Princess Royal Island was our destination of the morning. Under sunny skies, we took our expedition landing craft to Butedale. This former cannery is under renovation on a grand scale. We walked through the remaining buildings and hiked up to the lake hidden deep in the forest. As we cruised along the shoreline, we were able to get up close to the waterfall that provides the current facility with electricity. In the afternoon we explored the confluence of Campania Sound and Whale Channel, where we found humpback whales and what were possibly fin whales. The definitive white field markings on the fin whales’ lower right jaws were not visible, so perhaps they weren’t fin whales after all—but they were wonderful and appreciated by all on board.
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.
