Glacier Bay National Park

We were visited yesterday by a researcher from the Alaska Whale Foundation, with a message of research and preservation of the humpback whale. Today we visit Glacier Bay National Park, with a message of preservation and protection of the rare gem known as wilderness.

Exploring with us on board the Sea Bird this week are a number of families, several of the families represent three generations. The messages of preservation and stewardship have been taken to heart, not just in the last few days, but obviously spanning the generations.

The photo above displays the labors of an industrious group of our guests who have designed and created a banner. This banner will be silent auctioned on board the Sea Bird before the week ends, with proceeds being donated to the Alaska Whale Foundation. The landscape and wildlife have been an inspiration to all, easily spanning and connecting the generations. That inspiration is shared with you now in these poems and reflections.

Linda Burback, Naturalist


Brown
Evasive
Assertive
Roaring

-The Danners

Le Conte Bay

Look out the window
A little chunk of ice here
The water is cold.

-Mike Sweeney

Swimming
Arching
Leaping
Meandering
Onward and upward
Northwest

-The Danners

Outstanding
Riding waves
Cetaceans
Awesome!

-Jade Silver, Age 11

Orcas

Orcas
White, Black
Swimming, Chasing seals
Whale families hunt together
Killers

-Charlotte Nash, Age 5

Alaska

Awesome
Lots of mountains
Almost arctic
Seals, eagles, whales, bears
Kayaking always a good way to see
Alaska

-Charlotte Nash, Age 5

Outside the window
Icebergs melt in Le Conte Bay
My hot chocolate tastes good.

-Charlotte Nash, Age 5

Killer Whale

There once was a killer whale
Who Swam in with a strong gale
He was far away
So we did not stay
And away to Petersburg we did sail!

-Limerick by Amy Laur, Age 15

Mist Nets

Dark spruce, like baleen,
Comb the cold mist from the sky.
Are the whales watching?

-David Cothran

Gourmet Whale

Humpback
Invisible beard
Logging, slapping, breaching
Feeding alone on krill
Insatiable.

-Nancy Artis

Peek-a-Boo

Ridges go higher
Waterfalls down
Snow peaked glacier
Not to be found.

Mists of water cover it all
Head further inland
With our backs to the wall.

Sun rays peek out
Our view will follow
Green trees exposed
We see into the hollow.

Lumbering silently into the bay
Eagles and seals fight over the ice
New life emerges,
Quick, what does it say?
Keep our eyes open
Or we may dismay!

-Nancy Artis

Ship
Enthusiastic crew
Awesome

Best thing ever
Interesting Naturalists
Rare sights
Diesel powered

-By Jackson Hart

Eagle

A lion stalking its prey like...
An eagle.

A sparrow diving down like...
An eagle.

Eagles are amazing creatures,
You can clearly see all its features.

These birds American pride they are
You can really tell they will go far.

Eagle

-Ben Laur, age 12