Paraguay Trip Attendees 2017
travel with georgia audubon
Georgia Audubon was founded to foster the joy of birding and to protect bird-friendly habitat around the state. In the decades since our founding, the organization has evolved into one of Georgia's leading conservation and education organizations. The Georgia Audubon Travel Program strengthens current goals to protect the region's birds by instilling a love of nature that will impact conservation, education, and community engagement on a local level.
Georgia Audubon's Travel Program offers small-group travel with knowledgeable guides to exciting regional, domestic, and international locations. Special care is taken to develop custom itineraries for each tour that will appeal to all levels of bird and nature enthusiasts.
Georgia Audubon's Travel Program offers small-group travel with knowledgeable guides to exciting regional, domestic, and international locations. Special care is taken to develop custom itineraries for each tour that will appeal to all levels of bird and nature enthusiasts.
Strange-tailed Tyrant from Paraguay.
upcoming trips
COVID-19 Travel Update: At this time, all participants in the Georgia Audubon Travel Program must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at the time of their travel date. According to the CDC, individuals are considered fully vaccinated when they are at least two weeks past the 2nd dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine or at least two weeks past the single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Participants will also be expected to adhere to all travel guidelines and restrictions at the destination at the time of travel.
maine: Mountains to the sea
June 4 to June 8, 2021
This trip is now full. Please register to place your name on the waiting list, and we will let you know if a space opens.
Atlantic Puffins by Brian Gratwicke, Flickr CC BY 2.0
Georgia Audubon Host: Michelle Hamner, Director of Development
Local Guide: Seth Benz, Bird Ecology Program Director at the Schoodic Institute
Group Size: Maximum 9 participants
Member Price: $1,930*
Non-member Price: $1,980* (includes a one-year Georgia Audubon membership)
Single Supplement: $160
*Based on double occupancy
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 at the Schoodic Institute
Group Size: Maximum 9 participants
Member Price: $1,930*
Non-member Price: $1,980* (includes a one-year Georgia Audubon membership)
Single Supplement: $160
*Based on double occupancy
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.
birding north dakota's prairie pothole region
June 13 to June 18, 2021
This event is now full. You can place yourself on the waitlist by following the registration link below. We will contact you if a spot opens.
Sharp-tailed Grouse by Rick Bohn
Georgia Audubon Host: Melanie Furr, Director of Education
Local Guide: Bob Anderson, PhD Biological Sciences at Valley State University
Group Size: Maximum 9 participants
Member Price: $1,695*
Non-member Price: $1,745* (includes a one-year Georgia Audubon membership)
Single Supplement: $200
*Based on double occupancy
If you dream of birding vast prairies embedded with thousands of wetlands (potholes), then join us to explore North Dakota’s Prairie Pothole Region and the tremendous bird life that calls this region home. This is your chance to experience walking across a prairie with Chestnut-collared Longspurs, Baird’s Sparrows, Sprague’s Pipits, and Upland Sandpipers singing and displaying around you. Imagine spending sunrise at a sedge marsh with singing LeConte’s and Nelson’s Sparrows, Sedge Wrens, and possible Yellow Rails, all while Wilson’s Snipe winnow around you. Often referred to as the "Duck Factory” of North America because of the thousands of depressional wetlands that were left by retreating glaciers, the Prairie Pothole Region is estimated to host half of North America's migratory waterfowl. There’s a reason Julie Zickefoose promotes North Dakota’s Prairie Potholes in the book Fifty Places to Go Birding Before You Die as a place of "breathtaking beauty, serenity, and wide-open remoteness" where "the entire landscape is crammed seemingly past capacity with birds." Come experience the best kept secret in birding.
