Above: Sooty Tern / Dan Vickers
South florida:
miami, the keys, & the dry tortugas
May 3 to 8, 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.
Brown Noddy / Dan Vickers
Leader: Adam Betuel, Georgia Audubon's Director of Conservation
Group Size: Maximum group size of 14 / The tour can run with fewer participants at a higher per person cost (see below).
Member Price: $2,775* per person
Non-member Price: $2,825* per person (includes a one-year Georgia Audubon membership)
Single Supplement for non-shared hotel room: $800 per person
*Based on double occupancy and 14 participants.
See companion document for additional trip information and pricing breakdown for a smaller sized group (fewer than 14 participants).
Depending on group construction, solo travelers may be forced to pay a single supplement. All efforts will be made to pair individuals to avoid this expense though it cannot be guaranteed. Impacted travelers, should they decide to cancel, will be reimbursed following the cancellation policy below.
Must-see parks, must-visit destinations, must-chase birds. South Florida is a dream. All possible shades of blues and greens, transformative and transportive foods ranging from medianoches to fresh seafood to a certain jiggly pie. On this Georgia Audubon tour, not only will we experience all of the above, but we will also see some of the most exciting birds in United States while witnessing migration at one of our southern entryways. On this 6-day tour, we will visit the world-renowned Everglades National Park, island hop across the keys, take a day trip to the breathtaking Dry Tortugas, all while logging new birds and enjoying life. We will target Roseate, Sooty, and Bridled Terns, Masked Boobies, Brown and the much rarer Black Noddies, as well as less common marine birds like Brown Booby or Audubon’s Shearwater. On land, our efforts will be spent tracking down birds whose ranges just barely creep into the states; birds like Mangrove Cuckoo, Black-whiskered Vireo, White-crowned Pigeon, and Antillean Nighthawk. Finally, we’ll enjoy other species that are representative of peninsular Florida’s expansive wetlands and swamps, in addition to a diversity of northbound migrants who have just arrived from the Caribbean or places further south.
Group Size: Maximum group size of 14 / The tour can run with fewer participants at a higher per person cost (see below).
Member Price: $2,775* per person
Non-member Price: $2,825* per person (includes a one-year Georgia Audubon membership)
Single Supplement for non-shared hotel room: $800 per person
*Based on double occupancy and 14 participants.
See companion document for additional trip information and pricing breakdown for a smaller sized group (fewer than 14 participants).
Depending on group construction, solo travelers may be forced to pay a single supplement. All efforts will be made to pair individuals to avoid this expense though it cannot be guaranteed. Impacted travelers, should they decide to cancel, will be reimbursed following the cancellation policy below.
Must-see parks, must-visit destinations, must-chase birds. South Florida is a dream. All possible shades of blues and greens, transformative and transportive foods ranging from medianoches to fresh seafood to a certain jiggly pie. On this Georgia Audubon tour, not only will we experience all of the above, but we will also see some of the most exciting birds in United States while witnessing migration at one of our southern entryways. On this 6-day tour, we will visit the world-renowned Everglades National Park, island hop across the keys, take a day trip to the breathtaking Dry Tortugas, all while logging new birds and enjoying life. We will target Roseate, Sooty, and Bridled Terns, Masked Boobies, Brown and the much rarer Black Noddies, as well as less common marine birds like Brown Booby or Audubon’s Shearwater. On land, our efforts will be spent tracking down birds whose ranges just barely creep into the states; birds like Mangrove Cuckoo, Black-whiskered Vireo, White-crowned Pigeon, and Antillean Nighthawk. Finally, we’ll enjoy other species that are representative of peninsular Florida’s expansive wetlands and swamps, in addition to a diversity of northbound migrants who have just arrived from the Caribbean or places further south.
Questions? Contact Adam Betuel by email or at 678-973-2437.
Credit card processing fees are included in the registration price.
Credit card processing fees are included in the registration price.
trip overview
Click on each day for more information.
day 1: arrive in miami & afternoon birding
Participants will need to arrive in the early afternoon (we will provide information on preferred flights and logistics closer to the trip). After introductions, we will board our minibus and head south, making a few stops before checking into the hotel. Some targets on this first afternoon will include Gray-headed Swamphen, Cave Swallow, and possibly Red-whiskered Bulbul.
Overnight: Homestead
Overnight: Homestead
day 2: the everglades & northern keys
Bright and early we will make our way to the southwest towards the famous Everglades National Park. Here we will look for the wading birds and alligators that make this region famous. Additionally, we will make stops for Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow, keep our eyes to the skies for Swallow-tailed Kites and maybe a Short-tailed Hawk, and eventually make our way out to Flamingo. After looking for West Indian Manatee and the endangered American Crocodile, we will head back to Homestead for a delicious lunch. Our afternoon will be spent in the northern keys. We will hope to spot the elusive Mangrove Cuckoo, Black-whiskered Vireo, and maybe a white phase of the Great Blue Heron. After an early dinner, we will position ourselves at the Marathon airport in hopes of spotting an Antillean Nighthawk or two. With a top trip bird in the bag (fingers crossed), we’ll proceed to Key West.
Overnight: Key West
Overnight: Key West
day 3: key west & the southern keys
Today will be spent in the southern keys skipped over the day before. We will welcome the morning at Fort Zachary Taylor State Park in search of migrant songbirds. Warblers such as Cape May, Black-throated Blue, and American Redstart are some of the likely northbound migrants we’ll spot. Next, we’ll move to the beach, spotting a diversity of shorebirds, wading birds, and even some potential marsh birds like Clapper Rail. Finally, we will visit Big Pine Key. Here we will continue to search for Caribbean specialties like the White-crowned Pigeon. Additionally, some effort will be spent mammaling, with good chances at sighting the tiny resident Key Deer. A relaxed dinner and beverage will welcome us back in Key West.
