Continued Tuesday Morning Bird Walks March May a m Join

Continued Tuesday Morning Bird Walks March 21 - May 30, 8 a.m. Join Property Manager Andy Rzeznikiewicz during the spring bird migratory season. The Bafflin Sanctuary and adjoining Land Trust Properties hold diverse populations of nesting and migrating bird species. Bring binoculars. All walks meet at the Center. Cost: members free/non-members $5. Thursdays in March, 9:30-11 a.m. Everyone is feeling a touch of cabin fever and toddlers are no exception. Consider bringing them out for a walk on our trails in search of animal tracks. Tracking will be our theme for March. Dress for the weather and the mud. Cost for a month of Thursdays: $12 members/$20 nonmembers or $5 per day. Day, Weekend, Domestic, and International Travel Andrew Griswold, Director of EcoTravel 860-767-0660 or 800-996-8747 Rarities Expeditions - Anytime! Have you ever wanted to chase a rarity near Connecticut, but couldn’t find directions, or were concerned about going alone? Here’s your chance to join CAS EcoTravel Rarities Expeditions. We’ll provide the transportation, driver, company, and experienced leadership. This is how it works: first, call EcoTravel to sign on. When a bird of significance is in “the area,” EcoTravel will contact you with the chance to join the adventure. You have the option to come along or wait for the next big rarity. The fee will be determined by how far we have to drive for each bird. Call 800-996-8747 to get your name on the list! Wednesday Lunch Walks March 1 - May 31, noon Get out of the house or office to stretch your legs and clear your head. Join Connecticut Audubon Society staff for some fresh air and exercise. Seniors and parents with babes in backpacks welcome. Free. After School Nature Club Session I: Tuesdays March 7 - April 4, 3:30 - 5:15 p.m. Session II: Tuesdays May 2 - May 30, 3:30 - 5:15 p.m. Woodcock Watches Saturday, March 18, 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 28, 6:00 p.m. This is the time of year woodcock do their courtship displays. We will spend our time at a known woodcock dancing ground. Meet at the Nature Center. Bring binoculars. Cost: members $4/nonmembers $9. Daytrips Eagle Boat Cruises February 2 through March 19 Tuesday & Thursday 10AM Saturday & Sunday 10AM and 1PM Connecticut Audubon Society sponsors numerous boats to view wintering eagles along the Connecticut River, departing from Essex. Bald Eagles and occasionally Golden Eagles, can be found along the lower river, where this wintering ground is host to as many as seventy eagles. This is the largest concentration of eagles in the state, comprising about seventy percent of the state’s maximum number. Aboard “RiverQuest,” will be naturalists to assist in identification and to help distinguish the birds’ different ages. “RiverQuest” has a heated cabin and restroom. Tours are approximately two hours in length. Fee: $35 ($40 during the Eagle Festival on Feb 18-19). Roosevelt’s Home Wednesday, February 15 All Day Along the Hudson River in historic Hyde Park, NY lies the lifelong home of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Botanist Bob Kuchta will take you on a tour of this stately estate. Included on the 300-acre property are the Presidential Library and Museum. A stroll through the grounds, gardens, and trails will complete your Roosevelt experience. Members $60, Non-members $70. Thursday Morning Walks March 2 - June 1, 8:30 a.m. Longtime volunteer and naturalist Fran Baranski and other Center volunteers will take you for a weekly walk on the Bafflin Sanctuary and Wyndham Land Trust properties. Walk for fun and exercise, visiting different locations each week and a tracking lesson will no doubt present itself. Cost: members free/non-members $3. Lewis & Clark Wednesday, March 29, 7 p.m. Travel with Paul and Louise Lee as they followed the Lewis and Clark “Voyage of Discovery” from St. Louis Missouri to Astoria, Oregon. A well planned and executed Elderhostel bus trip, it was full of interesting traveling companions and fascinating encounters with people like the chief of the Nez Perce Indians, a woman! The research and application of modern science for positively identifying Travelers’ Rest, a Lewis and Clark camp site which even excited the on-site archeologists. CAS members free/nonmembers $5. Rhode Island Coastline Friday, February 24 All Day From Point Judith to Watch Hill, join EcoTravel Assistant James Restivo on a birding adventure of the Rhode Island coastline. Shorebirds, loons, grebes, alcids, eiders, and scoters will be scattered all along this birding trip. Keep an eye out for Northern Harrier and Rough-legged Hawk. Trustom Pond often holds an interesting array of winter ducks. Members $50, Non-members $60. Trails for Toddlers March, March - A Track in the Mud! Hammonasset Birds Wednesday, March 8 8AM-Noon Considered by many to be the “Number One Birding Spot in the State,” Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison is well known for its varied habitats and great birding. Join EcoTravel Director Andrew Griswold and EcoTravel Assistant James Restivo to search Long Island Sound for loons and grebes, the thickets for sparrows, and the fields for Horned Lark, Lapland Longspur, Snow Bunting, and other birds of the season. Participants may also get the chance to see a Great Horned Owl. All participants welcome for this FREE EVENT! Trails for Toddlers – April Frogs & Salamanders Gardens and Art Museum Edwin Way Teale Memorial Sanctuary 93 Kenyon Road, Hampton, CT 06247 For more details or information, please call 860-928-4948 Trail Wood Programs Sunday Afternoon Walk Sunday, March 5, 2 p.m. Stretch your legs and shake off the late winter cobwebs with an afternoon walk at Trail Wood. Explore the trails with Connecticut Audubon staff. Some readings from Teale’s “Walk Through