Monterey Seabirds

2009 Pelagic Seabird Trips

Streaked Shearwater, photo by Todd Easterla

Monterey Seabirds features year-round pelagic trips enabling you to experience the seabirds of the Monterey Bay in their respective seasons.

Just offshore of Monterey, California lies a 6000-foot deep submarine canyon running right down the middle of the Monterey Bay. Similar in size to the Grand Canyon of the American Southwest, this geologic feature creates cold-water upwellings, rich in nutrients that foster a remarkable diversity of seabirds and cetaceans. The combination of these elements within a semi-protected bay makes Monterey a worldwide destination for pelagic birding. Just a few miles from shore one can observe pelagic seabirds that travel across both the hemisphere and the ocean to feed in the bountiful waters of Monterey Bay.

In the interest of having a reasonably sized group conducive to pelagic birding and photography, space is limited to 25 participants.

The About Monterey Seabirds page details the advantages of Monterey Seabirds trips, and our Leaders page serves as a quick introduction to our friendly, local leaders. See our Species List and Trip Reports to get an idea of the seabirds and marine mammals encountered on these trips. Our Seabird Links will help with your trip preparation, study and other interesting information on seabirds.

Again in 2009 we'll be offering a free seabirding trip for every three seabirding trips you take. The free trip is NOT redeemable for the 12-hour offshore trips.

Now accepting reservations for Group charters in 2009. Bring your Audubon chapter, bird club, group of friends or ecotour group. We will provide marine and seabirding naturalists and chummer. Group charters start at $1650 for groups up to 25.

In years past we have run charters for Tulare, Sacramento, San Joaquin and Tucson Audubon Chapters, Colorado Field Ornithologist, the Pacific Seabird Group and several ecotour companies. Please inquire for details.

Wedge-tailed Shearwater, photo by Todd Easterla

2009 Monterey Seabird Trips

8-hour trips
(7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., $105):
Apr. 18 (Sat.),
May 23 (Sat.), May 31 (Sun),
Aug. 16 (Sun.), Aug. 30 (Sun.),
Sept. 5 (Sat. - SCBC CHARTER),
Sept. 20 (Sun.),
Sept. 26 (Sat. - SAS CHARTER),
Oct. 18 (Sun. - MPAS CHARTER),
Oct. 24 (Sat.).

12-hour offshore albacore grounds trips
(5:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., $135):
August 23 (Sun.),
Sept. 19 (Sat.),
Oct. 17 (Sat.).

Reservations are required. Reservations can be made using our online reservation form or by calling (831) 375-4658 with a credit card number to hold your spot. Go to Whale Watch Trip Information Page for further details (trip preparation, directions, etc.). For the Seabird trips we have a 2-week cancellation policy.

Note that regular Whale Watch trips are also scheduled on the same dates as the Seabird trips.

Note: For the special charters, members of our mailing list are eligible to fill a few available spots. The price for these spots will be based on the number of people signed up. Charters are with the Santa Cruz Bird Club (Sept. 5), Sacramento Audubon (Sept. 26) and Monterey Peninsula Audubon (Oct. 18). See our latest newsletter for details. If you're a member of our mailing list and would like to sign up for one of these trips, go to our online reservation form.

I was on your trip on May 15, and my compliments. I've been on several Atlantic pelagic trips, but yours was more fun. Partly because all the birds were new, partly because the weather cooperated, but also because the staff were very friendly and helpful. All best wishes.
Jim Kalat (Cary, NC)