The Orca Month Main Event

June 23, 6:30 pm at the Seattle Aquarium

Southern Resident Orcas, Then and Now: What Have We Learned?
A look back at the Southern Residents, threats to their population, and current status.

June is Orca Month in Washington! June 7th, 2009
Help us celebrate by attending an Open House for The Whale Trail on Sunday, June 7th from 4 to 7 pm at the Alki Beach Bathhouse in Seattle. The event is free and open to the public. Click here for details. Please RSVP, and hope to see you there!

Killer Whale Tales June 12th, 2009
In support of Orca Awareness Month, San Juan Excursions is sponsoring Jeff Hogan in presenting Killer Whale Tales at the Friday Harbor Elementary School. One of our Marine Naturalists, Debbi Fincher, is spearheading this educational presentation. Jeff will offer an hour of environmental science through storytelling for K-5 and then offer some "break-out" sessions for the older kids.

San Juan Excursions will also offer whale watching/wildlife tours free for the FHES kids and a discount price for their parents. It is our goal to educate the local kids about the bodies of water and marine life that surround us every day. We want the kids and parents to become educated and involved regarding our local Southern Residents!

Port Townsend Marine Science Center Orca Month Events:
The Port Townsend Marine Science Center will be celebrating Orca Month by presenting public programs (free with admission) on orcas and sound underwater. All About Orcas: Sunday June 7th, 2009 and Sunday June 21st, 2009
Do orcas have family structures? What do they eat, and how do they find food in the vast ocean? Where do they travel throughout the year? Dive into this topic and discover the differences between transients and residents, and how scientists can tell based on diet, social interaction, and even dialect. Listening for Orcas: Saturday June 13th, 2009 and Saturday June 27th, 2009
What do orcas sound like and how do their vocalizations travel underwater? Is the ocean a loud environment? Find out the answers to these questions and more in this Orca Month program. Get a chance to learn about how scientists study orcas by listening to our active hydrophone research station and get more information on how you can listen for orcas from your home computer.

The 11th annual evening Orca Sing concert, June 20th, 2009 at Lime Kiln State Park on San Juan Island, sponsored by City Cantabile Choir, People For Puget Sound, The Whale Museum, Friends of the San Juans, Whale Trail, and the American Cetacean Society Northwest Chapter.

Orca Month Main Event at the Seattle Aquarium June 23rd, 2009, 6:30 pm
Southern Resident Orcas Then and Now: What Have We Learned? A look back at the Southern Residents, threats to their population, and current population status Co-sponsored by Orca Network, the Seattle Aquarium, and the Puget Sound Partnership.

Orca Network is proud to join the Seattle Aquarium and Puget Sound Partnership in sponsoring this incredible Orca Month event for a look back at our relationship with Southern Resident orcas over the decades, and a look forward to how we can help them in the coming years.

The evening will feature never revealed film and commentary by the late Don McGaffin, KING 5 TV reporter at the disastrous 1971 Penn Cove orca capture, to begin sharing the history of the Southern Resident orcas. Former Secretary of State Ralph Munro comments, "Many whales died during the capture era, and at one time McGaffin felt that the captors were trying to kill him for taking the photos. This film is unbelievable."

Join us for the premiere of this moving footage of the Penn Cove orca capture, including commentary by Don McGaffin and his interviews with a diverse cross-section of politicians, biologists, and marine park personnel from the 1970s. Ralph and Karen Munro, Bill Ruckelshaus of the Puget Sound Partnership, Howard Garrett of Orca Network, and Gary Chittim, KING 5 TV Environmental Reporter, and more will be on hand to share thoughts on the past, present and future of our orcas. Gary Chittim will also share portions of his recent documentary, "Sound of Orcas," which provides a contrast to the historic news footage and demonstrates how our attitude toward the orcas has changed over the decades.

The evening will include a slide show prepared by Ken Balcomb of the Center for Whale Research, sharing what he has learned during three decades of research and living amongst the Southern Resident orcas. Also on display will be historic photos of the Penn Cove Capture by Wallie Funk and Terry Newby, and an orca display from the Bainbridge Island Historical Museum.

Tickets are $50/person, and include a complimentary glass of Hoodsport Orca Wine, gourmet hors d'oeuvres, and an unforgettable evening of learning about the past, present and future of our Southern Resident orcas. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to http://www.orcanetwork.org/news/events.html or contact Orca Network at info@orcanetwork.org or 360-678-3451.

Registration Form for this event Press Release for this event HTML Invitation for this event

Orca Month Interpretive Talk at Deception Pass State Park June 27th, 2009
Our Local Orca Community, by Howard Garrett & Susan Berta of Orca Network, 7 pm at Deception Pass State Park Amphitheater.

Wharf Fest, June 27th, 2009 - June 28th, 2009  at Coupeville, Whidbey Island waterfront.

Please Support, volunteer for, or join these organizations:

Center for Whale Research Orca Network The Whale Museum and SoundWatch Cascadia Research Save our Wild Salmon Killer Whale Tales Friends of San Juans Washington Toxics People for Puget Sound Puget Soundkeeper Re-Sources American Cetacean Society Washington Environmental Council Washington Trout/Wild Fish Conservancy Earth Justice National Resource Defense Council National Wildlife Federation Surfrider Foundation The Nature Conservancy OrcaLab Lifeforce Foundation