Local Guide: Bob Anderson, PhD Biological Sciences at Valley State University
Group Size: Maximum 9 participants
Member Price: $1,695*
Non-member Price: $1,745* (includes a one-year Georgia Audubon membership)
Single Supplement: $200
*Based on double occupancy
If you dream of birding vast prairies embedded with thousands of wetlands (potholes), then join us to explore North Dakota’s Prairie Pothole Region and the tremendous bird life that calls this region home. This is your chance to experience walking across a prairie with Chestnut-collared Longspurs, Baird’s Sparrows, Sprague’s Pipits, and Upland Sandpipers singing and displaying around you. Imagine spending sunrise at a sedge marsh with singing LeConte’s and Nelson’s Sparrows, Sedge Wrens, and possible Yellow Rails, all while Wilson’s Snipe winnow around you. Often referred to as the "Duck Factory” of North America because of the thousands of depressional wetlands that were left by retreating glaciers, the Prairie Pothole Region is estimated to host half of North America's migratory waterfowl. There’s a reason Julie Zickefoose promotes North Dakota’s Prairie Potholes in the book Fifty Places to Go Birding Before You Die as a place of "breathtaking beauty, serenity, and wide-open remoteness" where "the entire landscape is crammed seemingly past capacity with birds." Come experience the best kept secret in birding.
Northern Utah and the Mountain West’s Most Wanted
July 25 to 30, 2021
(Optional Himalayan Snowcock extension: July 30 to August 1)
(Optional Himalayan Snowcock extension: July 30 to August 1)
This trip is now full. You can place yourself on the waitlist by following the registration link below. We will contact you if a spot opens.
Flammulated Owl by Tim Avery
Georgia Audubon Host: Adam Betuel, Director of Conservation
Local Guide: Tim Avery, Mountain West Birding Company
Group Size: Maximum group size of 13
Member Price: $2,200*
Non-member Price: $2,250* (includes a one-year Georgia Audubon membership)
Single Supplement: $500
Optional Himalayan Snowcock Extension (July 30 to August 1): $625* (member and non-member price)
Extension Group Size: Maximum extension group size of 6 (first come, first served)
Extension Single Supplement: $260
*Based on double occupancy
The mountain west of the United States provides some of the most breathtaking scenery our country has to offer. Desert, sagebrush, mountains, and lakes are all within a short distance of one another. This diversity of habitats in such close proximity to one another results in this region being a birding paradise that is a must-visit for any birdwatcher. In addition to its general avian wealth, the hotspots of northern Utah and the neighboring states are home to some of the most wanted birds in the U.S., and during the late summer, it provides visual spectacles of fall migration. Nowhere will this be more obvious than at the Great Salt Lake, the largest saline lake in the Western Hemisphere. Finally, for up to six participants, we are also offering a two-day extension. This short add-on will have the group entering Nevada in search of one of the tougher birds to find in the U.S., the Himalayan Snowcock.
Local Guide: Tim Avery, Mountain West Birding Company
Group Size: Maximum group size of 13
Member Price: $2,200*
Non-member Price: $2,250* (includes a one-year Georgia Audubon membership)
Single Supplement: $500
Optional Himalayan Snowcock Extension (July 30 to August 1): $625* (member and non-member price)
Extension Group Size: Maximum extension group size of 6 (first come, first served)
Extension Single Supplement: $260
*Based on double occupancy
The mountain west of the United States provides some of the most breathtaking scenery our country has to offer. Desert, sagebrush, mountains, and lakes are all within a short distance of one another. This diversity of habitats in such close proximity to one another results in this region being a birding paradise that is a must-visit for any birdwatcher. In addition to its general avian wealth, the hotspots of northern Utah and the neighboring states are home to some of the most wanted birds in the U.S., and during the late summer, it provides visual spectacles of fall migration. Nowhere will this be more obvious than at the Great Salt Lake, the largest saline lake in the Western Hemisphere. Finally, for up to six participants, we are also offering a two-day extension. This short add-on will have the group entering Nevada in search of one of the tougher birds to find in the U.S., the Himalayan Snowcock.
Winter in the Lower Rio Grande Valley
November 15 to 20, 2021
This event is now full. You can place yourself on the waitlist by following the registration link below. We will contact you if a spot opens.
