About the Club

Mission Statement

The Carolina Bird Club is a non-profit organization that represents and supports the birding community in the Carolinas through its website, publications, meetings, workshops, trips, and partnerships, whose mission is


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The Carolina Bird Club, Inc., is a non-profit educational and scientific association open to anyone interested in the study and conservation of wildlife, particularly birds.

The Club meets each winter, spring, and fall at different locations in the Carolinas. Meeting sites are selected to give participants an opportunity to see many different kinds of birds. Guided field trips and informative programs are combined for an exciting weekend of meeting with people who share an enthusiasm and concern for birds.

The Club offers research grants in avian biology for undergraduate and graduate students, and scholarships for young birders.

The Club publishes two print publications (now also available online). The Chat is a quarterly ornithological journal that contains scientific articles, reports of bird records committees and bird counts, and general field notes on bird sightings. CBC Newsletter is published bimonthly and includes birding articles and information about meetings, field trips, and Club news.

The Club provides this website to all for free.

By becoming a member, you support the activities of the Club, receive reduced registration fee for meetings, can participate in bonus field trips, and receive our publications.

Join, Renew, or Donate now!



Carolina Bird Club Bonus Trip
West Coast Pelagic Cruise
May 13–18, 2027

Albatrosses, Petrels, Alcids and More! Join members of the Carolina Bird Club aboard Emerald Princess for a five-night Pacific Coast repositioning cruise from Los Angeles to Vancouver. We will search for Cook’s and Murphy’s Petrels, Laysan and Black-footed Albatross, Scripps’s Murrelet, Tufted Puffin, Sabine’s Gull, jaegers, Humpback and Fin Whale, and more.

Why cruise-ship pelagic birding?

Want to see pelagic birds but not a fan of small boats? Enjoy seabirds but worry about a day trip weathering out? Want to add deep-water species to your lists without spending hours transiting back and forth to productive waters? Or do you want to try to add Cook’s and Murphy’s Petrels—formerly considered very rare visitors but now expected on cruises off the West Coast in spring—to your list?

Cruise-ship pelagic birding offers the chance to encounter shearwaters, petrels, albatrosses, storm-petrels, jaegers, alcids, marine mammals, and more from an incredibly stable platform. Enjoy views of Pterodroma petrels through your spotting scope, spot storm-petrels just minutes after stepping out of your stateroom, and, when the sun sets, enjoy live music, comedians, Broadway-style shows, or a beverage while recounting the day’s sightings.

May off the West Coast is perfect for seeing Cook’s and Murphy’s Petrels (with a chance at Hawaiian), Laysan and Black-footed Albatross (while hoping for rare Short-tailed Albatross), all three species of jaeger, storm-petrels (including Fork-tailed), several species of alcids, marine mammals, and more.

Itinerary and route

We depart Los Angeles on May 13, with an afternoon sailing perfectly timed to search for Scripps’s Murrelet, which is scarce farther north, and Ashy Storm-Petrel. We then awaken to a full day at sea to discover California’s deep-water pelagic birds.

After our first day at sea, we visit San Francisco, where you will have leisure time to explore “The Paris of the West.” The ship leaves in time to see and enjoy the Bay’s birds and mammals.

As we sail farther north, Cook’s Petrels are replaced by Murphy’s Petrels and alcids become more evident. Flocks of phalaropes pass as they migrate north, followed by beautifully plumaged Sabine’s Gulls.

The next day provides an unforgettable opportunity to bird as the ship transitions from deep water to the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Watch as the fauna changes and our trip list continues to grow. The ship docks in Victoria, British Columbia, where we will take a guided walk through nearby parkland searching for Pacific Northwest specialties.

Price and what is included

The price for the inaugural Carolina Bird Club West Coast Pelagic Cruise is $595 per person. The price includes:

  • Guided birding each day
  • Checklists
  • Daily countdown and discussion
  • Personalized pre-trip consultation
  • One copy per stateroom of Offshore Sea Life ID Guide: West Coast

Participant responsibilities

Participants are responsible for:

  • Airfare to Los Angeles and from Vancouver
  • Transportation to and from the ship
  • Accommodations—a cabin or suite of your choice—on Emerald Princess

Capacity and registration

The trip is limited to ten participants. Act now to reserve your spot and select from the best selection of staterooms. For more information or to register, contact Susan Campbell or Steve Shultz:

Species expectations

Expect to see

Laysan Albatross, Black-footed Albatross, Sooty Shearwater, Pink-footed Shearwater, Cook’s Petrel, Murphy’s Petrel, Scripps’s Murrelet, Common Murre, Tufted Puffin, Pigeon Guillemot, Rhinoceros Auklet, Cassin’s Auklet, Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel, Leach’s Storm-Petrel, Pomarine Jaeger, Parasitic Jaeger, Sabine’s Gull, Red Phalarope, Red-necked Phalarope, Humpback Whale, and Fin Whale.

Might see

Hawaiian Petrel, Long-tailed Jaeger, Sei Whale, Orca, and Dall’s Porpoise.

Hope to see

Short-tailed Albatross, Red-billed Tropicbird, Cocos Booby, and South Polar Skua.