Ways of Whales workshop deep dives on Southern Resident Orcas

January 14, 2023 1:30 am
Contributed photo by Jill Hein J59 seen swimming between J40 Suttles and J37 Hy’Shqa in June 2022.
Contributed photo by Jill Hein J59 seen swimming between J40 Suttles and J37 Hy’Shqa in June 2022.

Submitted by the Orca Network.

The Ways of Whales Workshop returns to the Coupeville High School Performing Arts Center on Saturday, Jan. 14. Host organization Orca Network is excited to welcome participants back to an in-person event, with a virtual option for those who are unable to travel or prefer to attend online.

The event features keynote speaker Dr. John Ford, Research Scientist Emeritus of Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans Cetacean Research Program and one of the pioneers of orca research in the Pacific Northwest.

Dr. Ford discovered and documented acoustic dialects in orcas of the west coast of British Columbia in the 1980s, and headed the Cetacean Research Program at the Pacific Biological Station from 2001-2017. Dr. Ford will speak about orca culture.

The latest Southern Resident orca research will be included in a panel of experts including Deborah Giles from Wild Orca, Monika Wieland Shields from Orca Behavior Institute, Michael Weiss from the Center for Whale Research, Joe Gaydos from the SeaDoc Society, Kim Parsons from NOAA Fisheries, and Linda Rhodes formerly from NOAA Fisheries.

Panelists will cover orca genetics, habitat use, social interactions and prey sharing, and programs that use skin, breath and fecal samples to analyze the whales’ health.

Additional topics include an update on efforts to return Lolita/Tokitae/Sk’aliCh’elh-tenaut to the Salish Sea, with Howard Garrett of Orca Network and Ellie Kinley of the Lummi Nation; and a presentation on bowhead whales by Kate Stafford of Oregon State University.

In addition to great informational presentations, the event will include a gift shop pop-up from the Langley Whale Center, a Learning Lobby where many of Orca Network’s Pod Partners will host displays and activities, and the popular Silent Auction!

Registration is $40, or $30 for seniors and students. A delicious hot lunch from the Connected Food Program is available for an additional $20.

Registration and more information is available at http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07ejircdw9d6d4abe0&fbclid=IwAR3qlMBIBazV3YhUuew-zZbQVXt0ciRfTRW19fI0MMOrX-BE1YTLyuNgiqQ&llr=r5jgwzbab

Teacher clock hours are available through The Heritage Institute.

Limited scholarships are available to keep this event accessible and inclusive.

Please contact Orca Network with any questions at cindy@orcanetwork.org or 360-223-5666.