Petersburg
After a good night’s sleep, morning found us approaching Petersburg, a small fishing town located on Mitkof Island. Named for a Norwegian founder, Peter Bushman, and established in the late 1890s, Scandinavian flavor is visible in many corners of the town. Before breakfast, the Sea Bird docked close to town and after our first meal of the day, we started our morning activities. Guests chose from among several entreating options, such as a hike on a well-maintained board trail up to a muskeg bog, flightseeing, a tour of the Tonka Seafood processing plant or a tour to the docks and to the Evolution, a research vessel owned by Dr. Fred Sharp of the Alaska Whale Foundation.
During the hikes, we passed through an ecotone, formed by two dramatically different ecosystems—the temperate rainforest and a muskeg. We had a chance to learn about this unique environment while enjoying the view of a couple of bald eagles flying over the tree canopy. Steller’s Jays were up close, providing us with good views, and for a wonderful finale, some of us had the fortune to admire a black bear close to shore feeding on grasses and barnacles. And if that had not been enough, later on a small group of us saw a mother black bear with three cubs feeding on a salmon.
After the optional activities we all had enough time to explore Petersburg, walking by its main road, we stepped into some shops with souvenirs and had a chance to learn more about this quaint fishing town. During lunch, the Sea Bird made its way out into Frederick Sound, where “black fish” were spotted, appearing at the surface of the sea and lighting our souls with excitement. Yes, these were orcas or killer whales. This pod of no less than five animals, including a full grown male, who showed with pride his six foot dorsal fin, were surfacing close to the ship. Nothing stopped us from being enchanted with their presence and photographing their beauty.
After a good night’s sleep, morning found us approaching Petersburg, a small fishing town located on Mitkof Island. Named for a Norwegian founder, Peter Bushman, and established in the late 1890s, Scandinavian flavor is visible in many corners of the town. Before breakfast, the Sea Bird docked close to town and after our first meal of the day, we started our morning activities. Guests chose from among several entreating options, such as a hike on a well-maintained board trail up to a muskeg bog, flightseeing, a tour of the Tonka Seafood processing plant or a tour to the docks and to the Evolution, a research vessel owned by Dr. Fred Sharp of the Alaska Whale Foundation.
During the hikes, we passed through an ecotone, formed by two dramatically different ecosystems—the temperate rainforest and a muskeg. We had a chance to learn about this unique environment while enjoying the view of a couple of bald eagles flying over the tree canopy. Steller’s Jays were up close, providing us with good views, and for a wonderful finale, some of us had the fortune to admire a black bear close to shore feeding on grasses and barnacles. And if that had not been enough, later on a small group of us saw a mother black bear with three cubs feeding on a salmon.
After the optional activities we all had enough time to explore Petersburg, walking by its main road, we stepped into some shops with souvenirs and had a chance to learn more about this quaint fishing town. During lunch, the Sea Bird made its way out into Frederick Sound, where “black fish” were spotted, appearing at the surface of the sea and lighting our souls with excitement. Yes, these were orcas or killer whales. This pod of no less than five animals, including a full grown male, who showed with pride his six foot dorsal fin, were surfacing close to the ship. Nothing stopped us from being enchanted with their presence and photographing their beauty.
