This morning found National Geographic Orion a little farther south. With the change in latitude came a change in weather. Rain greeted us early in the day, and seas were a bit rougher than days past. Everyone spent time relaxing after the festivities of Christmas and enjoying great food—all day. There were some excellent staff presentations about plankton, seabirds, and the history of National Geographic. With the winds picking up, New Zealand seabirds swarmed around the ship. As we bobbed and swayed south, the sun set on another ocean adventure. What a day!
2/11/2024
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National Geographic Orion
Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu
The sound of the crunching leaves underfoot, the nagging, rattling call of the endemic Vanuatu kingfisher, the tickle of the sweat dripping down your knee, the glimpse from the corner of your eye of the shadow of a forest bird flying away, the yellow glow of the belly of the Vanuatu white-eye, the taste of the spongy coconut and the juicy pomelo at the end of our morning birding adventure. This morning, we explored the Loru Conservation Area in Espiritu Santo. The protected, 220-hectacre lowland forest is host to at least six Vanuatu endemics and many other songbird species. We were excited, sweaty, hot, curious, alert, occasionally frustrated, and ultimately rewarded. We were never bored. Birding in this kind of intact habitat is truly a special treat. In the afternoon, we took a beautiful canoe ride up to the Riri Blue Hole, where we went for a lovely swim. Vanuatu is a wonder to behold. What a time to be alive!