Above: Montana & Yellowstone tour 2022 / Photo by Michelle Hamner
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.
Current members of Georgia Audubon and subscribers to our twice-monthly BirdBuzz e-newsletter receive the latest information related to upcoming trips and registration dates. Join Georgia Audubon as a member (or renew your membership) or subscribe to the BirdBuzz e-newsletter to stay up to date.
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.
Current members of Georgia Audubon and subscribers to our twice-monthly BirdBuzz e-newsletter receive the latest information related to upcoming trips and registration dates. Join Georgia Audubon as a member (or renew your membership) or subscribe to the BirdBuzz e-newsletter to stay up to date.
upcoming trips
COVID-19 Travel Update: 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 additional boosters, but additional boosters are not required to travel with Georgia Audubon at this time. 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 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.
Atlantic Puffins, by Jean Hall.
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
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
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.
NORTHERN UTAH AND THE MOUNTAIN WEST’S MOST WANTED
July 11 to 16, 2023
(optional Himalayan Snowcock extension July 17 to 18)
This trip is now full. Please join the wait list below. We will contact you if a space opens and will collect your payment at that time.
(optional Himalayan Snowcock extension July 17 to 18)
This trip is now full. Please join the wait list below. We will contact you if a space opens and will collect your payment at that time.
Flammulated Owl by Tim Avery
Georgia Audubon Host: Melanie Furr, Director of Education
Local Guide: Tim Avery, Pitta Tours
Group Size: Minimum group size of 6 / Maximum group size of 11 (a 2nd guide and van will be added with a group size of 9+)
Member Price: $3,625*
Non-member Price: $3,675* (includes a one-year Georgia Audubon membership)
Single Supplement: +$600
Optional Himalayan Snowcock Extension (July 17 to 18): +$1,260* (member and non-member price)
Extension Group Size: Minimum group size of 6 / Maximum group size of 11
Extension Single Supplement: +$300
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.
For this trip, Georgia Audubon will be collaborating with Pitta Tours to offer a true sampling of the birds of this special region. We will have great chances to see one of the most desired owls on the planet in the Flammulated Owl. Time will be spent chasing the Cassia Crossbill, a unique finch that is restricted solely to southern Idaho and was recognized as a new species in 2017. Other noteworthy birds that can be found in this area with some regularity include Black Swift, Black Rosy-Finch, a pair of interesting game birds (Chukar and Gray Partridge), and so many more. In addition to the rarity hunting, we will spend time enjoying amazing avian behavior like the flocking of thousands upon thousands of Wilson’s and Red-necked Phalaropes along the Antelope Island Causeway. These clouds of shorebirds are almost hard to comprehend and will be joined by what would normally seem like large amounts of other species like American Avocet, Franklins Gull, Eared Grebe, Long-billed Curlew, and more.
madagascar:
the one & only
October 28 to November 11, 2023
(optional extension November 11 to 17, 2023)
(optional extension November 11 to 17, 2023)
This trip is now full. Please join the wait list below. We will contact you if a space opens and will collect your payment at that time.
Above: Pitta-like Ground-Roller
Leaders: Adam Betuel (Director of Conservation, Georgia Audubon) and Josh Engel (Red Hill Birding)
Group Size: Maximum group size of 8 (can be run with a smaller group of 6-7 participants at an elevated price -- see trip details document for more information)
Main Trip Pricing:
- Member Price: $11,250* per person
- Non-member Price: $11,300* per person (includes a one-year Georgia Audubon membership)
- Single Supplement for non-shared room: $920
- Registration: $2,670* per person (with 8 participants -- can be run with as few as 4 participants with elevated pricing)
- Extension Single Supplement for non-shared room: $250
Madagascar is one of the most unique places on the planet, no matter how you measure it. Ecologically, it is filled with diversity, uniqueness, beauty, and the strange. Despite its proximity to the African continent, Madagascar has been isolated for millions of years and was most recently connected to India and not its nearby neighbors. This distinctiveness has often led to Madagascar being called the 8th continent. This island, the world's fourth-largest, is home to five endemic bird families and 120 species found nowhere else on earth. Additionally, more than half of the world’s chameleons live here, as do over a hundred species of lemurs, odd insects, and stunning flora. Madagascar is a naturalist’s dream, filled with places and creatures unrivaled.
