Wildlife abounds!

Today was a day filled with wildlife! We left the harbor going north....just off the Cactus Islands we had our first wildlife sighting with a mature Bald Eagle standing atop a rocky reef. As we circled around it took off perching itself in the same tree as its nest. Plenty of Harbor Seals bobbing through the waters and kelp beds. Between the Cactus Islands we decided to show off some Bull Kelp to the folks on board. We pulled some blades so that everyone could feel them and sample a nibble if they'd like! Substances such as carageenan and alginate are found in algaes such as kelp...these ingredients are commonly used in our food and body products ranging from ice cream to shampoo! Guests on board were also treated to a little tune on the "kelp trumpet". Ha!
As we rounded Stuart Island we saw some beautiful Dall's Porpoise, though they were not in much of a playful mood. On into Canadian waters we passed a male Stellar Sea Lion swimming in Haro Strait and found Harbor Seals hauled out on the reef just off Mandarte Island. The cormorants and gulls were again causing a ruckus on Mardarte, squawking non-stop! I've never seen so many cormorants in the water to the south, must have been over 100! Back to the USA, with a stop by Speiden. Harbor Porpoise and calves were a little daring playing in our wake for a few dives. Then homeward bound to Friday Harbor!

-Jaclyn Van Bourgondien, naturalist