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Travel |
Birding Travel
Travel companies that
are Birds & Business Alliance Members of
Tucson Audubon
(click
on a provider to jump to information on their trips, or scroll down to
read all)
Adventure Birding Company
www.adventurebirding.com
info@adventurebirding.com
“San Blas: Mangrove Estuaries, Coffee Fincas, Palm Forests and More”
December 13-21, 2008 , $1990. Leader: Keith Kamper, 495-9564
The coastal fishing village of San Blas, Nayarit has long been a premier destination among birders, and with good reason. From town we will have access to mangrove estuaries, coffee fincas, freshwater marshes, beaches and coastal lagoons. Twenty-five Mexican endemics have been recorded here including Rufous-necked Wood-Rail, Cinnamon Hummingbird, San Blas Jay and Golden Vireo. Stunning species including Russet-crowned Motmot, Linneated Woodpecker and Fan-tailed Warbler can be observed at Singayta, just five miles from San Blas. The mountain village of La Bajada may afford us such beauties as Orange-fronted Parakeet, Pale-billed Woodpecker and Masked Tityras. No trip to San Blas would be complete without a jungle boat tour in the evening where we can expect to see Boat-billed Heron, Bare-throated Tiger-Heron, Northern Potoo, iguanas and crocodiles (at a safe distance, of course!). We will be based at one motel throughout the tour, so we can unpack, unwind and focus on the region's natural and cultural history, great mariscos and green-flash sunsets.
“South Texas: Specialties and Migrants in the Rio Grande Valley ”
April 4-12, 2009 , $1890. Leaders: John Yerger and/or Jake Mohlmann, 814-308-4078
Join us for a trip to one of the premier birding destinations in the United States : the Lower Rio Grande Valley of south Texas. With resident specialties like Least Grebe, Green and Ringed Kingfishers, Buff-bellied Hummingbird, Great Kiskadee, Green Jay, Altamira Oriole, and Tropical Parula, how can you miss? We'll explore such classic hotspots as Sabal Palm Sanctuary (one of the last remaining palm forests in the U.S.), Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, Frontera Audubon Thicket, and other lesser-known local secrets. We'll have a chance at rarer residents such as Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, Hook-billed Kite, Clay-colored Robin, and White-collared Seedeater to name a few. There are usually a few vagrant species from Mexico present, and we'll top it all off with a hefty dose of spring migrants! We'll sample all habitats from tidal mudflats to subtropical thorn scrub to prime Chihuahuan Desert . Taste the full flavor of south Texas biodiversity on this trip, with guides who have lived and birded there.
Borderland
Tours
882-7650 or toll-free at 800-525-7753
rtaylor@borderland-tours.com,
or see www.borderland-tours.com.
Yucatán Birds & Ruins December 1-11, 2008, $3195 Leaders: David Salas & Rick Taylor.
The glass-clear, aquamarine Caribbean, throngs of rose-pink Caribbean Flamingoes, many other Petén specialties, and the beautifully preserved Mayan city-states of Uxmal, Chichén Itzá, Cobá, and Tulúm form the backdrop for birding Mexico's famed Yucatán Peninsula. The trip begins on Cozumel Island, home of several endemic birds, and ends in the beautiful colonial capital city of Mérida.
Yucatán Biospheres December 11-17, 2008, $1995 or $5090 for both. Leaders: David Salas & Rick Taylor.
Yucatán Biospheres dips south almost to Belize to two immense world heritage sites: Calakmul and Sian Ka'an. Here we'll search for Ocellated Turkey, Keel-billed Toucan, and Gray-throated Chat—as well as Yucatán Black Howler and Central American Spider Monkeys, and possibly Jaguar. Beautiful hotels with lush gardens and excellent cuisine are featured on both tours.
Naturalist Journeys
www.naturalistjourneys.com
info@naturalistjourneys.com
toll-free 866-900-1146 or 558-1146
Eastern Europe: Hungary and Romania, September 19–October 2, 2008, $2,850 from Budapest, returning from Bucharest.
Leader: Gerard Gorman. Join the well-known and personable European ornithologist, author and photographer Gerard Gorman as we explore the scenic hills and vast wetlands of Hungary. In Romania we arrive at the peak of fall migration on the Danube Delta, which we explore from comfortable houseboat accommodations. As many as 200 species of birds are possible on this trip, including nine species of woodpeckers, a range of wading birds and waterfowl, and eastern European specialties such as the Great Bustard, Imperial Eagle, and the rare Saker Falcon. Plan to enjoy yourself as this region is also the home of paprika, goulash (gulyas in Hungarian), great wines, colorful folk art, impressive architecture, and a rich tradition of horsemanship and nomadic herding.