CALIFORNIA DREAMIN':
FROM CONDORS TO GNATCATCHERS AND EVERYTHING IN-BETWEEN
January 4 to 11, 2024
California Condor by Loi Nguyen
Georgia Audubon Leader: Adam Betuel, Director of Conservation
Local Guide: Nathan Goldberg, Red Hill Birding
Group Size: Maximum group size of 13 (trip can run at an elevated cost with 11 participants)
Member Price: $4,085/person*
Non-member Price: $4,135/person* (includes a one-year Georgia Audubon membership)
Single Supplement: +$585
*Based on double occupancy and 13 participants. See more details below if travelling solo.
The state of California offers some of the best year-round birding (and some of the best year-round weather!) in the country, earning its place on the list of must-travel birding locales within the United States. From the Pacific Ocean coast to high mountains, vast deserts, and bird-rich wetlands, the state has more limited-range species than any other in the continental U.S., including two endemic species. That geography, along with its massive size and many established exotics, help it to have the biggest bird list of any state.
This tour is focused on the southern third of the state, SoCal, where the winters are warm and full of great birds. On this trip we will see many of the common and widespread specialties of California like California Scrub-Jay, endangered species like California Gnatcatcher, endemic species like Yellow-billed Magpie, local species like Island Scrub-Jay, and uncommon species like Lawrence’s Goldfinch. We will also look for many widespread, but local or rare birds, like California Condor, LeConte’s Thrasher, and Mountain Quail, not to mention all of the countable exotics this region holds.
During this tour we will also make an effort to visit rich Pacific coastal hotspots looking for species like Black Turnstone, Surfbird, Brant’s and Pelagic Cormorants, and Pacific Loon. While near or even on the water, a number of pelagic species are possible, rounding out an incredible diversity of habitats and groupings of birds that can be found on this week-long excursion to our nation's extreme southwest corner.
Local Guide: Nathan Goldberg, Red Hill Birding
Group Size: Maximum group size of 13 (trip can run at an elevated cost with 11 participants)
Member Price: $4,085/person*
Non-member Price: $4,135/person* (includes a one-year Georgia Audubon membership)
Single Supplement: +$585
*Based on double occupancy and 13 participants. See more details below if travelling solo.
The state of California offers some of the best year-round birding (and some of the best year-round weather!) in the country, earning its place on the list of must-travel birding locales within the United States. From the Pacific Ocean coast to high mountains, vast deserts, and bird-rich wetlands, the state has more limited-range species than any other in the continental U.S., including two endemic species. That geography, along with its massive size and many established exotics, help it to have the biggest bird list of any state.
This tour is focused on the southern third of the state, SoCal, where the winters are warm and full of great birds. On this trip we will see many of the common and widespread specialties of California like California Scrub-Jay, endangered species like California Gnatcatcher, endemic species like Yellow-billed Magpie, local species like Island Scrub-Jay, and uncommon species like Lawrence’s Goldfinch. We will also look for many widespread, but local or rare birds, like California Condor, LeConte’s Thrasher, and Mountain Quail, not to mention all of the countable exotics this region holds.
During this tour we will also make an effort to visit rich Pacific coastal hotspots looking for species like Black Turnstone, Surfbird, Brant’s and Pelagic Cormorants, and Pacific Loon. While near or even on the water, a number of pelagic species are possible, rounding out an incredible diversity of habitats and groupings of birds that can be found on this week-long excursion to our nation's extreme southwest corner.
Northern Costa Rica:
Wetlands, Volcanos, & Rainforests
February 19 to 29, 2024
(optional extension February 29 to March 2, 2024)
This trip is now full. Please join the wait list below. We will contact you if a space opens and will collect your payment at that time.
