Is a Scientist Hitching a Ride on Your Next Cruise?
These non-traditional research vessels help scientists keep tabs on remote species and fill important gaps in climate data.
Seabird surveyor Kiirsti Owen stood by the bridge of Adventure Canada’s Ocean Endeavour as it sailed through the Northwest Passage, scanning the water through her binoculars on the lookout for northern fulmars, glaucous gulls, dovekies, and other marine birds.
Owen had been working on her a doctorate through a lab at Acadia University, and she was on board the ship as part of Adventure Canada’s Researcher in Residence program.
During the 17-day “Out of the Northwest Passage” journey in September 2024, Owen collected thousands of data points from surveys she conducted when the ship was in motion, as she counted birds within 300 meters of the ship and noted their species, flock size, and behavior, among other data points, recording the data for the Eastern Canada Seabirds at Sea Project (ECSAS), a long-time Canadian Wildlife Service effort.
Full story Is a Scientist Hitching a Ride on Your Next Cruise?
