VENTflash #127 September 09, 2011
Posted by Victor Emanuel
Victor Emanuel
Victor Emanuel started birding in Texas 64 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 1998 we chartered a ship for a memorable voyage to Antarctica, the Falkland Islands, and South Georgia. That trip represented a turning point in VENT's history as it heralded the debut of our birding and natural history cruise program. That voyage also marked the first time that Robert Bateman, the famous Canadian wildlife artist, joined a VENT trip. He told me it was one of the best trips he had ever made. Over the ensuing twelve years, VENT has operated cruises to many parts of the world, enabling over a thousand of our travelers to witness some of the planet's finest wildlife and scenic spectacles.
If you have never experienced a VENT birding and natural history cruise, some of the advantages of this style of travel include:
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VENT's 2009 Antarctica Cruise — Photo: Louise Zemaitis |
The majority of our ship-based programs offer opportunities to visit places that are otherwise totally inaccessible. Many of our destinations are among the world's most remote locations, where land-based travel is either impossible or impractical. Examples include Antarctica, New Zealand's Subantarctic Islands, the Galapagos Islands, the Bering Sea, the Scottish Islands, the Seychelles, the islands of the southwest Pacific Ocean, Spitsbergen, and the Amazon River.
VENT selects the best ships and the best itineraries. Unlike the massive "floating cities" that are the face of mass cruise tourism, we utilize smaller ships that offer greater intimacy, comfort, and access to places where larger vessels can't go. We use only "small adventure cruise ships," that range in size from 30 to 120 passengers. The companies we choose to work with are some of the top names in expedition travel, including Zegrahm, Lindblad/National Geographic, Metropolitan, and Orion.
A VENT leader accompanies almost all of our departures. When we charter an entire ship exclusively for VENT travelers, we assemble a first-rate team of leaders that usually include experts from several disciplines. On these trips, our focus on birds and wildlife is complemented with infusions of botany, geology, and even history. In allotment situations, when we reserve space among a larger body of passengers, in most cases, at least one VENT leader accompanies the group. This results in greater personal attention for trip participants and greater bird-finding and identification expertise on board than would otherwise be available, and all in addition to the services provided by a skilled and knowledgeable expedition staff.
Because of the variety of activities available on our cruises, they serve as an ideal choice for those who travel with a non-birding spouse or companion.
Many of our cruises are supplemented by pre- or post-trip options that afford participants additional opportunities to experience more birds, wildlife, and scenery beyond what is offered in the main cruise programs.
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National Geographic Explorer— Photo: Sven-Olof Lindblad |
Between November 2011 and July 20122, VENT will operate cruises to a number of spectacular destinations including the Galapagos Islands, the Amazon River, and Spitsbergen. I wanted to tell you more about each of these fine trips since space is still available on all of them.
In this issue:
GALAPAGOS ISLANDS: THE LAST 7-DAY ITINERARY
AMAZON RIVER: A BIRDING & NATURAL HISTORY ODYSSEY
SPITSBERGEN: LAND OF THE ICE BEARS
CLOSING THOUGHTS
GALAPAGOS ISLANDS: THE LAST 7-DAY ITINERARY
Many people put the Galapagos Islands high on their list of "must visit" places. I have been there ten times and regard it as one of the great destinations of the world. As I have mentioned over the last couple of months, new visitation rules developed by the Galapagos National Park mean that future visitors to the Galapagos Islands will need to join a ten-night program in order to visit all the major islands. This is very significant because most Galapagos trips traditionally featured seven-night itineraries to achieve the same result.
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Giant Tortoise — Photo: Michael O'Brien |
Beginning February 1, 2012, some cruise companies will offer a four-day trip that visits the southern islands of Floreana, San Cristobal, Santa Cruz, and Española (Hood) or a six-day trip that visits the northern and western islands including Genovesa (Tower), Santiago (James), Santa Cruz, Fernandina, and Isabela; OR a 10-day trip to visit all the islands.
If you are not familiar with the Galapagos, you may wonder why this matters. If you choose to take a four-day cruise, you will miss seeing a host of birds including Galapagos Penguin, Flightless Cormorant, and Sharp-beaked Ground-Finch, as well as some of the best snorkeling and sea-birding opportunities. If you take a six-day cruise, you will miss the Waved Albatross, San Cristobal and Charles mockingbirds, and Medium Tree-Finch. To see the full slate of Galapagos birds, wildlife, and scenery, it will now be necessary to combine these two trips into a ten-day cruise, the total cost of which will be approximately $2,000 more than the current fee for a seven-day cruise.