(optional extension February 29 to March 2, 2024)
This trip is now full. Please join the wait list below. We will contact you if a space opens and will collect your payment at that time.
Yellow-throated Toucan by Adam Betuel
Georgia Audubon Guide: Adam Betuel, Director of Conservation
Local Guide: Carlos “Charlie” Gomez (Director of Guiding, Costa Rica Expeditions)
Main Tour Group Size: Maximum group size of 12
Main Tour Member Price: $5,180/person*
Main Tour Non-member Price: $5,230/person* (includes a one-year Georgia Audubon membership)
Main Tour Single Supplement: $800
Extension Group Size: Minimum of 8 (extension can run cheaper if there are more than 8 participants)
Extension Price: $750/person*
Extension Single Supplement: $185
*Based on double occupancy. See additional details if traveling solo.
Costa Rica is rightfully one of the top birdwatching destinations on the planet. It is safe, has a top-tier ecotourism infrastructure, is home to a variety of habitat types in close proximity, and is bursting with avian diversity. In the past few years, Georgia Audubon has offered two trips to Costa Rica, both resounding successes with species lists easily topping 350. In 2024 we are returning to Costa Rica and will be working with our great partners at Costa Rica Expeditions (leaders for 40+ years).
This 11-day tour will be an encapsulation of what Northern Costa Rica has to offer. We will visit the dry forests of the northwestern lowlands, the lush middle elevations of the Pacific slope, the expansive wetlands of Caño Negro, and the Caribbean foothills. This sampling of habitats will yield us fantastic chances to see hundreds of species of birds with a few possible highlights including Agami Heron, Jabiru, Black-crested Coquette, Lesser Ground-Cuckoo, White-throated Magpie-Jay, Rufous Motmot, and Golden-hooded Tanager. Toucans, numerous tanagers and antbirds, water-loving shorebirds and herons, as well of a nice variety of temperate birds who will be preparing for their journey northward can be expected.
While the 11-day tour itinerary is phenomenal, it lacks one thing: A chance for the Resplendent Quetzal. To remedy this, we are offering a short highlands extension. These additional days of birding will give us great chances of seeing the most famous bird of Central America as well as a group of species that are primarily confined to the Talamanca highlands. Fiery-throated Hummingbird, Flame-throated Warbler, Collared Redstart, Long-tailed Silky-flycatcher, and Wrenthrush are a few of the birds we could find during these days. Bromeliad laden forests, truly unbelievable hummingbird feeders, and unique vistas will bring the trip to a proper close.
Join us on an amazing opportunity that will be overloaded with birds, good company, and adventure!
Local Guide: Carlos “Charlie” Gomez (Director of Guiding, Costa Rica Expeditions)
Main Tour Group Size: Maximum group size of 12
Main Tour Member Price: $5,180/person*
Main Tour Non-member Price: $5,230/person* (includes a one-year Georgia Audubon membership)
Main Tour Single Supplement: $800
Extension Group Size: Minimum of 8 (extension can run cheaper if there are more than 8 participants)
Extension Price: $750/person*
Extension Single Supplement: $185
*Based on double occupancy. See additional details if traveling solo.
Costa Rica is rightfully one of the top birdwatching destinations on the planet. It is safe, has a top-tier ecotourism infrastructure, is home to a variety of habitat types in close proximity, and is bursting with avian diversity. In the past few years, Georgia Audubon has offered two trips to Costa Rica, both resounding successes with species lists easily topping 350. In 2024 we are returning to Costa Rica and will be working with our great partners at Costa Rica Expeditions (leaders for 40+ years).
This 11-day tour will be an encapsulation of what Northern Costa Rica has to offer. We will visit the dry forests of the northwestern lowlands, the lush middle elevations of the Pacific slope, the expansive wetlands of Caño Negro, and the Caribbean foothills. This sampling of habitats will yield us fantastic chances to see hundreds of species of birds with a few possible highlights including Agami Heron, Jabiru, Black-crested Coquette, Lesser Ground-Cuckoo, White-throated Magpie-Jay, Rufous Motmot, and Golden-hooded Tanager. Toucans, numerous tanagers and antbirds, water-loving shorebirds and herons, as well of a nice variety of temperate birds who will be preparing for their journey northward can be expected.
