Presentation on Oregon's Orcas

Orcas in Canada. | Photo by Rob Lott.

Whale conservationist Colleen Weiler will offer a presentation about the orcas found in Oregon's waters on Saturday, Dec. 15 at 1 p.m. at the Cape Perpetua Visitor Center (2400 Hwy 101, about three miles south of Yachats).  Her talk is part of the Cape Perpetua Speaker Series.  The event is free and open to the public, but a day pass is required to park at the visitor center.

Weiler is the Rekos Fellow for Orca Conservation with the organization Whale and Dolphin Conservation.  Her lecture will provide information about "killer whales", more formally known as orcas, perhaps the most widely recognized species of whale or dolphin in the world, with their distinctive black-and-white coloring, tall dorsal fins, and reputation as fearsome hunters. Everyone knows what an orca is and how they live – or do we? There is a lot more happening beneath the waves than first meets the eye. With at least ten different types of orcas found in the world’s oceans and a long history of separation by appearance, diet, and culture, we may not know orcas as well as we think we do. Three distinct populations of orcas can be found off the coast of Oregon, separated by their favorite foods, social lives, and migratory patterns. Weiler's audience will learn about the orcas of the Oregon Coast and how Oregonians can get involved in their survival.

For any questions, contact Tara DuBois at capeperpetuacommunications@gmail.com.