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Travel |
Birding Travel from Birds & Business
Alliance Members
COPPER LEVEL
Adventure Birding Company
www.adventurebirding.com
info@adventurebirding.com
San Blas: Mangrove Estuaries, Coffee Fincas, Palm Forests and More
Dec 12-20, 2009, $1990. Leader: Keith Kamper.
The coastal fishing village of San Blas is one of the premier birding destinations in Mexico. We'll visit mangrove estuaries, coffee fincas, beaches and coastal lagoons. 25 Mexican endemics possible including San Blas Jays, Rufousnecked Wood-rail, Cinnamon Hummingbird and Golden Vireo. Jungle boat tour with oddities like Boat-billed Heron and Northern Potoo, even iguanas and crocodiles! We will be based at one motel throughout; so we can unpack, unwind and enjoy the region's natural and cultural history, fresh mariscos and green flash sunsets.
South Texas: Specialties and Migrants in the Lower Rio Grande Valley
April 3-11, 2010, $1890. Leaders: John Yerger and/or Jake Mohlmann
Join us in “the other” premier U.S. birding destination, with guides who have lived and birded there. With specialties like Great Kiskadee, Green Jay and Altamira Oriole, how can you miss? We'll sample all habitats: from tidal mudflats to subtropical thornscrub to prime Chihuahuan desert. Visit both classic hotspots and lesser-known local secrets for rarer residents like Clay-colored Robin and Hook-billed Kite. This trip is timed to catch loads of spring migrants, and probably a few Mexican rarities!
COPPER LEVEL
Borderland
Tours
882-7650 or toll-free at 800-525-7753
rtaylor@borderland-tours.com,
or see www.borderland-tours.com.
Fall Oaxaca Valley . October 10-17, 2009 , $2895. Leader: Rick Taylor. All 7 nights at one fine lodging and a wide selection of endemic birds are featured on our Oaxaca Valley tour, along with plenty of time to enjoy the cultural and archeological delights of the valley. Among the 25 species of endemics we expect to see are Ocellated Thrasher, Dwarf Jay, and Red Warbler. No visit to Oaxaca is complete without visiting the world-renowned archaeological sites, where the protection zone also insures great birding. Among those we visit is Monte Alban , the largest non-Mayan ruin in Mexico , and probably the best area for Slaty Vireo in the valley.
South Africa Light. November 6-16, 2009 , $4695. Leaders: Chris Sharpe & Richard White. Divided into two parts, Kruger National Park and the Cape, this tour should maximize the opportunity to see and enjoy the African “Big Five” mammals (Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Buffalo , and White Rhino), as well as some of Africa 's most spectacular bird species. Among these are Southern Ground Hornbill, Secretary Bird and Lilac-breasted Roller at Kruger; and Black Harrier, Cape Rockjumper and Orange-breasted Sunbird at the Cape . We have 5 nights at both locations, enough time to really bird both areas intensively without wasting time packing and unpacking our luggage.
COPPER LEVEL
Naturalist Journeys
www.naturalistjourneys.com
info@naturalistjourneys.com
toll-free 866-900-1146 or 558-1146
Birding the Blue Ridge Mountains June 8-14
Join us to explore quintessential Appalachia: ancient mountains and thick forests threaded with streams, rivers and waterfalls. The Blue Ridge Parkway provides important habitat for a diverse array of plants and animals. With elevations ranging from 875 to over 6,000 feet, the parkway encompasses habitats for species typically seen in the South or lowlands in the East, as well as species common in the mid-Atlantic area and New England . Enjoy lovely mountain lodges and great dining as we sample local cuisine. We're likely to see colorful species such as Eastern Bluebirds, Pileated Woodpeckers, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Orchard Orioles, Wood Ducks and Indigo Buntings. With luck and some persistence we should find the elusive Cerulean Warbler. Wezil Walraven will guide this year's journey. 3 nights Pisgah Inn, 2 nights Mill Creek Inn, Black Mtn., NC, 1 night Holiday Inn Express, Ashville. $2150 from Ashville , NC. Single Supplement $445.
GRAND YELLOWSTONE June 13-25, 2009 - With short trip options available for those wishing a one-week tour
Join us for an in-depth ecosystem-wide journey to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. June is peak time for bird activity and the region's legendary mammals have young of the year in abundance. Wildflowers abound! In addition to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks we feature Red Rock Lakes NWR and Montana's prairie.