the Year” will be included along the trail. Cost: free. creatures home. This event does not involve candy. Cost: $2 per child or $5 for a family of three or more children. Trail Wood Spring Work Day Saturday, April 1, 9 a.m. - noon Help us spruce up Trail Wood for the spring working with a wonderful group of Trail Wood enthusiasts. Bring work gloves, rakes and lots of energy. Refreshments provided. Wednesday, February 8 All Day Yulan Magnolias, cabybaras, and Courbet; you can see all of these in one day in the cultural center of Brooklyn, NY. Within immediate walking distance of each other are the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens and the Brooklyn Art Museum. At the garden, there will be year-round blooms in the splendid new conservatory. The leader for this trip will be botanist Bob Kuchta. Members $60, Non-members $70. Spring Flower Show Wednesday, March 15 All Day Bob Kuchta will take a group by van to see the wonderful exhibits of the annual New England Spring Flower Show in Boston. The theme this year will be Welcome Home! Celebrating Our Great New England Landscape. There will be both modern and traditional designs and influences at this year’s show. The fee for this trip will be $65 for members and $75 for non-members and includes transportation from Connecticut and Bob’s expert leadership. Napatree Point Friday, February 10 All Day Napatree Point in Watch Hill, RI offers an opportunity to see this summertime destination in a new light. Lingering (or early, depending on how you look at it) shorebirds will be out there, along with a few other gems. Loons, grebes, scoters, and eiders reside on the ocean side, while mergansers take to the bay side. Being a point of migration, one may catch an early influx of birdlife. Also, Snowy Owls have been found out here during the winter months. Enjoy this walk along the sands with EcoTravel Assistant James Restivo. Members $55, Non-members $65. Full Moon Walk Monday, March 11, 7:30 p.m. Get the nocturnal view of Trail Wood under the full moon. Catch the reflection of the moonshine off the beaver pond, listen for the denizens of the night and delight in the beauty of it all. Cost: members free/ non-members $3. Trail Wood Bird Walks Saturday, April 29, 8 a.m., Thursdays, May 11 & 18, 8 a.m. Join Andy Rzeznikiewicz as we walk the trails and meadows in search of the various birds living on the Teale Sanctuary. Last year several Hooded warblers nested, we will look for their return in May. Other birds of interest include Pileated woodpecker and Red-shouldered hawk. Meet at Trail Wood parking lot. Call 928-4948 for directions. Cost: members $4/ non-members $9. Bird Watching 101 Wed., March 22-April 5 6:30 - 8:30PM Saturday, April 8 9AM - Noon Expert birder and Connecticut Audubon Society EcoTravel Director Andrew Griswold will cover the basics of bird watching with a focus on field identification, binoculars and the equipment you need to get started. Other topics discussed will include bird behavior, digital photography and how to attract birds to your yard. Course takes place on three consecutive Wednesday evenings in Essex followed by a Saturday morning in the field. Members and Non-members $99. Woodcock Watch Saturday, March 25, 6:00 p.m. This is the time of year to see woodcock courtship displays. We will spend our time at a known woodcock dancing ground. Meet in the parking lot. Bring binoculars. Cost: members $4/non-members $9. Birds of Hammonasset Saturday, February 11 8AM - Noon Hammonasset Beach State Park is located along Long Island Sound in Madison and is considered one of the “top birding spots” in the state. Winter birds are here in abundance and one never knows what might turn up. Join EcoTravel staff member James Restivo as we explore Hammonasset’s varied habitats; search the cedars for Great Horned Owls, fields for Horned Larks, and off Meig’s Point for ducks and loons. All participants welcome to enjoy this FREE EVENT! Wildlife Egg Hunt Saturday, April 8, 10 a.m. - 12 noon Come for a leisurely family walk and search for grassland and woodland creatures handcrafted by Hampton Elementary School students. They will be nestled in their respective habitats. Each child can take three Connecticut Audubon Society News – Spring 2006 Seals on the Sound Saturday, April 1 10AM - 12:30PM Join EcoTravel Director Andrew Griswold and CT Audubon naturalists on Long Island Sound in search of harbor seals, seabirds, and winter gulls. Travelers will venture out 12 of New London on a very comfortable 64 foot vessel as we search for the not so easy to find animals of the near shore. In past years travelers have seen as many as 200 harbor seals. Sightings can also include gray seals, scoters, Long-tailed Ducks, gannets, Razorbills, and the rare and unusual. The boat has a heated cabin and snack bar. All participants $35. Wave Hill Wednesday, April 19 All Day The gardens and cultural center of Wave Hill are dedicated to fostering connections between people and nature. This 28-acre collection of gardens, considered one of America’s finest public gardens, has a spectacular view overlooking the Hudson River in Riverdale, New York. Formerly a private estate, Wave Hill features gardens, greenhouses, historic buildings, woodlands and its famous grass gardens. Includes transportation and entry fees. Members $50. Non-members $60. Leader: Bob Kuchta. Hammonasset Birds Tuesday, April 25 8AM - Noon Considered by many to be the “Number One Birding Spot in the State,” Hammonasset Beach State Park in Madison is well known for its varied habitats and great birding. Join EcoTravel Director Andrew Griswold and EcoTravel Assistant James Restivo and search for early migrants on Willard’s Island and around the thickets and fields of the park. Participants may also get the chance to see a Great Horned Owl. FREE EVENT! all day