VENTflash #103 October 26, 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...Dear Friends,
Nature has a way of surprising us when we least expect it. A few weeks ago I was asked by a neighbor to take eight area kids, ages six to twelve, out birding. I suggested we meet at Hornsby Bend, the wastewater treatment facility that is Austin's best local birding area. On the afternoon I had arranged to meet the group, the weather conditions were hot and muggy—certainly not the kind of day when you expect to see something unusual.
As I pulled into the parking lot I saw, out of the corner of my eye, a bird bathing in a puddle. Based on its size I thought it might be a Blue Jay. After meeting the kids I took another look at the bird and saw, to my astonishment, that it was an immature Sharp-shinned Hawk. I reacted quickly and soon had the hawk in my spotting scope. At a distance of only about 30 yards, the bird was so close that it filled the field of view. One by one the kids looked through the scope, eliciting many exclamations of "WOW!" The kids could tell that I was terribly excited. I told them that in 60 years of birding I had never had this kind of a look at a Sharp-shinned Hawk. This experience was especially wonderful because, beyond enjoying great looks, these kids were able to view the hawk as it was engaged in an interesting behavior. As it bathed, it would lower its body until its entire underparts were in the water, and then it would rise up on its long legs and proceed to shake, causing droplets of water to go everywhere. The show lasted for 10 minutes before the bird flew up into a dense tree.
This encounter was so exciting because it was so unexpected and because I was able to share it with these kids. Through incredible moments like these, nature has a way of enriching our lives so much. For those of us who love birds and nature, these are the events that we live for and long remember. We never know when the next such moment will come, but know that, inevitably, it will.
In this issue:
ALASKA 2010: SALE EXTENDED TO DECEMBER 1
AMAZON RIVER CRUISE
INCREDIBLE AIR FARES
SHORT WEST MEXICO
HONDURAS
SOUTH FLORIDA WINTER WEEKEND
FOCUS ON A VENT LEADER: DENVER HOLT
TOURS WITH DENVER HOLT IN 2010
WINTER TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES
FINAL THOUGHTS
ALASKA 2010: SALE EXTENDED TO DECEMBER 1
Last month I announced an unprecedented early sign-up offer for our 2010 Alaska tours in which anyone who registers for our Alaska Mainland tour or both parts of our Grand Alaska tour prior to November 1, 2009 will pay the 2009 tour fee with an additional $500 discount. I wanted to let you know that we have since persuaded our suppliers to extend the discounts they are offering us for early registrations until December 1, 2009. We are therefore able to extend our incredible discounts for early signups until that date. If you register for our Alaska Mainland tour or for BOTH parts of our Grand Alaska tour prior to December 1, 2009, you will pay the 2009 tour fee—with an additional discount of $500! This deadline will not be extended beyond December 1.
We have had a wonderful response to this offer and expect all our Alaska tours to sell out.
As an added incentive, if you bring along someone who has never traveled with VENT, we will provide you a voucher worth $500 towards a future VENT tour.
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Northern Hawk-owl— Photo: Barry Zimmer |
Alaska Mainland, June 13-24, 2010, with Barry Zimmer and Brennan Mulrooney; $5,995 (2009 price) in double occupancy from Anchorage; register before December 1, 2009 and pay $5,495! 4 spaces available.
Alaska is perhaps the premier birding and natural history destination in North America. Many bird species occurring on this continent, including such specialties as Red-faced Cormorant, Bristle-thighed Curlew, Aleutian Tern, Kittlitz's Murrelet, Parakeet and Least auklets, Horned Puffin, Bluethroat, Eastern Yellow Wagtail, Arctic Warbler, and Northern Wheatear, can be seen only in our northernmost state. Alaska is equally renowned for spectacular scenery, as well as opportunities to see such iconic mammals as grizzly bear, moose, caribou, musk ox, and even an occasional wolf or lynx. This outstanding 12-day tour includes the essential birding and wildlife sites of the Alaskan mainland: Anchorage, Nome, Kenai Fjords, and Denali (Mt. McKinley).
I encourage you to read Barry Zimmer's 2009 Alaska Mainland tour report on our website.
