Maine: Mountains to the Sea
June 11 to 15, 2023
This trip is now full. Continue with the registration process below to place your name on the waiting list. We will contact you if a space opens and will collect your payment at that time.
This trip is now full. Continue with the registration process below to place your name on the waiting list. We will contact you if a space opens and will collect your payment at that time.
Georgia Audubon Host: Dottie Head, Director of Communications
Local Guide: Seth Benz, Bird Ecology Program Director, Schoodic Institute
Group Size: Maximum 9 participants
Member Price: $2,700*
Non-member Price: $2,750* (includes a one-year Georgia Audubon membership)
Single Supplement: $380
*Based on double occupancy
Depending on group construction, solo travelers may be forced to pay a single supplement. All efforts will be made to pair individuals to avoid this expense though it cannot be guaranteed. Impacted travelers, should they decide to cancel, will be reimbursed following the cancellation policy below.
Pre-trip Meeting: Wednesday, June 7, at 7:00 PM via Zoom
Maine is unique. It is as large as the rest of New England combined and is the most forested state in the U.S. Over 10 million acres are too sparsely populated to have local governments. “Downeast,” in and around Acadia National Park, the coast of Maine is wild and dotted with fishing villages. A spruce/fir maritime forest dominates the ocean’s edge and just inland, the world’s largest lowbush blueberry fields create unique habitat.
The scenery on this adventure is equal to the variety of birds to be found. With local support from guides with the Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park, we’ll begin our tour in Bangor and move immediately to the Maine Highlands in and around Baxter State Park, where we'll chase some of Maine's toughest birds, including American Three-toed and Black-backed Woodpeckers. Spruce Grouse and Boreal Chickadees also haunt this locale, and we should witness Fox and Lincoln's Sparrows singing on their territories. We'll also have a great chance to snap up some of the tougher warblers, such as Blackpoll, Bay-breasted, Tennessee and Mourning, and northern forest flycatchers such as Alder, Least, Yellow-bellied and Olive-sided.
And let’s not forget the puffins! Following our Highlands adventures, we’ll make our way “downeast” to the Maine coast. We will spend a full day (or more, if needed) looking for iconic seabirds that breed in the Gulf of Maine each summer. A boat trip will take us into the Gulf of Maine to circle Petit Manan Island, home to one of Maine’s breeding colonies of Atlantic Puffins and Razorbills. With luck, we may also encounter other pelagic species such as Northern Gannet, Great and Sooty Shearwaters, and Wilson’s Storm-petrels.
Local Guide: Seth Benz, Bird Ecology Program Director, Schoodic Institute
Group Size: Maximum 9 participants
Member Price: $2,700*
Non-member Price: $2,750* (includes a one-year Georgia Audubon membership)
Single Supplement: $380
*Based on double occupancy
Depending on group construction, solo travelers may be forced to pay a single supplement. All efforts will be made to pair individuals to avoid this expense though it cannot be guaranteed. Impacted travelers, should they decide to cancel, will be reimbursed following the cancellation policy below.
Pre-trip Meeting: Wednesday, June 7, at 7:00 PM via Zoom
Maine is unique. It is as large as the rest of New England combined and is the most forested state in the U.S. Over 10 million acres are too sparsely populated to have local governments. “Downeast,” in and around Acadia National Park, the coast of Maine is wild and dotted with fishing villages. A spruce/fir maritime forest dominates the ocean’s edge and just inland, the world’s largest lowbush blueberry fields create unique habitat.
The scenery on this adventure is equal to the variety of birds to be found. With local support from guides with the Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park, we’ll begin our tour in Bangor and move immediately to the Maine Highlands in and around Baxter State Park, where we'll chase some of Maine's toughest birds, including American Three-toed and Black-backed Woodpeckers. Spruce Grouse and Boreal Chickadees also haunt this locale, and we should witness Fox and Lincoln's Sparrows singing on their territories. We'll also have a great chance to snap up some of the tougher warblers, such as Blackpoll, Bay-breasted, Tennessee and Mourning, and northern forest flycatchers such as Alder, Least, Yellow-bellied and Olive-sided.
And let’s not forget the puffins! Following our Highlands adventures, we’ll make our way “downeast” to the Maine coast. We will spend a full day (or more, if needed) looking for iconic seabirds that breed in the Gulf of Maine each summer. A boat trip will take us into the Gulf of Maine to circle Petit Manan Island, home to one of Maine’s breeding colonies of Atlantic Puffins and Razorbills. With luck, we may also encounter other pelagic species such as Northern Gannet, Great and Sooty Shearwaters, and Wilson’s Storm-petrels.
Contact Dottie Head via email, or at 678-973-2437 with any questions.