seafaring adventure! Find seldom seen species such as Greater, Sooty, Manx, Audubon’s, and Cory’s shearwaters, Wilson’s and Leach’s storm-petrels, plus phalaropes, jaegers and skuas. The boat will cruise the canyons and Gulf Stream eddies looking for the rare and unusual. The trip will depart Old Saybrook at 6am and return around 8pm. The Provincetown III is a fast catamaran with a cruising speed of 35 knots, compared with 12-15 knots for a typical fishing vessel. Her very stable catamaran designed 96-foot aluminum structure is powered by two highly efficient engines. There is plenty of open deck space for viewing, plus a spacious and comfortable interior for relaxation on the way to and from the deep waters. The boat can hold up to 149 passengers, but EcoTravel is limiting the number of participants to 90 for maximum comfort and convenience. The fee for all participants is $175. Pachaug and Barn Island Sunday, May 21 All Day Join EcoTravel assistant James Restivo on a tour of two of the best birding spots in eastern Connecticut in the spring. Barn Island in Stonington is a great place to search for Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed and Seaside Sparrows, as well as Clapper Rails. In most springs, Tri-colored and Little Blue Herons turn up. Pachaug State Forest, in Voluntown, has an array of nesting warblers including Northern Waterthrush and Black-throated Green Warbler. A nearby natural area has breeding Winter Wrens, and has previously held a nesting pair of Northern Goshawks. Expect anything to turn up as this trip will be run near peak migration time. Members $40. Non-members $50. Includes transportation. Trustom Pond Thursday, May 25 All Day Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuge in South Kingstown, RI is a 800-acre refuge along the coast. It encompasses Rhode Island’s only undeveloped salt pond and a 1.5 mile barrier beach. Trustom Pond is also home to endangered Piping Plovers and Least Terns. With miles of trails through woods and meadows, there is a lot to explore. Naturalist Bob Kuchta will lead you through the maze discussing the flora and fauna of the area. Members $50. Non-members $60. Includes transportation. Mother’s Day Osprey Cruise Sunday, May 14 10AM - Noon On our special Mother’s Day Osprey Cruise the Osprey chicks will be much larger than on the previous Osprey Cruise, and some may be ready to burst out of the nest! Cruise along the lower Connecticut River and Great Island to find these birds. Great Island, now known as the Roger Tory Peterson Wildlife Refuge, is home to the largest nesting osprey colony in North America and is located at the mouth of the Connecticut River. Osprey return to the area around March 15th to nest. Meet the boat in Essex. Members and non-members $30. Woodcock Courtship Saturday, April 1 Dusk This will be the first of two trips this spring to observe the amazing aerial display of the courting “timber doodle.” In a habitat of thickets with nearby open fields, the male woodcock performs his courtship flight for the female. The male leaps up from the ground and starts an upward spiraling flight that gets progressively wider until it reaches about 300 feet where he hovers, then drops to the ground to rejoin the female. Join CAS EcoTravel Assistant, James Restivo at Haley’s Farm in Groton. Members $20. Non-members, $25. Astronomy Workshop Saturday, April 29 9PM - 11PM Join CCSU physics professor Don Lukaszek at Ashlawn Farm in Lyme for a survey of the night sky. He will show you the constellations and explain the stories behind them. He will also point out any visible planetary objects and relate pertinent information about them. This will be followed by binocular/telescopic viewings of interesting deep sky objects and planetary objects. Members $20. Non-members $25. Seldon Island Exploration Saturday, May 27 9AM - Noon Join historian Warner Lord for an interpretive hike around Selden Island, the largest island in the CT River, totaling 610 acres. Board the RiverQuest, in historic Essex, for a cruise up the river to Selden Island. Once there, a specialized bow mounted boarding ramp will be lowered, allowing us to walk off the boat onto the island. Explore the beautiful island and hear of its interesting past. Fee: $40. Hammonasset River Walk Saturday, April 8 9AM - 1PM Join naturalist Bob Kuchta on a leisurely walk along the Hammonasset River in Madison. Enjoy the sites and sounds of early Spring as Bob points out and discusses the plant and animal life found along the trail. It is a four-mile walk, shaded by hemlocks. Members $15. Non-members $20. New York Botanical Garden Thursday, May 4 All Day One of the oldest and largest botanical gardens in the world, the NYBG in the Bronx is a museum of plants and a National Historic Landmark, with 250 acres of gorgeous ground. The rock garden, native plant collection and Rockefeller Rose garden are some of the highlights that participants will tour. Members $60. Non-members $70. Includes transportation and entry fees. Leader: Bob Kuchta. Queens Botanical Garden Osprey Nest Woodcock Courtship Saturday, April 8 Dusk This will be the second of our two woodcock walks this spring. In South Windsor CAS Director of Education Ken Elkins will lead a group to observe the amazing aerial display of the courting “timber doodle.” Members $20. Non-members $25. Also see April 1. Annual Lyme Loop Thursday, May 18 7AM - Noon Travel a road through Lyme and Nehantic State Forest in search of neo-tropical migrants with Andrew Griswold, Director of CT Audubon EcoTravel. The various habitats of the state forest include wetlands, streams, and ponds, all excellent places in spring for the morning chorus of warblers, vireos and other songsters. Fee includes transportation from Westbrook and Old Lyme. Members $20. Non-members $25. East Rock Park Saturday, May 6 