Grand Alaska, Part I: Nome and the Pribilofs, June 9-17, 2010
Grand Alaska, Part II: Anchorage, Denali Highway & Kenai Peninsula, June 17-24, 2010 Both parts will be co-led by Kevin Zimmer and David Wolf; combined tour fee was $8,195 (2009 price) in double occupancy from Anchorage; register before December 1, 2009 and pay $7,695!
This is our most complete Alaska tour, visiting 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, Red-legged Kittiwake, 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. The seabird spectacle on the Pribilofs is one of the best in the world.
In addition to these fine tours, we will again offer our popular pre/post Alaska tours:
Gambell/Nome, June 2-10, 2010, with Kevin Zimmer and David Wolf; $4,295 in double occupancy from Anchorage; combine this tour with Grand Alaska Part I and receive a discount of $500 in double occupancy and $750 in single occupancy.
Any trip to the Gambell/Nome area is filled with excitement. Early June is, however, the best time to visit these remote outposts. Highlights include cliffs filled with nesting seabirds, and lakes, ponds, and Arctic tundra hosting breeding raptors, shorebirds, jaegers, buntings, longspurs, and more. The spectacle of thousands of breeding and migrating birds makes for one of North America's most sensational birding experiences. There is always the possibility that rare vagrants will be seen on this trip.
Barrow Extension, June 24-26, 2010, with Kevin Zimmer and Barry Zimmer; $1,995 in double occupancy from Anchorage.
This short tour to the shores of the Beaufort Sea offers participants a taste of the true High Arctic. Traveling beyond the ranges of any of our other Alaskan tours, you'll experience the thrill of seeing four species of eiders on their breeding grounds–including the rare Steller's and Spectacled eiders, Red Phalarope, and Snowy Owl. Polar bears have been recorded on recent trips.
AMAZON RIVER CRUISE
Vast and wild, the Amazon River is the classic symbol of South America. As the world's largest river, it forms the heart of the most complex ecosystem in the world where one may see a dazzling profusion of tropical birds, an amazing assortment of exotic wildlife, some of the most incredible sunsets on the planet, and star-filled skies like you've never seen.
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La Amatista— Photo: Hugh Hunter |
I am excited that VENT is returning to the Amazon in January 2010 for a classic Amazon River cruise. We've chartered La Amatista, a 28-passenger, triple-deck riverboat offering comfort and security without sacrificing quality. This is the perfect vessel for exploring the waters of the Amazon while searching for macaws, toucans, sloths, freshwater dolphins, and monkeys.
Visiting remote and unspoiled regions of Peru, this trip will be an unforgettable excursion—a full Amazonian rainforest and river experience. Home to the world's highest diversity of birds and plants, the very word "Amazon" brings to mind images of broad, winding rivers, tree-lined banks, strange animals, bright butterflies, and impenetrable jungles. Along the rivers, one may see macaws, parrots, and oropendolas flying overhead, ponderous Horned Screamers rising from stream banks, and exotic wildlife that includes Hoatzins, umbrellabirds, macaws, capybaras, and birds of prey.
This expedition will be led by Steve Hilty and David Ascanio, two of the most recognized names in tropical ornithology. Steve wrote the monumental Birds of Colombia and has spent decades studying South American birds. David Ascanio, a native of Venezuela, is possibly that country's premier ornithologist. Steve and David have led many VENT tours together and make a wonderful team with which to travel. As someone who appreciates an all-around natural history experience, in addition to plenty of birding, I can't recommend this trip highly enough!
Our Amazon River Cruise will operate January 28-February 7, 2010; $4,495 in double occupancy from Lima. 6 spaces remain.
This trip may be combined with our Machu Picchu Pre-trip, January 23-29, 2010 with Steve Hilty; $3,495 in double occupancy from Lima.
INCREDIBLE AIR FARES
As a result of the falloff in airline traffic stemming from the economic recession, some airlines are offering incredible fares to areas where we offer tours. In some cases, you can realize savings of hundreds of dollars over what you might pay in more typical times. Even flying first class can be achieved at a real bargain. Hurry up though, because fares at these prices won't last!
