Acadia Birding Festival: Pelagic Cruise
This was a great view to start the trip off with! Photo courtesy Eliza Nickelson.
On the weekend of June 5, I was lucky enough to attend the Acadia Birding Festival (link here) with my family. Hosted in and near Bar Harbor every year, it is known for attracting birders from all over the country. This was my first year going, and I am planning on going next year as well. I would highly recommend the experience!
The first activity I was signed up for was the Pelagic Cruise, which most festival-goers attend. It cost $100 per person this year, which may influence your decision whether or not to do this trip. One of the things I learned on the trip was how to pronounce pelagic correctly (pəˈlajik), which I had not been doing. The cruise takes off from the Bar Harbor town pier, and lasts about four hours (although this year it went a little long). The large boat, named Friendship V, takes you up to 25 miles offshore, although that depends on the weather. Some of the more regular birds include Atlantic Puffins, Common Murres, Razorbills, Northern Gannets, Common and Arctic Terns, Bald Eagles, and Common Eiders, among many more possibilities. I was able to see all of the above birds this year, which was very fortunate.
If you get seasick, this trip may not be for you. I personally did get sick a few times on this boat ride, but most people were fine and able to bird without concern. The crew is very nice should you feel under the weather, and has many options to help you feel better. As part of the crew, there are also bird experts on board giving commentary and helping you to see all birds of interest.
Overall, it was a great experience and I would recommend doing it for all people who are interested. Happy birding!
This was a great view to start the trip off with! Photo courtesy Eliza Nickelson.
At the various islands visited on this trip, there are almost always flocks of birds circling the island. Photo courtesy Jim Nickelson.
This American Oystercatcher was an exciting find! Its orange legs make it stand out against the rocky background. Photo courtesy Jim Nickelson.
These Atlantic Puffins were once gone from Maine, but are now back and nesting! Photo courtesy Jim Nickelson.
Bald Eagles were a nice surprise, and we even got to see a nest. Photo courtesy Jim Nickelson.
The bulky mass at the top of this tree contained a baby Bald Eagle! Photo courtesy Jim Nickelson.
These Common Eiders, although common, are a striking sight on the ocean. Photo courtesy Jim Nickelson.
One of the best things to see on this trip is the mixing of species that you might not see on the mainland. Photo courtesy Jim Nickelson.
We were lucky enough to be able to see this Double-crested Cormorant nesting colony. Photo courtesy Jim Nickelson.
This Great Cormorant was a rare and lucky find! Photo courtesy Jim Nickelson.
This flyover Northern Gannet was one of the first birds we saw, and got people excited for the rest of the trip. Photo courtesy Jim Nickelson.
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About this blog:
Enthusiastic Birder
Eliza is a sophomore in high school. She loves birds, looking for birds, and most everything related to birds. She also plays the piano, is an active Girl Scout, and loves gardening. She is very excited to be fully vaccinated and to be able to see her friends and family!
