Take part in Orca Watch 2019

Hundreds of people will take part in this year's Orca Watch, conducting watches and collecting records of orcas passing through the Pentland Firth.

This year's Orca Watch runs from 17 to 26 May. The general public are invited to join a dedicated team of volunteers on watches at Duncansbay Head in Caithness and Orkney and Shetland. Volunteers will also be onboard the John O'Groats ferry (connecting to mainland Orkney) collecting sightings and data.  

More than two thousand people have contributed sightings to the Sea Watch Foundation’s National Database that currently comprises over 60,000 records, making it one of the largest and longest-running sightings schemes in the world. 

This is an open event and anyone interested is welcome to reach the organised land watches at any time during the day, but people are also free to look out for whales and collate sightings anywhere else along the coast. And, of course, if you see anything Sea Watch would love to hear about it! Sightings should be reported here: www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/sightingsform.

Dr Chiara Giulia Bertulli, Sea Watch Sightings Officer and lead organiser of this year’s event said:

"Being able to sight so many different cetacean species in Caithness, Orkney and Shetland so close to shore is something truly amazing!

“What we hope for is to be able to collect sightings data involving members of the general public, helping each other while sharing skills!

“Sightings are important because they give us information about where and when particular species occur, from which we can identify important areas and habitats, as well as determine changes in their status and distribution. Such knowledge helps provide better informed conservation measures."

This event originated from the collaboration between Sea Watch Foundation and their former Regional Coordinator Colin Bird and sees a number of organisations working in collaboration to help conduct watches and hold social events. These include

• Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC)
• Scottish Natural Heritage
• John O’Groats Ferries
• Pulteney People’s Centre
• RSPB wardens at Marwick Head
• Sanday Development Trust
• organisers of the Orkney Nature Festival
• High Life Highland Countryside Rangers
• Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust

You can find information on watches on the Sea Watch Foundation website.