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.
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 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 travel guidelines and restrictions at the destination at the time of travel.
ARGENTINA:
THE PAMPAS & NORTHERN PATAGONIA
September 17 to 30, 2022
This trip is now full. Continue with the registration process to place your name on the waiting list. We will contact you if a space opens and will collect your payment at that time.
Above: Magellanic Penguins / Charles Bergman / Audubon Photography Awards
Leaders: Adam Betuel, Georgia Audubon's Director of Conservation, and local guide Mark Pearman, ornithologist and author of Birds of Argentina and the South-west Atlantic (2020). Mark is a British native and resident of Argentina for 30 years.
Group Size: Maximum group size of 10 / The tour can run with 8 participants at a higher per person cost.
Member Price: $4,630* per person
Non-member Price: $4,680* per person (includes a one-year Georgia Audubon membership)
Single Supplement for non-shared hotel room: $235 per person (Note that we are limited to 4 single supplements on this tour)
*Based on double occupancy and 10 participants.
With a species list topping 1,000, miles and miles of coastline, a diverse variety of breathtaking habitats, and of course the food and wine, there is no doubt that Argentina is a destination that should be on every birdwatcher's and traveler's bucket list. For this Georgia Audubon trip, we will specifically focus on the central and southern portions of this elongated nation, travelling between northern Patagonia, through the fertile Pampas, and up to the buzzing capital of Buenos Aires, sticking pretty close to the coast. While a lot of effort and time will be spent tracking down local avian targets such as Yellow Cardinal, South American Painted-Snipe, Magellanic Penguin, and Burrowing Parakeet, this tour is also timed for the arrival of the North American shorebirds that often use Georgia’s coastline during migration. If lucky, we will spot White-rumped Sandpipers, Buff-breasted Sandpipers, Pectoral Sandpipers, and both Yellowlegs thousands of miles from the Glynn or Bartow County hotspots they would have visited weeks or months before.
Join Georgia Audubon's Director of Conservation, Adam Betuel, as well as Mark Pearman, author of the new Birds of Argentina and the South-west Atlantic field guide, on this amazing two-week journey. In addition to the hundreds of bird species that will be seen, including many endemics, this trip will provide great opportunities to see mammals and grand vistas. The group will be taking three separate boat trips focusing on breeding Southern Right Whale, Commerson’s Dolphin, and pelagic birdwatching. On land, many other mammals are possible including Guanacos, Patagonian Maras, Elephant Seals, and more.
Group Size: Maximum group size of 10 / The tour can run with 8 participants at a higher per person cost.
Member Price: $4,630* per person
Non-member Price: $4,680* per person (includes a one-year Georgia Audubon membership)
Single Supplement for non-shared hotel room: $235 per person (Note that we are limited to 4 single supplements on this tour)
*Based on double occupancy and 10 participants.
With a species list topping 1,000, miles and miles of coastline, a diverse variety of breathtaking habitats, and of course the food and wine, there is no doubt that Argentina is a destination that should be on every birdwatcher's and traveler's bucket list. For this Georgia Audubon trip, we will specifically focus on the central and southern portions of this elongated nation, travelling between northern Patagonia, through the fertile Pampas, and up to the buzzing capital of Buenos Aires, sticking pretty close to the coast. While a lot of effort and time will be spent tracking down local avian targets such as Yellow Cardinal, South American Painted-Snipe, Magellanic Penguin, and Burrowing Parakeet, this tour is also timed for the arrival of the North American shorebirds that often use Georgia’s coastline during migration. If lucky, we will spot White-rumped Sandpipers, Buff-breasted Sandpipers, Pectoral Sandpipers, and both Yellowlegs thousands of miles from the Glynn or Bartow County hotspots they would have visited weeks or months before.
Join Georgia Audubon's Director of Conservation, Adam Betuel, as well as Mark Pearman, author of the new Birds of Argentina and the South-west Atlantic field guide, on this amazing two-week journey. In addition to the hundreds of bird species that will be seen, including many endemics, this trip will provide great opportunities to see mammals and grand vistas. The group will be taking three separate boat trips focusing on breeding Southern Right Whale, Commerson’s Dolphin, and pelagic birdwatching. On land, many other mammals are possible including Guanacos, Patagonian Maras, Elephant Seals, and more.
NEW JERSEY:
WINTER BIRDING IN THE MID-ATLANTIC
December 1 to 7, 2022
This trip is now full. Continue with the registration process to place your name on the waiting list. We will contact you if a space opens and will collect your payment at that time.
Harlequin Duck / George Armistead
Leaders: Adam Betuel, Georgia Audubon's Director of Conservation, joined by local guide George Armistead
Group Size: Maximum group size of 9 / The tour can run with 6+ participants at a higher per person cost.
Member Price: $3,500* per person
Non-member Price: $3,550* per person (includes a one-year Georgia Audubon membership)
Single Supplement for non-shared hotel room: $350 per person
*Based on double occupancy and 9 participants.