While the 11-day tour itinerary is phenomenal, it lacks one thing: A chance for the Resplendent Quetzal. To remedy this, we are offering a short highlands extension. These additional days of birding will give us great chances of seeing the most famous bird of Central America as well as a group of species that are primarily confined to the Talamanca highlands. Fiery-throated Hummingbird, Flame-throated Warbler, Collared Redstart, Long-tailed Silky-flycatcher, and Wrenthrush are a few of the birds we could find during these days. Bromeliad laden forests, truly unbelievable hummingbird feeders, and unique vistas will bring the trip to a proper close.
Join us on an amazing opportunity that will be overloaded with birds, good company, and adventure!
big bend & hill country, texas
April 27 to May 6, 2024
1 Spot remains. Please note that anyone who signs up for this spot MUST choose the single supplement.
1 Spot remains. Please note that anyone who signs up for this spot MUST choose the single supplement.
Golden-cheeked Warbler by Josh Engel
Georgia Audubon Host: Adam Betuel, Director of Conservation
Local Guide: Guides TBD, Red Hill Birding
Group Size: Minimum group size of 6 / Maximum group size of 10 (a second guide and van will be added for 7+ participants)
Member Price: $4,750/person*
Non-member Price: $4,785/person* (includes a one-year Georgia Audubon membership)
Single Supplement: +$760
*Based on double occupancy
Texas maintains a unique status in American birding lore, and certain places within the state loom particularly large. Among those are the Hill Country and Big Bend National Park. The Hill Country is where east-meets-west-meets-south, with two endangered migratory songbirds, Golden-cheeked Warbler and Black-capped Vireo, breeding almost nowhere else. Across the dusty desert plains to the west of Hill Country lies Big Bend National Park, one of the park system’s hidden gems. The incredible scenery, remote location, and rugged mountains make the trip worthwhile on its own, but the spectacular birding adds a welcome extra dimension to a visit.
The mountains are home to the northernmost breeding population of Colima Warbler, the only place where it can be found north of the Rio Grande. Many other border specialties are also found here, shared with Southeast Arizona’s Sky Islands. These include birds like Mexican Jay, Mexican Whip-poor-will, Painted Redstart, and Blue-throated Hummingbird. We will also search the desert scrub for Varied Bunting, Gray Vireo, and Lucifer Hummingbird, along with the many more common desert denizens. Our final destination, both as a way to break up the drive and for more great birding, will be Davis Mountains State Park. While the difficult Montezuma Quail will be a major target, the park is always full of birds. Join us for this 10-day exploration of some of the best birding that Texas has to offer!
Local Guide: Guides TBD, Red Hill Birding
Group Size: Minimum group size of 6 / Maximum group size of 10 (a second guide and van will be added for 7+ participants)
Member Price: $4,750/person*
Non-member Price: $4,785/person* (includes a one-year Georgia Audubon membership)
Single Supplement: +$760
*Based on double occupancy
Texas maintains a unique status in American birding lore, and certain places within the state loom particularly large. Among those are the Hill Country and Big Bend National Park. The Hill Country is where east-meets-west-meets-south, with two endangered migratory songbirds, Golden-cheeked Warbler and Black-capped Vireo, breeding almost nowhere else. Across the dusty desert plains to the west of Hill Country lies Big Bend National Park, one of the park system’s hidden gems. The incredible scenery, remote location, and rugged mountains make the trip worthwhile on its own, but the spectacular birding adds a welcome extra dimension to a visit.
