Black-footed Albatross | Zane Pickus
Departs from and Returns to
Sausalito Harbor
Trip Organizers
Zane Pickus, Emmett Iverson
Description
There is truly no experience in birding quite like that of being aboard a boat on the ocean. Dedicated pelagic birding trips offer a unique opportunity to witness a variety of spectacular seabirds that are not visible from land, such as albatross, shearwaters, storm-petrels, alcids, fulmars, and a variety of gulls, terns, and phalaropes that migrate thousands of miles over the ocean each year. Furthermore, the ocean is always unpredictable – some incredibly rare seabirds have been spotted off Northern California in recent years!
Departing from Sausalito Harbor is special in that it offers birders access to the deep Pacific waters beyond the continental shelf, all reachable from a day’s boat trip! Depending on weather, this trip will plan to explore the Cordell Banks off Point Reyes or the Pioneer Seamount beyond the Farallon Islands, while paralleling the continental shelf. These locations with interesting underwater topography can be magnets for seabirds, causing temperature changes and upwelling of nutrients that concentrate marine life for viewing. In addition to seabirds, a day on the ocean often includes viewing of whales, dolphins, pinnipeds, and the occasional shark or Mola mola. You truly never know what you might see when you step aboard a pelagic boat!!
This trip will take place on the Outer Limits, a 55-foot catamaran run by Big C Chartersout of Sausalito. We will cruise out below the Golden Gate Bridge, meander beyond the Farallon Islands, and work our way into deeper water to spend the majority of the day looking for pelagic birds. The exact route will be determined as conditions warrant.
Accessibility
This will be an intense day of birding, but all ages and skill levels are welcome. The trip will depart promptly from Sausalito Harbor (310 Harbor Dr, Sausalito, CA 94965) at 6:00am. Please plan to arrive at least 30 minutes in advance for registration and boarding. After 10 hours onboard, we will return to the dock around 4:00pm. Seasickness is of course a concern on a pelagic trip so please plan accordingly with medication, fluids, snacks, lunch, and enough sleep beforehand. There is a restroom available on board, as well as benches near the stern for people to sit.
Pricing and Registration
This pelagic trip will cost $175 per person, with a student rate of $120. Details for payment will be outlined upon registration. Payment must be received in order to confirm a space on the boat. Refunds will be provided in the event that the boat is cancelled due to weather, but if the trip runs as scheduled they will only be provided if a replacement participant can be found.
If you are interested, please contact Zane Pickus and Emmett Iverson (yolobirdalliance@gmail.com) to reserve a spot on a first-come, first-serve basis. We hope to see you there!!