Here are some examples of good deals to a variety of destinations based on a roundtrip ticket from a major American city. Please note that prices can change without notice, are only representative of the opportunities available, and do not necessarily include taxes and other fees:
Chicago (O'Hare) to Belize City; Sample dates: March 11-21, 2010 – $724, Continental
New York (La Guardia) to Panama City; Sample dates: January 30-February 6, 2010 – $298, Continental
Los Angeles (LAX) to Quito, Ecuador; Sample dates: January 10-19, 2010 – $662, American
Dallas (DFW) to Anchorage, Alaska; Sample dates: June 13-24, 2010 – $616, Northwest
Seattle (Sea-Tac) to San Pedro Sula, Honduras; Sample dates: February 14-21, 2010 – $585, Continental
SHORT WEST MEXICO
I birded West Mexico for the first time many years ago. I was delighted with the abundance of easy to see colorful birds, including a good many found nowhere else in the world. A few years ago the owner of Rancho Primavera contacted us to see if we wanted to bring small groups to the ranch. The owner, Pat Morrow, had traveled on VENT tours. She told us that her ranch had only a few rooms and that the rooms were quite nice, but not luxurious. Best of all, she assured us that the birding right on their property was wonderful. In 2005 we started offering trips to this region using Rancho Primavera as our base. The ranch is near Puerto Vallarta, a city with excellent air service from many U.S. cities.
Our initial Short West Mexico tours were such a success that we expanded our offering to four Short West Mexico trips in 2006. They are limited to only six participants due to the number of rooms available at the ranch. The birding has proven as exciting as we were told it would be. A full day of birding on the ranch property typically results in a list of 120 or more species of birds including Russet-crowned Motmot, Elegant and Citreoline trogons, Sparkling-tailed Hummingbird, San Blas Jay, Black-throated Magpie-Jay, and Rosy Thrush-Tanager. The food at the ranch is excellent as well. In addition to birding the ranch, our tours visit several nearby areas that also offer superb birding opportunities.
A few months ago the ranch informed us that this coming winter would be the last season that it would take visitors because the owner has decided to retire from running a ranch. Our groups will still be able to bird the property, but the era of actually staying at this charming facility is coming to an end. Our tour leader, Brian Gibbons, has discovered another location where our groups will stay in future years.
In 2010, we are offering two Short West Mexico tours. One is already sold out, but two spaces are still available on the other.
Short West Mexico I, January 16-22, 2010 with Brian Gibbons; $2,075 in double occupancy from Puerto Vallarta. Limit 6. Sold Out!
Short West Mexico II, January 25-31, 2010 with Brian Gibbons; $2,075 in double occupancy from Puerto Vallarta. Limit 6. 2 spaces available.
Please note that our Short West Mexico tours may be combined with a three-day extension into the Sierra Madre in search of some of western Mexico's fabulous mountain birds. We have a chance to see an additional 10 Mexican endemic species, as well as a host of wintering Neotropical migrants. Long-tailed Wood-Partridge, Mountain Trogon, Mexican Woodnymph, Bumblebee Hummingbird, Chestnut-sided Shrike-Vireo, Aztec Thrush, Red Warbler, and Green-striped Brush-Finch are among the many possibilities.
The Sierra Madre, January 22-25, 2010 with Brian Gibbons; $1,045 in double occupancy from Puerto Vallarta. Limit 6. 2 spaces available.
I also want to address the security concerns surrounding travel to Mexico. While the country has certainly received a lot of negative publicity this year, due primarily to the drug wars in certain cities, Mexico remains a wonderful travel destination and we are confident that the areas to which we offer tours are safe.
I hope you will be able to experience Rancho Primavera this winter. Everyone who has gone there has been delighted with the ambiance and the birds.
HONDURAS
For much of this year I have been very excited about a new set of tours to Honduras that will debut in February 2010. Unlike other Central American countries, particularly Belize, Costa Rica, and Panama, Honduras remains a largely undiscovered destination, a place where eco-tourism has been slow in getting started. As an overlooked treasure, Honduras is a stunningly beautiful country offering fantastic birding and lodges that are as high in quality as any in all of Central America.
