"Connecting whales and people in the Pacific Northwest"
Orca Network is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization registered in Washington State, dedicated to raising awareness about the whales of the Pacific Northwest, and the importance of providing them healthy and safe habitats. A community is emerging that is increasingly attuned to the orca population, that cares about and tries to understand the needs of the resident and transient orcas that inhabit the Salish Sea.
Orca Network is based in Greenbank, Washington, USA, at:
2403 North Bluff Road
Greenbank WA 98253
(360) 678-3451
or toll-free at (866) ORCANET (672-2638)
or email Orca Network
Projects include:
the Whale Sighting Network,
the Central Puget Sound Marine Mammal Stranding Network,
Education Programs and
the Free Lolita campaign.
Please report whale sightings to:
1-866-ORCANET (672-2638)
or email info@orcanetwork.org
Orca Network board members are Howard Garrett, Susan Berta,
Dave Anderson, Karen Anderson, Britta Eschete and Sandy Dupbernell.
Howard Garrett, Co-founder, Director and President of the Board
Howard began working with the Center for Whale Research in 1980, as field researcher and as editor of Cetus, the journal of the Whale Museum. In 1985 Garrett wrote New England Whales, describing the humpbacks and other whales and dolphins that inhabit coastal New England, and the ecosystem supporting them. In 1996 Garrett wrote Orcas In Our Midst, a booklet oriented toward middle-school students, depicting the orcas' dependence on salmon, and in turn how salmon depend on healthy watersheds, wetlands, plankton and other fish populations. Volume 2 of Orcas In Our Midst - The Next Generation, was published in 2005. A frequent speaker and writer about orcas and environmental issues, he co-founded Orca Network in November 2001. Garrett also wrote the entry under "Animal Culture" for the Encyclopedia of Animal Behavior (Greenwood Publishing Group, 2005); and a chapter about the rescue of the solitary orca A43 (Springer), in Between Species: Celebrating the Dolphin-Human Bond (Sierra Club Books/UC Press, 2003).
Howard received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from The Colorado College in 1980. For the past ten years Howard has also directed the campaign to return Lolita, the last survivor of the orcas captured from the Southern Resident community, from Miami to her home waters in Puget Sound. Howard provides educational presentations for school students and community organizations, naturalist talks on the ferries, develops educational materials, and designs and maintains the Orca Network website.
Susan Berta, Co-founder, Volunteer/Event Coordinator and Treasurer of the Board
Susan co-founded Orca Network with Howard Garrett in November 2001, and serves as Secretary/Treasurer and program coordinator for the organization. Susan served on the board of Orca Conservancy from 1996 - November 2001, and was the Program Coordinator for the Island County/WSU Beach Watchers program from its inception in 1989 until 2000. During this time she coordinated annual volunteer training courses for over 200 volunteers, implemented the Penn Cove Water Festival, served as a technical advisor to the Island County Marine Resource Committee, and created the annual community seminars Sound Waters and Wonders of Whidbey. During 2000/2001 Susan was the project lead on Maxwelton Salmon Adventure's Watershed Landowner Education and Involvement project. Susan received her Bachelor of Arts degree from The Evergreen State College in 1982. Her extensive experience in program management, volunteer coordination, and networking with marine-related agencies and environmental organizations over the past 12 years serves her well as project lead and Whale Sighting Network coordinator.
In 2001 Howard and Susan were awarded "Puget Sound Hero" awards by People for Puget Sound, in recognition of their efforts in environmental education and orca awareness. Feature stories on Howard and Susan's whale sighting network and the Free Lolita campaign have appeared in the Everett Herald, South Whidbey Record, and the Whidbey News Times, and the Everett Herald featured Howard and Susan in their January 1, 2002 issue's front page story on "People to Watch in 2002". In January, 2006, Howard and Susan were featured as "Hometown Heros" in the South Whidbey Record.
Dave Anderson, Board Member
Dave is a former Washington State Representative, veterinarian, commercial fisherman, and an outspoken supporter of salmon restoration, the Free Lolita campaign, and efforts to protect the killer whales of Washington State.
After 20 years as a veterinarian, Dave sold his practice and converted their 20 acre farm into a par three golf course. It is designed to be environmentally friendly, using selective irrigation and minimal chemical inputs.
Dave has been a Parks and Recreation commissioner, a lay leader in the Langley United Methodist Church, and is active in the local community. He continues to spend time working with a community and school group to restore wild salmon runs to Maxwelton Creek. Dave seeks to broaden his, and his community's understanding of issues like long term viability, habitat preservation, and balance of natural systems. Dave is a founding member of the South Whidbey Schools Foundation. His wife Karen was a teacher, and later elected to the South Whidbey School Board for eight years. He also served on the Oil Spill Prevention Task Force and the Puget Sound Water Quality Action Team.
Sandy Dubpernell, Board Member
Sandy Dubpernell co-coordinates the Central Puget Sound Marine Mammal Stranding Network and is an Island County/WSU Beach Watcher. She also volunteers for the COAST program, surveying beaches for dead shorebirds, and for the Coupeville Art Cooperative where she shows and sells her beautiful stained and fused glass art pieces.
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