VENTflash #88 December 12, 2007
Posted by Victor Emanuel
Victor Emanuel
Victor Emanuel started birding in Texas 63 years ago at the age of eight. His travels have taken him to all the continents, with his areas of concentration being Texas, Ari...Dear Friends:
I've just returned from another marvelous trip to Madagascar. We saw lots of lemurs, birds, chameleons, and other fascinating creatures. We had a wonderful and enthusiastic group of participants, with people from England, Canada, and various parts of the United States. Most had been on many previous VENT trips. Every trip I've made over the past 30 years has been such a great pleasure because it has given me the opportunity to share great birds and nature with such fine participants from so many walks of life. On our Madagascar trip, we had two doctors, a lawyer, a history professor, an artist, a music teacher, a high school art teacher, a gemologist, a commercial fisherman and boat captain, a retired nature tour organizer, and a Canadian district attorney?all delightful travel companions and interesting people. One of our participants, Ian Gibson, has created a wonderful trip journal, complete with photos, which you can access at www.islandnet.com.
Our Southwest Pacific cruise in November was a tremendous success. Highlights included spectacular views of displaying Goldie's Bird-of-paradise, a remarkable lek of Curl-crested Manucodes, a gorgeous Silver-capped Fruit-Dove, and marvelous views of two families of Kagu on New Caledonia.
In this issue:
AUSTIN, TEXAS BIRDING & NATURE FESTIVAL
PANAMA'S DARIEN WILDERNESS
All my life I have been drawn to wild places. Of those I have visited, three stand out over the others: El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve in southern Mexico, Peru's Manu wilderness, and the Darien wilderness in Panama. Over 20 years ago Robert Ridgely and I co-led the first group of birders to ever visit Cerro Pirre, the highest mountain in the Darien region. We stayed at a gold mining camp in fairly primitive conditions, but were tremendously impressed with the number and diversity of birds we saw and the wildness of the area. I felt the area around Cana was one of the birdiest areas I had ever visited. Bob felt the same way. Over the years VENT has run many trips to the Darien including one trip, co-led by David Wolf and Mike Braun, that added a new species, the Ruby Topaz hummingbird, to Panama's list. Fortunately, the facilities at Cana have improved greatly since the early years, while the birding is as good as ever.
Our trip this February will be led by David Wolf, one of our senior leaders, who has visited Darien numerous times. Originally we were including a post-trip as part of the tour, but have dropped that idea so we could make the trip a bit shorter and reduce the fee. Our Panama: The Darien Wilderness tour is limited to 10 participants; the tour fee is $3475 in double occupancy from Panama City.
For anyone like me, who is attracted to wild areas, I highly recommend this trip.
WINTER TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES
As winter settles over the United States, you may be thinking of where to go birding during the next few months. We are offering a wide variety of tours both in the United States and to foreign destinations. Space remains available on each of these tours.
Domestic Tours:
Within the borders of the United States, Florida, Texas, Arizona, and California offer some of the best wintertime birding amid usually pleasant weather. Minnesota and Washington can also offer sunny days during the winter season and provide equally exciting wintertime birding, while Hawaii in March is a terrific destination to kick off the spring.
South Florida Winter Weekend (R & E), January 10-14, 2008, with Brennan Mulrooney; $1495 from Fort Lauderdale. 2 spaces remain.
South Florida provides some of the best weather and wintertime birding in all of the country. On this Relaxed & Easy tour, you'll travel at a relaxed pace to a number of South Florida's special birding areas, including Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, the Wakodahatchee Wetlands, and Everglades National Park. Enjoy resident specialty birds and a host of wintering waterfowl, shorebirds, and songbirds.
South Florida: Birds and Butterflies, January 11-19, 2008, with Michael O'Brien and Louise Zemaitis; $2595 from Fort Lauderdale.
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Martial Scrub-Hairstreak — Photo: Michael O'Brien |
Join Michael and Louise for a delightful wintertime traipse across south Florida in pursuit of its special birds AND butterflies. In addition to seeking out the resident specialty birds, you'll spend time learning the common butterflies and searching for some of the most range-restricted species in North America.