Australia’s South West & Tasmania with an extension to the Tablelands and Great Barrier Reef from Cairns, October 7–22, 2008, extension October 22–28 (may be booked separately); main tour $6,590 from Sydney (single supplement $1,140), extension $2390 from Cairns (single supplement $325).
Leader: Peg Abbott, Alex Vargo, Dr. Tonia Cochran and local guides. Join us to sample three spectacular regions of Australia which each hold a high number of endemic species: Southwest Australia, the wilds of Tasmania, and the Tablelands and Great Barrier Reef from Cairns. Jin us to explore Banksia / Eucalyptus Woodland, Jarrah / Marri Forest, Karri / Tingle Forest, Wandoo Woodland, Coastal Beaches and Estuaries and Southern Mallee Shrubland and Heath. We plan to visit several famous national parks including Stirling Range, Porongurup, South Bruny and Cradle Mountain. Our timing is set to explore varying landforms with extensive botanical diversity in Australia’s spring, peak blooming time for the unique flora. Spring is also great for high levels of activity for nesting birds and we have an excellent chance to see marsupial mammals in the wild, such as the Platypus, Short-beaked Echidna, Woylie and a variety of wallabies and kangaroos.
Nature
Treks and Passages
www.naturetreks.net
P.O. Box 542
Bryantville, MA 02357
voice: (781) 789-8127, fax: (781) 545-6552
info@naturetreks.net
Copper Canyon Birding October 18 – to 26 and November 29 – December 7, 2008, $2749.
A trip for all birders—from beginners to the “obsessed” advanced! See the best of Copper Canyon , from a roundtrip ride on the world-famous Copper Canyon train to birding in the high forest of the Sierra Madre, to the scenic van ride down to the town of Batopilas in one of the deepest canyons. See neo-tropical species such as Black-throated Magpie Jays, Eared Quetzal, and Russet-crowned Motmot. Sample the diverse habitats of coastal river plain, tropical thorn forest, tropical river bottom and high conifer forest, and observe the indigenous Tarahumara culture. Stay at comfortable lodges that reflect the best of the local ambience. View the itinerary and bird list at www.naturetreks.net .
Birding in Belize and Tikal January 21-31, 2009, $3499.
Sample the many diverse habitats of Belize , from savannah to rainforest, to an island inside the barrier reef. Plus two outstanding Mayan ruins—Lamanai and Tikal ! Belize is one of the most exciting countries a birder can visit, with over 550 bird species, 350 in Tikal and Guatemala alone. Tinamous, Hawk-Eagles, Forest Falcons, Crakes, Parrots and Parakeets, four kinds of Trogons, Puffbirds, Woodcreepers, Potoos, and Becards; all of these and others await you there. Belize teems with other wildlife as well, including jaguars, pumas, tapirs, iguanas and monkeys. We'll be staying at comfortable inns and “jungle lodges” throughout the trip. See the itinerary and species list at www.naturetreks.net/belize_birding.htm .
Rockjumper Birding
Tours
www.rockjumper.co.za
info@rockjumper.co.za
China – Beidaihe & the Tibetan Plateau; Giant Panda & Crested Ibis Extension II
Dates: Sep 30 – Oct 19, 2008 ; Panda ext II: Sep 19 – 29, 2008 AND Panda ext I: Oct 9–19
China is a vast land of remarkable diversity where the beauty of the natural scenery, birds and wildlife simply overwhelm the senses. On our tour, we combine two of the finest birding hotspots, namely the Tibetan Plateau and China 's east coast migration with visits to sites such as the fabled Koko Nor and Happy Island . We also explore one of the New 7 Wonders of the World, the Great Wall of China . Then, the giant panda trip takes us on an epic journey into one of the world's most spectacular natural areas, the Qinling Mountains , in an attempt to locate one of the world's greatest mammals. Avian treasures here abound and include Crested Ibis, Ibisbill, Golden Pheasant and Temminck's Tragopan. In addition we will visit the marvelous Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses Museum , a world cultural heritage site.
