Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 07/23/2008 - 13:25
Forums
Ocean Dynamics Beaufort Sea

Hi Ms. Ward -

I'm part of Ms. Hams' Oceanography 1 class out here in California (she said I should tell you "hi!").  I was wondering if you'd seen much wildlife yet?  I imagine there are birds, but you haven't mentioned any polar bears, seals, whales, etc. Are those animals you're expecting to see on your journey?

Thanks!

Tamara Struminger

Sherman Oaks, CA 

Thu, 07/24/2008 - 07:19

Gerty Ward

Hello Tamara!  Thank you for checking in.  Please say HI back to Ms Hamms.  I am looking forward to following her Antarctic journey this winter!   Can you believe she is taking on such a great adventure??!!
 Wildlife: You are right, I have not mentioned much wildlife because we have not seen much.  The first night in Cambridge Bat before we boarded the ship we saw an enormous Arctic hare.  It moved across the tundra like a small dog!  We have also seen tundra swans, snow geese, kill deer and plovers.
From the ship, we have seen gulls and terns,  a few seals and have had two polar bear sightings from afar (really, really far).  As we approach the ice in the coming days, we are hoping to see more of the *charasmatic megafauna.*
You can check out the plankton wildlife here: http://www.polartrec.com/node/5031 
~Mrs. Ward