6AM - Noon East Rock in New Haven is the largest geological feature in the area, attracting birds that have recently crossed Long Island Sound or are moving along the coast to the north. The adjacent river system provides and abundant supply of food for these hungry migrants. Join EcoTravel Director Andrew Griswold, and EcoTravel Assistant James Restivo at this “top ten” birding area as they point out some of the numerous migrants. All participants may enjoy this FREE EVENT! Wednesday, June 14 All Day Nestled in the heart of Flushing, NY, Queens Botanical Garden is an oasis of green space. More than 60 years after its birth as an exhibit at the 1939 New York World’s Fair, QBG continues to welcome an international audience with rose, bee, herb, and perennial gardens, changing displays, and public programs accessible to all. Leader: Bob Kuchta. Members $65. Non-members $75. Great Swamp Saturday, June 24 All Day Join naturalist Bob Kuchta on a walk through Great Swamp Wildlife Management Areas in South Kingston and Richmond, RI. The property straddles the two towns, covering 3,349 acres of mixed habitat including wetland, forest, and brush. Bob will point out the flora and fauna of the area. Vinecovered trees and beard moss will leave no doubt in your mind why this is called Great Swamp. Members $50, Non-members $60. Osprey Cruise Saturday, April 15 10AM - Noon Cruise quietly from Essex to Great Island aboard the RiverQuest in search of Osprey nests and newly hatched chicks. Great Island, now known as the Roger Tory Peterson Wildlife Refuge, is home to the largest nesting osprey colony in North America and is located at the mouth of the Connecticut River. Osprey return to the area around March 15th to nest. Members and non-members $30. River Road Saturday, May 20 6AM - Noon River Road in Kent is known for its outstanding collection of migrant warblers, and is a magnet for birds and birders across the state each spring. Near the height of migration, nearly anything can show up. Leader TBD. Members $15. Non-members $20. Pelagic Expedition Saturday, May 13 6AM - 8PM Join Connecticut Audubon Society EcoTravel on this special event, a pelagic trip out of Old Saybrook. Participants will board the fast-cat Provincetown III for an Overnight Tours Antarctic Adventure Many Departures in ’06 & ’07 Quark Expeditions, our Connecticut based tour operator, has been one of the leading innovators and operators of expedition cruises, especially in polar regions, since 1991. The company has pioneered and developed a concept of fantastically adventurous journeys in first class comfort on powerful, polar icebreakers. This concept is unique and many “First Ever” passenger voyages have been successfully operated by Quark Expeditions: the first North Pole voyage, the first Circumnavigation of Antarctica, and more are all part of this tradition. Quark Expeditions is the only company in the world operating powerful, polar icebreakers for expedition cruises. Accompanying these voyages is a dedicated and experienced staff of expedition leaders, naturalists and lecturers who share with you their enthusiasm and knowledge of the region. The voyage is planned and conduct- ed to minimize any impact or disturbance to wildlife and fragile habitats. Names such as Amundsen, Scott, Shackleton, Franklin, Peary and Nansen are synonymous with the Golden Age of Exploration and, thanks to the polar climates, elements of the past have been well preserved. This itinerary is planning to visit the Faukland Islands, South Georgia, South Shetland Islands, the Antarctic Peninsula, and journey across the famous Drake Passage. Call for details. Price varies with cabin selection. Amazon Cruises Many Departures in ’06 & ’07 7 Nights! This trip explores some of the most untouched rainforest in all of the Amazon. On this expedition vessel, the Motor Yacht Tucano, participants venture far up the Snowy Owl least inhabited river in the Amazon Basin: The Rio Negro. Travelers explore areas very rarely visited, and seek out the mysterious life of the wilderness that stirs in the forest and in the heart of the Amazon Basin. This is the most thorough, detailed, and sophisticated trip offered in the entire Amazon and comes with rave reviews from past CT Audubon Society participants. The guides are accomplished naturalists and you will see creatures almost never seen by other visitors. The trip is like being on a time machine in that one is able to visit places that have not changed for millions of years. Truly the trip of a lifetime! Fee: $2,100 plus air. Call for dates Great trip! Extensions available! 13 Connecticut Audubon Society News – Spring 2006 Continued Grand Costa Rica March 6 - 17, 2006 12 Days! Costa Rica, a tiny country that is part of the land bridge between North and South America, is a Mecca for naturalists. Although slightly smaller than West Virginia, it has more species of mammals and birds than the continental United States and Canada combined, unmatched flora that includes over 3,000 species of wild orchids alone and a world famous national park system. This will be birdwatching in paradise! The itinerary includes many diverse habitats and twelve days of fascinating animals and plants in a beautiful, peaceful place. Specialties include Resplendent Quetzal, Scarlet Macaw, King Vulture, White Hawk, and 30 plus species of hummingbird. Andrew Griswold, Director of EcoTravel, is joined by Carlos “Charlie” Gomez, Costa Rica's premier naturalist guide. Fee: $3,395 plus international airfare. Discovering Delmarva April 20 - 23, 2006 4 Days! “Delmarva” peninsula is that piece of mainland sandwiched between Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean that comprises all of Delaware, the eastern portion of Maryland, and a disconnected sliver of Virginia. After visiting a key area in each state, you will