Cost: $5,075 per person (pp), $500 single supplement (ss); ext: $3,175 pp, $500 ss
Malaysia & Borneo – Rainforest Birds & Mammals I & II
Dates: Feb 12 – Mar 2, 2009 & Mar 3 – 21, 2009
This tour offers a rich mix of typical Southeast Asian birds and Bornean endemics within an extensive range of national parks and nature reserves. We visit some of the world's most famous birding sites including Fraser's Hill, Taman Negara National Park , the Danum Valley and the fabled Mt. Kinabalu . Specials could include Great Argus, Rhinoceros Hornbill, Blue-headed Pitta, Bornean Ground-Cuckoo and Bornean Bristlehead. Mammal-watching opportunities are also extremely good and we may encounter orangutan, proboscis monkey and leopard cat. All in all, our trip promises an incredible, exotic blend of fabulous birds, mammals and scenery!Cost: TBA $ pp, TBA $ ss
Tropical
Birding
www.tropicalbirding.com
800-348-5941
Galapagos Endemics Cruise, November 20-29, 2008 $3,700 per person
Leaders: Scott Olmstead, Iain Campbell, or Nick Athanas. We have specially chartered a comfortable 16 passenger yacht to visit all the key islands for birds and other unique wildlife, and we have a chance to see nearly every endemic species of the archipelago. This is a great tour for both birders and naturalists alike, and offers outstanding opportunities for photography. There are still a few spaces left on the November tour.
TyrannoTours - King of Southwest Adventures
www.tyrannotours.com tyrannotours@comcast.net
Tucson 520-577-6546
SW Native American Culture Education Weekend at TNC's Bear
Mountain Lodge in Silver City, New Mexico. Fri Jan 23 - Mon Jan 26, 2009. Apache and Mimbreno lore provided by a naturalist, an archaeologist, an astronomer, and a Chihene Apache storyteller. Also Cliff Dwellings National Monument, museums, birds, wildlife, TNC nature hike. Includes all meals at lodge. $625 per person double or single occup.
Bisbee Historic Homes Open House with Jeep Tour and Lodging with Dinner at Copper Queen Hotel, Sat Nov 29 - Sun Nov 30, 2008.
On this excursion, well stay overnight Saturday at the Copper Queen Hotel, the oldest continuously operating hotel in Arizona. We will do the annual historic homes walking tour, a jeep tour of area, then a gourmet dinner in Winchesters at the Hotel (included in tour fee). $345 DOUBLE, $395 SINGLE.
Victor
Emanuel Nature Tours, Inc.
Contact VENT at 800-328-8368
info@ventbird.com,
www.ventbird.com
Must be birding!
WINGS Birding Tours
wingsbirds.com
wings@wingsbirds.com
320-9868
“Mexico: Oaxaca at Christmastime,” December 21–31, 2008, about $3200
Leader: Gavin Bieber. When the ancient settlement of Oaxaca celebrates the holidays, it is perhaps the most Mexican of all cities. This vibrant and colorful city has also acquired a reputation among birders, for in the immediate surroundings of the city one can find a variety of habitats, from desert and oak thorn-scrub to pine and cloud forest. Birds of at least three distinct faunal regions occur here, among them many of Mexico’s most notable endemics. Mornings and many afternoons will be spent birding, but some afternoons will be devoted to looking around Oaxaca City, exploring the marketplaces, visiting museums, or simply relaxing. We’ll also spend 3 days in Tuxtepec for an almost entirely different suite of tropical species. This trip is designed for those wanting to take a Christmas vacation, experience the holidays in a different culture—and enjoy a fine selection of Mexico’s endemic birds.
“Newfoundland: Winter Birds,” January 7–9, 2009, about $2600
Leader: Jon Dunn. Newfoundland is a startlingly wonderful winter birding locale. With Greenland to the northeast, Iceland and the rest of Europe to the east, mainland North America to the west, and South America to the south, Newfoundland is the first or last land that many wayward birds see. Regardless of season, there’s almost always something surprising around, and in winter such wanderers are merely the frosting on a delectable mix of alcids, gulls, and boreal forest birds. Our tour is based in St. John’s, famous for its winding streets lined with colorful houses and excellent restaurants and pubs. Given the shortness of the days at this season, those who wish will have ample opportunity to sample the Old World charm of North America’s easternmost city.
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This page was updated on 02/07/07