VENTflash #97 February 06, 2009
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...February 6, 2009
Dear friends,
Last week I returned from a marvelous trip to Antarctica, South Georgia, and the Falkland Islands. I was home for only a few days before I left for Phoenix, Arizona to attend my first National Audubon Society board meeting. During the meeting, we visited the Rio Salado Nature Center, which is being built on the south bank of the Salt River near downtown Phoenix. I was fortunate to meet some of the local people who have made the creation of the center possible. I came away from the meeting very impressed with what National Audubon is doing to help connect more kids to nature, especially children being raised in underprivileged areas. At the meeting I had an opportunity to visit with Steve and Ruth Russell of Tucson. Steve taught ornithology at the University of Arizona for many years. He and Ruth have been very active supporters of Audubon. Steve was longtime VENT leader Steve Hilty's major professor and dissertation director. He was also the person who many years ago called his thesis director, Dr. George Lowery at Louisiana State University, and told him, "I have a man here that you need to have at LSU. He is one of the most outstanding young ornithologists I have ever met." That man was Ted Parker. The rest is history.
In this issue:
ANTARCTICA
ALASKA TOUR DISCOUNTS
SPRING TOUR OPPORTUNITIES
SEYCHELLES CRUISE – LAST CALL
FINAL THOUGHTS
ANTARCTICA
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Adelie Penguins— Photo: Rick Sammon/Quark Expeditions |
Many years ago Roger Tory Peterson told me that Antarctica was his favorite trip. He had been there over thirty times. At that point in my life I had not been to Antarctica even once. I wondered what had caused Roger to return so many times. Now, after completing my tenth trip there, I understand what drew Roger and so many others to travel so many times to such a remote destination.
Antarctica is one of those places that you cannot adequately describe to others, and that cannot be fully captured in photographs or on video. You have to go there to see why many people, including myself, consider it the greatest trip of their lives.
I returned a week ago from one of the best Antarctica trips VENT has ever conducted. Besides visiting the Antarctica Peninsula, all of our Antarctica trips include time in the Falkland Islands and the magical destination of South Georgia. We also include time in Argentina prior to the trip and an optional post-trip into the Andes outside Santiago, Chile.
Highlights from our recent trip included a marvelous pair of Magellanic Woodpeckers in a park near Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world; an incredible landing on Saunders Island in the Falklands, where we saw four species of penguins, including large Rockhopper Penguin and Black-browed Albatross colonies; four days at South Georgia, where we visited two huge King Penguin colonies and a Macaroni Penguin colony; and several days in Antarctica itself. The magnificent scenery was complemented by the most amazing wildlife spectacles in the world, equaled only by those of East Africa.
Our recent trip was exceptionally lucky in seeing four Emperor Penguins, including a very close study of one standing on a piece of sea ice north of Snow Hill Island. We also saw more whales than on any previous trip I have made, including five pods of killer whales, in addition to fin, southern right, humpback, and minke whales.
Antarctica has become so popular that all spaces during the prime visitation months of December and January sell out very quickly. We have reserved fifteen cabins each on the following two voyages:
Antarctica, South Georgia & The Falkland Islands, December 8-29, 2009 with Brian Patteson, aboard the Akademik Sergey Vavilov; cabins from $10,995/person in double occupancy from Ushuaia.
Antarctica, South Georgia & The Falkland Islands, January 2-21, 2010 with Bob Sundstrom and Denver Holt, aboard the M/V Minerva; cabins from $11,995/person in double occupancy from Ushuaia. Register for this departure prior to March 31, 2009 and receive an early booking discount of $1,000.
If you want to go to Antarctica next December or January, we strongly urge you to reserve space soon. Any remaining unsold spaces will be released on March 31.
I assure you that a VENT trip is the best way to travel to Antarctica, South Georgia, and the Falkland Islands. I can also promise that you will truly experience the trip of a lifetime.
ALASKA TOUR DISCOUNTS
Boasting a remarkable assortment of birds and mammals not typically found in the rest of the United States, Alaska is a “must-do” destination. Beyond the wildlife, the 50th state is also a land of majestic natural beauty, filled with vast areas of tundra, glaciers, and snow-capped mountains. This summer we are offering discounts on both of our major summer tours to Alaska. I hope you will consider joining one of these fine tours.
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Denali— Photo: Barry Zimmer |
Grand Alaska, June 9-24, 2009, with Kevin Zimmer and Louise Zemaitis; $8,195 from Anchorage in double occupancy. Register before March 1 and receive up to a $500/person discount.