come away with a good feel for the land, its economy, and its wild inhabitants. The broad, lazy, bald cypress-lined Pocomoke River winds through mature southern forest, where loblolly pine, sweetgum, and a variety of oaks tower over an understory of dogwood and American holly. Typical forest birds include Brown-headed Nuthatch, Pine Warbler, Summer Tanager, and the cavity nesting Prothonotary Warbler. Chincoteague is one of the gems of the refuge system, and is home to the famed wild ponies. Leader: Ken Elkins. Fee: $595. England’s Cotswolds Historic Dumont Gardens Sandhill Crane Migration March 21 - 26, 2006 6 Days! Nearly half a million Sandhill Cranes descend upon the broad valley of the Platte River from late February until early April. By March, approximately 80% of the world’s Lesser Sandhill Cranes crowd a 150 mile stretch of the river. Here they rest and feed to gain energy for the rest of their migration to northern breeding grounds in Canada, Alaska and Siberia. This is the largest gathering of cranes anywhere in the world. Among the cranes are a few of their rare and elegant cousins, the endangered Whooping Crane. Adjacent wetlands of the Rainwater Basin provide a stopover refuge for over 10 million ducks and geese, now bright in their breeding plumage. Don’t miss a chance to witness one of North America’s greatest wildlife spectacles. Join Naturalist Frank Gallo to experience this unforgettable spring journey. Fee: $1,595 plus air. April 28 - 30, 2006 As water-powered manufacturing technology improved in the 18th century, the Brandywine Valley became the most important industrial site in the mid-Atlantic, and in 1802 a young chemist named Eleuthere Irenee DuPont started what would become a global chemical empire here. Discover the brilliance of the Brandywine Valley by touring the outdoor gardens and indoor conservancies of the DuPont family including the Hagley Museum, Longwood Gardens, and Mt. Cuba Center for Piedmont Flora. Leader: Bob Kuchta. Fee: $498. Grouse, Black-backed Woodpecker, Alder Flycatcher, and more. Come experience nature at its best. Fee: $798. Leader: Andy Rzeznikiewicz. Allagash Canoe Trip June 17 - 23, 2006 Deep in Maine’s north woods, near the Canadian border, lies a jewel of unspoiled beauty. Drawing water from surrounding hardwood-covered hills, the Allagash Wilderness Waterway winds its way through conifer covered shores. Expect to be in the presence of wildlife including moose, lynx, bobcats, woodpeckers, loons, and crossbills. Join Connecticut Audubon Society staff member James Restivo and an experienced local guide on a five day/four night canoe trip to explore the wildness of the Allagash. All canoeing equipment is provided and no experience is necessary. All you will need to bring is a sleeping bag, appropriate clothing, and a sense of adventure! Four nights will be spent camping along the waterway and two nights in a hotel in Millinocket, Maine. Leader: James Restivo. Fee: $1,498. Southeastern Arizona April 28 - May 7, 2006 10 Days! Southeastern Arizona is one of North America’s top-10 birding spots. Although landlocked and touting little in the way of large bodies of water, its arid climate ensures that water in any quantity acts like a bird magnet. Southeastern Arizona is where the Chihuahuan and Sonoran Deserts meet and interleave amid the last vestiges of the Rocky Mountains of North America and the first undulations of the Sierra Madre Mountains of Mexico. The mixture of arid lowlands and forested uplands make for a diversity of bird life that is unparalleled anywhere north of the Mexican border. When you factor in the birds plus knowledgeable, colorful leaders, you have a memorable travel experience. Leaders are Ken Elkins and Dave Tripp. Fee: $2,195 plus air. Cuba Survey Program April 4 - 15, 2006 12 Days! The Connecticut Audubon Society is offering an exclusive, U.S. led and managed, licensed birding program to Cuba in early April, 2006. This program is endorsed by the American Birding Association, and has a 10 year history as a bird conservation project focused on understanding Cuba’s importance as a wintering habitat for North American migratory birds. The foundation of this conservation project is a bird survey, managed by the staff of The University of Michigan’s Rouge River Bird Observatory. We will travel with a small group of licensed participants, a U.S. ornithologist or program manager, bi-lingual Cuban ornithologist, bi-lingual Cuban tour leader, and local naturalists through rarely explored parts of Cuba, the Caribbean’s largest and most ecologically diverse island nation. Call for details. Fee: $4,750 plus air. Ultimate Alaska Tour July 2 - 14, 2006 13 Days! From the noisy seabird nesting cliffs of the Bering Sea’s Pribilof Islands to the tundra birds of Denali National Park, explore Alaska’s various birding habitats on this well-rounded tour. Spend three days on St. Paul Island in the Pribilofs birding the cliffs, beaches and wetlands, as well as observing the concentration of Northern fur seals and their interesting social behavior. After returning to Anchorage, the remainder of the trip is along the road and marine highway systems. Travel through the coastal rainforest to Seward for a day-long boat trip into the spectacular Kenai Fjords National Park. Participants board a ferry for a trip across Prince William Sound to Valdez, then head north to the east end of the Denali Highway in the eastern Alaska Range to hike and get their first taste of interior birding. Then head to Denali National Park and spend a day inside the park observing grizzly bears, caribou, wolf, golden eagles, longtailed jaegers, and many other possible species. This trip is suitable for anyone in average physical condition with a sense of adventure and willingness to see Alaska on its terms. Lodgings will be rustic in some