Our Bird Migration Cruises offer a unique opportunity for an idyllic natural science adventure, enabling people to gain a better understanding of the relationships between the marine and shoreline ecosystems.

Just outside of Port Townsend is an amazing National Wildlife Refuge — Protection Island — home to breeding, nesting, and flyway populations of marine bird species at different times of the year. Nearly 70 percent of the nesting seabird population of Puget Sound and the Straits nest on the island, which includes one of the largest nesting colonies of rhinoceros auklets in the world and the largest nesting colony of glaucous-winged gulls in Washington. The island contains one of the last two nesting colonies of tufted puffins in the Puget Sound area. About 1,000 harbor seals depend upon the island for a pupping and rest area, and elephant seals often haul out to molt there during the summer.

Cost

Tickets are $90 per person.
Children 2-10 years of age are $70.
Tickets for PTMSC members are $70.
Please note: 1 member discount per membership card.
Become at PTMSC member!

General Information

In good weather, cruises typically go through the Protection Island Aquatic Reserve and circumnavigate Protection Island, a National Wildlife Refuge located at the mouth of Discovery Bay. If the weather is rough, the captain may head south toward Port Ludlow to remain in calmer waters. The route is at the captain’s discretion.

The three-hour cruises depart from the Point Hudson Marina. More information about Puget Sound Express, their boats and more can be found on their website.

Protection Island National Wildlife Refuge

Protection Island National Wildlife Refuge’s 364-acres is covered by grass and low brush, with a small timbered area, high sandy bluffs and low sand spits on two ends of the island. This combination of bluffs and sand spits provides excellent habitat for nesting seabirds and the waters around it offer a marine buffet.

The Refuge website is a great resource for the birds and other species you could see on a Protection Island wildlife cruise.

Protection Island Aquatic Reserve

Located at the start of Admiralty Inlet, Protection Island Aquatic Reserve’s nutrient rich waters and areas of shallow bank are unique because of the immense tidal exchange and upwelling where Puget Sound waters meet the Pacific fed waters of the Strait of Juan de Fuca.