New England Seabirds

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Planning A Trip On A Whale Watch

Contact The Whale Watch
It is best to inform the whale watch that you will be bringing a group. Most boats are familiar with bird groups and are anxious to have your business. Once aboard be sure to let the naturalist know that birders are aboard.

Group Discounts
Some boats will offer a discount if you have a minimum number of participants. Taking advantage of the discount is usually more trouble then it is worth. You may have to collect money and take reservations from people or stand at the ticket window identifying each participant and make sure that you meet the minimum number. What will you do if you have no shows and you do not meet the minimum?

The author found it much easier just to tell people to handle their own reservations with the whale watch and to meet the leader on the dock. This way you don't care if 5 or 30 people show up. Most whale watch boats have various discounts for senior citizens, AAA members, coupons you can print from the web page, or coupons in the local donut shop.

Without a microphone you can hardly show birds to more than 10 people so if you do have a group of 30 you will need more than one experienced pelagic birder to help first timers. See the section on Getting Started for some hints.

Set Appropriate Expectations
Make sure every birder knows that this is not a dedicated trip and that you will be joining a whale watch. Some extended birding ethics are required. The section on Birding On Whale Watch Boats can help you understand the issues. You might want to make copies for each participant. It is most important that the naturalist and captain enjoy having birders aboard and that other participants (who Vote) leave with a good feeling about birders.

It is best to advertise the trip as a Bird and Whale Watch. Whales are pretty much guaranteed on Stellwagen Bank trips and those new to pelagic birding will be quite thrilled with them. Experienced pelagic birders should know disappointment happens.