locations (e.g., cabins with separate bathrooms), B&Bs in most other locations. Fee: $5,695 plus air. region many times and has discovered that although it is a very popular tourist destination, it is still possible to take beautiful scenic and historic walks where you don’t often run into many other tourists. There seems to be a part of The Cotswolds that all tourists really do visit – the classic pretty villages and towns, etc., and in so doing, they miss the other more secretive side, where we will also take you. So although we include visits to some of the “honey pots” that you will have heard about, this will be a walking tour that also visits the less well known areas of this wonderfully diverse region. The Cotswolds is an upraised plateaux of golden coloured Jurassic limestone, deeply dissected on its’ western edge by valleys about 600-900 feet deep. When these sediments (that were to become limestone rocks) were being laid down as zillions of carapaces of dead oolites, they formed thick sedimentary beds hundreds of meters thick. Much later, great earth movements were to compress and raise these sediments up, forming what we now call “Oolitic Limestone.” Dinosaurs still ruled the earth at that time and mammals were yet to evolve. Join us on this special departure to discover the hidden gems of England. Fee: $2,795 plus air. Escort is Andrew Griswold, Connecticut Audubon Society Director of EcoTravel. Nova Scotia Escape August 8-16, 2006 9 Days! From the spectacular tides of the Bay of Fundy to the heathlands of Cape Breton, there is no better highlights tour. Ride through rich, rolling farmland and explore the Bay of Fundy, with a chance at seeing the rare Right Whale. The tremendous number of shorebirds in the bay at this time of year is legendary and known for its incredible aerial ballet. Two nights are spent at The Pines, one of the Canadian's four star lodges as the group makes the transition onto Cape Breton Island and to Keltic Lodge, another of Canada’s luxury lodges and home for three nights. Cape Breton will delight travelers with its high rock cliffs overlooking the northern Atlantic and its quaint fishing villages. The whole experience is a photographer’s and artist’s dream. The final night is spent at Liscomb Lodge, the third of Canada’s glorious lodges located along Nova Scotia’s picturesque Marine Drive. $2,995 includes roundtrip airfare, lodging, most meals, and expert leadership. Sensational Mt. Auburn May 5 - 7, 2006 3 Days! This is absolutely the best place on the east coast to see and hear large numbers of migrant warblers in the spring. Mt. Auburn, in Cambridge, MA was founded in 1831 by the Massachusetts Horticultural Society as a “garden cemetery,” a concept since copied by many communities across the country. The truly stupendous variety and scale of the trees and shrubs alone is not to be missed; an oasis that birds find irresistible. Enjoy the show! Leaders: Andrew Griswold and Bob Kuchta. Fee: $485. Colorado Grouse Tour April 18 - 29, 2006 A birding tour through Colorado can accomplish far more than a list of life birds. Together, Colorado and the grouse clan form an exquisite instructional partnership to demonstrate how one bird group can diversify to occupy diverse landscapes. With prairie-chickens on the grasslands, ptarmigans on the tundra, and sage-grouses on the western sagelands, Colorado provides an opportunity for birders to learn how to read the landscape to predict successfully where certain birds will be found. Interpreting bird-landscape connections offers a powerful skill for finding everything from hawks to sparrows, and finding them on purpose wherever you live or wherever you travel. Come for the Mountain Plovers, prairie-chickens, and rosy-finches. Return with a new-found sense of richness in your birding experiences. Leaders are Jay Hand and Colorado birder Kevin Cook. Fee: $2,798 plus air. The Connecticut lakes June 8 - 11, 2006 4 Days! Explore the headwaters of The Connecticut River. Connecticut Lakes Region is wonderfully unique in many ways. It is a pristine region at the very tip of New Hampshire offering unlimited, unspoiled wilderness. This is the center of the North Country’s fishing and hunting. Here the mighty Connecticut River is born, forming in it’s passage the Third, Second and First Connecticut Lakes and Man-made Lake Francis. The historic “Indian Stream Territory” was once an independent nation established in 1832 during the border dispute between Canada and the United States. Pittsburgh township is the largest in the US, containing over 300,000 acres of timberland, mountains, lakes, streams and forest trails. Birds may include Spruce Central California September 15 - 24, 2006 Late summer in California is an excellent season for birds. Migration is getting into gear and most California birders are searching for vagrants along the coast. Participants take a tour of coastal California from Fort Bragg to Monterey, searching a variety of habitats for the rare and elusive. Travelers will search the windswept shores of Point Reyes and the coastal mountains of Big Sur. There will be two optional pelagic trips, including one out of Fort Bragg, which has the best chance for a “mega-rarity.” Leader: James Restivo. Fee: $2,095. England’s Cotswolds July 8 -16, 2006 Everyone has heard of Britain’s Cotswolds, but not everyone has seen the other side of the proverbial coin. Obviously, within the Cotswold region, (Gloucestershire and parts of Wiltshire, Oxfordshire and Warwickshire) there are well known gems that should not be missed; but there are also places that have remained hidden to all but the locals and those visitors who seek out the rather less touristy places. Over the years, our local guide Martin Hunt has visited this beautiful Connecticut Audubon Society News – Spring 2006 14 Block Island