Citizen Science

Citizen Science – Birding in the Beardslee Islands

Trip Dates	May 13-16, 2022
Trip Length	4 days
Difficulty Level	Appropriate for all levels.​
Price	$ 940/person*

 *Does not include 3% sales tax or guide gratuities.

Trip Description

The Beardslee Islands are located in the lower bay of Glacier Bay National Park, roughly 60 miles away from the nearest tide water glacier. Access to the Beardslee Islands is through the Bartlett River’s high tide dependent corridor located at the end of Bartlett Cove.

Closed to motorized vessels, these nearby wilderness waters offer a unique opportunity for quiet and solitude amongst a teaming array of wildlife that includes humpback whales, sea otters, harbor seals, harbor porpoise, moose, black bears, brown bears and, of course, a variety of birds.

The timing of this trip is set to coincide with spring migration and ebird’s Global Big Day on May 14, 2022. We will identify birds to add to the Alaska eBird list for Audubon Alaska and track and identify birds affected by beak deformity for a bird monitoring project.

Trip Details

You will need to arrive by early afternoon on the day prior to the trip departure in order to attend the pre-trip meeting with your GBSK guide(s) at 5 PM at the NPS Visitor Information Station in Bartlett Cove to discuss trip logistics and citizen science protocols, review your equipment, pack your food and answer any questions you may have.

Prior to arriving in Gustavus, each member of your party will need to watch two NPS Backcountry Camper Orientation videos which will review Leave No Trace camping techniques and bear country camping methods. These two videos may also be found on our NPS Permits page.

Day 1    Organize gear and begin loading the kayaks in order to depart mid-day with the high tide. Paddle at a leisurely pace to get acquainted with the kayaks. Find a camp spot. Relax and talk about how we may optimize our bird data collection.

Day 2 & 3   Explore the shores and coves looking for birds and documenting our findings.

Day 4   After a relaxing breakfast, we will pack up camp, load the kayaks and paddle in a few more coves in search of more wildlife and birds. Later have lunch and slowly make our way back to meet the afternoon high tide as it ebbs back into Bartlett Cove. After we arrive back into Bartlett Cove we will de-outfit and say our farewells.

Citizen Science – Marine Mammals
Beardslee Islands to Mt. Wright

Trip Dates	June 26-29, 2022
Trip Length	4 days
Difficulty Level	Moderate Level – Intermediate kayaking experience required.
Price	$ 1,200/person*

 *Does not include 3% sales tax or guide gratuities.

Trip Description

The lower part of Glacier Bay National Park is where the wildlife comes together. With the movement of tides and eddies, schooling fish follow the phytoplankton and zooplankton to a few key places in the upper Beardslee Islands and lower bay. The marine mammals follow the flow of feed.

Placing ourselves so as not to disturb the humpback whales as they feed, we’ll paddle by and position ourselves at a safe and respectful distance to view and photograph their identifying features.

As we journey to our pick up point, we will be passing through one of the most wildlife rich regions of the park. Humpbacks, seals, sea lions, sea otters, harbor porpoise, sea birds, eagles, bears, moose, wolves, and even orcas may be sighted along one of our favorite Glacier Bay routes. This trip paddles out directly from Bartlett Cove and takes us through the Beardslee Islands and the east side of lower Glacier Bay. The last day we will get a one way pick up and continue by tour vessel up through the West Arm of the park to view the magnificent scenic tide water glaciers.

This citizen science trip includes all of the most spectacular aspects of the park. Be sure to bring along your binoculars!

Trip Details

You will need to arrive by early afternoon on the day prior to the trip departure in order to attend the pre-trip meeting with your GBSK guide(s) at 5 PM at the NPS Visitor Information Station in Bartlett Cove to discuss trip logistics and citizen science protocols, review your equipment, pack your food and answer any questions you may have.

Prior to arriving in Gustavus, each member of your party will need to watch two NPS Backcountry Camper Orientation videos which will review Leave No Trace camping techniques and bear country camping methods. These two videos may also be found on our NPS Permits page.

Day 1   Breakfast on your own. Meet at 10 AM at the NPS Visitor Information Station (VIS) above the dock a short walk down from Glacier Bay Lodge.  Go through last minute details and begin packing the kayaks in order to be on the water by mid-day to paddle into the Beardslees with the high tide. Paddle at a leisurely pace and make our first camp in the upper Beardslees.

Day 2   Break camp and collect marine mammal data as we paddle towards York Creek or Sandy Cove to make our second camp.

Day 3   Break camp and collect marine mammal data as we paddle towards our final camp at Garforth Island.

Day 4   After an early breakfast, paddle towards our pick up point. Board the concession tour vessel and journey up the West Arm of Glacier Bay to the tide water glaciers of Tarr Inlet before returning to Bartlett Cove by 3:30 PM. Upon return, we will de-outfit and say our farewells.

 

Citizen Science – Hugh Miller Inlet Marine Mammals

Trip Dates	July 10-13, 2022  August 4-7, 2022
Trip Length	4 days
Difficulty Level	Appropriate for all levels.
Price	$ 1,500/person*

 *Does not include 3% sales tax or guide gratuities.

Trip Description

You’ll begin with a relaxing tour of the bay up to the tide water glaciers of the West Arm of Glacier Bay National Park and then be dropped off near the entrance to the non-motorized area of Hugh Miller Inlet.

Although the focus of this trip is collecting science data on marine mammals, you will find these wilderness waters offer a variety of other wildlife for your viewing pleasure. Humpbacks, harbor porpoise, sea birds, eagles, brown bears, moose, wolves, and even the occasional orca may be sighted. Hanging glaciers and snow packed peaks will be your back drop.

Having no destination to reach, we are free to explore the protected waters of the inlet at a leisurely pace documenting marine mammals along the way. Join us for a visually stunning, wildlife rich, magnificent experience in Hugh Miller Inlet.

Trip Details

You will need to arrive by early afternoon on the day prior to the trip departure in order to attend the pre-trip meeting with your GBSK guide(s) at 5 PM at the NPS Visitor Information Station in Bartlett Cove to discuss trip logistics and citizen science protocols, review your equipment, pack your food and answer any questions you may have.

Prior to arriving in Gustavus, each member of your party will need to watch two NPS Backcountry Camper Orientation videos which will review Leave No Trace camping techniques and bear country camping methods. These two videos may also be found on our NPS Permits page.

Day 1   6:30 AM – Load kayaks onto the tour boat for a 7:30 AM departure and tour of Glacier Bay by boat. You will enjoy viewing the West Arm’s large tide water glaciers and inlets, sightseeing and taking photos of wildlife along the way. Lunch included on the boat. After lunch, we will be dropped off near the Hugh Miller entrance with our kayaks and camping gear. We will load the kayaks and explore the inlets and coves at a leisurely pace, documenting marine mammals along the way until we find a place to camp.

Day 2 & 3   Enjoy the days exploring shores and coves, documenting and collecting science data on marine mammals.

Day 4   After a leisurely breakfast we will pack up and paddle towards our pick up point, continuing to collect data along the way. Just after lunch we will be picked up by the daily tour boat and enjoy the journey back down the bay, returning to Bartlett Cove by 3:30 PM where we will de-outfit and say our farewells.