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Pico Bonito Lodge— Photo: Courtesy of Pico Bonito Lodge |
The focus of these new tours is the Lodge at Pico Bonito, located along the Caribbean, or north coast of the country about three hours east of the city of San Pedro Sula. Situated in seclusion on the edge of Pico Bonito National Park, the lodge offers an unbeatable combination of excellent accommodations, cuisine, and birding. In fact, Pico Bonito is the only lodge in Central America to receive “small luxury hotel” status.
These new tours include a package deal negotiated specially for VENT that includes 6 nights at the Lodge at Pico Bonito, all meals, access to all parts of the lodge grounds, trail systems, and observation towers, and excursions to other exciting destinations a little further afield. The electric blue and purple Lovely Cotinga and the rarely-seen Keel-billed Motmot are the two specialty birds here. Pico Bonito is simply the best place we know of to see either of these alluring species. Field trips to the Lancetilla Botanical Gardens and the Aguan Valley provide opportunities to see a broad assortment of other colorful and exciting tropical birds, including the endangered Honduran Emerald hummingbird—Honduras's only endemic bird. An added bonus is our visit to the Cuero y Salado refuge aboard a late nineteenth-century narrow-gauge train.
Complementing two of our Pico Bonito tours is a new tour to the mystical Maya ruins at Copán. As the site of a major dynastic civilization during the Classic Era (fifth-ninth centuries A.D.), Copán holds some of the finest art and hieroglyphic ornamentation from the ancient Maya world. It is also one of Honduras's best birding locations. This short trip integrates birding and archaeology in a single package. Furthermore, the Hacienda San Lucas, our base for the duration of the trip, has received commendation as one of the top eco-lodges in Central America. Nestled in the cool western highlands, this destination makes for a perfect combination with a stay at Pico Bonito.
Honduras has also been in the news a lot lately for political reasons. I want to take this opportunity to let you know that we have received assurances from both Pico Bonito and Copán that the country is calm and perfectly safe to visit. Political unrest has been restricted to the capital city of Tegucigalpa, which is nowhere near either of these lodges.
We are offering the following tours to Honduras in 2010:
Honduras: The Lodge at Pico Bonito; all tours $3,195 in double occupancy from San Pedro Sula. Each trip is limited to 14 participants.
February 6-13, with Robert Gallardo and a local leader
February 14-21, with David Wolf and a local leader; 5 spaces available.
February 25-March 4, with Kevin Zimmer and a local leader; 4 spaces available.
Honduras: Copán, February 20-25, with Kevin Zimmer and a local leader; $1,895 in double occupancy from San Pedro Sula. 5 spaces available.
SOUTH FLORIDA WINTER WEEKEND
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Wood Storks— Photo: Brian Gibbons |
With its abundance of water, warm year-round temperatures, and remarkably diverse botany, South Florida represents the closest thing in this country to a true tropical environment. Famous as the "River of Grass," the Everglades is undoubtedly the region's most defining landscape, yet South Florida is also home to other significant wetlands, coastal preserves, and tracts of habitat consisting of indigenous and ornamental flora.
This weekend trip is designed as a short getaway opportunity before the onset of the Christmas season. The focus of this trip is on the best birding and nature viewing areas between Fort Lauderdale and the tip of the Florida Peninsula. The remarkable Wakodahatchee Wetlands provide an outstanding first stop, where a variety of waterfowl and wading birds are typically seen at very close range. We will travel a portion of the famed Tamiami Trail in search of Snail Kites and, finally, spend two days exploring the renowned Everglades National Park.
Among the rewards of your time here will be such local and regional specialties as Mottled Duck, Limpkin, Wood Stork, Short-tailed Hawk, and Snail Kite. We will search isolated patches of native trees and ornamental plantings that serve as vitally important habitat for a host of wintering songbirds and established exotics such as White-winged Parakeet, Common Myna, Red-whiskered Bulbul, and Spot-breasted Oriole.
Brennan Mulrooney lived in South Florida for several years and knows the area intimately. He is a skilled birder, patient teacher, and an all-around joy to be with. I am confident you will have a great time.
South Florida Winter Weekend: A Relaxed & Easy Tour, December 9-13, 2009 with Brennan Mulrooney; $1,695 in double occupancy from Ft. Lauderdale.