Our upcoming Galapagos Islands Cruise, November 28-December 7, 2011, represents the final opportunity to visit all the major islands in a one-week period. For this voyage, we reserved half the cabins on the 38-passenger Isabela II exclusively for VENT travelers, all of which have been sold! We have subsequently been offered the opportunity to sell five additional cabins, three of which have already been sold! We are now down to our final two cabins.
As I've said through the years, a voyage in the Galapagos Islands is unlike any other. Following an itinerary that promises visits to the most important islands—Española, Fernandina, Floreana, Genovesa, Isabela, Santa Cruz, and Santiago—we will be in position to see all the wildlife for which these islands are so famous, including Galapagos Penguins, Flightless Cormorants, Waved Albatrosses, Red-billed Tropicbirds, Lava Gulls, Darwin's finches, Galapagos fur seals, giant tortoises, marine iguanas, lava lizards, and much more.
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Isabela II— Photo: Ramiro Salazar |
The Isabela II is among the highest quality vessels available for a Galapagos Islands cruise. Spacious outside cabins feature private bathrooms and air-conditioning; the yacht's three decks offer plenty of public space including a bar, library, lounge, dining room, and sun deck. A talented naturalist staff will provide interpretation throughout the voyage while your VENT leaders will provide birding expertise on and off the ship, including all shore excursions.
This trip will be co-led by Paul Greenfield and Bob Sundstrom.
I hope you will be able to take advantage of this opportunity.
Galapagos Islands Cruise, November 28-December 7, 2011 with Paul Greenfield and Bob Sundstrom; cabins available starting at $5,750 in double occupancy from Quito (ends in Guayaquil). Limit 38; 2 cabins available.
Those who would like to enhance their experiences in Ecuador should consider joining our short Tandayapa Pre-trip to Ecuador's northwestern Andean slopes. This is Ecuador's premier birding region, where we'll enjoy a spectacular hummingbird show in addition to a range of remarkable cloud forest species including Plate-billed Mountain-Toucan, Toucan Barbet, Andean Cock-of-the-rock, and a host of tanagers and other forest birds.
Tandayapa Pre-trip, November 26-28, 2011 with Paul Greenfield and Bob Sundstrom; $795 in double occupancy from Quito. Limit 18; 5 spaces available.
AMAZON RIVER: A BIRDING & NATURAL HISTORY ODYSSEY
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 |
My first visit to Amazonia was in 1978 when I co-led our first Peru tour with the late Ted Parker. I will never forget walking on a trail with him on that first evening. Unfamiliar bird calls came from every direction. I had the feeling of tremendous diversity in everything around me—in the birds, plants, butterflies, and trees. I had long wanted to visit Amazonia, and now I was there with one of the greatest experts on the birds of South America. Years later I was one of the leaders on a cruise along the main branch of the Amazon River. Every morning we would depart the ship in small boats to explore different small tributaries. It was a delightful experience. Besides the birds and other wildlife, I especially remember the dramatic sunsets.
I am excited that VENT is returning to the Amazon in January 2012 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 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.
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Horned Screamer — Photo: David Ascanio |
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, followed by Birds of Venezuela, and has spent decades studying South American birds. David Ascanio, a native of Venezuela, is one of that country's premier ornithologists. Steve and David have led many VENT tours together and make a wonderful team. As someone who appreciates an all-around natural history experience, in addition to plenty of birding, I can't recommend this trip too highly!
Please note that more than half the cabins on this cruise have already been sold. If you have ever wanted to experience the thrill of an Amazon River voyage, I urge you to call our office soon while space is still available.
Our Amazon River Cruise will operate January 12-22, 2012; $5,715 in double occupancy from Lima. Limit 28; 6 cabins are still available.
This trip may be combined with our Machu Picchu Pre-trip, January 7-13, 2012 with Doris Valencia and Steve Hilty; $3,950 in double occupancy from Lima.
SPITSBERGEN: LAND OF THE ICE BEARS
In July 2012 I will co-lead a birding and natural history cruise to Spitsbergen, a destination that is often described as the world's greatest place to experience the High Arctic.
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Polar Bears, Spitsbergen — Photo: K. David Bishop |
Our voyage, Spitsbergen: Land of the Ice Bears, July 6-16, 2012, is designed to provide encounters with the Arctic's most alluring wildlife including polar bears, walrus, and Ivory Gulls, in addition to remarkable natural features such as calving glaciers and expansive sea ice. We will travel with Lindblad Expeditions aboard the National Geographic Explorer, one of the finest expedition vessels available, on which VENT has reserved an allotment of 40 spaces.
We are offering an early registration incentive for anyone who signs up for this departure before September 30, 2011. The incentive includes either a free extra hotel night in Oslo for anyone who wishes to come early or stay after the cruise, OR the option of receiving a $500 per person discount for those who take the Norway Pre-trip. This offer expires on September 30, 2011 at which time VENT must return its unsold cabins.