We start our tour in Billings where local guide Helen Carlson leads us to specialty birds of the prairie such as Chestnut-collared and McCown's Longspurs. Then it's off to the mountains as we travel over spectacular Beartooth Plateau in search of Black Rosy Finches and more. In Yellowstone we visit Old Faithful and other spectacular geysers. Birds we should encounter include Barrow's Goldeneyes, American Dippers, Townsend's Solitaires, Mountain Bluebirds, Clark 's Nutcrackers, Red-naped and Williamson's Sapsuckers, and other species. Mammal sightings on this many-year successful tour include Beavers, Elk, Bison, Moose, Pronghorn River Otter and Bighorn Sheep, both Grizzly and Black Bears, as well as Gray Wolves. This is the best trip we run outside Africa for seeing large mammals! $3295.00 from Billings ($1495 short trip option). $750 single supplement ($495 Short trip option).
STERLING LEVEL
Nature Treks & Passages
Under new ownership – Debra Tranberg
781 789-8127
info@naturetreks.net
Copper Canyon, Mexico - Unique 9-Day Birding Tour
See breathtaking vistas of the Sierra Madre Mountains. Enjoy the Copper Canyon Train ride from sea level to canyon rim. Relax on the tranquil float down the Rio Fuerte. The Copper Canyon adventure combines the best of natural history with diverse, cultural habitats. But the emphasis on this trip's itinerary is birding – for the beginner – to the obsessed. $2749.00pp
RANCHO ESMERALDA BIRDING and NATURE WEEKEND - Labor Day Weekend, Sept 4-7, 2009
Join Pinau Merlin and Larry Liese for a fun 4 days of exploring beautiful Rancho Esmeralda in Sonora , Mexico , during the lush monsoon season. We'll enjoy birds, plants, butterflies, reptiles, amphibians and other wildlife on our daily hikes and night walks. Includes transportation, 3 nights at the Rancho Esmeralda Lodge, all meals and guides. $1049.00 pp
STERLING LEVEL
Rancho Esmeralda
RANCHO ESMERALDA – BIRDING WEEKEND GET AWAY
Saturday, August 15 - Monday, August 17
Take a fascinating trip with the Gardens to the elegantly rustic Rancho Esmeralda Lodge, often used as a corporate retreat, only two hours from Tucson. The Rancho is a working cattle ranch in the old Mexican tradition in Sonora , Mexico . During our stay, the Lodge will be reserved just for us. Our guide for serious birding will be expert birder, Jeff Babson, of Sky Island Tours. We'll explore the ranch's varied habitats (including riparian, oak woodland, grassland, and side canyons with springs), over a hundred species of birds and a diversity of other wildlife, and still have time to enjoy the pool and Jacuzzi. Evening activities are plentiful: You'll have the opportunity to enjoy digital presentations about birds by Jeff, examine insects drawn in by black lights, sit back at a campfire, relax around the hand-carved stone fireplace, or enjoy the beauty of the surrounding countryside from the splendid outdoor patio. You won't want to leave! This trip includes van transportation from Tucson , overnight accommodations at the Lodge, excellent meals and activities. Specific cancellation fees apply. Space is limited. Pre-registration is required. To register call 326-9686 ext. 19. $485.00, $460.00 for members
COPPER LEVEL
Ravens-Way Wild Journeys L.L.C.
