The Columbia River is a remarkable place to look for migratory birds; the Umatilla National Wildlife Refuge can be a stopover point for American coots, ducks, and waterfowl of a stunning variety. Perhaps the most wonderful sight to see is the migration of the snow goose. These sturdy white geese with black wing tips array themselves in mass swirling lines and patterns that animate the blue sky above it. Hundreds, even thousands of geese can move across an area in a matter of a few hours. Guests aboard National Geographic Sea Bird enjoy these sights from the comfort of their kayaks below on the calm waters of the Columbia, finding peace in one of the state’s best-kept wildlife refuges.
4/27/2024
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National Geographic Sea Bird
Astoria, Oregon
We reached the penultimate day of our journey in Astoria, Oregon, where the Columbia River collides with the open ocean. We were met with a typical Pacific Northwest day of gentle rains punctuated by moments of sunshine. The guests were divided to conquer this gem of a city, nestled under bridges; half headed across the river to Washington to visit the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center at Cape Disappointment, while the other half visited the Columbia River Maritime Museum and Astoria Column. The museum and the interpretive center are both excellent examples of what the west coast can offer with regard to history and culture. Each has thoughtful exhibits that cover broad swaths of topics, and are staffed with informative and helpful faculty. After a hearty lunch on board, the groups swapped in order to have the best of both worlds. Finally, all met back aboard for the week’s final recap and guest slideshow.