The Svalbard Archipelago, including the island of Spitsbergen, is a region of incredible landscapes and seascapes. Located due north of the Norwegian mainland, Spitsbergen sits only 600 miles from the North Pole. The combination of spellbinding wildlife and scenic wonders that characterize this destination provides an irresistible allure.
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Walrus, Spitsbergen — Photo: Sven-Olof Lindblad |
Spitsbergen may be the best place in the world to see polar bears, and the timing of our cruise is such that we anticipate multiple encounters with this remarkable animal. Our last expedition, in 2010, recorded a remarkable 25 of the great white bears. Other wildlife we'll seek include walrus (hundreds seen at close range in 2010) and Ivory Gull (about 15 seen), as well as nesting Pink-footed and Barnacle geese, King Eider, Red Phalarope, Purple Sandpiper, Great Skua, all three jaeger species, Atlantic Puffin, Black Guillemot, Thick-billed Murre, and blizzards of Dovekies, in addition to the dainty Arctic fox and the distinctive "Svalbard" reindeer. Cruising at sea, we'll follow the boundary of the northern ice cap, watching for a variety of marine mammals such as bearded and ringed seals, and blue, fin, and Beluga whales.
We will maximize our efforts to go ashore wherever possible to enjoy tundra ablaze with beautiful Arctic wildflowers. We will also make a number of Zodiac excursions in order to bring us closer to glaciers and colonies of breeding seabirds.
For years I have dreamed of experiencing the wildlife pageants and scenic splendor of Spitsbergen, and now that dream will become a reality. I will co-lead our 2012 departure with Barry Lyon, in addition to a superb Lindblad staff, and I would be thrilled to have you join me for what promises to be an unforgettable expedition.
Spitsbergen: Land of the Ice Bears, July 6-16, 2012 with Victor Emanuel and Barry Lyon; cabins begin at $8,240 in double occupancy from Oslo.
Our Norway Pre-trip offers a marvelous pre-cruise option for participants interested in experiencing more of the country's birdlife and scenic grandeur. We will spend almost a week exploring the renowned mountains and fjords of the southwestern mainland and coast seeking an exciting assortment of northern European birds, including Arctic Loon, Eurasian Dotterel, White-tailed Eagle, Black and White-backed woodpeckers, and Eurasian Bullfinch.
Norway Pre-trip, June 30-July 7, 2012 with Brian Gibbons; $5,195 in double occupancy from Oslo.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
For many people, the end of summer has been difficult this year, with parts of the country battered by strong weather events and natural disasters. Hurricane Irene swept up the Atlantic Coast and New England with heavy rain and wind, leaving flooding in its wake; Tropical Storm Lee barraged the South with heavy rain and flooding; and, most recently, a series of disastrous wildfires charred parts of Texas over the Labor Day weekend. We know that many of you live in areas that have been affected by these events, and on behalf of VENT, I want to express our hope and concern that you, your families, and your property are all safe.
Since our office is located in Austin, we have received a number of phone calls from our travelers expressing concern over the fires that have burned extensive tracts of land around our city. First and foremost, I want to reassure you that neither our office nor the homes of any of our staff have been affected by this terrible event. Unfortunately, however, the same cannot be said for the hundreds of families who have lost their homes. At last count, over 1,400 homes have burned in Central Texas since Sunday, with most of those lost in the "Bastrop Complex Fire," located about 40 miles east of Austin.
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Eastern Kingbird— Photo: Greg Lasley |
This year of extreme drought, worsened by record-setting heat, produced the conditions for what will be remembered as the worst fire disasters in state history. We wish to express our deepest sympathy to all those who lost their homes. These destructive fires have provided another reminder how our native surroundings, seemingly stable and timeless, can be transformed very quickly by natural disaster.
Despite such grim news, the extreme heat of the last three months finally abated last week and cooler weather has reached Central Texas. With the change in conditions comes fall migration, when millions of birds are making their way south across the continent en route to tropical wintering grounds. Last weekend saw a nice variety of migrants deposited in parks and yards throughout the city. I made it out to Hornsby Bend, my favorite local birding area, on Labor Day and was thrilled with the diversity of shorebirds, flycatchers, vireos, warblers, and orioles in evidence. It is interesting to look at an Eastern Kingbird and realize that in another week or so, that individual will be in Ecuador or elsewhere in South America. Migration is one of the most amazing aspects of the avian world, and anyone can observe this endlessly fascinating phenomenon regardless of where we live.
Best wishes,
Victor Emanuel