New Jersey? In the winter? Yes!!! While the Garden State is most famous for its migratory seasons at well-known hotspots like Cape May, it has lots of interesting avian life during the cooler months as well. After the summer crowds wind down, the birds wind up, with sea ducks, raptors, and sparrows featuring well. Snowy Owls, Snow Buntings, Harlequin Ducks, eiders, and Brant make their way to the Jersey shore during the winter and are just a few of the possible highlights. Additionally, early December is the peak of rarity season for the region, so you never know what might turn up! Join Georgia Audubon's Director of Conservation, Adam Betuel, and special guest guide George Armistead for this winter adventure.
Group Size: Maximum group size of 9 / The tour can run with 6+ participants at a higher per person cost.
Member Price: $3,500* per person
Non-member Price: $3,550* per person (includes a one-year Georgia Audubon membership)
Single Supplement for non-shared hotel room: $350 per person
*Based on double occupancy and 9 participants.
New Jersey? In the winter? Yes!!! While the Garden State is most famous for its migratory seasons at well-known hotspots like Cape May, it has lots of interesting avian life during the cooler months as well. After the summer crowds wind down, the birds wind up, with sea ducks, raptors, and sparrows featuring well. Snowy Owls, Snow Buntings, Harlequin Ducks, eiders, and Brant make their way to the Jersey shore during the winter and are just a few of the possible highlights. Additionally, early December is the peak of rarity season for the region, so you never know what might turn up! Join Georgia Audubon's Director of Conservation, Adam Betuel, and special guest guide George Armistead for this winter adventure.
sax-zim bog & northern minnesota:
winter specialties
February 9 to 13, 2023
Boreal Owl by Michelle Hamner
Georgia Audubon Host: Michelle Hamner, Director of Development
Local Guide: Red Hill Birding (2nd guide and van will be added with more than 6 participants)
Group Size: Minimum group size of 6 / Maximum group size of 13
Member Price: $2,310* per person
Non-member Price: $2,360* per person (includes a one-year Georgia Audubon membership)
Single Supplement: $370
*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.
Local Guide: Red Hill Birding (2nd guide and van will be added with more than 6 participants)
Group Size: Minimum group size of 6 / Maximum group size of 13
Member Price: $2,310* per person
Non-member Price: $2,360* per person (includes a one-year Georgia Audubon membership)
Single Supplement: $370
*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.
colombia:
the colombian andes & cauca valley
March 10 to 24, 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: Crescent-faced Antpitta
Leaders: Adam Betuel (Director of Conservation, Georgia Audubon) and Diego Calderon (COLOMBIA Birding & The Birders Show)
Group Size: Maximum group size of 10 (can be run with a smaller group at an elevated price)
Member Price: $5,660* per person
Non-member Price: $5,710* per person (includes a one-year Georgia Audubon membership)
Single Supplement for non-shared hotel room: $530 per person
*Based on double occupancy
Colombia is the epicenter of avian diversity. No country on the planet has more species than Colombia (1900+) despite it only being around 1/9 the size of the United States. With multiple cordilleras of the Andes, the Santa Marta Mountains, two coastlines, the Amazon, and so much more interesting biogeography, it is no wonder why. This two-week trip provides a bird-filled and approachable itinerary for the country of birds. The focus of this tour will be all three ranges of the Colombian Andes, from their high paramo habitats to lower elevation valleys, and all of the amazing birds that call these places home. We will try to track down Colombian endemics such as Green-bearded Helmetcrest, Cauca Guan, Bogota Rail, and Multicolored Tanager; regional specialties like Crescent-faced Antpitta and Masked Saltator; and more widespread but stunning species like Red-ruffed Fruitcrow, Golden-headed Quetzal, and Shining Sunbeam.
Group Size: Maximum group size of 10 (can be run with a smaller group at an elevated price)
Member Price: $5,660* per person
Non-member Price: $5,710* per person (includes a one-year Georgia Audubon membership)
Single Supplement for non-shared hotel room: $530 per person
*Based on double occupancy
Colombia is the epicenter of avian diversity. No country on the planet has more species than Colombia (1900+) despite it only being around 1/9 the size of the United States. With multiple cordilleras of the Andes, the Santa Marta Mountains, two coastlines, the Amazon, and so much more interesting biogeography, it is no wonder why. This two-week trip provides a bird-filled and approachable itinerary for the country of birds. The focus of this tour will be all three ranges of the Colombian Andes, from their high paramo habitats to lower elevation valleys, and all of the amazing birds that call these places home. We will try to track down Colombian endemics such as Green-bearded Helmetcrest, Cauca Guan, Bogota Rail, and Multicolored Tanager; regional specialties like Crescent-faced Antpitta and Masked Saltator; and more widespread but stunning species like Red-ruffed Fruitcrow, Golden-headed Quetzal, and Shining Sunbeam.
spring in southeastern arizona
May 1 to 7, 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.