520 425-6425
nature-journeys@hotmail.com
STERLING LEVEL
Rockjumper Birding
Tours
www.rockjumper.co.za
info@rockjumper.co.za
Brazil: Birds of the Amazon and Pantanal
Dates: 1-13 Sept (13 days) and Atlantic Forest Extension: 13-19 Sept (7 days)
Brazil , one of the most biodiverse countries of the world, is a dream destination for any naturalist and especially so for birders. During this tour we explore the celebrated Pantanal and the verdant Amazon rainforest, replete with an array of avifauna rivaled nowhere else on our planet; and an extension to the endemic-rich Atlantic forests of Intervales State Park . Potential highlights on this tour include Hyacinth Macaw, Helmeted Manakin, the fabulous jaguar (nowhere else easier to observe than here!), gaudy Spangled Cotinga and ever-lethargic sloths. For those wishing to maximize their time, the extension to Intervales offers amazing highlights like Swallow-tailed Cotinga and Long-trained Nightjar among many others! Join us for an unbeatable tour to one of the world's most incredible wildlife destinations! Cost: Main tour US$4,450 pp, US$320 ss and Extension US$1,995 pp, US$170 ss
Peru: Classic Peru
Dates: Classic 1-19 Oct (19 days)
On the Classic Peru tour you will enjoy birding a land of stark contrast and beauty, from the snow-capped Andes and the mysterious ruins of Machu Picchu to the mighty Amazon basin. On this tour you will be privy to a showy selection of South American species like Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, Razor-billed Curassow and Agami Heron. Spectacular scenery and a vibrant local culture compliment the great birding you can expect from this tour. Peru is a country like no other! Cost: Classic Peru US$4,950 pp, US$900 ss
STERLING LEVEL
Solipaso Tours/El Pedregal Nature Lodge
info@solipaso.com
Alamos – October 19-24, 2009, $1700 Lea der: David MacKay
A day's drive from Tucson lies the colonial jewel of Alamos in the foothills of the Sierra Madre. Join us for a week of birding where the desert meets the tropics and the sea. We spend four nights in Alamos at the beautiful El Pedregal Nature Lodge and bird the environs of Alamos for Black-throated Magpie Jay, Mexican Parrotlet, Elegant Quail, Purplish-backed Jay and many others. We'll also do some coastal birding at Isla Huivilai and spend our last night by the ocean in San Carlos . Enjoy delicious regional cuisine, the warm hospitality of the Mackay's and a relaxed trip full of birding, botanizing and exploring the area we call home. No one knows Alamos and southern Sonora like the MacKays. Tour limited to 8 participants with one guide.
San Blas and the Durango Highway – February 21-March 2, 2010, $2570 Leader: David MacKay
Starting in the historic city center of Mazatlan , we bird the tropical deciduous forest before heading up to find the target species of the Durango Highway . We stay in Copala and bird Barranca de Liebre and the Panuco Road . Then onto the jungle lowlands of San Blas and our home at the family run and wonderful Hotel Garza Canela, one of the most birder-friendly hotels in Mexico. We'll bird the key spots including Singayta Road , the coffee plantations in La Bajada, Cerro de San Juan and go on two boat trips up the San Cristobal River and the mangrove labyrinths of the estuary. There are a possible 35 endemics on this trip, including Tufted Jay, Eared Quetzal, Rufous-necked Woodrail, Military Macaw, Collared Forest Falcon and San Blas Jay. Join us for one of our most popular trips.
STERLING LEVEL
Tropical
Birding
www.tropicalbirding.com
800-348-5941
Eastern Ecuador: High Andes to Vast Amazon
December 5-19, 2009. $3390 from Quito
March 5-19, 2010. $3690 from Quito
Starting from the magnificent high Andes dotted with snow-capped volcanoes towering over 18,000 ft, we head all the way down to the ultra-diverse Amazon lowlands. Well over 1,000 bird species occur in this region, but we can see them in comfort as we stay in some of the best lodges in Ecuador , including San Isidro , WildSumaco, and Sacha Lodge, which has the only canopy walkway in the country. Tropical Birding's main office is in Quito , so we know this wonderful country like no one else, and out tour leaders are second to none.
Southern Ecuador: Tumbesian Rarities and Highland Endemics
January 21- February 4, 2010 . $3140 from Guayaquil Pacific coast extension: February 4-7, 2010. $890 from Guayaquil
Birding in southern Ecuador has experienced a remarkable renaissance in the last few years. A series of brand new eco-lodges and bird reserves makes this trip an absolute delight and accessible to anyone. There is a magnificent variety of habitats and birds on this trip including the endemic-packed dry Tumbesian region, rich Andean cloudforests, 13,000 ft. Paramo, and even coastal estuaries. This is one of THE best trips for hummers—some of our tours have seen over 60 species! These are only two of our Ecuador tours—our complete lineup can be found on our website.
STERLING LEVEL
TyrannoTours - King of Southwest Adventures
www.tyrannotours.com tyrannotours@comcast.net
Tucson 520-577-6546
JEROME JAUNT - July 24 - 26, 2009
Lodging at Jerome Grand Hotel, VCRR Grape Escape wine & food sunset train excursion in First Class, Gold King Mine, museums, fun, shopping, Out of Africa Wildlife Park in Camp Verde. $595 per person double, $695 single.
