Ken Wright will present Ushuaia to Cape Town - A South Atlantic Odyssey on Friday night, Oct. 3, at the Sunshine Coast Arts Centre in Sechelt.
Wright's presentation at 7:30 p.m. helps kick off the new season of the Sunshine Coast Natural History Society.
Wright chronicles his March journey across the South Atlantic, from the near Antarctic area to South Africa. This pelagic trip was made on the well-appointed Corinthian II. The journey began in Argentina and made landfall in the Falkland Islands and South Georgia, with an attempt to land on the remote island of Tristan da Cunha before reaching the final destination of Cape Town, South Africa.
South Georgia is often included in Antarctic cruises because of its rich wildlife concentrations and human history. Numerous exotic bird species, such as wandering albatrosses, broad-billed prions and spectacled petrels were encountered along the way and provided much enjoyment during the long days at sea. Many marine mammals were also seen, including sei and southern right whales as well as elephant seals.
Wright is a naturalist and has an unquenchable fascination for the natural world, which goes back to childhood. His passion became occupation, and he has been engaged in numerous bird and lichen-related field research projects that have taken him throughout B.C., Yukon, Alberta and Alaska.
During winter he travels to South America and Antarctica where he is a naturalist on board a small cruise ship. Whether abroad or at home, he enjoys hiking, cycling, skiing and photographing nature. He lives in Lillooet.
