The Orca Behavior Institute is a non-profit whale research organization based on San Juan Island, Washington. Founded in 2015, OBI was created by a small group of passionate community scientists.
Inspiring conservation of wild killer whales
through non-invasive research, bold advocacy, and science based education
OUR RESEARCH
Our primary goal is to collect long-term data sets documenting changes in whale behavior in the Salish Sea to help inform the protection Bigg's killer whales and the recovery of Southern Resident killer whales. We aim to publish current data and trends in a timely manner by tracking and confirming whale sightings throughout the region, conducting field observations of whale behavior, and recording and analyzing whale acoustic communication. This will help inform other research efforts and ongoing policy decisions.
2000
+
per year
Whale Sightings
Tracked
Tracked
7
Peer-Reviewed
Publications
Publications
60
+
Public Comment
Letters Submitted
Letters Submitted
150
+
per year
Field Research
Encounters
Encounters
As we’ve grown in recent years, our work has expanded to include science-based continuing education programs and partnerships aimed towards promoting bold advocacy on behalf of regional killer whales and the ecosystem they rely on.
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Our work is driven by individual donations from supportive community members who believe in our mission. No matter how great or small, your donations are truly what makes our work possible.
Discover the Southern Residents
The Southern Resident orca population is made up of J-, K-, and L-Pods. Our research on the Southern Residents focuses on presence/absence in the Salish Sea, behavioral budget and behavioral shifts over time, and acoustic communication.
Meet the pods
Meet Bigg's Matrilines
Bigg's Killer whale matriline
Meet the
T60s
I (Monika) first met the T60s in 2009 while working as a naturalist aboard the Western Prince. At that point in time they were a group of 4: mom T60 traveling with her three sons, T60C, D, and E, with the youngest being just a year old. Seeing Bigg’s killer whales was still uncommon for me at this point in time, with very little context as to who was who and what their family histories were.
Check out our latest video!
A Trip to Alaska | Whale & Wildlife Highlights | 2026
Our recent trip to Alaska in June 2026 was truly unforgettable, filled with incredible encounters with whales, bears, and diverse wildlife. Here is the video Jason put together highlighting some of the trip's best moments!
🎥 Filmed and edited by Jason Shields
If you’re curious about the orca videos created by Jason Shields or have questions about the process, click HERE! We asked Jason to answer some of the most common inquiries about his videos.
