Orcas in Puget Sound

The Scientific Lens - Orcas in Puget Sound. The Scientific Lens: Research and Photography--From the depths of the Pacific to the slopes of Mount Rainer, UW scientists are using advanced photography to reveal the world in ways unimaginable a generation ago. The Burke Museum presents four opportunities to learn from environmental researchers and photographers about their practice, technique and goals for investigating and the natural world beyond our view. Orcas in Puget Sound--The Center for Whale… Show more Research has studied and documented whales in Northwest waters for over 25 years. In the course of this research, they developed a cataloguing system - based on photographs that document the shape, size, scars, and markings on whales' dorsal fins - which is now used by scientists throughout the world to identify and track these majestic mammals. Senior vessel captain and field biologist Dave Ellifrit helped build and curate the photographic library of orcas in Puget Sound, and can recognize virtually any eastern North Pacific ocean killer whale at a glance. Dave will share highlights from the photo library, and discuss how the catalogue was created, what it has revealed about orcas, and how it affects policy and research.

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