Green Jay by Lillian Beasley / Audubon Photography Awards
Georgia Audubon Host: Dottie Head, Director of Communications
Local Guides: Ken Blankenship and Allee Forsberg, East West Birding Tour
Group Size: Maximum group size of 8
Member Price: $1,500*
Non-member Price: $1,150* (includes a one-year Georgia Audubon membership)
Single Supplement: $340
*Based on double occupancy
The Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas is one of the premiere birding hotspots in the U.S, and boasts one of the most amazing assortments of birds found in North America. With more than 500 bird species reported from the area, including residents, rarities, and migrants, the Rio Grande Valley is home to many tropical bird species found nowhere else in the U.S. The Valley is located at the convergence of two major flyways - the Central and Mississippi Flyways - and thus features an abundance of northern species migrating south for the winter and other species that will winter here to take advantage of warmer temperatures and plentiful wintering habitat. We will spread our birding out across four major zones, the coastal zone, heart of Lower Rio Grande Valley (2 parts), and the Western Zone.
Local Guides: Ken Blankenship and Allee Forsberg, East West Birding Tour
Group Size: Maximum group size of 8
Member Price: $1,500*
Non-member Price: $1,150* (includes a one-year Georgia Audubon membership)
Single Supplement: $340
*Based on double occupancy
The Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas is one of the premiere birding hotspots in the U.S, and boasts one of the most amazing assortments of birds found in North America. With more than 500 bird species reported from the area, including residents, rarities, and migrants, the Rio Grande Valley is home to many tropical bird species found nowhere else in the U.S. The Valley is located at the convergence of two major flyways - the Central and Mississippi Flyways - and thus features an abundance of northern species migrating south for the winter and other species that will winter here to take advantage of warmer temperatures and plentiful wintering habitat. We will spread our birding out across four major zones, the coastal zone, heart of Lower Rio Grande Valley (2 parts), and the Western Zone.
Endemic Chasing on Jamaica
December 4 to 10, 2021
This event is now full. You can place yourself on the waitlist by following the registration link below. We will contact you if a spot opens.
Jamaican Mango by Steve Huggins
Georgia Audubon Host: Adam Betuel, Director of Conservation
Local Guides: Dwayne Swaby
Group Size: Maximum group size of 10
Member Price: $2,700*
Non-member Price: $2,750* (includes a one-year Georgia Audubon membership)
Single Supplement: $520
*Based on double occupancy
With so much to offer from world-renowned beaches to reggae and an eclectic cuisine, it is understandable if the thought of Jamaica does not immediate conjure an image of diverse birdlife. However, any bird lover would be making a mistake if they overlooked the avian riches of this Caribbean island, the third largest. With at least 27 species endemic to the island (most for the Caribbean) in addition to numerous Caribbean specialties and temperate migrants, Jamaica is poised to provide you with life birds and unforgettable experiences.
Local Guides: Dwayne Swaby
Group Size: Maximum group size of 10
Member Price: $2,700*
Non-member Price: $2,750* (includes a one-year Georgia Audubon membership)
Single Supplement: $520
*Based on double occupancy
With so much to offer from world-renowned beaches to reggae and an eclectic cuisine, it is understandable if the thought of Jamaica does not immediate conjure an image of diverse birdlife. However, any bird lover would be making a mistake if they overlooked the avian riches of this Caribbean island, the third largest. With at least 27 species endemic to the island (most for the Caribbean) in addition to numerous Caribbean specialties and temperate migrants, Jamaica is poised to provide you with life birds and unforgettable experiences.
OAXACA: MEXICO'S BIRDING CAPITAL
January 2 to 10, 2022
This event is now full. You can place yourself on the waitlist by following the registration link below. We will contact you for payment if a spot opens.
White-throated Magpie by Shannon Fair
Georgia Audubon Leader: Adam Betuel, Director of Conservation
Local Guide: Eric Antonio Martinez, Owner and Tour Leader, Mexico-Birding Tours
Group Size: 10 people
Member Price: $3,900*
Non-member Price: $3,950* (includes a one-year Georgia Audubon membership)
Single Supplement: $750 per person
*Based on double occupancy. See full details if traveling solo.
