Date: 5/2/26 8:38 am From: \Carpenter, John P\ (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: NC Bird Atlas data request
Dear CBC,
Although field data collection for the NC Bird Atlas has officially wrapped, we need to ask if anyone in the NC bird community has any *non-eBird* datasuch as from a single species study, mistnetting projects, or information you just dont want to put in eBirdthat they can share to help us make the most accurate maps of bird occurrence, breeding status, and relative abundance in North Carolina. The main pieces of information we need are species name, date observed (between 1/1/2021-2/28/2026), and a location (ideally lat/lon coordinates). Observations of our priority species (https://ebird.org/atlasnc/about/priority-species) are of utmost importance.
Please visit https://arcg.is/09GnbD1 for more details and answer a few mostly Yes/No questions. If you know someone that may not subscribe to this listserv but can help, please forward this message to them. Note this form will stop accepting responses on 5/15/2026.
Thank you!!!
John P. Carpenter
Wildlife Diversity Biologist, Eastern Landbirds
<john.carpenter...><mailto:<john.carpenter...>
NC Wildlife Resources Commission<https://www.ncwildlife.org/> Mailing Address: 1701 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1700
mobile: 910-742-7231
Date: 4/28/26 7:11 pm From: Wayne Hoffman (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Comments and recommendations on pelagic birding -- from the small boats to the larger cruise ships
Hi, Harry -
I actually have done several small-ship cruises, but that was quite a while ago. And a lot of day trips, in a lot of places. I did not comment on those because I thought you covered them well.
Back in the 1970s (that really dates me) I spent a total of at least 200 days censusing seabirds from research vessels, mostly in Alaskan waters, but with a memorable fall trip on the RV Moana Wave from Alaska to Honolulu. We sailed west from Kodiak to the longitude 158 and tried to follow it directly south to the north shore of Oahu, stopping to take oceanographic measurements every 20 nautical miles. So we went from Crested Auklets at the north end to Fairy (White) Terns off the hotels of Waikiki Beach. I also have done about 800 hours of offshore aerial surveys of birds marine mammals and sea turtles, mostly in Florida and the Gulf of Mexico.
My small cruise ship experiences were a long time ago, and I think the industry has changed a lot. I have a lot of respect and admiration for the Lindblad people, although they were before the partnership with National Geographic. Some of the others catered more to group "adventure" travel for Alumni Associations and the like. I lectured as a scientist on a few of those. They were less likely to go out of their way to chase bird flocks or even whale sightings, and focused more on the "nature" shore excursions than on watching from the ship.
Again, I appreciate and agree with Harry's listings of Positives and Negatives for the various pelagic birding trip types. I do not recommend the aerial surveys for seeing rare birds. They are better for mapping the distributions of more common species, and birds go by too fast to really enjoy.
Wayne
From: "Harry LeGrand" <carolinabirds...>
To: "mtove" <mtove...>
Cc: "carolinabirds listserve" <carolinabirds...>
Sent: Tuesday, April 28, 2026 12:25:30 PM
Subject: Re: Comments and recommendations on pelagic birding -- from the small boats to the larger cruise ships
Thanks to Mike, Simon, and Wayne for giving their generally positive spins on cruise ship birding. But, none of them indicated that they had taken naturalist cruises, which is my favorite choice of the three types of vessels and birding for pelagics. Their failure to mention naturalist cruises -- such as on ships used by Oceanwide Expeditions, Heritage Expeditions, Lindblad/National Geographic Expeditions, etc. -- should not be taken as a negative, but it appears that few Carolina birders have done the fantastic Western Pacific Odyssey or Atlantic Odyssey cruises on these vessels; and all of these go to Antarctica, as do the large cruise ships.
I DID give the reasons why I prefer naturalist cruises, despite their cost. The biggest reason is that the itineraries are geared to birders, whale-watchers, and other naturalists; plus there are many paid leaders on board. You are with people with like-minded activities, as opposed to cruise ships, where only a small percentage are there for birds, mammals, etc. The ships take you to the birding spots, make landings at key islands to see penguins, or parrots, or other birds, or pass close by islands with breeding albatrosses and alcids, as examples.
So, all the types have their advantages. I prefer the naturalist cruises, but the best bang for the buck is certainly the larger cruise ship, knowing that some vessels are better than others with bow-available viewing, etc.
Harry and others make some valid points but from the perspective of somewhat limited experience with cruise ship pelagics. Having done a goodly number of cruise ship pelagics, I can perhaps offer some more specific insights.
First, I definitely agree that the cruise line makes a huge difference. From my experience, Princess is top of the line because there is a walking track that circumnavigates the perimeter of the ship â including right at the bow. Seabirds do come by close in front of the ship and at the bow, youâre often looking directly down on top of them at point blank range.
Second, the route (itinerary) makes an enormous difference. For example, of the many Caribbean cruises Iâve taken, the number of pelagic birds is paltry â often leaving hours of empty ocean. Hawaii (from San Francisco, and return via Ensenada back to San Francisco) (this past December) was painfully slow. Conversely, Alaska Inside Passage, Mexican Riviera and especially South America to Antarctica were off the charts â especially the latter which had days of up to 100,000 birds per day (10 species of Albatross!, plus petrels, shearwaters galore, etc. â many following the ship in its wake or passing the ship at point blank range. The Antarctic trip also had a shipâs naturalist (a skilled birder) on watch daily.
Third, with one-day trips, there is a serious limit to just how far you can go. Conversely, with cruise ships, you get to penetrate the ocean much farther than is possible on any one-day (or even overnight) small boat pelagic.
Fourth, trip length makes a difference. Most cruise ships are 7-day excursions â usually round trip so at most, youâre at sea 3 days times two directions (same route). Longer trips offer better opportunity. Case-in-point, South America-Antarctica was 17 Days; Hawaii was 16 and this coming December, I plan a 13-day trip from Sydney, Australia to New Zealand and return (different out-bound vs return routes). Time will tell, but I anticipate more pelagic species than on any previous trip â and except for Antarctica, by a factor of 3.
I do agree that small boat pelagics have the advantage of getting much closer for extended periods, being able to chase and permit chumming (cruise ships prohibit throwing ANYTHING overboard) so there is a trade-off. None-the-less, good luck seeing Tristanâs, Light-mantled AND Sooty albatrosses from a one-day pelagic; or flocks of seabirds numbering in the 100,000âs per day, etc. on a typical small boat experience â and then dealing with the specter of small craft advisory level rough seas (and all that entails) â or waking at the wee hours, slugging down a biscuit and McDonaldâs Coffee in the morning before departure, and having no comfortable place to rest if (when) you reach the limits of your ability to concentrate. And, if you have a balcony room, you get to bird in your PJâs (if you want).
So, yes, small boat pelagics have some advantages â and anyone who knows me, knows Iâve taken untold numbers for decades. Having said that, I love cruise ship pelagics.
Mike Tove
From: [ mailto:<carolinabirds-request...> | <carolinabirds-request...> ] < [ mailto:<carolinabirds-request...> | <carolinabirds-request...> ] > On Behalf Of Harry LeGrand (via carolinabirds Mailing List)
Sent: Monday, April 27, 2026 1:22 PM
To: carolinabirds listserve < [ mailto:<carolinabirds...> | <carolinabirds...> ] >; Harry LeGrand < [ mailto:<hlegrandjr...> | <hlegrandjr...> ] >
Subject: Comments and recommendations on pelagic birding -- from the small boats to the larger cruise ships
Folks,
I finally did my first pelagic birding trip from a major cruise line ship, after doing 80-100 pelagic trips from various sizes of boats and smaller naturalist trip ships. Though my sole experience on the 2,100-passenger Eurodam along the Pacific Coast of the USA a week ago will differ from other birders' experiences on cruise ships in other regions, such as Antarctica, at least now I have experienced birding with a scope on a ship (for better or worse). [The birds on this trip were quite skittish and mostly far from the ship, whereas in other areas they are more easily seen from the ships.] So, here are my recommendations for those who enjoy pelagic birds and birding as much as I do.
Single-day trips on boats (6-man boats up to perhaps 50-passenger boats).
POSITIVES:
1. large number of coastal locale options to choose from, with dozens of trips from some ports - such as from Hatteras Inlet (Seabirding Inc.) as well as places such as Monterey and other West Coast ports.
