Orca Action Month 2021: We Are Family
Join us to celebrate the 15th annual Orca Month! To keep everyone safe and healthy, activities this year are remaining virtual or will be limited-capacity in-person events. By going virtual, we can bring even more people into our Orca Month "pod"! This year's theme is “We Are Family,” underscoring the distinct parallels between Southern Resident orca families and human families, while recognizing the whales’ individual community, strong family bonds, and unique culture.
To catch up on Orca Month 2020, read the recap from our Jessica Rekos Orca Fellow, Colleen!
There are 75 Southern Resident orcas remaining in the wild. Orca Action Month is all about coming together and engaging people in actions to support their recovery and the health of the ecosystems that help orcas (and us) survive.
Help us share their story!
Our theme this year is We Are Family - make the Southern Residents feel like part of your family by joining us for events throughout June!
Join the kickoff event on June 6th! Additional WDC events include weekly Orca Fact Friday livestreams, a special conversation about the Snake River dams, and an update from everyone's favorite Conservation Canine, Eba the whale dog!
WDC Virtual Events
Orca Fact Friday LIVE
Learn new things about orcas *and* potentially earn some cool prizes! We'll post a trivia question about orcas on Mondays and answer live on Fridays - correct responses will enter a drawing!
Questions posted Mondays (starting June 7th)
Answers LIVE Fridays at noon PDT/3pm EDT
Orca Month Book Club
Join WDC and Whale Scout for community discussions on two new amazing reads about whale culture.
Thursday, June 10th at 7pm PDT: Spirits of the Coast
Thursday, June 17th at 7pm PDT: National Geographic Special Edition: Secrets of the Whales
Whale Watch from Home!
Experience the Salish Sea (the summer home of the Southern Resident orcas) without getting out of your pandemic PJs.
Join WDC and Oceana for a virtual whale watch featuring on-the-water naturalists, the sounds of orcas, and the beautiful scenery of the Salish Sea.
Conservation Canines - Orca Poop!
We'll check in with our favorite orca researcher, Dr. Giles, and our favorite orca-detecting doggo, Eba, to hear about their unique 2020 field season, stories from the boat, and what they have planned for 2021.
Overcoming Coextinction
Ginger, get the popcorn!
The upcoming documentary film Coextinction is a deeply personal project that dives into the Southern Residents and their connection to the people of the Northwest. WDC & Defenders of Wildlife, in partnership with Patagonia, host a discussion with the filmmakers and key voices in the fight to save the Southern Resident orcas, and to learn how you can be part of their survival.
30 Days of Action for Orcas
30 Days of Action for OrcasEvery day during the month of June we have fun, cheap and easy actions that you can do to help orcas. The more you do, the better your chance is at winning gifts!
Snap a picture of your action, tag us, and use the hashtag #OrcaMonth, #OrcaHero & #OrcaLove
30 Days of Action for Orcas
In addition to joining our virtual festivities, we're inviting you to help the Southern Resident orcas through individual, independent actions you can do at home! Join WDC for 30 Days of Action for Orcas: raise awareness about this unique community, improve the health of their ecosystem (or your local environment), and support positive policy change to ensure their recovery.
Share your actions and photos on social media with the tags #OrcaMonth & #OrcaHero – and don’t forget to tag us! We’re working on some awesome thank-you gifts for people who show the most #OrcaLove!
Looking for more?
Join WDC and our partners for *virtual* Orca Month 2021 events
Attend online events throughout June to learn about this endangered community of orcas and how you can help save them from extinction.
Help us protect Southern Resident Orcas
Because of you we have been able to secure a critical habitat for the Southern Residents and ensure they have food, but our work is not over. Donate today to make sure that we can continue protecting this critically endangered species.
How it all started
Started over a decade ago by our friends at Orca Network, Orca Month raises awareness of endangered Southern Resident orcas and the need to help them recover to a healthy population. The celebration has taken many forms - and this year we're going virtual!