Northern Minnesota Winter Weekend II, January 19-23, 2008, with Kim Eckert; $1150 from Duluth.
Quality, not quantity, is the theme of this short winter getaway. Minnesota in winter is a superb time to view many of North America's most sought-after birds. Last year's tour recorded Thayer's, Iceland, and Glaucous gulls; Snowy and Great Gray owls and Northern Hawk Owl; Three-toed and Black-backed woodpeckers; Bohemian Waxwing; Snow Bunting, Pine Grosbeak; and White-winged Crossbill.
Winter Southern California, January 21-26, 2008, with Barry Zimmer and Steve Hilty; $1710 from San Diego. 2 spaces remain.
This is another opportunity to experience a bird-filled wintertime vacation amid good weather. Many California specialties, winter residents, and out-of-range strays are expected. Visit the beautiful Southern California coast, mountain forests, and unique Salton Sea. A single traveler may link this trip with our Winter Southern Arizona tour, January 26-31.
Winter Southern Arizona, January 26-31, 2008, with Barry Zimmer and Steve Hilty; $1835 from Tucson. 1 space remains.
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Vermilion Flycatcher — Photo: Brad & Alice Boyle |
This short trip immediately follows the Winter Southern California tour and is designed to produce a maximum number of birds in a short amount of time. You'll see many of Southern Arizona's specialty birds, in addition to an exciting suite of winter residents. Hawks, falcons, Mountain Plovers, Mountain Bluebirds, and a big assortment of sparrows are all expected. For years this trip has also enjoyed an amazing track record for logging rare birds. A single traveler may link this trip with the Winter Southern California tour, January 21-26.
Winter Washington & British Columbia, February 2-9, 2008, with Bob Sundstrom; $2340 from Seattle. 1 space remains.
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Snowy Owl — Photo: Kevin Zimmer |
Don't be misled by images of foul winter weather. Washington and British Columbia are beautiful in February and boast some of the finest wintertime birding and scenery in North America. Enjoy tens of thousands of waterfowl, hundreds of hawks and eagles, and an assortment of passerines, including Northern Shrikes. Join Bob in search of Gyrfalcons, Snowy Owls, and many others.
Kauai & Hawaii, March 23-31, 2008, with Bob Sundstrom and a second leader to be announced; $3290 from Lihue.
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Nene — Photo: Barry Zimmer |
Birding in Paradise is one way to look at this lovely early spring trip. Beautiful coastlines, towering volcanoes, and outstanding natural areas are part of the allure of a trip to Kauai (the Garden Isle) and Hawaii (the Big Island). Journey to the slopes of Mauna Kea, the moon-like landscape of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and the Alakai Plateau for native forest birds. Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge boasts an incredible seabird spectacle with Laysan Albatross, Red-tailed Tropicbirds, Great Frigatebirds, and Red-footed Boobies all nesting.
International Tours:
The American tropics are at their peak appeal for most birders during the January/February/early March period. Dry and mild weather are the norm in most destinations and the birding is of high quality. Panama, Belize, Costa Rica, Trinidad, Venezuela, and Jamaica all offer outstanding birding possibilities and all these destinations feature unique lodges and hotels. Though not on most people's radars, our Winter Birding in Bulgaria & Holland tour promises wonderful birding spectacles concentrating on waterfowl, raptors, and shorebirds.
Panama: Chiriqui Highlands, January 28-February 3, with Kevin Zimmer and a local leader; $1895 from Panama City.
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Juvenile and adult Resplendent Quetzals — Photo: Francis Woods |
This tour is offered only once a year and takes you to the cool highlands of western Panama. The glamour bird here is the Resplendent Quetzal, but of equal appeal are Golden-browed Chlorophonia, Long-tailed Silky-flycatcher, Blue-throated Toucanet, Red-headed Barbet, Sulphur-winged Parakeet, White-throated Mountain-gem, Violet Sabrewing, Collared Redstart, and Flame-throated Warbler. Based in the small town of Guadalupe, you'll enjoy charming accommodations, great food, and truly wonderful hospitality. This tour may be linked to our Panama's Canopy Tower tour, February 2-9.
Panama's Canopy Tower, February 2-9, 2008, with Kevin Zimmer and a local leader; $2795 from Panama City.
Panama's Canopy Tower is one of our favorite destinations. In only a week you'll experience Central America's most unique lodge, enjoy close-up views of the Panama Canal, see 300 species of birds, and travel with popular tour leader, Kevin Zimmer. This tour may be linked to our Panama: Chiriqui Highlands tour, January 28-February 3 and our Panama: El Valle's Canopy Lodge Extension, February 9-14.
Panama: El Valle's Canopy Lodge Extension, February 9-14, 2008, with Tony Nunnery and a local leader; $1545 from Panama City.
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El Valle's Canopy Lodge, Panama — Photo: David Tipling, courtesy of Panama's Canopy Tower |
A gorgeous lodge in a scenic setting is a perfect way to wrap up your stay in Panama. Hummingbirds, toucans, tanagers and more will define your stay here.
Winter Birding in Bulgaria & Holland, February 10-23, 2008, with Peter Roberts; $4495 from Amsterdam.
Winter brings thousands of waterfowl, raptors, and shorebirds out of the far north to the fields, marshes, lakes, and ponds of central and eastern Europe. In designing this fascinating new tour, Peter focuses on two different sites in an effort to show you some of the greatest birding spectacles on the European continent.
The star attraction will be watching some of the largest concentrations of the fantastic Red-breasted Goose. In Bulgaria we should see thousands of them (over 50,000 some winters!), along with smaller numbers of Greylag Geese and the globally-threatened Lesser White-fronted Goose. All sorts of other birds are possible: Pygmy Cormorant, Dalmatian Pelican, Whooper Swan, White-headed Duck, Red-crested and Ferruginous pochards, White-tailed Eagle, Long-legged Buzzard, Eurasian Eagle-Owl, Eurasian Nutcracker, and Hawfinch.
To complement and complete this winter "goose chase," you'll spend several days along the north coast of Holland, where further immense numbers of waterfowl winter. Huge flocks of Barnacle Geese are assured, along with Brant, and Pink-footed and Bean geese.
For raptor enthusiasts, the marshes and fields support a terrific blend of wintering hawks and eagles. Western Marsh-Harrier, Common Buzzard, Eurasian Kestrel, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, White-tailed Eagle, and Rough-legged Hawk are among the many possibilities. Other winter birds of interest could include Arctic Loon, Great Bittern, Water Rail, European Golden-Plover, Northern Lapwing, Pied Avocet, Eurasian Curlew, Black-tailed Godwit, and maybe Jack Snipe or Eurasian Woodcock.
Grand Belize, February 12-22, 2008, with Barry Zimmer and Steve Hilty; $5095 from Belize City.
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Chan Chich, Courtesy of Chan Chich Lodge |
The centerpiece of this tour is the magnificent Chan Chich Lodge, one of the world's great jungle lodges, set amid thousands of acres of undamaged tropical forest. Awesome lodge amenities are complemented by outstanding birding and mammal viewing. You'll experience close to 300 species, explore deep forests, and wake to the sound of parrots and howler monkeys. An outstanding boat trip on bird-filled Crooked Tree Lagoon provides an auspicious start to your time in Belize, while a several night stay at lovely Hidden Valley Inn offers access to bathing King Vultures, a towering waterfall, and regal Orange-breasted Falcons.
Short Costa Rica, February 16-24, 2008 with Andrew Whittaker and Gustavo Orozco; $2750 from San Jose. 3 spaces remain.
For an all-around high-quality birding vacation, Costa Rica is a destination certainly near the top of the list. Exciting birding, good hotels and lodges, and beautiful scenery abound in this small country. This trip splits time between the famous La Selva Lodge in the Serapiqui lowlands and Savegre Lodge on the slope of Cerro de la Muerte, for an outstanding combination of lowland and highland birding. Hundreds of species are assured, including some of the most beautiful birds in Central America.
Trinidad, February 24-March 1, 2008, with Bob Sundstrom; $2295 from Port of Spain.