2. Closeness of the birds to the boat. The smaller the vessel, the less shy birds are.
3. Potential for the skipper/leader to have the boat chase after a rare bird flying away or to travel to a distant bird or flock of birds to get closer
4. always a large number of other birders on board, assuming a boat chartered for this purpose
NEGATIVES:
1. Poor weather can often cause cancellation (or postponement) of the trip
2. Boat rocks more than on larger boats and ships; thus many people who get seasick will avoid this option
3. More costly than with other options, and some to many all-day trips can cost $200 or more a person.
Multiple day trips on naturalist ships (typically 50-150 passengers for 1-2 weeks or more)
POSITIVES:
1. More stable vessel for holding steady, though still not suitable for scopes; birds are not too distant, and most can be identified with binoculars
2. Nearly always several hired birders or naturalists on the cruise who assist or lead passengers in identifying birds; usually quite a few birders on board as well, and thus usually many people on board to spot and identify birds
3. Most vessels have small Zodiacs that will ferry passengers to shore at various stops, often two visits per day.
4. Routes are usually 500 miles or more long and with a good potential for dozens of pelagic species
NEGATIVES:
1. Costly, as most trips will run $500 or more a day, such as $5000 or more for a 10-day trip; food included, but often set lunch and dinner menus
2. Scopes are not feasible, as the vessels still rock a bit
3. Normally, these small ships do not veer off the set course to examine a distant flock of birds
Multiple day trips on cruise ships (typically 1,000 or more passengers, for 5 days or more)
POSITIVES:
1. Quite inexpensive, often averaging about $200/day that includes all you-can-eat buffets and free entertainment options
2. The vessel is large enough to be quite stable, with often little rocking; so scope can be used
3. Though cruise ships do not normally have hired birders on board, there may well be birding groups onboard with their own leaders and experts
4. The routes are often 1,000 miles long or more and thus there is a potential for a long list of species
NEGATIVES:
1. Birds can often be far away, especially on the open sea. Even with a scope, smaller species such as storm-petrels and most alcids can be difficult to ID. Thankfully, birds are less flighty along a shoreline or next to the coast.
2. More red-tape in booking and boarding with a major cruise line, though not much more than with a naturalist cruise company; packing and dealing with scopes on ships can be risky and troublesome.
3. The very large number of people on-board (a few thousand), often leading to crowded conditions at dining facilities.
I hope this helps, but the main choice(s) of vessel type depends mostly on where you want to go and what species you are most interested in (and that includes mammals such as whales, dolphins, seals, Polar Bears, and Walruses) -- and secondarily on the size of the vessel you want to use for travel. You will find that some species you want to see can only reasonably be reached with a large cruise ship, or with a naturalist ship, whereas other species are best searched for on single-day boat trips -- such as looking for Gulf Stream birds off the NC coast.
Date: 4/28/26 9:26 am From: Harry LeGrand (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Comments and recommendations on pelagic birding -- from the small boats to the larger cruise ships
Thanks to Mike, Simon, and Wayne for giving their generally positive spins
on cruise ship birding. But, none of them indicated that they had taken
naturalist cruises, which is my favorite choice of the three types of
vessels and birding for pelagics. Their failure to mention naturalist
cruises -- such as on ships used by Oceanwide Expeditions, Heritage
Expeditions, Lindblad/National Geographic Expeditions, etc. -- should not
be taken as a negative, but it appears that few Carolina birders have done
the fantastic Western Pacific Odyssey or Atlantic Odyssey cruises on these
vessels; and all of these go to Antarctica, as do the large cruise ships.
I DID give the reasons why I prefer naturalist cruises, despite their cost.
The biggest reason is that the itineraries are geared to birders,
whale-watchers, and other naturalists; plus there are many paid leaders on
board. You are with people with like-minded activities, as opposed to
cruise ships, where only a small percentage are there for birds, mammals,
etc. The ships take you to the birding spots, make landings at key islands
to see penguins, or parrots, or other birds, or pass close by islands with
breeding albatrosses and alcids, as examples.
So, all the types have their advantages. I prefer the naturalist cruises,
but the best bang for the buck is certainly the larger cruise ship, knowing
that some vessels are better than others with bow-available viewing, etc.
Harry LeGrand
On Mon, Apr 27, 2026 at 7:14âŻPM mtove <carolinabirds...> wrote:
> Harry and others make some valid points but from the perspective of
> somewhat limited experience with cruise ship pelagics. Having done a goodly
> number of cruise ship pelagics, I can perhaps offer some more specific
> insights.
>
>
>
> First, I definitely agree that the cruise line makes a huge difference.
> From my experience, Princess is top of the line because there is a walking
> track that circumnavigates the perimeter of the ship â including right at
> the bow. Seabirds do come by close in front of the ship and at the bow,
> youâre often looking directly down on top of them at point blank range.
>
>
>
> Second, the route (itinerary) makes an enormous difference. For example,
> of the many Caribbean cruises Iâve taken, the number of pelagic birds is
> paltry â often leaving hours of empty ocean. Hawaii (from San Francisco,
> and return via Ensenada back to San Francisco) (this past December) was
> painfully slow. Conversely, Alaska Inside Passage, Mexican Riviera and
> especially South America to Antarctica were off the charts â especially the
> latter which had days of up to 100,000 birds per day (10 species of
> Albatross!, plus petrels, shearwaters galore, etc. â many following the
> ship in its wake or passing the ship at point blank range. The Antarctic
> trip also had a shipâs naturalist (a skilled birder) on watch daily.
>
>
>
> Third, with one-day trips, there is a serious limit to just how far you
> can go. Conversely, with cruise ships, you get to penetrate the ocean much
> farther than is possible on any one-day (or even overnight) small boat
> pelagic.
>
>
>
> Fourth, trip length makes a difference. Most cruise ships are 7-day
> excursions â usually round trip so at most, youâre at sea 3 days times two
> directions (same route). Longer trips offer better opportunity.
> Case-in-point, South America-Antarctica was 17 Days; Hawaii was 16 and this
> coming December, I plan a 13-day trip from Sydney, Australia to New Zealand
> and return (different out-bound vs return routes). Time will tell, but I
> anticipate more pelagic species than on any previous trip â and except for
> Antarctica, by a factor of 3.
>
>
>
> I do agree that small boat pelagics have the advantage of getting much
> closer for extended periods, being able to chase and permit chumming
> (cruise ships prohibit throwing ANYTHING overboard) so there is a
> trade-off. None-the-less, good luck seeing Tristanâs, Light-mantled AND
> Sooty albatrosses from a one-day pelagic; or flocks of seabirds numbering
> in the 100,000âs per day, etc. on a typical small boat experience â and
> then dealing with the specter of small craft advisory level rough seas (and
> all that entails) â or waking at the wee hours, slugging down a biscuit
> and McDonaldâs Coffee in the morning before departure, and having no
> comfortable place to rest if (when) you reach the limits of your ability to
> concentrate. And, if you have a balcony room, you get to bird in your PJâs
> (if you want).
>
>
>
> So, yes, small boat pelagics have some advantages â and anyone who knows
> me, knows Iâve taken untold numbers for decades. Having said that, I love
> cruise ship pelagics.
>
>
>
> Mike Tove
>
>
>
> *From:* <carolinabirds-request...> <carolinabirds-request...> *On
> Behalf Of *Harry LeGrand (via carolinabirds Mailing List)
> *Sent:* Monday, April 27, 2026 1:22 PM
> *To:* carolinabirds listserve <carolinabirds...>; Harry LeGrand <
> <hlegrandjr...>
> *Subject:* Comments and recommendations on pelagic birding -- from the
> small boats to the larger cruise ships
>
>
>
> Folks,
>
>
>
> I finally did my first pelagic birding trip from a major cruise line ship,
> after doing 80-100 pelagic trips from various sizes of boats and smaller
> naturalist trip ships. Though my sole experience on the 2,100-passenger
> Eurodam along the Pacific Coast of the USA a week ago will differ from
> other birders' experiences on cruise ships in other regions, such as
> Antarctica, at least now I have experienced birding with a scope on a ship
> (for better or worse). [The birds on this trip were quite skittish and
> mostly far from the ship, whereas in other areas they are more easily seen
> from the ships.] So, here are my recommendations for those who enjoy
> pelagic birds and birding as much as I do.
>
>
>
> *Single-day trips on boats* (6-man boats up to perhaps 50-passenger
> boats).
>
> POSITIVES:
>
> 1. large number of coastal locale options to choose from, with dozens of
> trips from some ports - such as from Hatteras Inlet (Seabirding Inc.) as
> well as places such as Monterey and other West Coast ports.
>
> 2. Closeness of the birds to the boat. The smaller the vessel, the less
> shy birds are.
>
> 3. Potential for the skipper/leader to have the boat chase after a rare
> bird flying away or to travel to a distant bird or flock of birds to get
> closer
>
> 4. always a large number of other birders on board, assuming a boat
> chartered for this purpose
>
>
>
> NEGATIVES:
>
> 1. Poor weather can often cause cancellation (or postponement) of the trip
>
> 2. Boat rocks more than on larger boats and ships; thus many people who
> get seasick will avoid this option
>
> 3. More costly than with other options, and some to many all-day trips can
> cost $200 or more a person.