Elegant Trogon by Bryan Patrick / Audubon Photography Awards
Georgia Audubon Host: Michelle Hamner, Director of Development
Local Guides: Ken Blankenship & Allee Forsberg, East-West Birding Tours
Group Size: Maximum group size of 8
Member Price: $2,950* per person
Non-member Price: $3,000* per person (includes a one-year Georgia Audubon membership)
Single Supplement for non-shared hotel room: $620 per person
*Based on double occupancy
Ask any birder to name their favorite regional birding destination in the U.S., and a significant percentage would choose southeastern Arizona. Within this relatively small, compact region, you can visit Sonoran Desert, oak woodland, high-elevation conifer forest, and riparian areas. The list of special species is long, but a few highlights are Montezuma Quail, Gray Hawk, Violet-crowned Hummingbird, Elegant Trogon, Arizona Woodpecker, Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet, Buff-breasted Flycatcher, Olive Warbler, Rufous-winged Sparrow, and Yellow-eyed Junco. Join Georgia Audubon and East-West Birding Tours for this amazing trip!
Local Guides: Ken Blankenship & Allee Forsberg, East-West Birding Tours
Group Size: Maximum group size of 8
Member Price: $2,950* per person
Non-member Price: $3,000* per person (includes a one-year Georgia Audubon membership)
Single Supplement for non-shared hotel room: $620 per person
*Based on double occupancy
Ask any birder to name their favorite regional birding destination in the U.S., and a significant percentage would choose southeastern Arizona. Within this relatively small, compact region, you can visit Sonoran Desert, oak woodland, high-elevation conifer forest, and riparian areas. The list of special species is long, but a few highlights are Montezuma Quail, Gray Hawk, Violet-crowned Hummingbird, Elegant Trogon, Arizona Woodpecker, Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet, Buff-breasted Flycatcher, Olive Warbler, Rufous-winged Sparrow, and Yellow-eyed Junco. Join Georgia Audubon and East-West Birding Tours for this amazing trip!
NORTHERN MICHIGAN:
KIRTLAND’S WARBLER AND THE UPPER PENINSULA
May 30 to June 5, 2023
Only 1 space remains!
(updated 7/2/2022)
(updated 7/2/2022)
Kirtland's Warbler by Nancy Gaudino
Georgia Audubon Guide: Adam Betuel, Director of Conservation
Group Size: Maximum of 12 participants (trip can run at an elevated cost with 10 participants)
Georgia Audubon Member Price: $3,460* per person
Non-member Price: $3,510* per person (includes a one-year Georgia Audubon membership)
Single Supplement: +$700
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-notch birdwatching destination. Join Georgia Audubon's Director of Conservation, Adam Betuel, on this tour of the northern reaches of bird-rich Michigan, where we will look for rare birds, long distance migrants, and species not found in the Southeast. We'll visit Jack Pine forests, the world-renowned Whitefish Point, boreal forests, and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore; visit with local researchers; and indulge in local cuisine on this not-to-be-missed tour.
Group Size: Maximum of 12 participants (trip can run at an elevated cost with 10 participants)
Georgia Audubon Member Price: $3,460* per person
Non-member Price: $3,510* per person (includes a one-year Georgia Audubon membership)
Single Supplement: +$700
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-notch birdwatching destination. Join Georgia Audubon's Director of Conservation, Adam Betuel, on this tour of the northern reaches of bird-rich Michigan, where we will look for rare birds, long distance migrants, and species not found in the Southeast. We'll visit Jack Pine forests, the world-renowned Whitefish Point, boreal forests, and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore; visit with local researchers; and indulge in local cuisine on this not-to-be-missed tour.
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)
(optional Himalayan Snowcock extension July 17 to 18)
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 has one space remaining for a single traveler or for two people sharing a room.
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.
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 is scheduled to open later this year for the following trip(s):
Please check back for more information!
Registration is scheduled to open later this year for the following trip(s):
- Big Bend & Hill Country, TX (Spring 2024)
Please check back for more information!
past trip reports
Sax-Zim Bog & Northern Minnesota 2022
View the Trip Report and species list from our winter trip to Minnesota on eBird.
View the Trip Report and species list from our winter trip to Minnesota on eBird.
Video Trip Reports
You can find videos of some of our past trip reports on our YouTube Channel. Simply visit our YouTube Channel and select the playlist "Georgia Audubon Travel."
You can find videos of some of our past trip reports on our YouTube Channel. Simply visit our YouTube Channel and select the playlist "Georgia Audubon Travel."
Maine 2021
June 4 to 8, 2021
Trip Leader: Michelle Hamner
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. Due to precautions for the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the original itinerary of this trip was altered to base the group out of the Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park for the duration. The cool, coastal temperatures on campus were a welcome respite from the heatwave the entire region was experiencing at the time of our trip, however!
June 4 to 8, 2021
Trip Leader: Michelle Hamner
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. Due to precautions for the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the original itinerary of this trip was altered to base the group out of the Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park for the duration. The cool, coastal temperatures on campus were a welcome respite from the heatwave the entire region was experiencing at the time of our trip, however!
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.
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.
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.
