Big Turnout for CWR Grand Opening

Yesterday’s Grand Opening of the new Center for Whale Research’s Orca Survey Outreach & Education Center was attended by a good sized crowd of about 25 – 30 people. Friday Harbor Mayor Farhad Ghatan, members of the SJI Chamber of Commerce and many CWR staff & volunteers attended as well. The Center is located next door to Mr. Believeable’s restaurant at 185 First Street South.

Ken Balcomb cuts the ribbon. L-R: Gail Schnee, Chamber President; Katie Jones, CWR Education/Outreach Manager; Ken Balcomb CWR Founder; Lodie Gilbert, CWR Community Relations Coordinator; Parin Columna, CWR Volunteer Coordinator and Karl Bruno, Chamber Staff Member – Photo by Tim Dustrude for San Juan Update

Inside, staff will be on hand to share information and education about the whales including a large 4K TV display showing recent drone footage of the whales. (Note that all drone footage was captured under federal permit.) Also, the following is there for the public to see:

• High Tech interactive touch screens
• SRKW’s ID’d on interactive screens
• Killer Whale skull on display
• Orca Whale underwater vocalizations
• Merchandise available with membership
• Exclusive Orca Survey gear designed by Jenn Rigg of LOEA Design
• Life size dorsal fin sculpture of J-1 “Ruffles” carved out of cedar by local artist Jim Burgess

They will have a year round presence, developing a rotation of guest speakers, movie nights, educational programs and children’s programs during the quiet season. All of this is FREE to the general public.

Michael Weiss, CWR Field Biologist and Drone Camera Operator explains how recent drone footage is already showing never-before-seen images of whale behavior, such as sharing food with one another – Tim Dustrude photo for SJ Update

The mission of the Orca Survey Outreath and Education Center is to educate and give back to the public, information and knowledge they have gathered during 42 years of research of the whales.

It is their hope that visitors will leave with a greater understanding and appreciation of the whales’ ecological requirements and the issues affecting them, particularly, dwindling food supplies, primarily Chinook Salmon, and that this information will “trickle up” to elected officials and bureaucrats that set natural resource policy and make management decisions.

These issues are complex and politically charged, but they must be rationally solved by well-informed leadership if the Southern Resident orcas are to survive the coming decades.

For more information and membership options, check out the Center for Whale Research website.

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