With more species than the United States and Canada combined, our neighbors to the south host a truly breathtaking diversity of bird life. In addition to the wealth of natural life, Mexico is a nation steeped in rich history, culture, diversity, and is a known culinary destination. While worthy sites can be found throughout this nation, Oaxaca stands out as a location overflowing with the things that make Mexico so special. With a bird species list approaching 800, Oaxaca is Mexico’s most avian rich state. During this nine-day tour, we will split time between the Valley of Oaxaca, including Oaxaca City, as well as Hualtuco and other coastal destinations. Eric Antonio Martinez of Mexico-Birding Tours is an Oaxaca native and one of the best bird guides in Mexico. He and Adam will team up to locate an assortment of birds, including such targets as Orange-breasted Bunting, Dwarf Jay, Red Warbler, Red-headed Tanager, and other endemic species and tropical jaw-droppers. In addition to the breathtaking bird watching, we will visit a variety of habitats, traveling from sea level up to 10,000 ft, exploring the ruins at Monte Alban, spending time in the center of historic Oaxaca City, and taking a mini-pelagic boat trip. Come join us on a trip full of birds, mole, mezcal, and rich culture.
sax-zim bog & northern minnesota in winter
February 10 to 14, 2022
This event is now full. You can place yourself on the waitlist by following the registration link below. We will contact you for payment if a spot opens.
Great Gray Owl by Shirley Donald/Audubon Photography Awards
Georgia Audubon Host: Michelle Hamner, Director of Development
Local Guide: Josh Engel, Red Hill Birding (2nd local guide with more than 6 participants)
Group Size: Minimum group size of 6 / Maximum group size of 13
Member Price: $1,870*
Non-member Price: $1,920* (includes a one-year Georgia Audubon membership)
Single Supplement: $350
*Based on double occupancy
Only to a birder does a trip away in the middle of winter to northern Minnesota seem like a good idea. But this is a classic "quality over quantity" birding experience, where species diversity may be low but the quality of birds is through the roof. The boreal forests in winter are home to mouth-watering birds like Great Gray Owl, Northern Hawk Owl, Bohemian Waxwing, Evening Grosbeak, Boreal Chickadee, Black-backed Woodpecker, and Spruce Grouse. The northern woods at this time of year are a real winter wonderland -- snow-covered, quiet, and peaceful, the silence occasionally punctuated by a noisy flock of crossbills or the tapping of a woodpecker on a tamarack.
This trip, led with local support by Red Hill Birding, is designed to take in the best birding that Northeast Minnesota offers in winter. We will visit the world-famous Sax-Zim Bog, the forests of Superior National Forest, and the North Shore of Lake Superior. We will be based in a single Duluth lakefront hotel for the duration of the trip. Because of the short nature of this trip and the short day length of the northern winter, we will be eating early breakfasts and spending full days in the field to see as many of the specialty birds as possible. If we're lucky, we may even come across a Northwoods mammal like a wolf, moose, porcupine, or pine marten.
Local Guide: Josh Engel, Red Hill Birding (2nd local guide with more than 6 participants)
Group Size: Minimum group size of 6 / Maximum group size of 13
Member Price: $1,870*
Non-member Price: $1,920* (includes a one-year Georgia Audubon membership)
Single Supplement: $350
*Based on double occupancy
Only to a birder does a trip away in the middle of winter to northern Minnesota seem like a good idea. But this is a classic "quality over quantity" birding experience, where species diversity may be low but the quality of birds is through the roof. The boreal forests in winter are home to mouth-watering birds like Great Gray Owl, Northern Hawk Owl, Bohemian Waxwing, Evening Grosbeak, Boreal Chickadee, Black-backed Woodpecker, and Spruce Grouse. The northern woods at this time of year are a real winter wonderland -- snow-covered, quiet, and peaceful, the silence occasionally punctuated by a noisy flock of crossbills or the tapping of a woodpecker on a tamarack.
