BIRD WATCHING - WHALE WATCHING - ECO TOURS

2004 BIRDWATCHING TOURS with DAVID WIMPFHEIMER
David Wimpfheimer is a naturalist and biologist with a passion for the birds and natural history of the West. His research and studies have taken him from seabird rookeries in Alaska to forests of the Sierra. He has studied birds and marine mammals on Southeast Farallon Island and has compiled the Point Reyes Christmas Bird Count for the last seventeen years. David has led natural history tours not only in the varied regions of California, but also in Alaska, Baja, Arizona and Scotland for many organizations.

Seabirds of the Gulf of the Farallones
August 13, 27 click here to buy tickets online

The Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary justly deserves its reputation as an excellent place to see Blue Whales, Humpback Whales, dolphins, porpoises and other cetaceans. The Farallon Islands also supports the largest breeding colony of seabirds in the continental United States. Breeding seabirds include; Leach's Storm Petrel, Ashy Storm Petrel, Double-crested Cormorant, Brandts Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Western Gull, Tufted Puffin, Rhinoceros Auklet, Cassins Auklet, Pigeon Guillemot and Common Murre. Many of these species, but not necessarily all of these birds can be seen on an average trip to the Gulf of The Farallones during the period from May through August.

The islands lie close to the edge of the continental shelf. The Upwelling process that occurs here brings nutrients and oxygen rich water close to the surface fueling a rich food chain that is responsible for large numbers of marine mammals and birds. The high level of marine productivity attracts other spec ies in addition to the breeding ones. Visitors form the Southern Hemisphere include: Sooty, Short-tailed, Flesh-footed, Pink-footed and Bullers Shearwaters and South Polar Skua. Black-vented Shearwater, Elegant Tern, Xantus and Craveris Murrelet are species breeding in Mexico that occasionally are seen in the Gulf of the Farallones.

These rich waters are also the destination or migratory stop for birds that breed further north or west of the California coast. These species include: Northern Fulmar, Black-footed and Laysan Albatross, Fork-tailed Storm Petrel, Red and Red-necked Phalarope, Sabines Gull, Arctic Tern, Parasitic, Pomarine and Long-tailed Jaeger.

On any day at the Gulf of the Farallones, other birds such as loons, grebes, scoters, alcids, gulls or terns can be seen. Rarities such as boobies, petrels and tropicbirds have flown by lucky seabirders on occasion. However, visitors should remember that varying weather and sea conditions mean that the number and variety of birds will always change from one visit to another. The motion of the boat, fog and sea spray can make viewing seabirds a challenging, but wonderfully satisfying activity. Undoubtedly it will be easier to see an albatross with a seven-foot wingspan that a small storm petrel flying away from the boat. There are few guarantees after leaving the dock, but having a sense of adventure should be part of any cruise.

The types of Birds we see in the Gulf of the Farallons: