VENTflash #93 October 22, 2008
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:
In mid-September I traveled to Racine, Wisconsin to attend an event sponsored by the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology that included a showing of Lord God Bird. This film describes the search for the last known Ivory-billed Woodpeckers in the 1930s, as well as the more recent searches in Arkansas and Florida. The most moving parts of the film were the footage taken by Arthur Allen of a pair of Ivory-bills at a nest in the Singer Tract in northeast Louisiana in l935, and the footage of what that 83,000-acre tract of virgin southern hardwood forest looked like. The trees in the Singer Tract were enormous, bigger than any that now exist in the Southeast. The saddest parts of the film were the scenes of these trees being felled. By 1944, only a remnant of the original forest remained. It was there that Roger Tory Peterson and others saw the last known individual Ivory-billed, a lone female. Nancy Tanner was interviewed for the film. Her late husband, James Tanner, conducted the definitive study of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker. Nancy is the last person alive who saw that female Ivory-bill in 1944. She recounted how the bird would perch atop one of the tall trees that remained and call, but no other Ivory-bill ever responded.
John Fitzpatrick, Director of the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, described the Arkansas sightings. He believes that an Ivory-billed Woodpecker was sighted in 2004 and briefly videotaped on April 25, 2004 in the Cache River National Wildlife Refuge. There are others who think that the footage is actually poor quality video of a Pileated Woodpecker. Since the initial sighting, some searchers have reported seeing Ivory-bills in Arkansas (and northern Florida), but no definitive photographs have been obtained in either region. The search will continue this winter.
In this Issue:
IN THE WAKE OF IKE
NEW DESTINATION: FALCON POINT RANCH, TEXAS
RARE DISCOUNT TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES
FINAL THOUGHTS
IN THE WAKE OF IKE
I own a beach house on the Bolivar Peninsula, across from the mouth of the Houston Ship Channel. As Hurricane Ike approached the Houston/Galveston area on September 13, like everybody, I was concerned about the entire region, given the immensity of the storm. In the hurricane's aftermath, as scenes of flooded neighborhoods on Galveston Island appeared on television, I had grave doubts about the welfare of my house and of my neighbors' houses. The first reports I eventually received indicated that all the houses in the North Jetty community where my house is located had been destroyed. Then, amazingly, a couple of friends found recent satellite photos on the internet revealing that my house had survived! On October 4, I went to the Bolivar Peninsula to meet an insurance adjustor who would be assessing the damage to my house. Throughout the coastal plain southeast of Houston, and especially on the Bolivar Peninsula, the destruction wrought by Ike was truly awesome. Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge was devastated. All the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service buildings were destroyed, and the freshwater marshes were swamped with salt water. The refuge is closed until the damaged roads and dikes can be repaired. The Houston Audubon Society and Texas Ornithological Society's refuges at High Island received light to moderate damage; some trees and many branches were knocked down and boardwalks were destroyed. Because of its elevation, High Island was not covered with water. As a result, the damage to the vegetation and buildings was much less severe than on the Bolivar Peninsula.
It was on the peninsula where I witnessed the most shocking scale of damage. The seaside towns of Gilchrist, Caplen, and Crystal Beach sustained enormous damage. Hundreds of homes were totally destroyed with only the foundations remaining. In some cases, even the foundations were washed away. Most businesses were severely damaged and some were obliterated. The amount of debris everywhere was incredible.
When I turned off Highway 87 into the North Jetty community, I was relieved to see that many houses were not damaged or were only slightly damaged, including my house, "Warbler's Roost." Standing on what remained of my front porch, I could look out across the inlet and marsh. As if the hurricane had never happened, I looked out on a wonderful spectacle of about 100 White Pelicans, 50 Brown Pelicans, 10 Roseate Spoonbills, 20 American Avocets, and a few egrets engaged in a frenzy of feeding in the shallow tidal water. But only thirty yards from my house, two houses were totally destroyed. I feel very fortunate that my house survived, but very sorry for the hundreds of people on the peninsula who lost their homes.
NEW DESTINATION: FALCON POINT RANCH, TEXAS
Spring on the Central Texas Coast: Falcon Point Ranch at Seadrift, April 19-24, 2009, with David Wolf and a leader to be announced; $1,795 in double occupancy from Corpus Christi. Single supplement is $495. Limit 14.
