At its Jan 24 luncheon program, Bellingham City Club is pleased to present Monika Wieland Shields, the co-founder and director of the Orca Behavior Institute (OBI), a non-profit based on San Juan Island, Washington whose mission is to inspire conservation of wild killer whales through non-invasive research, bold advocacy, and science-based education. The program follows a catered lunch beginning at 11:45 AM in the Bellingham Yacht Club, 2625 S Harbor Loop Dr. Bellingham. Please see www.bellinghamcityclub.org for ticket information. Early registration is recommended as space is limited.
Passionate outcries on behalf of the endangered Southern Resident Orcas have consistently dominated headlines for several years. Why do they struggle while the Bigg’s Orcas are thriving? Both are inhabitants of the Salish Sea. What causes the difference in the health of the two Killer Whale populations? By studying these two orca populations, we can learn a lot about the human impact on the world around us, and what it takes to successfully live in close proximity to the ocean’s apex predator.
Monika Wieland Shields has been observing and studying orcas in the Salish Sea since 2000. She knows Salish Sea killer whales on a personal level, having gotten to know them and their family histories through hundreds of encounters in the field. She regularly shares their stories through blogs, social media posts, and photography.
Monika has helped document dramatic shifts in both the endangered fish-eating Southern Resident killer whale population and the thriving mammal-eating Bigg’s killer whale population. Her peer-reviewed scientific publications cover topics including acoustic communication, shifting habitat usage, and behavior of regional killer whales. She is also the author of the book “Endangered Orcas: The Story of the Southern Residents”.
Bellingham City Club’s mission is to inform, connect, and engage our community to strengthen the civic health of our region. Membership is open to all who support our mission and involves modest annual dues to pay speaker expenses and support operations. More information is available at bellinghamcityclub.org.
