| |
Other Charters
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Bird Watching & Nature Cruises
|
Year Round
|
|
The Farallon Islands support
an astounding number and diversity of
breeding California seabirds; and in
2000, recorded the world's largest breeding
colonies of Ashy Storm-Petrel (2500+ pr.),
and some of largest aggregations of breeding
Brandt's Cormorant (5500+ pr.), Western Gull
(nearly 20,000 pr.), Pigeon Guillemot (800+
pr.) and Cassin's Auklet (15,000+ pr.).
|
|
Bird sightings may include: Western grebe, Brown
pelican, Double-crested cormorant, Brandt's cormorant,
Pelagic cormorant, Black oystercatcher, Brown pelican,
Sotty shearwater, Red-necked phalarope, Pink-footed
shearwater, Western gull, Elegant tern, Common murre,
Cassin's auklet, Rhinoceros auklet, Tufted puffin, and
Pigeon guillemot.
Mammal sightings, include: Humpback Whales,
Harbor Porpoises, Steller Sea Lions, Harbor Seals, Dall’s Porpoise, White Sided Dolphins, Harbor Porpoise,
Elephant Seals, Northern Fur Seals, Harbor Seals and California Sea
Lions, Grey Whales, Killer Whales and Rizzo Whales.
In addition to the mammals and birds, you
are likely to be delighted by other sea
creatures, such as the Mola Mola (Sunfish)
pictured the the right. |
|
 |
 |
|
click
photos to enlarge |
|
|
|
The Farallon Islands
|
The Gulf of the Farallones National Marine
Sanctuary
|
|
The Farallon Islands, 27
miles out in the Pacific Ocean from San Francisco, lie
amid the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine
Sanctuary, a food-rich marine ecosystem which attracts
whales, dolphins, seals and seabirds each summer and
fall, to feed and to breed. Island rocks are covered
with sea lions, including massive Steller's sea lions,
now on the Endangered Species List. The
Farallon
Islands were established as a refuge in
1909 by President Theodore Roosevelt.
|
|
The Farallon Islands, National Wildlife Refuge,
is sparsely inhabited by scientists who stay in housing including the
two houses above. Marine scientists live on the island up to three
months at a time, isolated from the mainland, record
island activities in their roles as wildlife guardians.
The islands are home to
thousands of seals and sea lions. The Gulf of the
Farallones National Marine Sanctuary is a bountiful
marine ecosystem attracting endangered whales, sharks
and huge schools of dolphins. Twenty-three species of
marine mammals, including 20 species of whales and
dolphins, can be found here.
During June and July,
California and Steller's sea lions pup at the islands
and many more animals are seen hauled out on the rocks.
Northern Fur Seals also breed here during the summer and
are considered one of the success stories for the
sanctuary and refuge since they were almost completely
wiped out by fur traders in the late 1800's.
|
|
 |
 |
|
click
photos to enlarge |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