Photo credit: Atlantic Puffins by Andrew Lunt/Audubon Photography Awards
Photo credit: Atlantic Puffins by Andrew Lunt/Audubon Photography Awards
Day 1: Sunday, June 11
Day 1 begins in Bangor as the group convenes for the 5-day, 4-night tour. Our local guides will pick us up at 8:00 AM from the Holiday Inn Bangor, and we'll then head directly for one of the best boreal birding spots deep in the Maine forest. We'll hope to pick up hard-to-find boreal species like Spruce Grouse, Boreal Chickadee, American Three-toed Woodpecker, and Black-backed Woodpecker, just to name a few. We'll spend our first tour night at the Big Moose Inn, straddling two quiet lakes. After dinner, we'll wrap up our day with a little moose watching from the hotel grounds.
Day 2: Monday, June 12
Day Two begins early. We'll rise with the sun and head up the west side of Baxter State Park, enjoying the abundance of warblers, thrushes, flycatchers, and finches that breed in the northern Maine forest. This will also be a chance to target any rare woodpeckers or grouse that we might have missed on the first day.
Day 3: Tuesday, June 13
Day Three begins early again, as we head up the east side of Baxter State Park to Roaring Brook. Here, we'll enjoy close-ups of moose, chase down Philadelphia Vireos, and search out a few other elusive species. After lunch, we'll finish up with the mountains, then bird our way to the sea at Acadia National Park, where we'll spend our next two nights enjoying the accommodations and meals at the Schoodic Education and Research Center (SERC).
Day 4: Wednesday, June 14
Day Four features a puffin and seabird tour as we circle Petit Manan Island, one of Maine's breeding colonies of Atlantic Puffins and Razorbills. With luck, we may encounter some of the pelagic species that come into the Gulf of Maine in summer, such as Northern Gannet, Great and Sooty Shearwaters, and Wilson's Storm-petrels.
Day 5: Thursday, June 15
Day Five is leader's choice, giving us the opportunity to make up for any bad weather that may occur. The day and the tour end at 4:00 PM in Bangor.
additional details
Price Includes:
Price does not include:
Participants may wish to book lodging in Bangor for the nights of June 10 and/or June 15, depending on flight availability into/out of Bangor. These optional nights are not included in the tour price, but Georgia Audubon will reserve a block of rooms at the Holiday Inn Bangor and share group booking information with all registered participants well in advance of the tour date. Participants will be responsible for all additional lodging expenses not covered in the tour price.
Tour Start & Ending Time:
The tour will begin with pick-up by our local guide via our tour shuttle van on June 11 at 8:00 AM at the Holiday Inn Bangor. The tour will end in Bangor by 4:00 PM on June 15. Please note these times when arranging your travel into and out of Maine.
Tour Lodging:
Rooms at the Big Moose Inn feature private bedrooms with shared baths. Upgrades to a room with private bath may be available for a limited time but we cannot guarantee them. Ask for current availability. Fortunately, due to the schedule of the tour and the time spent in the field, shared baths are seldom a concern for most people. Accommodations at the Schoodic Institute are in shared, multi-bedroom cottages, with kitchen and ample living space. Most cabins feature two bedrooms with a shared bath. Participants who select the single supplement will receive a private en suite room at the Schoodic Institute, and we will inquire about availability at the Big Moose Inn. Couples who wish to have a private en suite will need to select the single supplement (bedrooms at the Big Moose Inn feature a single queen-sized bed). Contact us for more information or any questions.
* Please note: For arrival and departure nights, June 10 and June 15, Georgia Audubon will book a block of rooms at a local hotel. Participants may choose to stay there or make other arrangements, but these two nights are not included in the tour cost.
Payment Plan:
Participants may pay in full by choosing the Georgia Audubon Member or Non-Member price. For those who wish to pay in two installments, we will accept a $650 down-payment at the time of registration ($700 for non-members). Payment in full will be due by March 1, 2023. The single supplement will also be billed at this time if that option was selected.
Cancellation Policy:
If notice of cancellation by the participant is received February 10, 2023, a refund of all payments (less a $50 cancellation fee plus all credit card fees) will be given. If notice of cancellation is received between February 11 and March 11, 2023, a 50% refund of the tour fee will be given. Thereafter, all deposits and payments are non-refundable unless the space(s) can be filled. In the event of tour cancellation due to weather, strike, war, quarantine, or other unforeseen emergency situation, a 100% refund will be given, less any expenses incurred by the tour operator.
Travel Insurance:
We recommend purchasing travel insurance in case you must make an unforeseen trip cancellation past our refund period. Check with your own insurance carrier or consider a travel insurance specialist.
COVID-19 Travel Precautions:
Until further notice, all participants in the Georgia Audubon Travel Program must be fully vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19 at the time of their travel date. According to the CDC, individuals are considered fully vaccinated when they have received their primary series of COVID-19 vaccine and a booster. Some people may be eligible to receive two boosters, but a second booster is not required to travel with Georgia Audubon at this time. Participants will also be expected to adhere to all local travel guidelines and restrictions at the destination at the time of travel. If you are unable or unwilling to comply with the COVID-19 travel precautions, please do not register for this event at this time.
