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Alaska Cruise Reviews: Sea Bird

From the Sea Bird in Alaska
Wednesday, May 31, 2006

Sitka, Alaska

We sailed north from Sitka this afternoon, eyes and lenses peeled for wildlife. Two hours north, we traversed the shallow waters from Whitestone Narrows through Neva Strait. As we reached the north end, we came upon a truly curious sight. Here we found, perched above the water in a great Sitka spruce, a large flock of greater flamingos. Their bright pink hue takes three to four years to develop, so we knew we had a group of healthy adults here. But flamingos in trees? We listened closely for their geese-like honks, but alas, the only squawks we could hear were the giggles and snorts from the bow. It didn’t take long to realize we had fallen prey to the shenanigans of Sitka’s famous prankster, Porky.

Porky is a fine, if somewhat eccentric, representative of the people of Sitka- resilient, down-to-earth, proud of their heritage and full of humor. The Tlingit Indians first inhabited the area at some point in the centuries following the eruption of Mt. Edgecumbe around 8,000 years ago. Their culture and livelihood influenced future settlers- from the Russian fur trappers of the early 1800s to those who migrated from the lower 48 once Sitka joined the United States in the late 1800s. During our visit here, we witnessed the diverse backgrounds and rich history of today’s inhabitants. We saw fine examples of the Tlingit’s sacred art at the Totem Pole Park, and could imagine a small slice of religious life for the Russian settlers at St. Michael’s Cathedral. The Raptor Rehabilitation Center gave us just a small sampling of the region’s great respect for its nature and wildlife. After a full morning visit in town, we then cruised north through the heart of the area- the rich wilderness. A brown bear on shore and lone humpback feeding just before our own dinner reminded us of the peaceful tranquility that is Southeast Alaska.

Author: Kelley Totten, AEL/ Purser; Photo: Jason Kelley , Expedition Leader