The waters surrounding Long Island are home to numerous species of marine mammals, birds, and sea turtles. The local non-profit organization CRESLI (Coastal Research and Education Society of Long Island) has been operating whale watch tours out of Montauk since 1996, providing passengers with "close-up" views of these spectacular animals in their natural environment. The cruises also allow scientists to collect and analyze data to better understand the habitat usage and population dynamics of the animals frequenting our waters. Join one of CRESLI's naturalists, Dr. Marianne McNamara (Professor of Biology and Marine Biology at SCCC), as she shares stunning photography of whales, dolphins, sharks, pelagic birds and more encountered on these cruises. Discover which species of marine life are commonly found off Long Island, and learn what these encounters are teaching us about their distribution here and elsewhere in the North Atlantic.