>
>
>
>
>
> *Multiple day trips on naturalist ships* (typically 50-150 passengers for
> 1-2 weeks or more)
>
> POSITIVES:
>
> 1. More stable vessel for holding steady, though still not suitable for
> scopes; birds are not too distant, and most can be identified with
> binoculars
>
> 2. Nearly always several hired birders or naturalists on the cruise who
> assist or lead passengers in identifying birds; usually quite a few birders
> on board as well, and thus usually many people on board to spot and
> identify birds
>
> 3. Most vessels have small Zodiacs that will ferry passengers to shore at
> various stops, often two visits per day.
>
> 4. Routes are usually 500 miles or more long and with a good potential for
> dozens of pelagic species
>
>
>
> NEGATIVES:
>
> 1. Costly, as most trips will run $500 or more a day, such as $5000 or
> more for a 10-day trip; food included, but often set lunch and dinner menus
>
> 2. Scopes are not feasible, as the vessels still rock a bit
>
> 3. Normally, these small ships do not veer off the set course to examine a
> distant flock of birds
>
>
>
> *Multiple day trips on cruise ships* (typically 1,000 or more passengers,
> for 5 days or more)
>
> POSITIVES:
>
> 1. Quite inexpensive, often averaging about $200/day that includes all
> you-can-eat buffets and free entertainment options
>
> 2. The vessel is large enough to be quite stable, with often little
> rocking; so scope can be used
>
> 3. Though cruise ships do not normally have hired birders on board, there
> may well be birding groups onboard with their own leaders and experts
>
> 4. The routes are often 1,000 miles long or more and thus there is a
> potential for a long list of species
>
>
>
> NEGATIVES:
>
> 1. Birds can often be far away, especially on the open sea. Even with a
> scope, smaller species such as storm-petrels and most alcids can be
> difficult to ID. Thankfully, birds are less flighty along a shoreline or
> next to the coast.
>
> 2. More red-tape in booking and boarding with a major cruise line, though
> not much more than with a naturalist cruise company; packing and dealing
> with scopes on ships can be risky and troublesome.
>
> 3. The very large number of people on-board (a few thousand), often
> leading to crowded conditions at dining facilities.
>
>
>
>
>
> I hope this helps, but the main choice(s) of vessel type depends mostly on
> where you want to go and what species you are most interested in (and that
> includes mammals such as whales, dolphins, seals, Polar Bears, and
> Walruses) -- and secondarily on the size of the vessel you want to use for
> travel. You will find that some species you want to see can only
> reasonably be reached with a large cruise ship, or with a naturalist ship,
> whereas other species are best searched for on single-day boat trips --
> such as looking for Gulf Stream birds off the NC coast.
>
>
>
> Harry LeGrand
>
> Raleigh, NC
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 4/27/26 4:14 pm From: mtove (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: RE: Comments and recommendations on pelagic birding -- from the small boats to the larger cruise ships
Harry and others make some valid points but from the perspective of somewhat limited experience with cruise ship pelagics. Having done a goodly number of cruise ship pelagics, I can perhaps offer some more specific insights.
First, I definitely agree that the cruise line makes a huge difference. From my experience, Princess is top of the line because there is a walking track that circumnavigates the perimeter of the ship â including right at the bow. Seabirds do come by close in front of the ship and at the bow, youâre often looking directly down on top of them at point blank range.
Second, the route (itinerary) makes an enormous difference. For example, of the many Caribbean cruises Iâve taken, the number of pelagic birds is paltry â often leaving hours of empty ocean. Hawaii (from San Francisco, and return via Ensenada back to San Francisco) (this past December) was painfully slow. Conversely, Alaska Inside Passage, Mexican Riviera and especially South America to Antarctica were off the charts â especially the latter which had days of up to 100,000 birds per day (10 species of Albatross!, plus petrels, shearwaters galore, etc. â many following the ship in its wake or passing the ship at point blank range. The Antarctic trip also had a shipâs naturalist (a skilled birder) on watch daily.
Third, with one-day trips, there is a serious limit to just how far you can go. Conversely, with cruise ships, you get to penetrate the ocean much farther than is possible on any one-day (or even overnight) small boat pelagic.
Fourth, trip length makes a difference. Most cruise ships are 7-day excursions â usually round trip so at most, youâre at sea 3 days times two directions (same route). Longer trips offer better opportunity. Case-in-point, South America-Antarctica was 17 Days; Hawaii was 16 and this coming December, I plan a 13-day trip from Sydney, Australia to New Zealand and return (different out-bound vs return routes). Time will tell, but I anticipate more pelagic species than on any previous trip â and except for Antarctica, by a factor of 3.
I do agree that small boat pelagics have the advantage of getting much closer for extended periods, being able to chase and permit chumming (cruise ships prohibit throwing ANYTHING overboard) so there is a trade-off. None-the-less, good luck seeing Tristanâs, Light-mantled AND Sooty albatrosses from a one-day pelagic; or flocks of seabirds numbering in the 100,000âs per day, etc. on a typical small boat experience â and then dealing with the specter of small craft advisory level rough seas (and all that entails) â or waking at the wee hours, slugging down a biscuit and McDonaldâs Coffee in the morning before departure, and having no comfortable place to rest if (when) you reach the limits of your ability to concentrate. And, if you have a balcony room, you get to bird in your PJâs (if you want).
So, yes, small boat pelagics have some advantages â and anyone who knows me, knows Iâve taken untold numbers for decades. Having said that, I love cruise ship pelagics.
Mike Tove
From: <carolinabirds-request...> <carolinabirds-request...> On Behalf Of Harry LeGrand (via carolinabirds Mailing List)
Sent: Monday, April 27, 2026 1:22 PM
To: carolinabirds listserve <carolinabirds...>; Harry LeGrand <hlegrandjr...>
Subject: Comments and recommendations on pelagic birding -- from the small boats to the larger cruise ships
Folks,
I finally did my first pelagic birding trip from a major cruise line ship, after doing 80-100 pelagic trips from various sizes of boats and smaller naturalist trip ships. Though my sole experience on the 2,100-passenger Eurodam along the Pacific Coast of the USA a week ago will differ from other birders' experiences on cruise ships in other regions, such as Antarctica, at least now I have experienced birding with a scope on a ship (for better or worse). [The birds on this trip were quite skittish and mostly far from the ship, whereas in other areas they are more easily seen from the ships.] So, here are my recommendations for those who enjoy pelagic birds and birding as much as I do.
Single-day trips on boats (6-man boats up to perhaps 50-passenger boats).
POSITIVES:
1. large number of coastal locale options to choose from, with dozens of trips from some ports - such as from Hatteras Inlet (Seabirding Inc.) as well as places such as Monterey and other West Coast ports.
2. Closeness of the birds to the boat. The smaller the vessel, the less shy birds are.
3. Potential for the skipper/leader to have the boat chase after a rare bird flying away or to travel to a distant bird or flock of birds to get closer
4. always a large number of other birders on board, assuming a boat chartered for this purpose
NEGATIVES:
1. Poor weather can often cause cancellation (or postponement) of the trip
2. Boat rocks more than on larger boats and ships; thus many people who get seasick will avoid this option
3. More costly than with other options, and some to many all-day trips can cost $200 or more a person.
Multiple day trips on naturalist ships (typically 50-150 passengers for 1-2 weeks or more)
POSITIVES:
1. More stable vessel for holding steady, though still not suitable for scopes; birds are not too distant, and most can be identified with binoculars
2. Nearly always several hired birders or naturalists on the cruise who assist or lead passengers in identifying birds; usually quite a few birders on board as well, and thus usually many people on board to spot and identify birds
3. Most vessels have small Zodiacs that will ferry passengers to shore at various stops, often two visits per day.
4. Routes are usually 500 miles or more long and with a good potential for dozens of pelagic species
NEGATIVES:
1. Costly, as most trips will run $500 or more a day, such as $5000 or more for a 10-day trip; food included, but often set lunch and dinner menus
2. Scopes are not feasible, as the vessels still rock a bit
3. Normally, these small ships do not veer off the set course to examine a distant flock of birds
Multiple day trips on cruise ships (typically 1,000 or more passengers, for 5 days or more)
POSITIVES:
1. Quite inexpensive, often averaging about $200/day that includes all you-can-eat buffets and free entertainment options
2. The vessel is large enough to be quite stable, with often little rocking; so scope can be used
3. Though cruise ships do not normally have hired birders on board, there may well be birding groups onboard with their own leaders and experts
4. The routes are often 1,000 miles long or more and thus there is a potential for a long list of species
NEGATIVES:
1. Birds can often be far away, especially on the open sea. Even with a scope, smaller species such as storm-petrels and most alcids can be difficult to ID. Thankfully, birds are less flighty along a shoreline or next to the coast.
