The day began with an early morning call announcing humpback whales just off the bow. Unexpectedly during our viewing of these magnificent marine mammals, we were visited by Dall’s porpoise—the fastest marine mammal on our planet. They zipped close to our bow before dashing off into the distance. Soon after breakfast, our guests cut loose to shore to hike and kayak in Sitkoh Bay where eagles flew overhead, and brown bears dined on the early season sedge grass in the open meadow, awaiting the salmon and berries summer will soon provide. In the afternoon we found another bear upon the beach before being visited by Dr. Andy Szabo, the Director of the Alaska Whale Foundation. Giving a lively and informative talk on the charismatic mega fauna of Southeast Alaska, Dr. Szabo entertained questions and discussion about why these animals truly call Alaska home.
8/1/2019
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National Geographic Venture
Baranof Island
After exploring the glaciers and open waters of the northern Inside Passage, we sailed south through the night and returned to the starting point of our journey, Baranof Island. This island, along with Admiralty to the east and Chichagof to the north, is home to one of the highest densities of brown bears in the world. To search for evidence of the bears as they begin their yearly salmon feast and continue our exploration of the temperate rainforest, we anchored in Kelp Bay to kayak and hike the shoreline throughout the morning. Later in the afternoon, we welcomed Dr. Andy Szabo of the Alaska Whale Foundation to learn more about ongoing research taking place in Alaska on the unique bubblenet feeding behavior we witnessed earlier in the trip. Only in Alaska can you experience the forest, salmon, bears, and whales all in one day.
