Entry deadline is May 16 for The Whale Museum’s first annual photo contest for its Southern Resident Orca Calendar.

The 16-month collectible calendar is for 2010-11.

Contest chairperson Julie Corey said this calendar will help connect people with our majestic orcas. The photo contest is open to all. Photos of Southern Resident orcas are invited as long as they were taken following the Be Whale Wise Guidelines and Washington State Regulations.

The calendar printing is sponsored by Eagle Home Mortgage. Judging will be done by Corey, professional photographer Mark Gardner, and Museum Director Jenny Atkinson. The best 15 photos will be selected with prizes awarded to the top three places.

The entry fee is $10 for up to five photos. For more details or copies of the contest guidelines and entry form, visit The Whale Museum at 62 First St., N. in Friday Harbor. A copy of the contest poster and forms can also be downloaded from www.whalemuseum.org.

Founded in 1979, The Whale Museum’s mission is to promote stewardship of whales and the Salish Sea ecosystem through education and research. In addition to providing exhibits, the museum also provides programs including: the Orca Adoption Program, Soundwatch Boater Education, Marine Naturalist Training, San Juan Islands Marine Mammal Stranding Network, and the Whale Hotline. The Whale Museum is a non-profit organization.

For more information, call The Whale Museum at (360) 378-4710, ext. 30.