2008-2009

The Birds of Idaho

May 24-31, 2008

From the Sawtooth Mountains to the shrub-steppe desert, and old- growth forests to the Snake River Canyon, Idaho has a tremendous diversity of habitat unlike anything in the Northeast. This weeklong birding adventure starting in Boise will cover much of the southern half of the state, tracking down as many western specialties as possible. We will scan the spectacular cliffs of the Snake River Canyon for nesting prairie falcons, golden eagles, and ferruginous hawks, while the songs of canyon wrens and chattering of white- throated swifts echo off the walls. A day trip up to the historic mining town of Silver City in the Owyhee Mountains is likely to yield four hummingbird species, green-tailed towhee, black-throated gray warbler, and mountain bluebird. An early start along Blacks Creek promises common poorwill, dusky grouse, Lewis's woodpecker, lazuli bunting and black-headed grosbeak. McCall is a beautiful resort town nestled into the mountains of central Idaho . An overnight there puts us in the territory of Townsend's and MacGillivray's warblers, Williamson's sapsuckers, western tanagers and a chance at great gray owl. After picking up juniper titmouse, sage thrasher and Clark's grebe while crossing the Snake River Plain, we will bird the incredible National Wildlife Refuges of eastern Idaho .

Those protected wetlands host breeding trumpeter swans, cinnamon teal, short-eared owls and Franklin 's gulls. Grebes, shorebirds, owls, flycatchers and more will be tallied on our way to well over 100 species on this adventure.

Eric Hynes, leader

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Polar Bears of Hudson Bay

November 1-6, 2008

Every fall more than 1,000 polar bears gather along the west shore of Hudson Bay near Churchill , Manitoba , to wait for the sea ice to form that will give them access to the seals upon which they prey. During the few weeks from mid-October to early November these normally solitary bears—the world's largest terrestrial carnivores—are easily observed and photographed at extraordinarily close range from the safety of tundra buggies. Unquestionably it is one of the best wildlife viewing opportunities available anywhere. And in addition to the bears, there's a good chance of seeing other wildlife species, such as arctic hare, arctic fox, ptarmigan, snowy owl, and gyrfalcon.

Plus, if the weather cooperates, the northern lights put on a magnificent show. Churchill is an outpost town on the edge of the Canadian Arctic, but it is readily accessible and well equipped to accommodate visitors who travel there from around the world to see its wildlife. Note: this tour is completely “carbon neutral.”

Bob Bittenbender, host

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Migration Magic in the Mid-Atlantic

November 3-7, 2008

Fall migration along the East Coast can produce some spectacular birding. Geographic leading lines, such as mountain ridges and coastlines, in combination with favorable northwest winds can produce effects that funnel birds into major concentrations. Few areas of the world have better places to observe this phenomenon than the mid-Atlantic region. From our start in Philadelphia we'll head to coastal New Jersey and Cape May , world-renowned as a birding destination. Migrating hawks are a particular draw here, but shorebirds and passerines can be spectacular too, as they gather before crossing Delaware Bay . After birding Cape May we will cross Delaware Bay ourselves and bird our way up the string of National Wildlife Refuges that line its western shore. At Bombay Hook NWR we'll witness the cloud of snow geese returning by the thousands to their evening roost. From there we will travel north to the world's oldest sanctuary for birds of prey. Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in eastern Pennsylvania has been the site of an active hawkwatch since 1934. The passage of a timely cold front while we're there could produce a red-tailed hawk parade, unobstructed views of northern goshawks, and the best chance for seeing golden eagles anywhere in the East. A few hours of northern saw-whet owl banding on our last night will cap this excursion that should generate a checklist that will surely please any birder.

Eric Hynes, host

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Trinidad and Tobago

March 20-29, 2009

This exotic Caribbean birding destination has been a favorite for many years. Based at the world-renowned Asa Wright Nature Center and Lodge, a 200-acre wildlife sanctuary in Trinidad's rain-forested northern mountain range, and at the charming Blue Waters Inn in Tobago , birders will travel to several unique natural areas on both islands. While sipping your morning coffee or afternoon rum punch on the verandah of the Asa Wright Nature Center, you may not even need binoculars to see 25 to 30 species visit the feeding station. Excursions to view red-bellied macaw, scarlet ibis, oilbird and common potoo are highlights. On Tobago , your days combine swimming, snorkeling and cruising in the glass-bottomed boat. Daily birding targets species such as red-billed tropicbird, red-footed and brown boobies, manakins, jacamars, honeycreepers and more.

Eric Hynes, host