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Celebrate the Return of Salmon and the Orcas that rely on them! Sponsored by Orca Network & Whidbey Watershed Stewards |
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Shop/Contributions/Memberships   n extended clan of Orcinus orca, or orcas, socialize and forage in the inland waters of Washington State and British Columbia. Both male and female offspring remain with their mothers their entire lives. No other species, and not all orca communities, show lifetime association of mothers with both male and female offspring. Cultural traditions such as lifetime family bonding allow distinct vocal repertoires and complex social systems to develop within each pod and community, unlike any other mammal except humans. Their dialects are similar to human language groups, and assure them a place in their society. Known as the Southern Resident Orca community, or the Salish Sea Orcas, they move gracefully just downstream from an increasingly urban landscape.
But all is not well. Orcas need clean, uncontaminated water and plentiful fish. Salmon, the Salish Sea orcas' main food source, are in historic decline throughout the region. Habitat degradation, industrial poisons such as PCBs, and other impacts of human activities are taking their toll on the orcas we have come to know and love. We are all intricately connected, from tiny plankton to forage fish, salmon, orcas, tall firs and cedars, mountains, rivers and the ocean. It is time to reflect, to reconnect, and to respond as better caretakers of our planet. Orca Network presents the proposal to retire the captive L pod orca known as Lolita to her home waters. Please look over a letter to all supporters, and recent photos of Lolita.
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the natural history of orcas? Go to Orcas of the Salish Sea.
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Paddle your way to a fun day at
ORCA Challenge 2010
Kayak Race September 11
Anacortes WA 
Join our Five-day Expedition to visit the friendly Gray Whales of San Ignacio Lagoon March 9 - 13, 2011 Sign up by September 1 to save $200 
Protest the Taiji Dolphin Slaughter At Noon Thursday, October 14, 2010 
Photo by Center for Whale Research
New summer baby in L pod - L115!
Visit Orca Network on
Orca Network has joined people across Washington on a new project: Working Snake River for Washington 
Will Obama save Salmon Industry, or Dam it?
Hoyt, Rose and Garrett study on education at marine parks
Orca Network News Release on Tillikum Facebook page! 
WA DFW's orca viewing regulations for boaters Blog by Howard Garrett 
Ice Harbor Dam, Snake River NOAA's plan "does little to address the chief cause of fish mortality" —New York Times
NOAA: Restore CA Chinook to save Southern Resident orcas
California water plan aims to save Puget Sound orcas
NOAA: Regulations on Vessel Effects
Candace Calloway Whiting's Orca Blogs in the Seattle P-I
Photo courtesy of Center for Whale Research. March 3 - Another new J baby! 
A new K pod baby, K42, arrives June 3, 2008! Photo by Astrid van Ginneken Puget Sound Orca Recovery Plan January 24, 2008 Orca Network's comments on the NMFS Orca Recovery Plan Read the letter here. 
Saving Luna The movie! (28 meg .m4a file) Do Orcas Use Symbols? or Poster presentation (10.5 MB pdf). See Global Warming Threatens Cold-Water Fish |
The Russell Family Foundation
Tulalip Tribes
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
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Washington State Ferries
Washington Sea Grant
The Center for Whale Research
The Whale Museum
Puget Sound Action Team
Washington Fund for the Environment
Earth Art by Sue Coccia
WaterCheck.biz
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