Weekend September 29 - October 1, 2006 3 Days! Explore the wilds of Block Island after the summer tourists have left the beaches and town. Often a magnet for wayward birds, “Block” will delight travelers with its island architecture, wild flowers, and natural beauty. Migration is at its peak, so expect to see lots of birds. Experienced leaders will share their knowledge and enthusiasm for this special place as participants visit the bluffs, lighthouses, back roads, beautiful beaches, and serene harbors. Fee: $525. Grand Texas Tour April 14 - 23, 2007 10 Days! Join leaders Ken Elkins and Andrew Griswold, in “The #l Bird State.” Three-quarters of all birds occurring in the continental United States have been recorded in Texas. On this ten-day trip, you can see over 275 species including Green Kingfisher, Plain Chachalaca, Great Kiskadee, Green Jay, Tropical Parula, and more. The scenery is fabulous, touting vast open spaces unlike anything in the East, and colorful roadside carpets of wildflowers. Participants will visit famed places including High Island, Bolivar Flats, Aransas, King Ranch, Sabal Palm Sanctuary, Santa Anna, Bentsen, and the Edward's Plateau. Fee: $2,695 includes airfare. Paul Bunyan, and Charles Lindbergh, but the real focus is its lakes, known as pot holes and noted for their fine bird life. Birds of special interest include numerous duck species, Yellow Rail, Boreal Chickadee, Connecticut Warbler, Baird’s Sparrow, LeConte’s Sparrow, Lark Bunting, and Yellow-headed Blackbird. Discover this unique region of the country with experienced birding team Jay Hand and Andy Griswold. Fee: $2,195 plus air. More Travel Opportunities If dates for CAS tours do not work for you, or if there is a tour that you are looking for but do not see listed, we are able to provide you with many natural history destinations through our contacts with the for-profit travel industry. These companies will make a donation to our education programs when you sign up for one of their tours through us. Brazil’s Pantanal September 23 - October 3, 2006 12 Days! Journey to the Brazilian Pantanal, the world’s largest freshwater wetland and some of the richest wildlife viewing in the Americas! Covering an area of 360,000 square miles, the Pantanal is a huge wilderness region of wetlands. The Pantanal offers a complex of aquatic and terrestrial environments with a varied topography resulting in an extremely rich fauna. The variety of birds is astounding, touting 26 species of parrots including the endangered and beautiful Hyacinth Macaw, the world’s largest parrot. The Pantanal is also a refuge for many threatened mammals like the Jaguar, Ocelot, Maned Wolf, Giant Anteater, and Giant River Otter! This is a unique opportunity to travel at the peak time for wildlife viewing. Fee: $3,895 plus air. Leaders: Andrew Griswold, and local guides Christoph Hrdina and Braulio Carlos. Tanzania Safari January 2007 13 Days! Join us in East Africa on our spectacular Tanzania wildlife safari. We have planned our visit during the best time to view the animals of the Serengeti, when grasses are not so high. Lions, cheetahs, hyenas, and other predators are especially visible during this time. We’ll also visit Ngorongoro Crater, described as the eighth wonder of the world, Lake Manyara National Park in the Great Rift Valley, and Olduvai Gorge, where Richard and Mary Leakey made their famous archeological discoveries of early hominids. Travelers will be accompanied by Connecticut Audubon Society’s senior naturalist Milan Bull. Miley has led trips throughout the world for many years. His leadership and knowledge of the natural world will add immeasurably to your experience. Travelers will be joined by outstanding driver guides, who have a wealth of information to share. Our safari accommodations will be in hotels and lodges. Participants travel by four-wheel-drive safari vehicles equipped with roof hatches. Everyone is guaranteed a window seat. Extensive background readings and travel information will be supplied when you enroll. Land Cost: $3,995. Galapagos Islands April 15 - 24, 2007 10 Days! Ecuador Extension: April 12 - 15, 2007 The Galapagos have been aptly described as the world’s greatest living laboratory for the study and observation of nature. Ever since Darwin’s famous voyage on the Beagle, research there has contributed greatly to our knowledge of the evolution of life on earth. Situated on the equator some 600 miles off the coast of South America, this remote volcanic archipelago remains much as it was millions of years ago. Over the course of centuries, animals and plant life from the Americas reached the islands and gradually evolved into new life forms. Many of its bird, plant, and fish species are found nowhere else on earth. The opportunities for observation and photography are spectacular because in addition to the striking natural beauty and unique flora and fauna, one of the special fascinations of the Galapagos is that the animals show virtually no fear of humans. Sea lions, iguanas, nesting birds, and other “wildlife” are often within arm’s reach, giving one the feeling of being immersed in the natural world as nowhere else. Fee includes meals, accommodations, and guides. Fee: $3,998. Extension $998. Leader: Milan Bull. Cuba Survey Program January 2007 12 Days! The Connecticut Audubon Society is offering an exclusive, U.S. led and managed, licensed birding program to Cuba in January 2007. This program is endorsed by the American Birding Association, and has a 10 year history as a bird conservation project focused on understanding Cuba’s importance as a wintering habitat for North American migratory birds. The foundation of this conservation project is a bird survey, managed by the staff of The University of Michigan’s Rouge River Bird Observatory. We will travel with a small group of