2. More red-tape in booking and boarding with a major cruise line, though not much more than with a naturalist cruise company; packing and dealing with scopes on ships can be risky and troublesome.
3. The very large number of people on-board (a few thousand), often leading to crowded conditions at dining facilities.
I hope this helps, but the main choice(s) of vessel type depends mostly on where you want to go and what species you are most interested in (and that includes mammals such as whales, dolphins, seals, Polar Bears, and Walruses) -- and secondarily on the size of the vessel you want to use for travel. You will find that some species you want to see can only reasonably be reached with a large cruise ship, or with a naturalist ship, whereas other species are best searched for on single-day boat trips -- such as looking for Gulf Stream birds off the NC coast.
Date: 4/27/26 11:56 am From: Harry LeGrand (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Comments and recommendations on pelagic birding -- from the small boats to the larger cruise ships
Wayne and Simon have good points.
To Wayne comment's -- yes, a large cruise ship, in the case of the Eurodam
that I took, it was a repositioning cruise. But these huge ships are not
catered to birders; they cater to folks who want to eat, sleep, gamble, and
be entertained by performers! Most of these folks never even look at the
ocean! And, yes, ships continue sailing at night; they don't anchor or
slow down. So, we are missing 40-50% of the route at night. In fact, this
San Diego to Vancouver trip often misses Ashy Storm-Petrel -- we did --
because its main foraging area was passed by at night. On the other hand,
my much more favored naturalist cruises DO take into account rare birds, as
these trips ARE for birders and other people wanting to see natural
resources. Thus, on the Western Pacific Odyssey, there are at least 5-6
quite rare or localized species that HAVE to be passed by during daylight,
and the ship itinerary IS geared to this -- 1) New Zealand Storm-Petrel; 2)
Heinroth's Shearwater; 3) Beck's Petrel; and 4) Btyan's Shearwater, to name
several. In fact, the ship stopped in Hauraki Gulf off New Zealand for
guides to lay out an oil slick, and the NZ SP -- which are striped below --
come to the oil slick. They laid out another oil slick off New Ireland
(island) for the Beck's, but they didn't come in. But, we did see about 6
near there, and had we passed the area that night -- zippo. The Heinroth's
Shearwater apparently breeds on Kolombangara Island in the Solomons, and
thus we positioned the ship in the nearby waters and had them in the last 2
hours of light. The Bryan's is a very rare small shearwater that breeds on
a small island east of Japan, and again we had the ship cruise back and
forth for the last two hours of light, when we did see a few. We had the
ship close to Torishima to see the colony of Short-tailed Albatrosses, and
the leaders chummed in back of the ship and we had several dozen of these
endangered albatrosses feeding within 50 yards of the ship!! We also
cruised close to a rocky island where the beautiful Japanese Murrelets
nest, and saw 40-50 in the water. Had this trip been on a major cruise
line, without regard to birds, leaving New Zealand and heading to Japan,
who knows how many rare species we would have missed, as you are simply
birding by chance on them.
As for Simon's comment -- the Eurodam apparently is closed off at the bow
on the Promenade Deck (Deck 3), so all birders were positioned along the
sides of the ship, toward to front. Yes, being directly in the bow DOES get
you closer to the birds up front, before and as they take off -- but with
air temps in the 50s and 60s and water temps maybe in the 50s and the ship
moving at 19 knots (over 20 mph), and into a northerly wind on our trip, it
would have been VERY windy and COLD had we had a bow to use! But, on all
naturalist ships, the bow is usually available, but in high seas it can be
closed off owing to high seas and spray. At least, birding along the sides
of the Eurodam, it was comfortable, sheltered from wind and spray, with the
understanding that birds are already flying away from the "moving condo"
when we see them. This is why I MUCH prefer the naturalist cruises -- they
are geared for birders, whale-watchers, and others who want to get out to
islands on Zodiacs and walk along the edges of penguin colonies, etc.
Harry LeGrand
On Mon, Apr 27, 2026 at 2:11âŻPM Simon Thompson <simonrbt...> wrote:
> Harry at al
> Thanks for the information.
> I have just returned from a cruise down the California coast and
> unfortunately the 2 sea days had bad weather.
> There are pros and cons as Harry mentioned and another point to bear in
> mind is the age of the cruise
> Ship. Newer ones donât have the open bow which allows for easy (windy)
> viewing, but at least you can access both port and starboard very quickly.
> Many of the new ships donât have promenade decks that encircle the whole
> ship and you are restricted to viewing from one side or the other.
> I was on the Ruby Princess which had a good promenade deck and a great
> viewing area. We had a pretty good run - despite the weather.
> Hereâs the trip report:
> https://ebird.org/tripreport/505336 > Simon
>
> Simon RB Thompson
> Asheville, NC and Halesworth, Suffolk UK
>
> Ventures Birding Tours
> http://www.birdventures.com/ <http://www.birdventures.com/> >
> Please use the Ventures e-Mail (<Venturesbirding...>) to contact the
> Ventures office - thanks!
>
>
>
> On Mon, 27 Apr 2026 at 10:22, Harry LeGrand <carolinabirds...>
> wrote:
>
>> Folks,
>>
>> I finally did my first pelagic birding trip from a major cruise line
>> ship, after doing 80-100 pelagic trips from various sizes of boats and
>> smaller naturalist trip ships. Though my sole experience on the
>> 2,100-passenger Eurodam along the Pacific Coast of the USA a week ago will
>> differ from other birders' experiences on cruise ships in other regions,
>> such as Antarctica, at least now I have experienced birding with a scope on
>> a ship (for better or worse). [The birds on this trip were quite skittish
>> and mostly far from the ship, whereas in other areas they are more easily
>> seen from the ships.] So, here are my recommendations for those who enjoy
>> pelagic birds and birding as much as I do.
>>
>> *Single-day trips on boats* (6-man boats up to perhaps 50-passenger
>> boats).
>> POSITIVES:
>> 1. large number of coastal locale options to choose from, with dozens of
>> trips from some ports - such as from Hatteras Inlet (Seabirding Inc.) as
>> well as places such as Monterey and other West Coast ports.
>> 2. Closeness of the birds to the boat. The smaller the vessel, the less
>> shy birds are.
>> 3. Potential for the skipper/leader to have the boat chase after a rare
>> bird flying away or to travel to a distant bird or flock of birds to get
>> closer
>> 4. always a large number of other birders on board, assuming a boat
>> chartered for this purpose
>>
>> NEGATIVES:
>> 1. Poor weather can often cause cancellation (or postponement) of the trip
>> 2. Boat rocks more than on larger boats and ships; thus many people who
>> get seasick will avoid this option
>> 3. More costly than with other options, and some to many all-day
>> trips can cost $200 or more a person.
>>
>>
>> *Multiple day trips on naturalist ships* (typically 50-150 passengers
>> for 1-2 weeks or more)
>> POSITIVES:
>> 1. More stable vessel for holding steady, though still not suitable for
>> scopes; birds are not too distant, and most can be identified with
>> binoculars
>> 2. Nearly always several hired birders or naturalists on the cruise who
>> assist or lead passengers in identifying birds; usually quite a few birders
>> on board as well, and thus usually many people on board to spot and
>> identify birds
>> 3. Most vessels have small Zodiacs that will ferry passengers to shore at
>> various stops, often two visits per day.
>> 4. Routes are usually 500 miles or more long and with a good potential
>> for dozens of pelagic species
>>
>> NEGATIVES:
>> 1. Costly, as most trips will run $500 or more a day, such as $5000 or
>> more for a 10-day trip; food included, but often set lunch and dinner menus
>> 2. Scopes are not feasible, as the vessels still rock a bit
>> 3. Normally, these small ships do not veer off the set course to examine
>> a distant flock of birds
>>
>> *Multiple day trips on cruise ships* (typically 1,000 or more
>> passengers, for 5 days or more)
>> POSITIVES:
>> 1. Quite inexpensive, often averaging about $200/day that includes all
>> you-can-eat buffets and free entertainment options
>> 2. The vessel is large enough to be quite stable, with often little
>> rocking; so scope can be used
>> 3. Though cruise ships do not normally have hired birders on board, there
>> may well be birding groups onboard with their own leaders and experts
>> 4. The routes are often 1,000 miles long or more and thus there is a
>> potential for a long list of species
>>
>> NEGATIVES:
>> 1. Birds can often be far away, especially on the open sea. Even with a
>> scope, smaller species such as storm-petrels and most alcids can be
>> difficult to ID. Thankfully, birds are less flighty along a shoreline or
>> next to the coast.