Weather, Pace, & Packing Considerations:
This trip will not require strenuous hiking. Hikes will be slow and on level ground. There may be some spots that are muddy, uneven, and slippery. Adequate footwear is advised, but large boots are unnecessary. Mosquitoes and black flies will be present. Insect repellent is suggested. June tends to be warm, sunny, and dry, but conditions in the northern Maine woods are changeable. Dawn temperatures may start in the 40s and reach the 80s by afternoon. Boat tours can be cold and wet. Bring appropriate clothing. Bring an appetite.
- All meals (excluding alcoholic beverages) from lunch on Day 1 to lunch on Day 5
- All ground transportation by 15-passenger van
- Puffin boat excursion
- Lodging accommodations for 4 nights beginning on the night of June 11
- Expert local guides
- All park entrance fees
Price does not include:
- Airfare
- Lodging on nights not specified above - (evenings of Saturday, June 10 and Thursday, June 15) *
- Tips (for the local guide(s), housekeeping, etc.)
- Alcoholic or specialty beverages
- Optional activities
- Snacks
- Laundry
- Travel insurance, recommended
- Medical costs
- Souvenirs
- Other incidentals participants may wish to purchase
Participants may wish to book lodging in Bangor for the nights of June 10 and/or June 15, depending on flight availability into/out of Bangor. These optional nights are not included in the tour price, but Georgia Audubon will reserve a block of rooms at the Holiday Inn Bangor and share group booking information with all registered participants well in advance of the tour date. Participants will be responsible for all additional lodging expenses not covered in the tour price.
Tour Start & Ending Time:
The tour will begin with pick-up by our local guide via our tour shuttle van on June 11 at 8:00 AM at the Holiday Inn Bangor. The tour will end in Bangor by 4:00 PM on June 15. Please note these times when arranging your travel into and out of Maine.
Tour Lodging:
Rooms at the Big Moose Inn feature private bedrooms with shared baths. Upgrades to a room with private bath may be available for a limited time but we cannot guarantee them. Ask for current availability. Fortunately, due to the schedule of the tour and the time spent in the field, shared baths are seldom a concern for most people. Accommodations at the Schoodic Institute are in shared, multi-bedroom cottages, with kitchen and ample living space. Most cabins feature two bedrooms with a shared bath. Participants who select the single supplement will receive a private en suite room at the Schoodic Institute, and we will inquire about availability at the Big Moose Inn. Couples who wish to have a private en suite will need to select the single supplement (bedrooms at the Big Moose Inn feature a single queen-sized bed). Contact us for more information or any questions.
* Please note: For arrival and departure nights, June 10 and June 15, Georgia Audubon will book a block of rooms at a local hotel. Participants may choose to stay there or make other arrangements, but these two nights are not included in the tour cost.
Payment Plan:
Participants may pay in full by choosing the Georgia Audubon Member or Non-Member price. For those who wish to pay in two installments, we will accept a $650 down-payment at the time of registration ($700 for non-members). Payment in full will be due by March 1, 2023. The single supplement will also be billed at this time if that option was selected.
Cancellation Policy:
If notice of cancellation by the participant is received February 10, 2023, a refund of all payments (less a $50 cancellation fee plus all credit card fees) will be given. If notice of cancellation is received between February 11 and March 11, 2023, a 50% refund of the tour fee will be given. Thereafter, all deposits and payments are non-refundable unless the space(s) can be filled. In the event of tour cancellation due to weather, strike, war, quarantine, or other unforeseen emergency situation, a 100% refund will be given, less any expenses incurred by the tour operator.
Travel Insurance:
We recommend purchasing travel insurance in case you must make an unforeseen trip cancellation past our refund period. Check with your own insurance carrier or consider a travel insurance specialist.
COVID-19 Travel Precautions:
Until further notice, all participants in the Georgia Audubon Travel Program must be fully vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19 at the time of their travel date. According to the CDC, individuals are considered fully vaccinated when they have received their primary series of COVID-19 vaccine and a booster. Some people may be eligible to receive two boosters, but a second booster is not required to travel with Georgia Audubon at this time. Participants will also be expected to adhere to all local travel guidelines and restrictions at the destination at the time of travel. If you are unable or unwilling to comply with the COVID-19 travel precautions, please do not register for this event at this time.
Weather, Pace, & Packing Considerations:
This trip will not require strenuous hiking. Hikes will be slow and on level ground. There may be some spots that are muddy, uneven, and slippery. Adequate footwear is advised, but large boots are unnecessary. Mosquitoes and black flies will be present. Insect repellent is suggested. June tends to be warm, sunny, and dry, but conditions in the northern Maine woods are changeable. Dawn temperatures may start in the 40s and reach the 80s by afternoon. Boat tours can be cold and wet. Bring appropriate clothing. Bring an appetite.