Q-Ranch - Historical and Archaeological Treasure. Sept. 3-7, 2009 (Labor Day weekend)
Charming ranch house B&B deep in the Tonto Nat. Forest near Young, AZ. Includes full breakfasts, lunches to go, candlelight gourmet dinners. Happy hours on patio watching elk graze behind the house. Day trips to nearby sites, including a drive along the spectacular Mogollon Rim Road. $775 per person.
Read about Q-Ranch here: http://www.tyrannotours.com/qranch.shtml
STERLING LEVEL
Victor
Emanuel Nature Tours, Inc.
Contact VENT at 800-328-8368
info@ventbird.com,
www.ventbird.com
Washington : Pacific NW Introductory Tour, July 18-22, 2009, $1,425 in double occupancy from Seattle.
With outstanding birding and spectacular visual scenery to match, few places in the country can match Washington's Olympic Peninsula. This short tour provides familiarity with the unique birdlife and ecosystems of the Pacific Northwest while focusing on the basics of birding. Travel from the Olympic Mountains through old-growth forests to the shores of Puget Sound in search of waterfowl, alcids, shorebirds, songbirds, and more. Learn the basics of using binoculars and field guides and discover techniques to becoming a better birder. Bob Sundstrom leads.
Autumn Grand Manan, August 31-September 6, 2009, $2,955 in double occupancy from Bangor, ME.
Grand Manan Island off New Brunswick, Canada, is an ideal base for experiencing fall migration in the northeast. Migrant landbirds pouring through the woods include 20+ species of warblers, flycatchers, vireos, sparrows, and finches. The coastal marshes and nearshore waters are filled with eiders, cormorants, shorebirds, and gulls. We will take boat trips in the Bay of Fundy to search for Razorbill; Atlantic Puffin; Manx, and Greater shearwaters; Leach's Storm-Petrel; Northern Gannet, and more. Whale watching is superb as well, with the opportunity to see endangered North Atlantic right whales. Barry Zimmer and Brennan Mulrooney lead.
STERLING LEVEL
WINGS Birding Tours
wingsbirds.com
wings@wingsbirds.com
320-9868
Panama with Tucson Audubon Society, November 13-21, 2009, about $4,100. Leaders: Gavin Bieber and Kendall Kroesen.
This collaborative tour, the first in Tucson Audubon's revived International Tour Program, takes place in this exciting region's drier season, when resident species are joined by migrants from North America , creating a rich constellation of tropical and boreal birds. We'll be based in the acclaimed Canopy Tower and the newly built Canopy Lodge , from which we'll explore such remarkable birding sites as Pipeline Road — arguably the best birding in Central America — and the Talamancan Foothills. Highlights from Gavin Bieber's most recent tour here include a Tiny Hawk on a nest, a stunning male Blue Cotinga, 19 species of hummingbird including White-tipped Sicklebill and Veraguan Mango, and tanagers including Rufous-winged, Bay-headed, Silver-throated, Crimson-backed, Emerald, Golden-hooded, and Flame-rumped. We can look forward to similarly exciting birds against a background of wonderfully varied landscapes, superlative fresh food, and great camaraderie.
Argentina: November 14-21; November 21-December 6; December 6-13, 2009 . Three tours: about $2,640 to $8,120.
Leaders: Judy Davis and David Fisher. Argentina preserves a greater variety of habitats than any other country in South America , the “Bird Continent.” Stretching from the subtropical forests around Iguazú Falls and the high Andes to the sub-Antarctic, Argentina 's landscapes and its birds are as varied as one could wish. Our tours reach from the pampas southeast of Buenos Aires to Patagonia's Valdez Peninsula, and from Los Glacieres National Park to the “land of fire,” Tierra del Fuego itself. Sailing among the albatrosses, penguins, and sea lions of the Beagle Channel is simply the icing on a very appealing cake.
Arizona: Winter Birds. December 5-11. About $1,890. Leader: Gary Rosenberg. December's warm days, cool nights, and crystal-clear skies provide the background for some truly exciting birdwatching. The resident specialties are joined by large numbers of wintering sparrows and raptors. This short trip searches for grassland winterers including Mountain Plover and McCown's Longspur; we'll also witness multitudes of Sandhill Cranes, and hope for rarities such as Rufous-backed Robin and Ruddy Ground-Dove.
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This page was updated on 12/29/08