>> 2. More red-tape in booking and boarding with a major cruise line, though
>> not much more than with a naturalist cruise company; packing and dealing
>> with scopes on ships can be risky and troublesome.
>> 3. The very large number of people on-board (a few thousand), often
>> leading to crowded conditions at dining facilities.
>>
>>
>> I hope this helps, but the main choice(s) of vessel type depends mostly
>> on where you want to go and what species you are most interested in (and
>> that includes mammals such as whales, dolphins, seals, Polar Bears, and
>> Walruses) -- and secondarily on the size of the vessel you want to use for
>> travel. You will find that some species you want to see can only
>> reasonably be reached with a large cruise ship, or with a naturalist ship,
>> whereas other species are best searched for on single-day boat trips --
>> such as looking for Gulf Stream birds off the NC coast.
>>
>> Harry LeGrand
>> Raleigh, NC
>>
>>
>>
Date: 4/27/26 11:14 am From: Simon Thompson (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Comments and recommendations on pelagic birding -- from the small boats to the larger cruise ships
Harry at al
Thanks for the information.
I have just returned from a cruise down the California coast and
unfortunately the 2 sea days had bad weather.
There are pros and cons as Harry mentioned and another point to bear in
mind is the age of the cruise
Ship. Newer ones donât have the open bow which allows for easy (windy)
viewing, but at least you can access both port and starboard very quickly.
Many of the new ships donât have promenade decks that encircle the whole
ship and you are restricted to viewing from one side or the other.
I was on the Ruby Princess which had a good promenade deck and a great
viewing area. We had a pretty good run - despite the weather.
Hereâs the trip report:
https://ebird.org/tripreport/505336 Simon
Simon RB Thompson
Asheville, NC and Halesworth, Suffolk UK
Please use the Ventures e-Mail (<Venturesbirding...>) to contact the
Ventures office - thanks!
On Mon, 27 Apr 2026 at 10:22, Harry LeGrand <carolinabirds...> wrote:
> Folks,
>
> I finally did my first pelagic birding trip from a major cruise line ship,
> after doing 80-100 pelagic trips from various sizes of boats and smaller
> naturalist trip ships. Though my sole experience on the 2,100-passenger
> Eurodam along the Pacific Coast of the USA a week ago will differ from
> other birders' experiences on cruise ships in other regions, such as
> Antarctica, at least now I have experienced birding with a scope on a ship
> (for better or worse). [The birds on this trip were quite skittish and
> mostly far from the ship, whereas in other areas they are more easily seen
> from the ships.] So, here are my recommendations for those who enjoy
> pelagic birds and birding as much as I do.
>
> *Single-day trips on boats* (6-man boats up to perhaps 50-passenger
> boats).
> POSITIVES:
> 1. large number of coastal locale options to choose from, with dozens of
> trips from some ports - such as from Hatteras Inlet (Seabirding Inc.) as
> well as places such as Monterey and other West Coast ports.
> 2. Closeness of the birds to the boat. The smaller the vessel, the less
> shy birds are.
> 3. Potential for the skipper/leader to have the boat chase after a rare
> bird flying away or to travel to a distant bird or flock of birds to get
> closer
> 4. always a large number of other birders on board, assuming a boat
> chartered for this purpose
>
> NEGATIVES:
> 1. Poor weather can often cause cancellation (or postponement) of the trip
> 2. Boat rocks more than on larger boats and ships; thus many people who
> get seasick will avoid this option
> 3. More costly than with other options, and some to many all-day trips can
> cost $200 or more a person.
>
>
> *Multiple day trips on naturalist ships* (typically 50-150 passengers for
> 1-2 weeks or more)
> POSITIVES:
> 1. More stable vessel for holding steady, though still not suitable for
> scopes; birds are not too distant, and most can be identified with
> binoculars
> 2. Nearly always several hired birders or naturalists on the cruise who
> assist or lead passengers in identifying birds; usually quite a few birders
> on board as well, and thus usually many people on board to spot and
> identify birds
> 3. Most vessels have small Zodiacs that will ferry passengers to shore at
> various stops, often two visits per day.
> 4. Routes are usually 500 miles or more long and with a good potential for
> dozens of pelagic species
>
> NEGATIVES:
> 1. Costly, as most trips will run $500 or more a day, such as $5000 or
> more for a 10-day trip; food included, but often set lunch and dinner menus
> 2. Scopes are not feasible, as the vessels still rock a bit
> 3. Normally, these small ships do not veer off the set course to examine a
> distant flock of birds
>
> *Multiple day trips on cruise ships* (typically 1,000 or more passengers,
> for 5 days or more)
> POSITIVES:
> 1. Quite inexpensive, often averaging about $200/day that includes all
> you-can-eat buffets and free entertainment options
> 2. The vessel is large enough to be quite stable, with often little
> rocking; so scope can be used
> 3. Though cruise ships do not normally have hired birders on board, there
> may well be birding groups onboard with their own leaders and experts
> 4. The routes are often 1,000 miles long or more and thus there is a
> potential for a long list of species
>
> NEGATIVES:
> 1. Birds can often be far away, especially on the open sea. Even with a
> scope, smaller species such as storm-petrels and most alcids can be
> difficult to ID. Thankfully, birds are less flighty along a shoreline or
> next to the coast.
> 2. More red-tape in booking and boarding with a major cruise line, though
> not much more than with a naturalist cruise company; packing and dealing
> with scopes on ships can be risky and troublesome.
> 3. The very large number of people on-board (a few thousand), often
> leading to crowded conditions at dining facilities.
>
>
> I hope this helps, but the main choice(s) of vessel type depends mostly on
> where you want to go and what species you are most interested in (and that
> includes mammals such as whales, dolphins, seals, Polar Bears, and
> Walruses) -- and secondarily on the size of the vessel you want to use for
> travel. You will find that some species you want to see can only
> reasonably be reached with a large cruise ship, or with a naturalist ship,
> whereas other species are best searched for on single-day boat trips --
> such as looking for Gulf Stream birds off the NC coast.
>
> Harry LeGrand
> Raleigh, NC
>
>
>
Date: 4/27/26 10:58 am From: Nate Dias (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Red-bellied Woodpecker predation on a nestling Carolina Chickadee
That is why I have a slate predator guard on my chickadee and bluebird
boxes!
A couple of weeks ago, when the Carolina Chickadees had a brood going in
the box, when a Red-bellied Woodpecker tried to come eat from the nearby
suet feeder, the male Chickadee would dive bomb it and drive it away. They
were feisty attacks that worked - to Red-bellieds stopped coming around
until the brood fledged.
Nathan Dias - Charleston, SC
On Mon, Apr 27, 2026 at 1:04âŻPM Will Cook <cwcook...> wrote:
"These days I prefer to hunt with a camera. A good photograph demands more
skill from the hunter, better nerves and more patience than the rifle
shot." -- Bror Blixen
Date: 4/27/26 10:54 am From: Wayne Hoffman (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Comments and recommendations on pelagic birding -- from the small boats to the larger cruise ships
Thanks, Harry -
This is a good summary. The one thing I would add is that if you are looking at large ships and want to see a good variety of birds, you need to be careful about your choice of ships and itineraries. Harry's trip sounds like a repositioning cruise, which are often better for birding. The ship is traveling continuously and covering a range of latitude, so lots of variety of birds. There are quite a few birders on the west coast who ride repositioning cruises between southern California and British Columbia each spring and fall, and so have a lot of information about which are the better itineraries, which have the best observation spots, etc. They also pay a lot of attention to which parts of the coast will be passed in the daytime vs night, to help build state lists.
If you book a large ship cruise in the Caribbean or Mediterranean, on the other hand, the ship is likely to travel mostly at night and be in port most of the days. You might be able to see good birds on shore excursions, but that scope won't be much use for birding when the ship leaves port at 8 PM and arrives at the next island before breakfast.
Good sailing Wayne Hoffman Wilmington
From: "Harry LeGrand" <carolinabirds...> To: "carolinabirds listserve" <carolinabirds...>, "Harry LeGrand" <hlegrandjr...> Sent: Monday, April 27, 2026 1:21:51 PM Subject: Comments and recommendations on pelagic birding -- from the small boats to the larger cruise ships
Folks,
I finally did my first pelagic birding trip from a major cruise line ship, after doing 80-100 pelagic trips from various sizes of boats and smaller naturalist trip ships. Though my sole experience on the 2,100-passenger Eurodam along the Pacific Coast of the USA a week ago will differ from other birders' experiences on cruise ships in other regions, such as Antarctica, at least now I have experienced birding with a scope on a ship (for better or worse). [The birds on this trip were quite skittish and mostly far from the ship, whereas in other areas they are more easily seen from the ships.] So, here are my recommendations for those who enjoy pelagic birds and birding as much as I do.