FOCUS ON A VENT LEADER: DENVER HOLT
Every so often I enjoy featuring one of our leaders in VENTFLASH. This allows me to focus attention on a member of our team whose accomplishments might be overlooked or on someone whom I think you would enjoy getting to know a little better. This month I wish to introduce Denver Holt, a part-time tour leader for VENT since 1995. Though he only leads a few tours a year for us, his background as a wildlife biologist, scientist, author, researcher, and public speaker makes him a unique and valuable leader.
While birding is strongly emphasized on any VENT tour, tours led by Denver Holt are guaranteed of being all-inclusive natural history experiences. I have been in the field with Denver on several occasions and consider him one of the finest naturalists I know. As founder and president of the non-profit Owl Research Institute (ORI), Denver is one of the world's top experts on owls, but his knowledge of other birds, plants, and mammals is equally keen. In 2000 he was named Montana's Wildlife Biologist of the Year by the Wildlife Society of North America.
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Denver Holt |
At home in Charlo, Montana, Denver is well-positioned to lead our always popular Montana Owl Workshop, where tour participants observe six species of owls or more and receive education and immersion into the life histories of one of the world's most interesting bird families. Every few years we offer a Montana June tour in which participants experience the majesty of western Montana, from the Palouse prairie of the National Bison Range to incomparable Glacier National Park, and to the dramatic Rocky Mountain Eastern Front, where the mountains meet the plains. More recently, Denver has designed a new trip, Yellowstone: Predator and Prey for late March 2010, during which participants will search for grizzly bears, wolves, bison, and birds of prey while experiencing the greater Yellowstone ecosystem at the very end of the winter season.
Denver is a wildlife researcher and graduate of the University of Montana. Since 1978 his particular focus has been researching owls and their ecology. He has researched owls in North and Central America, and published about 80 papers and technical documents, including three species accounts for the Birds of North America project. He was also the team leader for the owl family species accounts for The Handbook of the Birds of the World, covering 189 species. He has co-authored two children's science books on owls: Owls: whoo are they?, and Snowy Owls. His Snowy Owl research was featured as the cover story for National Geographic Magazine in December 2002. In 2006, he was a chapter author on owls for the book Arctic Wings, highlighting the birds of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The foreword was written by former United States President, Jimmy Carter. The book has won the prestigious National Outdoor Book Award for Design and Artistic Merit.
Denver's research has been acknowledged in many television programs on ABC, CBS, NBC, and CNN Science News. His research has also been featured in Audubon's Up-Close series, Disney, PBS's Bird Watch, and David Attenborough's Life of Birds, among others. His research on Snowy Owls has been featured in documentaries for National Geographic Explorer, NHK Natural History Unit of Japan, and the Norwegian Broadcasting Company Natural History Unit. Recently, his research has been the focus of the British Broadcasting Company's (BBC) new documentary series, Frozen Earth, the sequel to the highly acclaimed Planet Earth series. Denver also has been a keynote speaker at several major bird festivals in the United States.
TOURS WITH DENVER HOLT IN 2010
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Northern Pygmy-Owl— Photo: Barry Zimmer |
On this exciting new tour, naturalist Denver Holt will lead us through the north portion of Yellowstone National Park at the end of the winter season focusing on grizzlies, wolves, birds and the natural history of the region. The park hosts a number of bird species at this time of year, and our visit should produce Bald and Golden eagles, Rough-legged Hawk, Black-billed Magpie, Clark's Nutcracker, and Pinyon Jay. Specialties such as Trumpeter Swan, Barrow's Goldeneye, Black and Gray-crowned rosy-finches, Red Crossbill, and Northern Pygmy-Owl are possible as well. Yellowstone, however, is best known for its mega-fauna. Bison and elk have long been symbols of the park; grizzly bear studies and wolf reintroductions in the 1990s have made these animals among Yellowstone's most popular attractions. There are other species of mammals to look for, however, and moose, mule deer, bighorn sheep, and pronghorn are relatively easy to observe. In addition, we will take time to discuss the predator-prey relationships that define the park's natural processes. Our first national park, Yellowstone is also one of the most scenic places on the planet.
