VENTFLASH #95
Posted by Victor Emanuel
Victor Emanuel
Victor Emanuel started birding in Texas 60 years ago at the age of eight. His travels have taken him to all the continents, with his areas of concentration being Texas, Ari...November 25, 2008
Dear friends:
I was on a ship off the coast of Panama when the news reached me that my old friend Peter Matthiessen had been awarded the National Book Award for his novel, Shadow Country. Peter is evidently the only writer to have ever received this prestigious award for both a non-fiction book, The Snow Leopard, and a work of fiction.
The news evoked memories of an afternoon in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of South Texas in April 1976. It was the first VENT tour Peter co-led with me (in fact, it was one of VENT's very first tours anywhere) and he had recently received the National Book Award for The Snow Leopard. Several participants asked me if Peter would do a reading. He was worried that people would feel pressured to attend. I assured him they were all eager to hear him read, and all 14 participants then assembled in a motel room. Before he began reading, Peter told us about his trip to Nepal in search of the snow leopard and what the country was like. His description was like his writing—succinct, lyrical, and evocative. Then he read from The Snow Leopard. As he worked through the passage you could have heard a pin drop. It was a moment in my many years of tour leading that I will never forget. At that point I was just getting to know Peter. Neither of us dreamed that that Texas trip would be the precursor of many trips to follow over the next 32 years that would take us to all seven continents. Peter and I have shared some wonderful times in nature, celebrated each other's birthdays, and also shared the tragedies in life that come to everyone. Peter has been a steadfast supporter of VENT and has added a lot to the tours on which he has been a leader.
I know how much hard work went into the writing of this monumental book, which has been called Peter Matthiessen's masterpiece. I am thrilled for Peter and his wife Maria and their family. I look forward to being with Peter and Maria on future VENT tours.
Congratutions to Peter on his well-deserved award.
In this issue:
VENT AND THE ECONOMY
CORNELL LABORATORY OF ORNITHOLOGY
TOUR REPORTS
SECOND COLORADO GROUSE TOUR
HONDURAS
SEYCHELLES CRUISE
WINTER TOUR OPPORTUNITIES
A PERFECT CHRISTMAS GIFT
FINAL THOUGHTS
VENT AND THE ECONOMY
Despite the difficult economic times, VENT is off to a good start in our new tour year. Many of our tours operating this fall through next spring have sold out and a number of others have only a few spaces remaining. Virtually every tour we have scheduled worldwide has sufficient registrations to operate as planned. Our guaranteed departure policy for all North American tours means that you can make plans to join any VENT tour in the United States and Canada and not worry about it being cancelled or having to pay a small party supplement, regardless of how many other people are on the tour. VENT is the only bird tour company that makes this guarantee.
We are especially pleased with the response we have had to many of our new tours and cruises. Our Rivers of West Africa cruise is sold out and our Seychelles Islands cruise has only limited space available; our Kazakhstan tour has two spaces available; our Colombia tours sold out so quickly that we have added two additional departures; and we have added a second Colorado Grouse tour as the first departure is sold out.
For over three decades, VENT has had a very strong program of international tours. Not to be overlooked, we are also very proud of our domestic tours. North America contains some of the greatest birding areas and wildlife spectacles in the world, and we offer tours to many outstanding destinations throughout the United States and Canada.
Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to work with an exceptional team of tour leaders. We are obviously very strong in our home state of Texas, but we have leaders living in California, Kansas, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, and Washington state. The breadth of knowledge our leaders have is truly remarkable, and whether you choose to spend five days birding the Rio Grande Valley of Texas or almost two weeks in Manitoba, Canada, you will enjoy a marvelous array of experiences in nature.
VENT's remarkable growth over the past three decades has been largely attributable to our loyal travelers. It is your support that is enabling us to do well even in the midst of major economic unrest. Thank you.
CORNELL LABORATORY OF ORNITHOLOGY
Earlier this month I attended the fall meeting of the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology's Board of Directors, of which I have been a member since 2003. The Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology is among our country's greatest institutions for the study and research of birds. The Lab is a nonprofit membership institution whose mission is to interpret and conserve the earth's biological diversity through research, education, and citizen science. Its programs work with citizen scientists, government, and non-government agencies across North America and beyond. Among its many research-based endeavors are bird population studies and programs for bioacoustic research and evolutionary biology. The Lab is also home to the Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds which is the principal source of sound recordings for basic research, education, and conservation.
