Check out my orca books (forthcoming) and read on for updates about the Southern Resident orcas, links to fun audio and video recordings, teacher resources, action ideas, and more!

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SUPERPOD (Chicago Review Press, 2023) - nonfiction for middle schoolers & up! Learn about the beloved Southern Resident orcas and people working to help them recover using everything from drones and dogs to medicine and laws.

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OTTO AND THE FLYING ORCA (West Margin Press, 2023) - in this picture book, illustrated by Bao Luu, a friendship blossoms between an orca and a "flying whale" seaplane. 

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Orca family updates

3/2/22: Hy'Shqa (J37) has a new calf! See the Center for Whale Research's photos of baby J59. Unfortunately, Shachi (J19) and Alki (J36) suffered pregnancy losses. 

Interactive J pod family tree (Seattle Aquarium)

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The Center for Whale Research does an annual census and reports new births and deaths.

• Orca scientists at work (NOAA videos)

• Listen live to Orcasound hydrophones

• Watch live and recorded video from the Lime Kiln State Park webcam (The Whale Museum)

• Watch for orcas and other marine mammals along the Whale Trail

• Life cycle of a Pacific Salmon (5 min NOAA animation)

• Eba + the Orcas is a fun and inspiring 10-minute film by the Seattle Aquarium with Eba, a dog that can sniff out orca scat on the water; Dr. Giles; Chris Morgan (of the podcast THE WILD)...and me! You can read more about Eba and Dr. Giles in my book, SUPERPOD.

Increase salmon abundance:

• Choose sustainably harvested seafood at grocery stores and restaurants. You can use the Seafood Watch tool.

• In the Puget Sound region, volunteer with Whale Scout and other organizations to plant native trees and restore salmon habitat and check out the Cedar River Salmon Journey every fall.

Help reduce underwater noise and disturbance: 

• Out on the water, follow the Be Whale Wise speed and distance regulations and guidelines at a minimum.

• If you're in WA or BC, report any whale or dolphin sightings to the Whale Report Alert System, which will warn ship captains so they can avoid hitting the animals. Download the WhaleReport app to your smartphone or fill out the short form.
   

Listen live to Orcasound hydrophones, browse historical recordings, and join in as a community scientist.

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Check out other action ideas at:

• Seattle Aquarium take action page

• Orca Action Month events page (every June)

• Orca Recovery Day, including actions you can take year-round

• Orca Network action card (PDF)

• Whale Scout's monthly #OrcaHero action checklist

• Wild Orca's action page

• Symbolically adopt an orca from The Whale Museum

• Coming soon... you'll find many more ideas in the back of my SUPERPOD book!

Learn the favorite calls of J, K, and L pods (Orcasound)

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Explore common sounds of the Salish Sea by clicking the animals and other objects in this panoramic soundscape (Langley Whale Center & Orca Network)

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Use the Center for Whale Research's app to identify whales by their saddle patch patterns and dorsal fin shapes

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Lesson plans from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration:

• Whale lesson plans and activities

• Saving the Southern Resident killer whales: A project-based learning unit for middle school

• Salmon: Incredible Journey curriculum for grades 4-5 (plus 5 min life cycle animation and Salmon Survival board game)

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Grade 4 Life Sciences Unit on the endangered Southern Resident orcas created by the Bainbridge Island School District (NGSS-aligned)

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Read my story in Cricket magazine (for 9-14 year olds), "Underwater music." Zara saves a young orca's life from afar by listening to streaming pod calls. Art by Agnes Loonstra.

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Read my article in Muse magazine (for 9-14 year olds) about how scientists are discovering orca friendships: "From the air: Drone views of whales deliver some surprises." (Used by permission. © 2022 Cricket Media.)

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Listen to the SeaDoc Society's Pod of Orcas podcast.