licensed participants, a U.S. ornithologist or program manager, bi-lingual Cuban ornithologist, bi-lingual Cuban tour leader, and local naturalists through rarely explored parts of Cuba, the Caribbean’s largest and most ecologically diverse island nation. Fee: $4,750 plus air. Japan: Culture and Nature May 2007 14 Days! Enjoy the distinctive birds of Japan and visit a wide range of natural habitats, while experiencing Japanese culture and food. The tour will begin with three full days in the ancient capital of Kyoto. Some of the best natural areas are preserved in the hills and mountainsides around temple complexes. Travelers will see many Japanese specialties, including Japanese Wagtail, Japanese Pygmy Woodpecker, Japanese Green Woodpecker, and Japanese Green Pigeon. Fly to eastern Hokkaido to visit some of the wildest regions of Japan. Walk through marshes and bogs on an extensive boardwalk system to search for White-tailed Eagles, Japanese Cranes, and many other marsh and grassland species. In the volcanic areas farther north, search boreal forests for Black, Grey-headed, and White-backed Woodpeckers and a diversity of forest songbirds. Participants stay at nature lodges and traditional hotels, and spend one night at a site where one may see Blakiston’s Fish-Owl. Leaders: Reiko Kurosawa is an experienced birder and a doctoral candidate in ecology at Hokkaido University. Dr. Robert Askins teaches ecology and ornithology at Connecticut College, and has conducted two research projects on birds in Japan. The tour is escorted by Mary Dowdell. Call for details. Land of the Polar Bear November 3 - 10, 2006 8 Days! This northern expedition starts in Winnipeg, Manitoba where travelers enjoy a tour of the city and visit its many museums, including the well known Museum of Man and Nature. The flight to Churchill, on Hudson Bay, will take travelers to the land of the polar bear. Participants travel on the tundra in specially equipped tundra vehicles, providing them with the best possible views of the bears in their spectacular habitat. Helicopter tours, searches for northern lights, a visit to the Eskimo Museum, and sled dog tours, are some of the optional activities planned. Tour Leader Pat Rousseau has worked as a Park Warden for the Canadian National Park Service for over 30 years and is a wealth of knowledge! Escort: Andrew Griswold. Fee: $3,995 includes airfare from Hartford. This tour is beginning to fill! Tauck Ecotour Expeditions Victor Emanuel Nature Tours Field Guides Borderland Tours Classic Escapes Collette Vacations Off the Beaten Path Park East Country Walkers Pacific Delight Tours Cross-Culture Journeys Smithsonian Journeys National Geographic Lindblad Wilderness Travel Geographic Expeditions Journeys International International Expeditions Natural Habitat Adventures Big Five Tours and Expeditions American Orient Express Quark Expeditions Nahanni River Adventures Caligo Ventures ...and others. Please call to learn more about these extensive offerings or to make an appointment to visit our EcoTravel Office in Essex, Connecticut. Thailand Expedition December 1 - 18, 2006 18 Days! Thailand. The name alone conjures images of dense jungles, ornate temples, and colorful birds. Deep in the heart of Southeast Asia, Thailand has maintained its autonomy through years of cataclysmic clashes just outside its border. The culture of Thailand has remained intact and relatively unaffected by foreign influence. From the hill tribes of the northern mountains to the bustling streets of Bangkok to the beaches of Phuket, this enigmatic country encompasses a wide range of interest to the foreign tourist. Get a taste of the culture as we explore Thailand’s bird-life and environment. The birder will certainly not be disappointed as we will find representatives of an army of families not found in North America. Names such as minivet, niltava, tesia, fulvetta, parrotbill, cochoa, treepie, drongo, minla, sunbird, and, of course, the much sought after pitta will bring to life the diversity of this ever more popular Asia treasure. Price: $3,750 plus air (air is approximately $900). Custom and Private Tours Connecticut Audubon Society EcoTravel offers custom tour design assistance, including private tours for you, your family, or a private group. Give us a call if you would like more information on these special services. Call 800-996-8747 for Reservations and Itineraries including: Panama — March 2007 Scotland’s Birds — July 2007 Botswana — November 2007 Peru : Machu Picchu — March 2008 Everglades and Keys March 9 - 17, 2007 9 Days! One of North America’s “top-ten birding spots,” South Florida hosts a large number of unusual birds and other wildlife that are found nowhere else. The tour will visit many of the unique and sensitive habitats including such well known places as Loxahatchee, Ding Darling, Corkscrew Swamp, Big Cypress, Shark Valley, Anhinga Trail, Key West, and the famed Dry Tortugas. This expedition will give you the opportunity to witness, first-hand, how wonderful and special a place the Everglades truly is. Leaders: Andrew Griswold and Mary Dowdell. All meals included. Fee: $2,798. Airfare approx. $250. Pot Hole Country June 2007 9 Days! The wide variety of natural scenery here appeals to travelers and makes for a range of things to see and do. Minnesota and North Dakota are a crossroads for three distinct environments - the western plains and prairies, the northern coniferous forest and the eastern hardwood forest. These three lands meet in the northwest third of Minnesota, where deep pine forests and wilderness lakes gradually give way to a tapestry of rich farmland to the west and rolling woods of aspen, birch and maple in the vacation lakes area to the south. It’s a land with tales to tell of Vikings, voyageurs, 15 Connecticut Audubon Society News – Spring 2006