Prion Island & Husvik Bay
Prion Island is a beautiful and pristine island located in the Bay of Isles on South Georgia. The island, having remained free of rats, has sustained populations of many of the ground nesting birds which were driven out of other rat infested bays and harbors. The South Georgia pipit was in abundance, flitting around the rocky shoreline.
Swarming above a large bed of kelp offshore of the landing site was an enormous flock of slender billed prions. Prion Island is also the known nesting site of the mysterious wandering albatross. The government built a boardwalk at the site here in order to lessen the impact of human visitors on the nesting birds. Now, walking up the many steps and levels of the boardwalk, guests were provided with a good look at nearly 15 wandering albatross sitting on their nests. These birds inspired awe in everyone who saw them, as they stoically and dutifully kept their chicks warm. Coming back to the ship, we saw fur seal pups playing and splashing at the water’s edge, curious noses pointed in the direction of onlookers.
A strong afternoon wind picked up, blowing us out of our originally intended stop of the afternoon. Instead we turned a corner and anchored in Husvik Harbor, an abandoned whaling station.
Through the rain, hikers found their way ashore and walked among an old whalers graveyard and up into the grassy hills surrounding the harbor. At this beach we were again greeted with hundreds of fur seal pups. Like walking into a playground, the pups crowded around the Zodiacs, splashed in the water, tumbled over one another, and caused a noisy, yet adorable, ruckus.
Leaving the quiet anchorage of Husvik late in the day, the National Geographic Explorer slowly made her way out into the bay on her way to Grytviken.
Prion Island is a beautiful and pristine island located in the Bay of Isles on South Georgia. The island, having remained free of rats, has sustained populations of many of the ground nesting birds which were driven out of other rat infested bays and harbors. The South Georgia pipit was in abundance, flitting around the rocky shoreline.
Swarming above a large bed of kelp offshore of the landing site was an enormous flock of slender billed prions. Prion Island is also the known nesting site of the mysterious wandering albatross. The government built a boardwalk at the site here in order to lessen the impact of human visitors on the nesting birds. Now, walking up the many steps and levels of the boardwalk, guests were provided with a good look at nearly 15 wandering albatross sitting on their nests. These birds inspired awe in everyone who saw them, as they stoically and dutifully kept their chicks warm. Coming back to the ship, we saw fur seal pups playing and splashing at the water’s edge, curious noses pointed in the direction of onlookers.
A strong afternoon wind picked up, blowing us out of our originally intended stop of the afternoon. Instead we turned a corner and anchored in Husvik Harbor, an abandoned whaling station.
Through the rain, hikers found their way ashore and walked among an old whalers graveyard and up into the grassy hills surrounding the harbor. At this beach we were again greeted with hundreds of fur seal pups. Like walking into a playground, the pups crowded around the Zodiacs, splashed in the water, tumbled over one another, and caused a noisy, yet adorable, ruckus.
Leaving the quiet anchorage of Husvik late in the day, the National Geographic Explorer slowly made her way out into the bay on her way to Grytviken.