This is our most complete Alaska tour. It visits Nome, the Pribilof Islands, the Anchorage and Seward areas, and the wilderness area of the Denali Highway. Some of the special birds we should see include Bar-tailed Godwit, Bluethroat, Rock and Willow ptarmigans, Gyrfalcon, Spruce Grouse, Northern Hawk Owl, Great Gray Owl, Northern Shrike, Northern Wheatear, Arctic Warbler, Bohemian Waxwing, and White-winged Crossbill plus a host of puffins, auklets, murres, and murrelets.
Alaska Mainland, June 13-24, 2009, with Barry Zimmer and Brennan Mulrooney; $5,995 from Anchorage in double occupancy. Register before March 1 and receive a $200/person discount.
This shorter Alaska tour includes all the areas covered on our Grand Alaska tour except the Pribilof Islands. It does include Denali National Park, where we have good chances of seeing grizzly bear, moose, caribou, Dall’s sheep, and possibly gray wolf.
SPRING TOUR OPPORTUNITIES
Even though most VENT tours have continued to attract a good number of participants, some upcoming spring tours still have space available. The following spring tours offer outstanding travel opportunities:
El Triunfo, March 21-31, 2009, with Brad Boyle and Brian Gibbons; $2,995 in double occupancy from Tuxtla Gutierrez. 5 spaces available.
This is our premier wilderness trip. It visits Mexico’s most outstanding national biosphere reserve, located in the mountains of Chiapas. The valley of El Triunfo is surrounded by magnificent forests with trees over 100 feet high and tree ferns that reach to 70 feet. This forest is the home of some of the world’s most spectacular birds including the remarkable Horned Guan and the Resplendent Quetzal. I have been to El Triunfo over 20 times and I cannot recommend this trip too highly.
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Ridgway's Hawk— Photo: David Ascanio |
Dominican Republic, April 18-26, 2009, with David Ascanio and Kate Wallace; $3,395 in double occupancy from Santo Domingo. 4 spaces remain.
The Dominican Republic is a beautiful tropical island not far from the United States. It is home to 30 endemic bird species, which is more than on any other Caribbean island. Such alluring species as Hispaniolan Trogon, Hispaniolan Lizard-Cuckoo, Hispaniolan Parrot, Hispaniolan Woodpecker, and two species of todies are typical birds we expect to find, in addition to a range of other Caribbean region specialty birds. We will also search for the critically endangered Ridgway's Hawk while the todies are especially endearing—cute, tiny, green, kingfisher-like birds, and members of a family of birds confined to the West Indies.
Spring Birding in Central and Northern Spain, April 25-May 11, 2009, with Peter Roberts and Alberto Bueno; $5,295 in double occupancy from Madrid. The fall in the value of the Euro has allowed us to reduce our tour fee to $4,795; 3 spaces remain.
This is a comprehensive tour that includes many of the best birding sites in Spain. Highlights will likely include such special birds as Great and Little bustards; more than 20 raptors, including Lammergeier and Spanish Eagle; Black Woodpecker; Azure-winged Magpie; Wallcreeper, and a host of waterbirds in the Ebro Delta. Much of our time will be spent in the spectacular foothills and Pyrenees amid olive groves, red limestone gorges, magnificent fortified stone villages, and ancient castles. We will see flower-filled meadows, coniferous forests, and craggy snow-covered peaks.
Grand New Mexico, May 25-June 4, 2009, with Barry Zimmer; $3,565 from El Paso. Limit 7. Register before March 15 and receive a $250/person discount.
With a state bird list exceeding 470 species, New Mexico is a convergence zone where the ecosystems of Southeast Arizona and Colorado meet. From the riparian woodlands and deserts of the south to the Rocky Mountains near Santa Fe, we will seek some of North America’s most prized and difficult to locate species including Common Black-Hawk, Dusky Grouse, Flammulated and Elf owls, Lewis’s Woodpecker and Three-toed Woodpeckers, Pinyon Jay, Painted Redstart, and Red-faced and Olive warblers.
SEYCHELLES CRUISE – LAST CALL
This is a last call for our Seychelles Islands cruise, March 8-24, 2009. For this exciting departure, we have chartered Le Ponant, one of the most beautiful sailing ships in the world. Our trip 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, Barry Lyon, and Ross Wanless, 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 Victor Emanuel or Shirley Anderson at the VENT office for more information.
I hope you will be able to take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime offer.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Like almost every business in the country, VENT is dealing with the challenges presented by a national economic downturn. We appreciate the support of our many loyal customers. We know how much your time in nature means to you. We hope that you will come with us on a trip soon.