ok. what are they up to?

Clearly plotting which smaller group they can boss around and send to overthrow fishing boats and their catches. They could actually just be doing it for a laugh you know as there is nothing whales like more than a bit of gossip and the thought of all those seals they can send in to knock against innocent fishermens boats and compare notes about which fisherman got tipped into the sea must raise a huge chuckle amongst them. And of course whales are too big themselves to do it without being noticed.

I haven't the faintest idea what they're doing, but for some odd reason this reminded me of one of my favourite jokes. A young male whale met a young female whale, and they fell in lust, as you do, and starting tracking around the ocean together exchanging life stories, as you do, and generally settling in to something long-term and meaningful. Then one day they spied a ship on the horizon, and after a few seconds of intense scrutiny, the young male whale went completely spare, thrashing around and singing completely out of tune and sounding deep and long. When he finally settled down she asked him WTF? He explained that he had recognised the ship as the very same whaler that had got his mum and dad and all his siblings, not long before he met his true love. She was outraged and totally sympathetic to his anger. After a few minutes of mutual outrage, he came up with an idea for revenge. "We'll swim up close, dive deep, then both come up together under the ship, blow all our air out of our blowholes, and flip it over. The we can eat all the sailors as they struggle in the water." She looked at him askance, and then replied, "I have no objection helping you with the bl*w job, but I'm damned if I'll swallow the seamen." Lash

I think they are sick of penguins and seals, so they are plotting on how to get the taste of some blue British rabbit.

I by-passed this discussion because I haven't a clue why orcas gather. But . . . if you were talking about humpback whales I could answer your question. It is quite clear that humpbacks gather to discuss the best place for a fun park - and they always come up with the same answer: Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia (about a one hour drive from here) Every year, the humpbacks gather at Hervey Bay to thrill and captivate hundreds of tourists. They have so much fun frolicking in the waves, high diving and slapping the water and teaching their young to do the same. They respond to applause and put on a bigger show. They thoroughly enjoy themselves as they give pleasure to humans. In case anyone wonders: the industry is highly controlled, with many safeguards for the whales. Only registered boats are allowed in the area and there are distance regulations and other controls.

Like Thea said, perhaps a whale gossip is in existent, lol. I think that's quite cute, really. But it will be quite some time before they plot against humans. I think they are discussing how to minimize the pollution around them. They sure need fresh, clean water..

Oh, I think that is silly. Whales are social and I think they go in schools. I would not for one moment think that they are plotting anything. And for a animal they could be talking about the meaning of life or exchanging anecdotes. You just never know. I read a sci-fi book one time about a wizard getting hoards of animals together as an army against man kind gone wrong.

I have not heard about these get togethers but the Orcas are a very smart and social animal (they may be smarter than humans, we just cannot test how smart they are). Most pods (or family groups) will eat certain food as opposed to eat everything that swims in the oceans. Some specialize in salmon, others specialize in penguins whereas others go after other whales. These get togethers may be of a couple of different things, one is family reunions, (after all humans have reunions) Orcas do not mate with their own relatives but rather go out of their pod to have mates. Another thing may be that they are letting their kin know of what they have been doing and maybe how to get another kind of food.

jb hi well now maybe they are going to Japan to get those meanies who gang up on helpless dolphins just to eat the poor things, but am not sure as maybe whales like dolphin meat too, nah dolphins are too sweet even the meanest orca surely would not bug or bother the sweet kindly dolphins. then on the other hand being a social' gathering the gal orcas are all there to talk about the 'mean dastardly things all the male orcas have done or the gals think they have done to them. sort of gal gossips and guy gossip among the orca whales. yes I bet that is'what they are up to indeed.

Inventing a new word? Orcanization?