Over the years VENT has pioneered many marvelous locations for birding. Examples that come to mind are Chan Chich Lodge in Belize, the Canopy Tower and Canopy Lodge in Panama, and Cibolo Creek Ranch in West Texas. Now we have discovered another great location: Falcon Point Ranch at Seadrift on the central Texas coast, north of Corpus Christi and Rockport.
This lovely lodge is situated right on the water and has every amenity you could want including a beautiful setting, high quality accommodations, fine food, and excellent birding. The ranch is in a wilder, less developed part of the Texas coast than the Corpus Christi/Rockport area, and is part of a private 6,000-acre site that contains a variety of habitats. Other excellent birding opportunities are nearby including several sanctuaries owned by the Texas Ornithological Society. This trip presents an opportunity to get to know a less visited part of the Texas coast that is rich in birdlife but not crowded with other birders or tourists. With the right weather conditions, you might experience a spectacular fallout of migrants. Regardless, you will see a fabulous assortment of birds, other wildlife, and spring flowers.
For our first tour, the owners of the ranch have given us a very special price that is far lower than the normal rate. Don't miss this inaugural trip. It will be loads of fun!
RARE DISCOUNT TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES
In these times of economic uncertainty, we have been working closely with our operators and other service providers to obtain fee reductions for some of our tours. Several destinations where we have been especially successful in reducing costs are Belize, Panama, Alaska, India, and the Philippines. Though as different as any collection of places could be, all of these destinations offer marvelous birding and other natural history opportunities unavailable elsewhere. These offers are valid for a limited time and for people who register by the announced deadlines. I hope you will consider taking advantage of one of these rare opportunities.
BELIZE
A $500 per person discount is available to anyone who signs up before January 15, 2009 for our Belize: Birds & Butterflies tour. Belize is renowned for its wealth of tropical birds and butterflies. The centerpiece of this trip is a stay at the exceptional Chan Chich Lodge, one of the Western Hemisphere's greatest jungle lodges. This tour also visits Crooked Tree Lagoon, where you are assured of seeing a tremendous variety of birds, butterflies, and lots of other wildlife. We have also added a night at Lamanai Lodge.
Belize: Birds & Butterflies, March 21-29, 2009, with Michael O'Brien; $3,895 in double occupancy from Belize City. With discount: $3,395.
PANAMA
When you read this I will be in Central Panama, co-leading our Fall at Panama's Canopy Tower tour with Barry Zimmer. As I have written before, Panama is one of my favorite places in the world to visit. It is incredibly rich in birds and other wildlife, and we have a superb accommodation, the Canopy Tower, to use as a base for our Central Panama tours. VENT, in cooperation with the Tower's owner, Raul Arias, is offering a $200 per person discount for anyone who registers by November 15, 2008 for Panama's Canopy Tower & El Valle, January 5-17, 2009; and a $300 per person discount for anyone who registers by November 15, 2008 for Panama's Canopy Tower, January 31-February 7. Kevin Zimmer has been added as a leader to the Canopy Tower tour. I can't recommend any tour led by Kevin or any tour to Panama too highly.
 |
Collared Aracari— Photo: Greg Lasley |
Panama's Canopy Tower & El Valle, January 5-17, 2009, with Jeri Langham and a local leader; $4,695 in double occupancy from Panama City. With discount: $4,495.
Panama's Canopy Tower, January 31-February 7, 2009, with Kevin Zimmer; $2,975 in double occupancy from Panama City. With discount: $2,775.
The following two Panama tours may be combined with the January 31-February 7 Canopy Tower tour or taken separately.
Panama: Chiriqui Highlands, January 26-February 1, 2009, with Kevin Zimmer; $1,995 in double occupancy from Panama City. Combined tour discount with Panama's Canopy Tower of $125 in double occupancy and $150 in single occupancy.
Panama: El Valle's Canopy Lodge, February 7-12, 2009 with Kevin Zimmer; $1,775 from Panama City.