The mountains are home to the northernmost breeding population of Colima Warbler, the only place where it can be found north of the Rio Grande. Many other border specialties are also found here, shared with Southeast Arizona’s Sky Islands. These include birds like Mexican Jay, Mexican Whip-poor-will, Painted Redstart, and Blue-throated Hummingbird. We will also search the desert scrub for Varied Bunting, Gray Vireo, and Lucifer Hummingbird, along with the many more common desert denizens. Our final destination, both as a way to break up the drive and for more great birding, will be Davis Mountains State Park. While the difficult Montezuma Quail will be a major target, the park is always full of birds. Join us for this 10-day exploration of some of the best birding that Texas has to offer!
summer birding in colorado
July 8 to 13, 2024
This trip is now full. Please join the wait list below. We will contact you if a space opens and will collect your payment at that time.
Lazuli Bunting by Carl Bendorf
Georgia Audubon Guide: Adam Betuel, Director of Conservation
Additional Guides: George Armistead (Hillstar Nature) and Carl Bendorf (Colorado Birding Adventures)
Group Size: Maximum 9 participants
Member Price: $3,530/person*
Non-member Price: $3,580/person* (includes a one-year Georgia Audubon membership)
Single Supplement: +$495
*Based on double occupancy
With an impressive variety of habitats, fantastic mountain scenery, and a bird list (519 species) that ranks in the top ten of all states (impressive considering the nearest ocean is 800 miles!), Colorado is on most birder’s list of places to visit. Throw in warm sunny days, cool nights, low humidity, and relatively few bugs, and Colorado is the ideal summer birding destination.
Our key birding spots include two of the top birding hotspots in North America: Rocky Mountain National Park and Pawnee National Grassland. Despite being only 75 miles apart, the 7,000-foot difference in elevation between these two places creates a wealth of habitat variety and a long list of Western species.
This tour’s target list includes White-tailed Ptarmigan, Western & Clark’s Grebe, Mountain Plover, Williamson’s and Red-naped Sapsucker, American Three-toed and Lewis’s Woodpeckers, Pinyon Jay, Clark’s Nutcracker, Brown-capped Rosy-finch, Chestnut-collared and Thick-billed Longspur, Lark Bunting, MacGillivray’s Warbler, Lazuli Bunting, and much more.
Join Georgia Audubon, Hillstar Nature, and Colorado Birding Adventures for this fantastic tour.
Additional Guides: George Armistead (Hillstar Nature) and Carl Bendorf (Colorado Birding Adventures)
Group Size: Maximum 9 participants
Member Price: $3,530/person*
Non-member Price: $3,580/person* (includes a one-year Georgia Audubon membership)
Single Supplement: +$495
*Based on double occupancy
With an impressive variety of habitats, fantastic mountain scenery, and a bird list (519 species) that ranks in the top ten of all states (impressive considering the nearest ocean is 800 miles!), Colorado is on most birder’s list of places to visit. Throw in warm sunny days, cool nights, low humidity, and relatively few bugs, and Colorado is the ideal summer birding destination.
Our key birding spots include two of the top birding hotspots in North America: Rocky Mountain National Park and Pawnee National Grassland. Despite being only 75 miles apart, the 7,000-foot difference in elevation between these two places creates a wealth of habitat variety and a long list of Western species.
This tour’s target list includes White-tailed Ptarmigan, Western & Clark’s Grebe, Mountain Plover, Williamson’s and Red-naped Sapsucker, American Three-toed and Lewis’s Woodpeckers, Pinyon Jay, Clark’s Nutcracker, Brown-capped Rosy-finch, Chestnut-collared and Thick-billed Longspur, Lark Bunting, MacGillivray’s Warbler, Lazuli Bunting, and much more.
Join Georgia Audubon, Hillstar Nature, and Colorado Birding Adventures for this fantastic tour.
trips we're planning...
Be sure to join Georgia Audubon as a member to ensure you receive all updates regarding the Georgia Audubon Travel Program.
Registration will open soon for the following trips:
Please check back for more information!
Registration will open soon for the following trips:
- Montana & Yellowstone (June 2024) - registration opens Summer 2023
- Hawaii (October 2024) - registration opens Fall 2023
- Dauphin Island, AL (April 2024) - registration opens Fall 2023
- St. Marks NWR, FL (January 2024) - registration opens Fall 2023
Please check back for more information!