Overnight: Key West
Overnight: Key West
day 4: dry tortugas
All birders must make the trek out to the famous Dry Tortugas at some point during their birding life. Today, we are those birders! Numerous species incredibly difficult to find, especially in the states, make their home on these isolated islands surrounded by the most stunning water. Early in the morning we will board the Yankee Freedom and sail westward. On our way out to Garden Key, we’ll search for an Audubon’s Shearwater or Tropicbirds. Just before reaching our destination, we’ll pass a small island dotted with breeding Masked Boobies. Once reaching Fort Jefferson, we’ll have 4 hours to explore the grounds. While we can expect some migratory birds like warblers, swallows, and likely some falcons, the stars of the show are the breeding ocean birds. Brown Noddy, Sooty Tern, and Magnificent Frigatebird will be around in numbers, showing well. Less numerous species we will search for include Roseate Tern, Bridled Tern, Brown Booby, and potentially a Black Noddy mixed in with their more common relative. A joyous boat ride back will have us in Key West by the early evening. After such a long day on the water, we’ll have a relaxing pizza dinner at the hotel.
Overnight: Key West
Overnight: Key West
day 5: clean-up & miami targets
Today we will spend the morning making our way back to Miami. We will target any birds that have eluded us thus far with plans of being in Miami by lunch at the latest. This region is also famous for turning up rare birds, and our flexibility this day will allow us to do some chasing if necessary. Once back in Miami, we will likely target the established exotics that dot the Miami landscape. Common Myna, Spotted Oriole, and some parrots may be looked for. Burrowing Owl, Limpkin, and possibly a Snail Kite could be other top birds we could search for, time permitting. We’ll have one final meal together before heading to our airport hotel.
Overnight: Miami
Overnight: Miami
day 6: departure
Our hotel will have a free shuttle to the airport and participants are free to depart whenever it is convenient with their schedule. Until next time!
additional details
Price Includes:
Price Does Not Include:
Payments:
Participants may pay in-full by choosing the Georgia Audubon Member or Non-Member price. For those who wish to pay in two installments, we will accept a $500 down-payment at the time of registration ($550 for non-members). Payment in-full will be due by February 1, 2022. The single supplement, if chosen, will also be due with your final payment.
COVID-19 TRAVEL PRECAUTIONS:
As of May 2021, all participants in the Georgia Audubon Travel Program must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at the time of their travel date. According to the CDC, individuals are considered fully vaccinated when they are at least two weeks past the 2nd dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine or at least two weeks past the single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. We will provide updates to organizational, airline, and national COVID-19 guidelines as they arise.
Cancellation Policy:
If notice of cancellation by the participant is received by January 1, 2022, a refund of all payments made will be given (less a $50 administrative fee). If notice of cancellation is received between January 2, 2022, and January 31, 2022, a 50% refund of the tour fee will be given unless the space(s) can be filled, in which case a full refund will be given (less a $50 administrative fee). Thereafter, all deposits and payments are non-refundable unless the space(s) can be filled, in which case a full refund will be given (less a $50 administrative fee). In the event of tour cancellation due to weather, strike, war, quarantine, or other unforeseen emergency situation, a 100% refund will be given, less any expenses incurred by the tour operator.
Travel Insurance:
We recommend purchasing travel insurance in case you must make an unforeseen trip cancellation past our refund period. Check with your own insurance carrier or consider a travel insurance specialist.
- Planning, logistics, and guiding from Georgia Audubon conservation director Adam Betuel.
- Accommodations in all destinations (double room). A non-shared room is available for an additional fee.
- All transportation during the trip including pick-up and drop-off at the airport.
- All meals, including basic non-alcoholic beverages, from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 6.
- All entrance fees to parks & reserves
- Driver gratuity
- Taxes
Price Does Not Include:
- Airfare and any accompanying baggage fees
- Alcoholic or specialty beverages/coffee
- Desserts, snacks, beverages, room service, or sightseeing not specified in itinerary
- Souvenirs
- Laundry
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- Medical costs
- Personal communications (hotel phone calls, cell phones, etc.)
- Any other incidentals that participants may wish to purchase
Payments:
Participants may pay in-full by choosing the Georgia Audubon Member or Non-Member price. For those who wish to pay in two installments, we will accept a $500 down-payment at the time of registration ($550 for non-members). Payment in-full will be due by February 1, 2022. The single supplement, if chosen, will also be due with your final payment.
COVID-19 TRAVEL PRECAUTIONS:
As of May 2021, all participants in the Georgia Audubon Travel Program must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at the time of their travel date. According to the CDC, individuals are considered fully vaccinated when they are at least two weeks past the 2nd dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine or at least two weeks past the single dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. We will provide updates to organizational, airline, and national COVID-19 guidelines as they arise.
Cancellation Policy:
If notice of cancellation by the participant is received by January 1, 2022, a refund of all payments made will be given (less a $50 administrative fee). If notice of cancellation is received between January 2, 2022, and January 31, 2022, a 50% refund of the tour fee will be given unless the space(s) can be filled, in which case a full refund will be given (less a $50 administrative fee). Thereafter, all deposits and payments are non-refundable unless the space(s) can be filled, in which case a full refund will be given (less a $50 administrative fee). In the event of tour cancellation due to weather, strike, war, quarantine, or other unforeseen emergency situation, a 100% refund will be given, less any expenses incurred by the tour operator.
Travel Insurance:
We recommend purchasing travel insurance in case you must make an unforeseen trip cancellation past our refund period. Check with your own insurance carrier or consider a travel insurance specialist.
Mangrove Cuckoo / Dan Vickers
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Black-whiskered Vireo / Dan Vickers
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Peregrine Falcon / Adam Betuel
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