Among the Lab's citizen science endeavors are its coordination of the annual Christmas Bird Counts, its popular Project Feederwatch, the Great Backyard Bird Count, and eBird.
VENT has enjoyed a long association with this fine organization and wholeheartedly supports the Lab's efforts to learn more about birds and help to conserve bird populations. We urge all who care about birds to become members. Please visit the website of the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, www.birds.cornell.edu, for more information.
TOUR REPORTS
As always, I get a charge from reading about the wonderful birding and natural history experiences that take place on VENT tours. With news from around the world very sobering, it brings me great pleasure to know how time spent in nature can be so uplifting. I wish to share with you some reports from our recently completed tours to Churchill, Australia, and Panama.
 |
Polar Bears— Photo: Barry Zimmer |
Polar Bears of Churchill, by Bob Sundstrom:
"On our 2008 tour, we saw 40 or more polar bears on each of the three full days we toured the shoreline region (of Hudson Bay) for a total of 129 polar bear sightings, a new tour high. We watched several mother bears with pairs of two-year-old cubs literally walking in their mothers' footsteps. Polar bears in action are what nearly everyone comes to see at Churchill in the fall, but other autumn wildlife holds its own attraction here. We spied a huge Arctic hare tucked into a shrubby willow thicket and were fortunate to see both Rock and Willow ptarmigan in winter dress. At scenic Halfway Point we watched a Snowy Owl flap slowly along the shoreline, then perch briefly to stare back at us with its intense yellow eyes. Long-tailed Ducks and Common Eiders flew in flocks by the point. Hoary Redpolls bounced in small flocks among the willows, and pale Snow Buntings fed near the tideline."
Grand Australia, by Dion Hobcroft
"Covering several thousand kilometers in a variety of amazing habitats, our 2008 series of Grand Australia tours accumulated an astonishing 493 species of birds. We were able to record just about 340 species of birds during Part I, which may be a new benchmark. Our first venture into Glen Davis was monumental when in quick succession we had a male Turquoise Parrot in the scope, a stunning male Crimson Chat, followed by a nesting pair of Regent Honeyeaters! Buffalo Creek kept our good fortune rolling along when both Chestnut Rail and the giant, secretive Great-billed Heron added their names to the roll call. At Palmerston we added Mangrove Robin and Silver-backed Butcherbird. Our day at Victoria River and Timber Creek kicked off to a great start with several Purple-crowned Fairywrens, Varied Lorikeet, and the scarce Yellow-rumped Munia. Spinifex Pigeon, Black-breasted Buzzard, and Buff-sided Robin kept the pace at a suitably high level, but perhaps it was the flock of Budgerigars or toothy freshwater crocodiles that made it to the fore of our hearts today."
Fall at Panama's Canopy Tower, by Barry Zimmer
"Every trip to the famed Canopy Tower is different, but each offers its share of excitement and wonderful tropical birding highlights. Our morning on Cerro Azul was my favorite of the trip. We spent an entire morning birding the yard, gardens, and surrounding forests of a private residence where the bird activity seemed non-stop. A pair of the very localized and uncommon Spot-crowned Barbets greeted us in a fruiting tree shortly after our arrival. Soon they were joined by a pair of elegant, and equally localized, Yellow-eared Toucanets. Hummingbird feeders were abuzz with activity including Green Hermit, White-necked Jacobin, Violet-crowned Woodnymph, Bronze-tailed Plumeleteer, and Snowy-bellied Hummingbird. Green Honeycreepers, Scarlet-thighed and Blue dacnis, and Bay-headed, Speckled, Emerald, Hepatic, Blue-gray, and Crimson-backed tanagers joined in the mix, creating an incredible kaleidoscope of color. Topping our list, perhaps, was the bizarre and rarely seen White-tipped Sicklebill—a large member of the hummingbird family with an absurdly decurved bill. All these amazing highlights were packed into one morning of birding!"
 |
Greater Sage-Grouse— Photo: Brian Gibbons |
SECOND COLORADO GROUSE TOUR
Because we have already sold out our primary departure, I am delighted to announce we have added a second Colorado Grouse tour, April 25–May 4, 2009. This tour will be led by Kevin Zimmer and another VENT leader. Kevin developed this tour for VENT many years ago and is looking forward to returning to Colorado next spring. His knowledge of the natural history of this group of birds will add immensely to your travel experiences.
