Today we were onboard the ferry all day except for 1.5 hours onshore in Sitka.  While the skies have been heavily overcast, it hasn’t rained all that much since breakfast.

At Sitka we toured the Raptor Center.  I borrowed the below photo caption from a poster near some bald eagles (“I AM Smiling”).  The Raptor Center in Sitka takes in injured raptors from all over the state (Alaska Airlines flies the birds to them for free). 

The entire tour was interesting,  but I particularly enjoyed watching a keeper patiently training their Snowy Owl to get into a shallow bath on request.  He really wanted the rat head but did NOT want to get in the basin.    With much trial and error, she got him into an empty basin, which was enough for today.

From the boat today, I have seen 6 Humpback Whales,  2 pods of porpoise or dolphins, 3 Sitka Black-tail Deer, 1 Sea Otter, 1 seal, and lots of Bald Eagles and other birds.

We are now headed south. Tomorrow, we will be in Ketchikan for a few hours.