The Coastal Research and Education Society of Long Island is a non-profit research and education organization.  Our mission is:  “To promote and foster understanding and stewardship of coastal ecosystems through research and education .”  Part of our work is to observe and document the whale and sea bird populations of NY and New England and to take people to see these animals in the wild.  Since 2002 we have been offering  incredible and successful multi-day offshore pelagic bird and whale observation trips.

Our trips have been 100% successful and we have encountered over 500 humpback in the 7 trips thus far and have photo-identified over 165 different individuals (~1/3 of the known Gulf of Maine stock, in just 7 trips!).  We’ve also encountered fin, minke, sei, and right whales;  common, white-sided, dolphins, pilot whales, and thousands of pelagic birds over the years.

Our trips have been 100% successful and we have encountered over 500 humpback in the 7 trips thus far and have photo-identified over 165 different individuals (~1/3 of the known Gulf of Maine stock, in just 7 trips!).  We’ve also encountered fin, minke, sei, and right whales;  common, white-sided, dolphins, pilot whales, and thousands of pelagic birds over the years.

We are planning two trips to the Great South Chanel in 2008, one in July and one in August.  The July trip will be  34 hours long; the August trip, our typical 51 hour trip. 

(1)     Our July trip will leave at 8:00 PM on July 20, 2008, and head to the Great South Channel (GSC).  We should reach the whale grounds around day break, spend the next 15 hours amongst the whales and birds of the GSC.  After sunset, we’ll head back to Montauk and should return by 6:00 AM on July 22, 2008. 

1.       Cost = $300 for CRESLI members; $325 for non-members

(2)    Our August trip will leave at 7:00 PM on August 10, 2008 and head to Martha’s Vineyard (MV) to pick up (and drop off) passengers.  We expect to arrive at Oak Bluffs in Martha’s Vineyard at approximately 12:30 AM on 8/11; we leave MV at 1:00 AM and proceed to the GSC.  We should reach the whale grounds around day break, spend the next 24 hours amongst the whales and birds of the GSC.  The following morning, we will have the option of either remaining on the whale grounds, or returning early to Martha’s Vineyard for land-based birding, hiking, or other activities.  The vessel will ultimately depart Martha’s Vineyard at 4:30 PM on 8/12 and return to Montauk at 10:30 PM on 8/12/08.

1.       Cost = $325 for CRESLI members; $350 for non-members

We at CRESLI hope that you will join us on our trips.  Remember that members do get discounted fares.