Colorado is known for so much more than grouse, however, and participants on this tour are assured of encountering a range of other wonderful birds and animals, in addition to magnificent western scenery.
Colorado Grouse, April 25-May 4, 2009, with Kevin Zimmer; $2,775 in double occupancy from Gunnison.
HONDURAS
Tucked away in an often overlooked part of Central America, Honduras is a tropical paradise begging for discovery. The largest country in the region, Honduras boasts a biological inventory that rivals that of any other Central American country, and contains landscapes of considerable scenic beauty.
The centerpiece of our Honduras: Atlantic Slope tour is a stay at the gorgeous five-star Lodge at Pico Bonito near La Ceiba on the country's Caribbean coast. Walking the trails above the lodge almost always produces sightings of the flashy Lovely Cotinga and rare Keel-billed Motmot, two of the most tantalizing birds in the American Tropics. The motmot in particular is special. This bird is not common anywhere and is seen on few of our other tours.
In addition to several nights at the Lodge at Pico Bonito, you will travel through a broad swath of the country's Caribbean slope, experiencing a beautiful mountain-ringed deepwater lake, cloud forest, and thorn scrub. Besides Keel-billed Motmot and Lovely Cotinga, other alluring birds include Honduras' only endemic bird, the Honduran Emerald, as well as more than 200 other tropical birds and wintering Neotropical migrant species.
Our Honduras tour is led by Robert Gallardo. Robert, a former Californian and Peace Corp volunteer, is an excellent naturalist who is not only the country's top birder (he has added over 20 species to the country list), but is equally well-versed in plants, particularly orchids, and butterflies.
Our next Honduras: Atlantic Slope tour will operate March 21-30, 2009, with Robert Gallardo; $2,630 from San Pedro Sula. Limit: 7.
 |
Le Ponant |
SEYCHELLES CRUISE: CABINS AVAILABLE
For years we have dreamed of chartering a ship for an ultimate cruise of the Seychelles Islands, off the east coast of Africa. Our dream is now a reality, as we have chartered Le Ponant, one of the most beautiful sailing ships in the world. Our trip, March 8-24, 2009, will visit all the major islands, including Aldabra, which is home to giant tortoises, endemic birds, and world-class snorkeling. As we island-hop through the archipelago, we will search for the islands' endemic birds, experience huge seabird colonies, and stroll on some of the world’s most beautiful beaches. Le Ponant is a majestic three-masted vessel that allows us to ply the waters of the Indian Ocean in total comfort. Featuring a gourmet open-air restaurant and beautifully-appointed cabins, Le Ponant is the crown jewel of what will certainly be a magnificent trip. In addition to Victor Emanuel, Peter Roberts, and Barry Lyon, we are honored to have acclaimed photographer and oceanographer Joel Simon on board as an expert member of our staff.
We have had an excellent response to this trip, but a few cabins are still available. Please contact the VENT office for more information.
WINTER TOUR OPPORTUNITIES
Looking ahead to the new year, the months of January and February hold a number of outstanding opportunities for winter travel. While only a couple of months away, all of these fine tours still have space available.
New Year in South Texas: A Relaxed & Easy Tour, December 27–January 2, 2009, with Kim Eckert; $1,985 in double occupancy from Harlingen. 2 spaces remain.
New Year at Panama’s Canopy Tower, December 27–January 3, 2009, with Tony Nunnery and a local leader; $2,975 in double occupancy from Panama City. 2 spaces remain.
 |
Sandhill Crane— Photo: Greg Lasley |
Winter New Mexico, January 3–9, 2009, with Barry Zimmer and Kevin Zimmer; $1,800 from Albuquerque. 4 spaces remain.
