We spent our morning exploring the lovely small fishing town of Petersburg. Dock walkers got to know the local marine life and the types fishing boats, flightseers enjoyed views from high above the LeConte Glacier, garden walkers visited the beautiful greenhouses of a local florist, and photo walkers wandered through town and began work visual stories of the area and the people who call it home. After lunch, we began our southward journey and encountered an amazing scene of about nine or ten humpback whales bubble-net feeding.
5/15/2024
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National Geographic Sea Bird
Inian Islands, AK
The drizzling rain of the early morning cleared off for the start of our Zodiac tours through the dazzling Inian Islands. The Islands are incredibly special due to their geographic location. As the northernmost opening to the Inside Passage, tons of billions of gallons of water funnel in from the Pacific Ocean and cause an oceanic phenomenon called upwelling, where cold, nutrient dense water rises to the surface. Marine animals flock to these waters for the availability of food and resources. We were able to view sea otters, sea lions, and many bird species. The Zodiac tours had some of the most amazing views of the coastal waters, spruce covered islands, and wildlife. We ended the morning with a visit to the Tidelines Institute, a non-profit educational institute founded by Lindblad Naturalist and PhD in climate science, Zach Brown. The afternoon was filled with presentations, briefings, and our guest slideshow to end the evening during our transit up to Sitka. It was a fantastic ending to a great trip.