This trip, led with local support by Red Hill Birding, is designed to take in the best birding that Northeast Minnesota offers in winter. We will visit the world-famous Sax-Zim Bog, the forests of Superior National Forest, and the North Shore of Lake Superior. We will be based in a single Duluth lakefront hotel for the duration of the trip. Because of the short nature of this trip and the short day length of the northern winter, we will be eating early breakfasts and spending full days in the field to see as many of the specialty birds as possible. If we're lucky, we may even come across a Northwoods mammal like a wolf, moose, porcupine, or pine marten.
past trip reports
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Costa Rica 2020
January 2020 Trip Leader: Adam Betuel In January 2020, Director of Conservation Adam Betuel led a group of Georgia Audubon members on an international birdwatching adventure to Costa Rica. For many Americans, there is no place more synonymous with tropical birds and luxuriant landscapes than Costa Rica. Long known as a safe, diverse, and biologically rich country, Costa Rica is a true birdwatchers' heaven. The group saw hundreds of bird species, including regional specialties, colorful gems, and some of our overwintering visitors. Along with stellar birding and breathtaking landscapes, the group visited a shadegrown coffee farm and had the opportunity to join bird banders from the Costa Rica Bird Observatories. |
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Michigan 2019
May 28 to June 2, 2019
Trip Leader: Adam Betuel
With over 3,000 miles of coastline, an extensive state forest system, and a diversity of habitats, it is no wonder that Michigan is a top birding destination. What may be less apparent are the ways birds connect both Michigan and our own Peach State. Upland Sandpipers migrate south from breeding grounds and visit our rural sod farms. Over 60% of the endangered Great Lakes breeding population of the Piping Plover overwinter on the Georgia coast. In addition, one of the rarest birds in our country, the Kirtland’s Warbler, breeds almost exclusively in Michigan and in migration is found in its highest density in Georgia.
May 28 to June 2, 2019
Trip Leader: Adam Betuel
With over 3,000 miles of coastline, an extensive state forest system, and a diversity of habitats, it is no wonder that Michigan is a top birding destination. What may be less apparent are the ways birds connect both Michigan and our own Peach State. Upland Sandpipers migrate south from breeding grounds and visit our rural sod farms. Over 60% of the endangered Great Lakes breeding population of the Piping Plover overwinter on the Georgia coast. In addition, one of the rarest birds in our country, the Kirtland’s Warbler, breeds almost exclusively in Michigan and in migration is found in its highest density in Georgia.
Paraguay 2017
August 5 to 18, 2017
Leaders: Adam Betuel (Georgia Audubon) & Paul Smith (Fauna Paraguay)
When it came to choosing our inaugural destination, unlimited possibilities existed. However, one often-overlooked destination quickly became the top choice–Paraguay. Paraguay may be off the beaten path for many travelers (and birders) but it is a nation with amazing wildlife. A country of conservation importance on the hemispheric level, a nation highlighted by the National Audubon Society’s International Alliances Program, and a place that Adam himself had previously spent months conducting avian research; Paraguay had to be the place. This, we hope, will serve as the first of many trips as Georgia Audubon intends to offer a series of birdwatching and conservation-themed adventures.
August 5 to 18, 2017
Leaders: Adam Betuel (Georgia Audubon) & Paul Smith (Fauna Paraguay)
When it came to choosing our inaugural destination, unlimited possibilities existed. However, one often-overlooked destination quickly became the top choice–Paraguay. Paraguay may be off the beaten path for many travelers (and birders) but it is a nation with amazing wildlife. A country of conservation importance on the hemispheric level, a nation highlighted by the National Audubon Society’s International Alliances Program, and a place that Adam himself had previously spent months conducting avian research; Paraguay had to be the place. This, we hope, will serve as the first of many trips as Georgia Audubon intends to offer a series of birdwatching and conservation-themed adventures.