Single-day trips on boats (6-man boats up to perhaps 50-passenger boats). POSITIVES: 1. large number of coastal locale options to choose from, with dozens of trips from some ports - such as from Hatteras Inlet (Seabirding Inc.) as well as places such as Monterey and other West Coast ports. 2. Closeness of the birds to the boat. The smaller the vessel, the less shy birds are. 3. Potential for the skipper/leader to have the boat chase after a rare bird flying away or to travel to a distant bird or flock of birds to get closer 4. always a large number of other birders on board, assuming a boat chartered for this purpose
NEGATIVES: 1. Poor weather can often cause cancellation (or postponement) of the trip 2. Boat rocks more than on larger boats and ships; thus many people who get seasick will avoid this option 3. More costly than with other options, and some to many all-day trips can cost $200 or more a person.
Multiple day trips on naturalist ships (typically 50-150 passengers for 1-2 weeks or more) POSITIVES: 1. More stable vessel for holding steady, though still not suitable for scopes; birds are not too distant, and most can be identified with binoculars 2. Nearly always several hired birders or naturalists on the cruise who assist or lead passengers in identifying birds; usually quite a few birders on board as well, and thus usually many people on board to spot and identify birds 3. Most vessels have small Zodiacs that will ferry passengers to shore at various stops, often two visits per day. 4. Routes are usually 500 miles or more long and with a good potential for dozens of pelagic species
NEGATIVES: 1. Costly, as most trips will run $500 or more a day, such as $5000 or more for a 10-day trip; food included, but often set lunch and dinner menus 2. Scopes are not feasible, as the vessels still rock a bit 3. Normally, these small ships do not veer off the set course to examine a distant flock of birds
Multiple day trips on cruise ships (typically 1,000 or more passengers, for 5 days or more) POSITIVES: 1. Quite inexpensive, often averaging about $200/day that includes all you-can-eat buffets and free entertainment options 2. The vessel is large enough to be quite stable, with often little rocking; so scope can be used 3. Though cruise ships do not normally have hired birders on board, there may well be birding groups onboard with their own leaders and experts 4. The routes are often 1,000 miles long or more and thus there is a potential for a long list of species
NEGATIVES: 1. Birds can often be far away, especially on the open sea. Even with a scope, smaller species such as storm-petrels and most alcids can be difficult to ID. Thankfully, birds are less flighty along a shoreline or next to the coast. 2. More red-tape in booking and boarding with a major cruise line, though not much more than with a naturalist cruise company; packing and dealing with scopes on ships can be risky and troublesome. 3. The very large number of people on-board (a few thousand), often leading to crowded conditions at dining facilities.
I hope this helps, but the main choice(s) of vessel type depends mostly on where you want to go and what species you are most interested in (and that includes mammals such as whales, dolphins, seals, Polar Bears, and Walruses) -- and secondarily on the size of the vessel you want to use for travel. You will find that some species you want to see can only reasonably be reached with a large cruise ship, or with a naturalist ship, whereas other species are best searched for on single-day boat trips -- such as looking for Gulf Stream birds off the NC coast.
Date: 4/27/26 10:22 am From: Harry LeGrand (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Comments and recommendations on pelagic birding -- from the small boats to the larger cruise ships
Folks,
I finally did my first pelagic birding trip from a major cruise line ship, after doing 80-100 pelagic trips from various sizes of boats and smaller naturalist trip ships. Though my sole experience on the 2,100-passenger Eurodam along the Pacific Coast of the USA a week ago will differ from other birders' experiences on cruise ships in other regions, such as Antarctica, at least now I have experienced birding with a scope on a ship (for better or worse). [The birds on this trip were quite skittish and mostly far from the ship, whereas in other areas they are more easily seen from the ships.] So, here are my recommendations for those who enjoy pelagic birds and birding as much as I do.
*Single-day trips on boats* (6-man boats up to perhaps 50-passenger boats). POSITIVES: 1. large number of coastal locale options to choose from, with dozens of trips from some ports - such as from Hatteras Inlet (Seabirding Inc.) as well as places such as Monterey and other West Coast ports. 2. Closeness of the birds to the boat. The smaller the vessel, the less shy birds are. 3. Potential for the skipper/leader to have the boat chase after a rare bird flying away or to travel to a distant bird or flock of birds to get closer 4. always a large number of other birders on board, assuming a boat chartered for this purpose
NEGATIVES: 1. Poor weather can often cause cancellation (or postponement) of the trip 2. Boat rocks more than on larger boats and ships; thus many people who get seasick will avoid this option 3. More costly than with other options, and some to many all-day trips can cost $200 or more a person.
*Multiple day trips on naturalist ships* (typically 50-150 passengers for 1-2 weeks or more) POSITIVES: 1. More stable vessel for holding steady, though still not suitable for scopes; birds are not too distant, and most can be identified with binoculars 2. Nearly always several hired birders or naturalists on the cruise who assist or lead passengers in identifying birds; usually quite a few birders on board as well, and thus usually many people on board to spot and identify birds 3. Most vessels have small Zodiacs that will ferry passengers to shore at various stops, often two visits per day. 4. Routes are usually 500 miles or more long and with a good potential for dozens of pelagic species
NEGATIVES: 1. Costly, as most trips will run $500 or more a day, such as $5000 or more for a 10-day trip; food included, but often set lunch and dinner menus 2. Scopes are not feasible, as the vessels still rock a bit 3. Normally, these small ships do not veer off the set course to examine a distant flock of birds
*Multiple day trips on cruise ships* (typically 1,000 or more passengers, for 5 days or more) POSITIVES: 1. Quite inexpensive, often averaging about $200/day that includes all you-can-eat buffets and free entertainment options 2. The vessel is large enough to be quite stable, with often little rocking; so scope can be used 3. Though cruise ships do not normally have hired birders on board, there may well be birding groups onboard with their own leaders and experts 4. The routes are often 1,000 miles long or more and thus there is a potential for a long list of species
NEGATIVES: 1. Birds can often be far away, especially on the open sea. Even with a scope, smaller species such as storm-petrels and most alcids can be difficult to ID. Thankfully, birds are less flighty along a shoreline or next to the coast. 2. More red-tape in booking and boarding with a major cruise line, though not much more than with a naturalist cruise company; packing and dealing with scopes on ships can be risky and troublesome. 3. The very large number of people on-board (a few thousand), often leading to crowded conditions at dining facilities.
I hope this helps, but the main choice(s) of vessel type depends mostly on where you want to go and what species you are most interested in (and that includes mammals such as whales, dolphins, seals, Polar Bears, and Walruses) -- and secondarily on the size of the vessel you want to use for travel. You will find that some species you want to see can only reasonably be reached with a large cruise ship, or with a naturalist ship, whereas other species are best searched for on single-day boat trips -- such as looking for Gulf Stream birds off the NC coast.
Date: 4/25/26 5:24 pm From: Steve Shultz (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: 17 Warbler Morning in Boone
The last weekend of April is usually a pretty good time to visit the high country of North Carolina. The warblers are back, but the leaves are not.
While it hasnât rained in a month, it decided to today, but between sunrise and 11:45 AM was able to tally 17 warblers (all seen) which is fairly close to the expected number of breeders, only Kentucky missing and I didnât go to that spot. Maybe tomorrow.
Elk Knob has two or three singing male Golden-wings, Swainsonâs is back at Trout Lake, and Blackburnian are singing from the campground area at Price Lake.
Quite a bit of the parkway is closed due to repaving, so folks hoping to have a scenic journey on that particular road will be disappointed until probably next year.
In a week or 10 days, the leaves will be out, and the birds will be harder to find, but for now viewing is good.
It has been in this general location.
(32.1610353, -81.1127552).
On Fri, Apr 24, 2026 at 10:51âŻAM Dennis Forsythe <carolinabirds...>
wrote:
> All
>
> Any idea about the occurrence and location of the White-faced Ibis at
> Savannah NWR?
>
> Dennis
>
> --
> Dennis M Forsythe PhD
> Emeritus Professor of Biology
> The Citadel
> Charleston, SC
> 843-708-1605 cell
>
Date: 4/24/26 5:41 am From: Betsy Kane (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: eBird duration - how to adjust?
Kent and Bryan, thanks for these suggestions.
Betsy
On Thu, Apr 23, 2026 at 4:43âŻPM Kent Fiala <kent.fiala...> wrote:
> To avoid this problem, simply refrain from stopping the checklist before
> you have stopped birding. If you do inadvertently stop the track, or if you
> change your mind and decide to start birding again, just start a second
> checklist.
