Multnomah Falls, Bonneville Fish Hatchery, Bonneville Lock, 10/5/2021, National Geographic Sea Lion
Aboard the
National Geographic Sea Lion
Pacific Northwest
The second day of our voyage started with the National Geographic Sea Lion anchoring in a wide part of the Columbia River, just west of Multnomah Falls. So right after breakfast, and a quick briefing on the proper way to enter and exit the Zodiac landing craft, we headed ashore for the morning activities. First it was a bus ride to the falls for a short walk, and a lot of picture-taking of this magnificent natural feature in the state of Oregon. Our next stop was just ten minutes away at the Bonneville Fish Hatchery, where we saw massive sturgeon, rainbow trout, and some of the returning salmon to this large facility. After lunch it was time to go through the first of eight locks along our travels up the Columbia and Snake Rivers! The rest of the day was spent cruising upriver through the beautiful Columbia River Gorge toward Hood River, and tomorrow’s adventures!
Rich Kirchner has worked as a naturalist in Antarctica, Alaska, the Bering Sea, Baja and the High Arctic, including Svalbard, Greenland, the Canadian Arctic and Iceland, along with other destinations. His 33 years as a professional wildlife photograp...
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National Geographic Sea Bird climbed up the Columbia River. The ship made its way from the temperate rainforest across the deep and narrow basalt cliffs of the Columbia Gorge and into the dry sagebrush-steppe landscape of Crow Butte. The transformation took just a few hours. As the sun rose across the sharply edged riverine lines, guests sipped coffee and enjoyed breakfast. Afterwards, we enjoyed an expert talk on “Soils and Raptors” by naturalist and “Raptor Extraordinaire,” Zoey Greenberg. Emerging from Celilo Falls and the Long Narrows, we shuttled upstream to Crow Butte Island. Guests enjoyed aerobic nature walks around the island in the morning. Returning to National Geographic Sea Bird , guests enjoyed an afternoon of cruising through the Umatilla National Wildlife Refuge and educational presentations on “Salmon, Dams, and the Columbia River Treaty,” by Patrick MacQuarrie, river historian, and “Geology of the Columbia River Basin,” by the multitalented naturalist wizard, Jesse Humbert. Crow Butte and the refuge offered a plethora of birdlife for the guests’ enjoyment, including grebes, great blue herons, double-crested cormorants, American white pelicans, bald eagles, northern harriers, red-tailed hawks, kestrels, and several types of geese, including snow geese, cackling geese, and Canada geese. We also spotted buffleheads, widgeons, mallards, coots, gulls, and several sparrows. While naturalists wooed the “Sea Bird Nation” with natural science and history stories, the ship transited McNary Lock. The lock lifted National Geographic Sea Bird up 75-feet into Lake Wallula, eventually passing Wallula Gap and entering the Snake River by dinner. Once again, National Geographic Sea Bird made the once impossible journey possible. This was first accomplished by Lewis and Clark in 1805 and 1806 on their historic journey to open the West to a young and eager country. Photographers: Patrick MacQuarrie, River Historian and Naturalist ; Dr. Robert Jason, Guest ; and Kim Nesbitt, Photo Instructor
Dawn broke cold but clear with temperatures in the high 40s and partly cloudy skies. It was wonderful weather for an exploration of the transition zone between the temperate rainforest of the past two days and the shrub-steppe that begins here and dominates the landscape heading east.
Today we had a wonderful introduction to the gorgeous farmland and industry of the Columbia River ecosystem. From experiencing the “Fruit Loop” to a salmon hatchery to a wonderful farm-to-table lunch, it was a beautiful day.