Montana Owl Workshop, April 22-27, 2010; $1,425 in double occupancy from Missoula, MT.
Enjoy a unique learning experience with owl expert Denver Holt and members of the Owl Research Institute (ORI). On this fascinating short tour you will observe researchers of the ORI who are conducting a long-term study of Long-eared Owls. They will capture, band, weigh, measure, and record other biological data. We will discuss the natural history of Montana owls and evolutionary adaptations in owls—how do owls hear, see, fly silently, camouflage, hunt, and other interesting facts. We have good chances to see at least a half-dozen species including Long-eared, Short-eared, Northern Pygmy, and Boreal owls. In 2009 we enjoyed spectacular studies of a Great Gray Owl! High, wide, and handsome, western Montana in April also provides a bounty of incredible scenery.
WINTER TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES
As we move to the middle of the fall season, I have noticed that parts of the country are already feeling the first signs of winter. If you are someone who likes a break from the long months before the return of spring, I thought you might enjoy looking over this list of tantalizing travel opportunities. Each of these trips offers mild conditions in a tropical destination along with excellent birding and wildlife viewing possibilities. All these trips still have space available.
Oaxaca Christmas, December 20-29, 2009 with Héctor Gómez and Mónica Pérez-Villafaña; $3,565 in double occupancy from Oaxaca City.
Explore enchanting Oaxaca at the most festive time of year and delve into the cultural and biological riches of far southwestern Mexico. The attractive Oaxaca Valley is renowned for its splendid scenery, colorful festivities, imposing colonial architecture, pre-Columbian ruins, vibrant indigenous culture, and world-class cuisine. Oaxaca's avifauna is a fascinating mix of northern migrants, tropical residents, and numerous local specialties found nowhere else. Hector is an outstanding Mexican ornithologist who has led VENT tours to that country for years. His easy-going style and knowledge of Mexican birds make traveling with him a joy.
New Year at Panama's Canopy Tower, December 27, 2009-January 3, 2010 with Tony Nunnery and a local leader; $2,975 in double occupancy from Panama City. 4 spaces remain.
Celebrate the New Year at Panama's famed Canopy Tower. A weeklong stay at a unique jungle lodge promises nearly 300 species of colorful tropical birds, close proximity to the historic Panama Canal, and immersion in a rainforest ecosystem.
Venezuela: Hato Piñero New Year, December 27, 2009-January 4, 2010 with Jeri Langham and David Ascanio; $3,395 in double occupancy from Caracas.
Join Jeri and native Venezuelan, David Ascanio, for a holiday birding extravaganza that showcases spectacular open country birding at one of Venezuela's largest private ranches. Grasslands, waterbird spectacles, and excellent mammal viewing opportunities are all aspects of a trip to Hato Piñero.
Belize: Chan Chich New Year, December 28, 2009-January 3, 2010 with David Wolf and Brennan Mulrooney; $3,565 in double occupancy from Belize City. 2 spaces available.
VENT has been taking travelers to Belize's Chan Chich Lodge for twenty years. The combination of birds, mammals, a wonderful lodge, and a vast area of pristine lowland forest makes this a "must see" destination. Whether you are an experienced tropical birder or visiting the Tropics for the first time, you will instantly fall under the spell of what we consider one of the finest jungle lodges in the world. Parrots, toucans, trogons, and a variety of other colorful tropical birds mix with hundreds of wintering Neotropical migrants.
Ecuador: Eastern Slope of the Andes, January 18-26, 2010, with David Wolf and Paul Greenfield; $3,075 in double occupancy from Quito.
This trip, perfect for the first-time visitor to Ecuador as well as those wishing to see another major region of the country, is designed to reveal the scenic beauty and incredible biological richness of the Andes Mountains. The scenic San Isidro Labrador, our base for most of this tour, lies in the rich subtropical zone. Within easy reach is an incredible transect of habitats, from lush upper tropical forest in the foothills to temperate cloud forests, stunted alpine scrub, and treeless páramo. Among the long list of possibilities are such fabulous birds as Torrent Duck, Andean Condor, Black-and-chestnut Eagle, Golden-headed Quetzal, Black-billed Mountain-Toucan, Amazonian Umbrellabird, Andean Cock-of-the-rock, and a wonderful array of colorful tanagers. This trip is scheduled at a time when the weather is typically at its best. Tour leaders Wolf and Greenfield each possess years of experience in Ecuador and know the country intimately.