Panama’s Canopy Tower and El Valle, January 5–17, 2009, with Jeri Langham and a local leader; $4,695 in double occupancy from Panama City. 3 spaces remain.
South Florida Winter Weekend, January 8–12, 2009, with Brennan Mulrooney; $1,495 in double occupancy from Fort Lauderdale. 2 spaces remain.
Short West Mexico I, January 10-16, 2009, with Brian Gibbons; $2,035 in double occupancy from Puerto Vallarta. 3 spaces remain.
Winter Southern Arizona, January 20–25, 2009, with Barry Zimmer and Brennan Mulrooney; $1,935 in double occupancy from Tucson. 4 spaces remain.
Ecuador: Eastern Slope of the Andes, January 22–30, 2009, with David Wolf; $2,895 in double occupancy from Quito. 2 spaces remain.
India: Tigers, Taj, & Birds Galore, January 25-February 10, 2009, with Dion Hobcroft; $8,155 in double occupancy from Delhi. 4 spaces remain. Register by December 15, 2008 and receive a $750 per person discount; single travelers will receive an additional $330 discount off the single supplement fee.
Panama: Chiriqui Highlands, January 26-February 1, 2009, with Kevin Zimmer and a local leader; $1,995 in double occupancy from Panama City. 4 spaces remain.
 |
Snowy Owl— Photo: Brennan Mulrooney |
Northern Minnesota Winter Weekend, January 28-February 1, 2009, with Kim Eckert; $1,330 in double occupancy from Duluth. 3 spaces remain.
Winter Washington & British Columbia, January 31-February 7, 2009, with Bob Sundstrom and Denver Holt; $2,445 in double occupancy from Seattle.
Grand Belize, February 11-21, 2009, with Barry Zimmer and Brennan Mulrooney; $5,395 in double occupancy from Belize City. 2 spaces remain.
Panama: The Darien Wilderness, February 19-28, 2009, with David Wolf; $3,295 in double occupancy from Panama City.
Winter Rio Grande Valley: A Relaxed & Easy Tour, February 23-March 1, 2009; with Kim Eckert and Kevin Zimmer; $1,525 in double occupancy from Harlingen.Grand Venezuela Part I, March 2-10, 2009, with Steve Hilty; $2,545 in double occupancy from Caracas. 3 spaces remain.
Grand Venezuela Part I, March 2-10, 2009; with Steve Hilty; $2,545 in double occupancy from Caracas. 3 spaces remain.
Grand Venezuela Part II, March 8-19, 2009; with Steve Hilty; $3,665 in double occupancy from Caracas. 3 spaces remain. Register for both tours and receive a $250 combined tour discount.
Jamaica, March 22-29, 2009; with Brennan Mulrooney and Brandon Hay; $2,975 in double occupancy from Montego Bay.
A PERFECT CHRISTMAS GIFT
With Christmas just around the corner, I wanted to let you know about a perfect gift idea for anyone who enjoys nature. Greg Lasley's Texas Wildlife Portraits is a beautiful book showcasing the rich photography of expert naturalist and wildlife photographer Greg Lasley.
 |
I have known Greg for 30 years. In addition to his contributions to Texas ornithology, Greg has also been a part-time tour leader for VENT, having guided trips to Texas, Antarctica, the Galapagos, and Mexico's El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve among other destinations. While renowned in the birding community, Greg's interest in natural history extends to all forms of life. Many of his stunning photographs have appeared in VENT catalogs for years and in over a hundred books, journals, magazines, and other media.
While not too large or heavy, the book contains over 100 dramatic images of Texas birds, mammals, and insects. Of particular note, Greg's passion for dragonflies is reflected in a number of mesmerizing images that capture the beauty and symmetry of some of nature's other winged jewels.
Greg Lasley's Texas Wildlife Portraits may be ordered from Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, or Texas A&M University Press. Photo samples can be viewed at the Texas Wildlife Portraits website.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I will be leaving this Friday to co-lead our Galapagos Islands cruise with Michael O’Brien, Louise Zemaitis, and Barry Lyon. I hope you and your family enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.
Best wishes,
Victor Emanuel