ALASKA
Anyone who registers for either our Grand Alaska or Alaska Mainland tours by February 1, 2009 will receive a $200 per person discount. Those who choose to combine the Grand Alaska trip with the Gambell/Nome Pre-trip, regardless of date of registration, will receive an additional $500 per person discount in double occupancy. Travelers in single occupancy who combine Grand Alaska with the Gambell/Nome Pre-trip will receive a $750 per person discount, regardless of date of registration. Participants are encouraged to register before February 1 in order to lock in the $200 discount and for us to secure airline space for flights within Alaska.
 |
Denali— Photo: Barry Zimmer |
Grand Alaska, June 9-24, 2009, with Kevin Zimmer and Louise Zemaitis; $8,195 in double occupancy from Anchorage. With both discounts: $7,495.
This is the complete Alaska tour. Experience the 49th state in full with visits to the Pribilof Islands, Kenai Fjords National Park, Nome, and the vast interior. Enjoy extravagant scenery and exhilarating birding and mammal viewing.
Grand Alaska: Gambell/Nome Pre-trip, June 2-10, 2009, with Kevin Zimmer and Louise Zemaitis; $4,295 in double occupancy from Anchorage.
The Gambell/Nome area provides extraordinary birding opportunities for Bering Sea specialties and Siberian vagrants at two western Alaskan outposts. Witness spectacular movements of seabirds, along with good chances of Asiatic rarities at Gambell (St. Lawrence Island); breeding Bluethroats, ptarmigan, Bristle-thighed Curlew, Gyrfalcon, and others, along with musk ox, grizzly, and moose are all possible at Nome.
Alaska Mainland, June 13-24, 2009, with Barry Zimmer and Brennan Mulrooney; $5,995 in double occupancy from Anchorage. With discount: $5,795.
Those who lack the time to take our Grand Alaska tour will find this tour equally appealing. Though four days shorter, you will still experience the allure of Nome, Kenai Fjords, and the vast interior, highlighted by a trip to Denali National Park.
 |
Tiger— Photo: Peter Roberts |
INDIA
Anyone who registers for our India: Tigers, Taj, and Birds Galore tour by December 15, 2008 will receive a $750 per person discount (based on a minimum of 6 participants); single supplement discount is $330.
India: Tigers, Taj, and Birds Galore, January 25-February 10, 2009, with Dion Hobcroft; $8,155 in double occupancy ($2,190 single supplement) from Delhi. With discount: $7,405 in double occupancy; $1,860 single supplement. Limit 8. 4 spaces remain.
I cannot imagine a more delightful way to the see the birds and wildlife of India than this tour with Dion Hobcroft, one of our most popular leaders. This trip visits Kanha National Park, Corbett National Park, and Bharatpur sanctuary, three of the top birding and wildlife viewing sites in the whole country.
PHILIPPINES
Anyone who registers for our Philippines tour by December 15, 2008 will receive a $750 per person discount (with a minimum of 6 participants), in double occupancy; single supplement discount is $240. Those who choose to continue on with the Visayan Extension will receive an additional $400 per person discount (with a minimum of 6 participants) in double occupancy; single supplement discount is $115.
Philippines, March 2-23, 2009, with Susan Myers; $6,795 in double occupancy ($680 single supplement) from Manila. With discount: $6,045 in double occupancy; $440 single supplement.
Wedged between China, Japan, Malaysia, and Indonesia, the islands of the Philippines hold almost 600 species of birds, with an extraordinary 170 or more of them found nowhere else. This tour provides a unique opportunity to experience all the most important birding areas of this vast archipelago. Each island harbors its own spectacular endemics—some showy, others skulking and shy, but all are very exciting! With names such as Great Philippine Eagle, Scale-feathered Malkoha, Steere's Pitta, Blue Fantail, and Celestial Monarch, the birds of the Philippines are without doubt some of the most exciting in the world!
Visayan Extension, March 22-29, 2009, with Susan Myers; $2,595 in double occupancy from Manila ($315 single supplement). With discount: $2,195 in double occupancy; $200 single supplement.
You have traveled all the way to eastern Asia for some of the world's rarest and most localized birds. Why not extend your stay with a visit to the Visayan Islands? This remarkable extension focuses on the Visayan Islands of the central Philippines, an area of major endemism, and home to a host of birds you will not likely encounter on the main tour.
FINAL THOUGHTS
During these turbulent times, spending time in nature looking at birds and other wildlife is more important than ever. I hope you will decide to sign up for one of our winter or spring trips soon.
Best wishes,
Victor Emanuel