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Napo Wildlife Center— Photo: Peter English |
Please note, for a full Amazon and Andes experience, this trip may be combined with our Ecuador: Amazonia at Napo Wildlife Center tour, January 10-19, 2010, with David Wolf and Paul Greenfield; $3,595 in double occupancy from Quito.
Set on a secluded tributary of the Napo River, the Napo Wildlife Center is one of our favorite jungle lodges anywhere. Situated amid pristine rivers and rainforest, the lodge and surrounding environment allow visitors full immersion into the vitality and ambience of a lowland tropical forest ecosystem. Activities such as jungle hikes, canoeing forest streams, climbing to the top of a canopy observation tower, and riding the Napo River in an open boat, provide superior means for experiencing Amazonian Ecuador. Highlights of past trips include observations of giant river otter; Harpy and Crested eagles; Scarlet and Red-and-green macaws; and a dazzling array of parrots, oropendolas, barbets, honeycreepers, tanagers, and more.
The Lesser Antilles: Aboard the Sea Cloud, February 15-22, 2010 with Victor Emanuel, Barry Lyon, David Ascanio, Kitty Coley, and John Harrison; cabins begin at $8,150 in double occupancy from St. John, Antigua.
Historic and undeniably beautiful, the Sea Cloud is perhaps the world's most legendary sailing ship. For the third time in our history, we have chartered this magnificent vessel for a birding and natural history cruise of the Caribbean's Lesser Antilles. This trip presents an unforgettable travel experience as we island-hop through the string of pearls known as St. Vincent, St. Lucia, Dominica, Martinique, and Guadeloupe. On shore we will attempt to locate all the regional specialty birds, headlined by the fabulous Imperial, Red-necked, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent parrots, while aboard ship we will attend informative lectures on history and geology—all while plying the dazzling waters of the Caribbean.
Thailand Highlights, February 23-March 14, 2010 with Dion Hobcroft and another leader to be announced; $5,495 in double occupancy from Bangkok.
This tour offers a perfect introduction to the birds and other biological riches of Southeast Asia. We'll visit a broad variety of habitats, allowing us to experience a marvelous diversity of the fascinating birdlife of Thailand. Added attractions are sensational cuisine, fascinating culture, a myriad of incredible butterflies, and some very exciting mammals. While the pheasants are perhaps the finest spectacle of any Oriental tour, there is a vast array of characteristic Southeast Asian birds that cannot fail to bedazzle the birdwatcher, including pigeons, parakeets, malkohas, trogons, hornbills, barbets, broadbills, pittas, minivets, bulbuls, leafbirds, spiderhunters, babblers, parrotbills, and the challenging Eurasian warblers.
Northern Tanzania, February 23-March 11, 2010 with Peter Roberts; $8,295 in double occupancy from Arusha.
The great national parks and game refuges of Northern Tanzania host the world's most breathtaking wildlife spectacles. This world-famous region is a remarkable place to visit at any time of the year, but in February and March it witnesses a phenomenal gathering of over one million wildebeest, a half-million gazelle, and a quarter-million zebra in tight, nervous herds of tens of thousands, concentrated together to calve on the short-grass plains prior to the rains. This trip is one of our greatest adventures, where participants will experience daily birding extravaganzas plus abundant big game: elephant, giraffe, zebra, lion, leopard, and cheetah in the famous locations of Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Manyara, Tarangire, and Lake Victoria. The birdlife of northern Tanzania is also marvelous. Participants should see a wonderful diversity of both landbirds and waterbirds.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Finally, we wish to congratulate VENT leaders David and Mimi Wolf for becoming grandparents for the second time. Ellison Rose Wolf, a beautiful 8 lb. 4 oz. girl was born to their son Matt and his wife Tiffany on August 18, 2009. We send our best wishes to all the Wolfs and their growing family.
Best wishes,
Victor Emanuel