Professional Documents
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CANADA
Michelle Valberg
SABLE
ISLAND
P R ES E N T E D I N A S S O C I AT I O N W I T H
SABLE ISLAND
JUNE 11JUNE 19, 2016
ABOARD THE OCEAN ENDEAVOUR
Sable Islands wild horses are world-famous, but theres so much more to this remote sand island off the coast of Nova
Scotia. The worlds largest colony of grey seals breeds here, as does the rare roseate tern and the endemic Ipswich sparrow,
among many birds of note. Amid the islands forty-two kilometres of beaches, dunes, and bogs youll find a plethora of
plants: from iris, to sundew, to wild berries in abundance. Whales and sharks ply the nearby waters.
Sable Islands history includes shipwrecks and salvage; sealing and walrus hunting; rescue and research. Still, the horses
remain the islands most charismatic residents. Free to roam, they represent one of the worlds last wild equine populations.
Now protected as Canadas forty-third national park, Sable Island offers an adventure unlike any other.
HIGHLIGHTS
View one of the worlds last wild horse populations
See the rare Ipswich sparrow in its sole breeding ground
Photograph Sable Islands many rare and beautiful plant
species
Visit the worlds largest grey seal colony
Seek marine mammals in The Gully,
a Marine Protected Area
PROPOSED ITINERARY
Day 1:
St. Johns, NL
Day 2:
At Sea
Day 8:
Saint-Pierre, FR
Day 9:
St. Johns, NL
Mike Beedell
DETAILED ITINERARY
Day 1: St. Johns, NL
We meet in St. JohnsNewfoundlands historic, vibrant capital.
Picturesque and welcoming, with a world-famous harbour,
St. Johns has been continually fished since 1498, allowing it
to boast the designation of North Americas oldest European
settlement.
We will offer an afternoon city tour to those interested.
Afterwards, we will rendezvous at the docks and board the
Ocean Endeavour to begin the adventure proper. Passengers
will meet the staff and crew, and prepare to leave the harbour.
Sailing out of St. Johns has to be experienced to be believed;
Signal Hill keeps watch over the world-famous Narrows as we
head for open water, passing Cape Spear, the easternmost point
in North America.
seen. The herd of wild horses for which the island is famous is
a true highlight: we will observe them at their wildest as they
race among the dunes. The sandy shores afford unmatched
opportunities for Zodiac cruising, and you may expect
to delight in observing the curious local seal population
as we do so.
Janis Parker
Day 2: At Sea
Our presentation series will kick into full swing today as
our expert resource staff delves into the fascinating history
and ecology of Sable Island. While out on deck, keep your
eyes peeled for marine mammals and seabirds in the rich
northwest Atlantic.
Michelle Valberg
Day 8: Saint-Pierre, FR
Explore Saint-Pierre, a last bastion of Frances colonial territories
in North America. The islands 6,500 residents are of varied
descent including French, Basque, Breton, and Norman.
FEATURED STAFF
JILL MARTIN
AUTHOR
Jill Martin is the author of Return to
Sable (2015) and was a consultanthistorian for the National Film Board and
White Gate Films. Her most recent work,
Sable Island: Through a Nineteenth-Century Lensa pictorial
look at life on Sable Island at the turn of the centurywill be
released by Nimbus publishers in April 2016. For many years
she was an educator on Nova Scotia's South Shore, serving as
the last principal of Lunenburg Academy. Jill sits on the board
of directors of the Friends of Sable Island Society. She lives
in Lunenburg with husband Carl in a home overlooking the
Atlantic Ocean.
Mike Beedell
SARAH WONG
NATURALIST
MARINE RESEARCHER
Mike Beedell