Each spring, a small group of gray whales, affectionately known as The Sounders, returns to Puget Sound to feed on ghost shrimp. We will be holding events throughout April to welcome the Sounders; including a youth event, costume making workshop, Welcome the Whales parade, special presentation from guest speaker Dr. Sue Moore, gray whale fundraising cruise, and a plastics challenge. | | Virtual Youth Event Gray Whales: Return of the Sounders
Wednesday April 20th 4:00 pm - 5:00 PM Pacific Time | Join us for a Zoom event for all ages! Learn about gray whales and what makes them fascinating, and then take part in a fun activity.
The event is free but pre-registration is required. | | Costume Making Workshop South Whidbey Community Center
Wednesday April 20th 3:00 - 5:00 PM Pacific Time | Kids and families of all ages will turn familiar and unique reusable materials into creative costumes for the Welcome the Whales Parade. Join local environmental artist Joan Green, and whale-loving staff from the Langley Whale Center as you make: Paper Bag Whale Hats Baleen Wands Ghost Shrimp Necklaces Festive Rain Sticks Registration is $20 and covers all materials. Please contact us at katie@orcanetwork.org for available scholarships! | | | | Welcome the Whales Parade Langley, WA
Saturday April 23rd 1:30 PM Pacific Time
Dress as your favorite critter and join us for a parade in Langley to Welcome the Gray whales back to north Puget Sound. Staging will begin at the U.S. Bank parking lot at 1:00 PM. The parade will end at the Langley waterfront for a brief ceremony and dedication. | |
Gray Whales as Sentinels of Climate Change Pole Building, Langley Fairgrounds (masks required)
Saturday April 23rd 3:30 PM Pacific Time | Join Dr. Sue Moore for a presentation about gray whale ecology, with a focus on recent changes in North Pacific and Arctic marine ecosystems to provide context for the current Unusual Mortality Event.
Dr. Moore is a research scientist and Affiliate Professor at the Center for Ecosystem Sentinels in the Biology Department of the University of Washington. She is a leading expert on gray whales and climate change.
This will be an in-person/hybrid presentation with an option to join remotely via Zoom. | | Gray Whale Fundraising Cruise with Puget Sound Express
Sunday April 24th 2:00 - 4:00 PM Pacific Time | Join Orca Network staff and volunteers for a special two-hour cruise to meet some of the Sounders gray whales. Meet at Langley Marina at 1:30 for 2:00 departure. Cost is $95 per person and space is limited. | | | | | Plastics Challenge Throughout the month of April and beyond! | Please join us in taking a Plastics Challenge to help the gray whales.
- Reduce your use of plastics
- Educate your friends and family!
| | Sounders T-shirts Available Soon! | Check out our new Sounders gray whale T-shirt design, from renowned talented artist Jenn Rigg. These T-shirts, modeled after beloved Sounders Shackleton & Earhart, will be available soon at Langley Whale Center and on our webshop! | | For more information about Welcome the Whales, please contact
Please note: our Orca Network emails were down for a few weeks due to unexpected setbacks during a change of servers. They are now up and running again, so if you were trying to get ahold of one of us and didn't receive a response please try again! | | Donations to support our research, education and advocacy efforts are always appreciated! | | 485 Labella Vista Way, Freeland, WA 98249 Phone: 1 360-331-3543 866-ORCANET (672-2638) | | | | | | | |