>
> On Thu, Apr 23, 2026, 12:12 Bryan H <carolinabirds...> wrote:
>
>> The eBird duration and distance is now tied directly to the GPS track, so
>> to change the duration or distance you have to delete the track (which is
>> discouraged).
>>
>> You can find more details (including how to delete a track in the app)
>> here:
>>
>> https://support.ebird.org/en/support/solutions/articles/48000960508#anchorGPSTracks >>
>> Hope that helps,
>> Bryan
>>
>> On Thu, Apr 23, 2026 at 11:59âŻAM Betsy Kane <carolinabirds...>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> I have been trying to adjust to the change to eBird which automatically
>>> calculates duration based on track distance. When I try to update the
>>> duration having birded longer than expected, or less than expected, it
>>> won't allow it while using the app but "insists" on retaining only the
>>> duration of the recorded track distance.
>>>
>>> I have repeatedly had to make "checklist notes" of the actual duration
>>> while the duration entered with the checklist is wrong. My note of
>>> the real duration is meant for me, so I can go back and change the
>>> duration on my desktop computer since the app won't allow it. However, I
>>> know that I will not remember to do this very often.
>>>
>>> Does anyone here know of a workaround in the app?
>>>
>>> Betsy Kane
>>> Washington, NC
>>>
>>
Date: 4/23/26 4:59 pm From: \<hilton...>\ (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Hilton Pond North (9-21 Apr 2026) Dogwoods And Hummingbirds: Sure Signs Of Spring đŚ
In spring when Flowering Dogwoods open their bright white bracts in Appalachian woodlands, we know Ruby-throated Hummingbirds canât be far behind. âThis Week At Hilton Pond Northâ (Lansing NC) we reveal the hidden ties between dogwoods, snails, and salamanders, and even butterflies and leaf beetles. Installment #36 includes discussions of our first ruby-throats and Indigo Bunting of the season as well as detailed lists of all birds banded and recaptured. This latest informative photo essay is at https://www.hiltonpondnorth.org/twahpn-20260409.html (After reading, please check out our new podcast.)
Dr. BILL HILTON JR.
"Operation RubyThroat: The Hummingbird Projectâ
â Hilton Pond North: Blue Ridge Birds & Nature
2918 Silas Creek Road
Lansing NC 28643
(803)684-5852
The mission of Hilton Pond North is "to conserve plants, animals, habitats, and other natural components of the Blue Ridge Region of the eastern United States through observation, scientific study, and education for students of all ages.
"Never trust a person too lazy to get up for sunrise or too busy to watch the sunset." BHjr.
Date: 4/23/26 1:43 pm From: Kent Fiala (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: eBird duration - how to adjust?
To avoid this problem, simply refrain from stopping the checklist before
you have stopped birding. If you do inadvertently stop the track, or if you
change your mind and decide to start birding again, just start a second
checklist.
On Thu, Apr 23, 2026, 12:12 Bryan H <carolinabirds...> wrote:
> The eBird duration and distance is now tied directly to the GPS track, so
> to change the duration or distance you have to delete the track (which is
> discouraged).
>
> You can find more details (including how to delete a track in the app)
> here:
>
> https://support.ebird.org/en/support/solutions/articles/48000960508#anchorGPSTracks >
> Hope that helps,
> Bryan
>
> On Thu, Apr 23, 2026 at 11:59âŻAM Betsy Kane <carolinabirds...>
> wrote:
>
>> I have been trying to adjust to the change to eBird which automatically
>> calculates duration based on track distance. When I try to update the
>> duration having birded longer than expected, or less than expected, it
>> won't allow it while using the app but "insists" on retaining only the
>> duration of the recorded track distance.
>>
>> I have repeatedly had to make "checklist notes" of the actual duration
>> while the duration entered with the checklist is wrong. My note of
>> the real duration is meant for me, so I can go back and change the
>> duration on my desktop computer since the app won't allow it. However, I
>> know that I will not remember to do this very often.
>>
>> Does anyone here know of a workaround in the app?
>>
>> Betsy Kane
>> Washington, NC
>>
>
Date: 4/23/26 9:12 am From: Bryan H (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: eBird duration - how to adjust?
The eBird duration and distance is now tied directly to the GPS track, so
to change the duration or distance you have to delete the track (which is
discouraged).
On Thu, Apr 23, 2026 at 11:59âŻAM Betsy Kane <carolinabirds...> wrote:
> I have been trying to adjust to the change to eBird which automatically
> calculates duration based on track distance. When I try to update the
> duration having birded longer than expected, or less than expected, it
> won't allow it while using the app but "insists" on retaining only the
> duration of the recorded track distance.
>
> I have repeatedly had to make "checklist notes" of the actual duration
> while the duration entered with the checklist is wrong. My note of
> the real duration is meant for me, so I can go back and change the
> duration on my desktop computer since the app won't allow it. However, I
> know that I will not remember to do this very often.
>
> Does anyone here know of a workaround in the app?
>
> Betsy Kane
> Washington, NC
>
Date: 4/23/26 8:59 am From: Betsy Kane (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: eBird duration - how to adjust?
I have been trying to adjust to the change to eBird which automatically calculates duration based on track distance. When I try to update the duration having birded longer than expected, or less than expected, it won't allow it while using the app but "insists" on retaining only the duration of the recorded track distance.
I have repeatedly had to make "checklist notes" of the actual duration while the duration entered with the checklist is wrong. My note of the real duration is meant for me, so I can go back and change the duration on my desktop computer since the app won't allow it. However, I know that I will not remember to do this very often.
Date: 4/22/26 3:12 pm From: \Hurlbert, Allen Hartley\ (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: run a Mini BBS route in the Triangle?
Hello all,
The NC Mini Breeding Bird Survey<https://minibbs.us/> is entering its 28th year here in Orange County (27th and 25th years in Chatham and Durham counties, respectively), and has provided a critical window into long term population trends in an area of the Piedmont where national BBS routes are scarce.
We are looking for volunteers interested in taking on a survey route, which involves 20 roadside point counts at 0.5 mile intervals on a single morning from mid-May through June 30. Typically, the start time is around 5:30 am and you are done before 8 am.
The only requirements are:
1. you are able to identify common breeding birds by song or calls as well as by sight,
2. you are familiar with using eBird for submitting checklists, and
3. you commit to your route for at least the next 3 years. (Consistency in observer identity over time improves our ability to assess long-term trends in the data.)
We have at least 1 route that is completely vacant and needs someone to step in, and several routes where the current surveyors would love to have you ride along this year to help you take over the route yourself the following year.
Please reach out if you are interested.
Thanks to all of you who contribute to the variety of projects in our area, including eBird, the North American BBS, the Mini BBS, the Triangle Bird Count, and the just completed NC Bird Atlas. All of these are wonderful complementary initiatives that help us better understand various facets of our local bird populations.
Date: 4/20/26 8:23 am From: Frank Hamilton (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: R-T Hummingbird sightings
Previous literature about hummingbirds I've read over the years stated males are the first to migrate as they head northward to stake out territories. Females follow about two weeks later. This has been my observation over the 20 years I have participated in FeederWatch. Don't take this as gospel, so check out any number of sites you will find online. Â
Frank HamiltonCharleston, SC
(West Ashley)
Date: 4/19/26 3:43 pm From: Rob G (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Ruby-throated Hummingbird
I've had hummers for a couple weeks in Carrboro, NC., but did have a first EVER today!: As I was carrying a freshly-filled feeder to its balcony-hanger a male flew right to it while still in my hands and began feeding 6 inches from my face (first hovering then sitting on feeder). Either he was VERY thirsty, or, very blind and didn't even see me.Â
-- Rob Gluck.... Carrboro, NC.....
On Sunday, April 19, 2026 at 06:26:25 PM EDT, Don Stuart (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> wrote:
FWIW, same here in DavidsonâŚ..foy bird yesterday, female, following 2025 season when male(s) only appeared,late and rarely.Â
Don Stuart
Sent from my iPad
On Apr 17, 2026, at 9:16âŻAM, Dwayne Martin <carolinabirds...> wrote:
ďťżYep, happened to me this week. Only one I've seen at home and it was a female.Â
Dwayne
*************
Dwayne Martin
Hickory, NC
<redxbill...>
On Fri, Apr 17, 2026 at 9:09âŻAM Lee Weber <carolinabirds...> wrote:
For the second year in a row my first backyard spotting was a female on Wednesday of this week. I have not seen a male as of yet. Has anyone else had this happened?
