afternoon? If you were there, can you find yourself in this photo?

Here was the view from the water while we were out with the CWR for our first Puget Sound encounter of the field season.

We're excited to share that we have a new OBI Board member: Mollie Segall! This rapid fire Q&A between Mollie and Monika gives you a chance to get to know her including her goals for OBI, favorites whales, and perhaps most importantly, what she thinks of the T60 brothers 😏

Welcome Mollie!!

We are thrilled to announce that for the second year in a row, we will be attending the Tortuga Music Festival in Florida on April 10-12!

🎸🌊 Whether you live in Florida or are making the trip to hear music from the likes of Post Malone, Kenny Chesney, and Riley Green, we hope to see you there!

A diagram of the evolution of whales, from land dwelling mammals to the ocean giants we know today.

Whale evolution makes me uncomfortable