Featuring the legendary Asa Wright Nature Centre, Trinidad is a MUST-DO for any birder wanting to experience the tropics. See hundreds of species, visit famous Caroni Swamp, and go birding in total comfort. Expect to see Scarlet Ibis, Oilbirds, and so much more.
Eastern Venezuela, February 25-March 7, 2008, with David Ascanio; $3565 from Caracas.
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Adult Harpy Eagle — Photo: Jim Brown |
This tour has become known as the "Harpy Eagle tour" and we have had excellent success in finding this magnificent eagle here, but eastern Venezuela also offers a stunning lineup of large, showy birds, and some of the most spectacular scenery on the continent. It is the tepui mountains, with their sheer, vertical sides and flat tops, that give this ancient landscape?this legendary land of "El Dorado"?its distinctive appearance. Further, the tepuis harbor one of the highest degrees of avian endemism in all of South America. For a combination of magnificent scenery and great rainforest birding, eastern Venezuela is among the best on the continent.
Jamaica, March 9-16, 2008, with Brennan Mulrooney and Brandon Hay; $2695 from Montego Bay.
Both beautiful and diverse, Jamaica offers an ideal introduction to Caribbean birding. Nearly 30 species of birds are endemic to the island and you'll go in search of them all. Your travels will take you from the lovely country estate that is Marshall's Pen, into the remote "Cockpit" country, to the Black River morass, and finally to the forest-clad Blue and John Crow mountains. Jamaica's birdlife is truly sensational. Among the spectacular endemic birds you will likely encounter are Crested Quail-Dove, Ring-tailed Pigeon, Chestnut-bellied Cuckoo, Black-billed and Yellow-billed parrots, Jamaican Screech-Owl, Red-billed Streamertail, Jamaican Mango, Jamaican Tody, Arrow-headed Warbler, and Yellow-shouldered Grassquit.
AUSTIN, TEXAS BIRDING & NATURE FESTIVAL
I am very much looking forward to our Austin, Texas Birding and Nature Festival, April 9-13, 2008. I have long wanted to share VENT's home region with people who have traveled with us to other places and with those new to VENT. April is a delightful time to be in Austin, with great birding, a terrific wildflower show, and pleasant weather expected. We have assembled a superb team of leaders, including Victor Emanuel, Kenn Kaufman, David Wolf, Barry Lyon, Kevin Zimmer, and Michael O'Brien. There will be three days of field trips, with each trip limited to two vans. Every participant will experience every trip and spend time in the field with all the leaders. The field trips will visit very different areas, each with different birds, flowers, and other wildlife.
I am especially glad we will be taking participants to Fort Hood, a huge military base north of Austin that encompasses almost 200,000 acres of gorgeous Texas Hill Country. No other area supports larger breeding populations of Golden-cheeked Warblers and Black-capped Vireos, two endangered species emblematic of the Hill Country. The Golden-cheeked Warbler breeds only in Central Texas, while almost all of the breeding range of the Black-capped Vireo is in Texas.
Our field trips will be complemented by evening activities including lectures by Kenn Kaufman and wildlife photographer, Greg Lasley, and a private dinner cruise on Lady Bird Lake in downtown Austin to watch the evening bat flight of one million Mexican free-tailed bats. There will also be an optional visit to the VENT office, near our headquarters hotel. We are also offering an optional one day Austin City pre-trip.
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Golden-cheeked Warbler — Photo: Greg Lasley |
A few spaces remain available for the Austin, Texas Birding and Nature Festival. The fee is $1995 in double occupancy. I hope you will reserve one of the remaining spaces. I know you will have a wonderful time.
HOLIDAY BEST WISHES
On December 16 I will be participating in the 51st Freeport Christmas Bird Count. This is a tradition that means a lot to me and is a great way to end what has been a good year.
When I started VENT over 30 years ago, I was excited over the possibility of a life spent largely outdoors, sharing birds and nature with other people. What I didn't anticipate was that this job would enable me to meet so many wonderful people, including some who have been with me on over twenty trips.
I hope you and your family enjoy a wonderful holiday season.