Lee Weber in Charlotte
Date: 4/18/26 2:50 pm From: Michael Clark <mdc...> Subject: Off topic: Citizen Science Program Needs Your Help Observing the Weather!
Sorry for the off-topic post, but I thought that our local naturalists are probably interested in weather/climate science. CoCoRaHS is a citizen science group that collects precipitation data across the country which informs weather forecasting models. Iâve been participating for a few years and have found the time commitment minimal - I take my daily reading as I leave for my morning dog walk. Please consider helping out with this project.
Citizen Science Program Needs Your Help Observing the Weather!
Have you ever wondered how much rain fell during a recent thunderstorm? How about snowfall during a winter storm? If so, an important volunteer weather observing program needs your help!
The [Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow network](http://www.cocorahs.org/), or CoCoRaHS, is looking for new volunteers across North Carolina. The grassroots effort is part of a growing national network of home-based and amateur weather spotters with a goal of providing a high density precipitation network across the country.
CoCoRaHS came about as a result of a devastating flash flood that hit Fort Collins, Colorado, in July 1997. A local severe thunderstorm dumped over a foot of rain in several hours while other portions of the city had only modest rainfall. The ensuing flash flood caught many by surprise and caused $200 million in damages. CoCoRaHS was born in 1998 with the intent of doing a better job of mapping and reporting intense storms. As more volunteers participated, rain, hail, and snow maps were produced for every storm showing fascinating local patterns that were of great interest to scientists and the public. Recently, drought reporting has also become an important observation within the CoCoRaHS program across the nation. In fact, drought observations from CoCoRaHS are now being included in the [National Integrated Drought Information System](https://www.drought.gov/).
North Carolina became the twenty-first state to join the CoCoRaHS program in 2007, and by 2010, the CoCoRaHS network had reached all 50 states with nearly 10,000 daily observations. Through CoCoRaHS, thousands of volunteers, young and old, document the size, intensity, duration and patterns of rain, hail, and snow by taking simple measurements in their own backyards.
Volunteers may obtain an official rain gauge through the CoCoRaHS website ([http://www.cocorahs.org/](https://cocorahs.org/)) for about $42 plus shipping. Besides the need for an official 4 inch plastic rain gauge, volunteers are asked to review simple training modules online and submit their reports using the CoCoRaHS website or phone app. The process takes only five minutes a day, but the impact to the community is tenfold: by providing high quality, accurate measurements, the observers are able to supplement existing networks and provide useful data to scientists, resource managers, decision makers and others.
âCoCoRaHS observers provided valuable data for both Hurricanes Florence and Helene,â said Sean Heuser, CoCoRaHS State Co-Coordinator and Manager of the NC ECONet at the State Climate Office of NC. âFor these high intensity events, whether they are tropical systems or afternoon thunderstorms, CoCoRaHS observers are able to fill in gaps and provide a clearer picture of where we see precipitation maximums. We also use CoCoRaHS Condition Monitoring reports to determine weekly drought conditions across the state and give recommendations to the U.S. Drought Monitor authors.â
"Monitoring weather and climate conditions in North Carolina is no easy feat," said Heather Aldridge, CoCoRaHS State Co-Coordinator." CoCoRaHS volunteers help by painting a better picture of precipitation patterns across North Carolina, filling in data gaps where there are no nearby stations. Reporting rain, hail, snow, and drought conditions is a fun activity for all ages!"
âAn additional benefit of the program for the National Weather Service is the ability to receive timely reports of significant weather such as hail, intense rainfall, or localized flooding from CoCoRaHS observers that can assist meteorologists in issuing life-saving warnings for severe thunderstorms,â says David Glenn, CoCoRaHS State Co-Coordinator and meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Newport/Morehead City.
How does one become a CoCoRaHS observer? Go to the [CoCoRaHS website](https://cocorahs.org/) and click on the âJoin CoCoRaHSâ emblem on the upper right side of the website. After registering, take the simple online training, order your 4 inch rain gauge and start reporting!
âWe are in need of new observers across the entire state. "We would like to emphasize rural and coastal locations, and areas of higher terrain across the mountains,â added Glenn.
Date: 4/18/26 7:24 am From: Rob G (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: YC Night Herons (Chapel Hill)
the Yellow-crowned Night Herons are back in the woods adjacent to Ephesus Park tennis/pickleball courts, Chapel Hill (where they nest each spring) -- only laid eyes on 2 but could hear several others calling back-and-forth from area; suspect they are in the courting/nestbuilding phase of activities. -- Rob Gluck.... Carrboro, NC.....
Date: 4/17/26 6:16 am From: Dwayne Martin (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Yep, happened to me this week. Only one I've seen at home and it was a
female.
Dwayne
*************
Dwayne Martin
Hickory, NC
<redxbill...>
On Fri, Apr 17, 2026 at 9:09âŻAM Lee Weber <carolinabirds...> wrote:
> For the second year in a row my first backyard spotting was a female on
> Wednesday of this week. I have not seen a male as of yet. Has anyone else
> had this happened?
> Lee Weber in Charlotte
>
> Sent from my iPhone
Date: 4/17/26 6:09 am From: Lee Weber (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Ruby-throated Hummingbird
For the second year in a row my first backyard spotting was a female on Wednesday of this week. I have not seen a male as of yet. Has anyone else had this happened?
Lee Weber in Charlotte
Date: 4/8/26 9:39 am From: Robert Lewis (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: 2026 Durham Spring Bird Count
Hello,
 This year the Durham Count will be on April 26, Sunday. I have privately contacted the folks who did it last year. If anyone else is interested, please let me know.
Date: 4/6/26 12:18 pm From: Edmund LeGrand (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re Flocking behavior and Boids
I was surprised that the linked 2019 article on flocking behavior didnât
mention Boids, the landmark artificial life program from 1986 that
demonstrates just how simple flocking behavior can be, though it looks so
complex. The bird-oids are programmed to 1) be attracted to others nearby,
2) not get dangerously close, and 3) fly in the same direction as the
others nearby. The program is easy to find on-line, and itâs fun to watch
the randomly moving bird-like objects gradually form a cohesive flock on
the screen. Iâd recommend looking in the library of programs in NetLogo, a
free computer simulation website, for that and other fascinating computer
simulations (e.g., grass-sheep-wolf, traffic jams, forest fires).
Hereâs the introduction from Wikipedia:
*âBoids* is an artificial life program, developed by Craig Reynolds in
1986, which simulates the flocking behaviour of birds, and related group
motion. His paper on this topic was published in 1987 in the proceedings of
the ACM SIGGRAPH conference.[1] The name "boid" corresponds to a shortened
version of "bird-oid object", which refers to a bird-like object, as well
as referencing the stereotypical New York pronunciation of 'bird' as /ËbÉÉŞd/
.[2][3] Reynolds' boid model is one example of a larger general concept,
for which many other variations have been developed since.â
Edmund LeGrand
Fauquier Co., VA
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Michael Clark <mdc...>
To: "<carolinabirds...>" <carolinabirds...>
Cc:
Bcc:
Date: Sat, 04 Apr 2026 21:26:48 +0000
Subject: Bird flocking behavior paper
Interesting paper on how birds make decisions in flocking behavior.
Date: 4/3/26 1:00 pm From: Norman Budnitz (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Barn Owl nest cam
The Barn Owl boxes put up in the Triangle Area (NC) never got used. Alas,
not a single owl. The boxes were donated to NCWRC and put up in various
other parts of the state. One (I think) was put up in the Alligator River
National Wildlife Refuge and has been used by Barn Owls for several years.
I have not heard about the others.
Norm
On Fri, Apr 3, 2026 at 3:53âŻPM Rob G <carolinabirds...> wrote:
> Super! I recall some Barn Owl nest boxes were placed around the Triangle
> region some years back... any chance any of those are still up-and-running?
>
> -- Rob Gluck.... Carrboro, NC.
>
>
> On Friday, April 3, 2026 at 03:15:31 PM EDT, Derb Carter (via
> carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> wrote:
>
>
> The NCWRC has a live cam on a Barn Owl neat box in western NC for those
> who may be interested.
>
>
>
> Barn Owl Live Cam | NC Wildlife
> <https://www.ncwildlife.gov/outdoors/barn-owl-live-cam> >
>
>
> Derb Carter
>
Date: 4/3/26 12:53 pm From: Rob G (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Barn Owl nest cam
Super! I recall some Barn Owl nest boxes were placed around the Triangle region some years back... any chance  any of those are still up-and-running?
-- Rob Gluck.... Carrboro, NC.
On Friday, April 3, 2026 at 03:15:31 PM EDT, Derb Carter (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> wrote:
The NCWRC has a live cam on a Barn Owl neat box in western NC for those who may be interested.Â
