In Ketchikan we visited the Rainforest Sanctuary, which basically involved a mild walk through part of the rainforest. The excitement here started after we exited the rainforest. This gorgeous bald eagle was in a tree just watching us. Isn't she fabulous? (and aren't I glad I have such a good zoom on my camera!)
A little farther along, we came across this other eagle sitting on a log, also watching us. I suspect they were a pair. Did not see a nest though.
That log is in a dry spot in some marsh land around the rainforest. The guide was showing us how the native trees have adapted, since they cannot take root in the marsh. They instead take root in fallen trees. See this photo, the fallen tree has other trees sprouting from it. I thought that was interesting.
At the edge of this forest was an old saw mill. Just take a look at the size of the trees that come out of this forest. HUGE.
Val tried his hand at sawing through one. Though that effort didn't last long LOL.
The Alaska Raptor Rescue was showing off some of their rescued birds. And they were amazing. This wide-eyed owl posed for us. She lives in the rescue because she had a broken wing that healed but did not give her full use. So she will spend her life with the rescue.
They also showed us this girl, who had been found as a chick on the side of the road, starving. She has a deformed beak, making catching /eating food a problem for her. The raptor center clipped part of her beak, to allow her to eat, and they give her bite-sized food. This allows her to be a healthy beautiful bird, and they use her in their education programs. She was unfazed by us ewwwing and awwwing over her. It was very humbling to see such an amazing creature up close.
you can see how her beak is deformed. It crosses and just isn't shaped right.
NEXT STOP - Crab feast! We stopped at George Inlet Lodge for crab. Val and my sister Wanda were very happy campers! I am not much of a seafood eater, but I was there for moral support!
That was it for Ketchikan. Our time here was much too short. After the Sanctuary walk and the crab feast, we got back to the ship with no time to spare. We didn't even get to walk around this cute little place.
That wraps up our Alaska adventures. Next stop, Victoria, Canada.