Greetings from the Ocean Tramp!
It’s been an exciting week as we’ve now reached the evening of our 6th day at sea. Each day has been nothing short of an adventure- each day we ask ourselves, wow how can it keep getting better – and it does! Each day is a breathtaking surprise of new wildlife and more and more icebergs as we head further south.
Even just on our first in transit to Greenwich Island, we spotted Adelie chicks, a resting leopard seal (our first sighting of the season!), porpoising chinstrap penguins, and fluttering Wilson’s Storm Petrels. These hardy little sea birds migrate all the way to the Gulf Maine in the North Atlantic, where I call home. I am thankful to join Quixote Expeditions as guest scientist this season. My studies focus on large whale conservation and whale watching, with support from University of Massachusetts Boston and Hornblower Boston Harbor City Cruises. As part of my PhD dissertation, I am investigating how infrared camera sensors can be used to help detect whales at sea, as a tool to prevent ship strikes. Factors such as air temperature, sea surface temperature, and humidity affect how well the technology works, and so a polar climate is the ideal place to test its limits.
In fact we have already spotted close to ten humpbacks throughout this trip, including a mother and calf pair! Photos and information collected on sustainable tourism boats is an excellent way for citizen scientists to share vital knowledge that can be added to the Antarctic Humpback Catalog, such as www.Happywhale.com and Allied Whale.
Other sights and wildlife include a Gentoo penguin colony, diverse tidal pools, remnants of old whaling stations, resting Weddell seas, and hundreds of chinstrap penguins on icebergs and cliff sides. Other marine mammal sightings including the charismatic Antarctic Fur Seal (reminded us of our pets!) and a crabeater seal. And can’t forget the pelagic seabirds! We’ve encountered the massive wingspan of a Giant Petrel, inquisitive Skuas, and hardy Chatham Shags. We’ve enjoyed wonderful hikes taking in the scenery (so many mountains, ice bergs, and snow caps!) and adventurous zodiac and kayak rides, which has really allowed us to fully experience and appreciate the wonder of what Antarctica has to offer.
Tomorrow we depart from Enterprise Island along the Gerlache Strait, continuing our journey south! We can’t wait to share more of our adventures! Sending love to all our family and friends.
I very much want to thank Quixote Expeditions for this opportunity, and their contribution to science.
Laura Howes, Guest Scientist
