Above: Birds Georgia Trip to Maine with Mt. Khatahdin in the background.
travel with BIRDS georgia
Birds Georgia 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 Birds Georgia 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.
Birds Georgia'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 Birds Georgia and subscribers to our twice-monthly BirdBuzz e-newsletter receive the latest information related to upcoming trips and registration dates. Join Birds Georgia as a member (or renew your membership) or subscribe to the BirdBuzz e-newsletter to stay up to date.
Birds Georgia'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 Birds Georgia and subscribers to our twice-monthly BirdBuzz e-newsletter receive the latest information related to upcoming trips and registration dates. Join Birds Georgia as a member (or renew your membership) or subscribe to the BirdBuzz e-newsletter to stay up to date.
upcoming trips
Maine: Mountains to the Sea
June 4 to 11, 2025
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.
Atlantic Puffin. Photo by Nancy Hynes, Audubon Photography Awards.
Birds Georgia Host: Dottie Head, Senior Director of Operations
Local Guide: Seth Benz, Bird Ecology Program Director, Schoodic Institute
Group Size: Maximum 11 participants
Member Price: $3,100
Non-member Price: $3,150 (includes a one-year Birds Georgia membership)
Single Supplement: $370* (Please read language about lodging below before selecting single supplement. It really is not necessary for this trip even for solo travelers.)
*We will do our best to avoid this scenario, but depending on group construction, solo travelers may be forced to pay a single supplement. All efforts will be made to avoid this expense though it cannot be guaranteed. Impacted travelers, should they decide to cancel, will be reimbursed following the cancellation policy below.
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. “Down East,” 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 “down east” to the Maine coast. We will spend a two full days 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, Wilson’s Storm-petrels, and more.
Local Guide: Seth Benz, Bird Ecology Program Director, Schoodic Institute
Group Size: Maximum 11 participants
Member Price: $3,100
Non-member Price: $3,150 (includes a one-year Birds Georgia membership)
Single Supplement: $370* (Please read language about lodging below before selecting single supplement. It really is not necessary for this trip even for solo travelers.)
*We will do our best to avoid this scenario, but depending on group construction, solo travelers may be forced to pay a single supplement. All efforts will be made to avoid this expense though it cannot be guaranteed. Impacted travelers, should they decide to cancel, will be reimbursed following the cancellation policy below.
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. “Down East,” 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 “down east” to the Maine coast. We will spend a two full days 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, Wilson’s Storm-petrels, and more.
Alaska: The Bering Sea
and Arctic Circle
Monday, June 9 to Thursday, June 19, 2025
(Optional: St Paul extension: June 20 to 22)
(Optional: St Paul extension: June 20 to 22)
1 space remains!
Crested Auklet. Photo by George Armistead, Hillstar Birding
Guides: Adam Betuel, Birds Georgia Director of Conservation, and Georgia Armistead and Alex Harper, with Hillstar Nature
Group Size: 11 people
Cost for Main Trip:
*Based on double occupancy and 10 participants. See more details below if travelling solo
* Prices are an estimate due to local vendors not setting prices yet. Final prices expected to be set in September or October of 2024. Trip costs were based off of 2024 trip costs with a minor increase included. Please reach out to Adam Betuel if you have any questions.
Alaska is grand, in its size, its landscapes, and its wildlife diversity. It is home to fabulous long-distance migrants, seldom-seen inhabitants of the remote north, and often welcomes wayward vagrants from Asia. This tour offers chances for a broad range of birds and wildlife including nesting colonies of hard to track down seabirds, the wonderous landscapes of Nome, a lottery for oddball vagrants from across the turbulent Bering Sea, and a visit to the Arctic Circle where snazzy shorebirds and waterfowl dominate and at times are punctuated by Snowy Owls.
Nome is unlike any other spot in North America, and ranks among the best birding places on Earth. Intensely scenic, it offers a chance at rare breeding birds such as Bristle-thighed Curlew, Bluethroat, Northern Wheatear, Arctic Loon, Gyrfalcon, and still others. It also offers chances for mammals like Muskox and Grizzly Bear, and even other mammals more mythical in nature.
Utqiagvik is as far north as you can get in the State(s). Eiders and shorebirds abound. All the way up at 71 degrees north, just inside the Arctic Circle lies a northward projecting point and an adjoining town. Formerly known as Barrow, the native Inupiat people have long known it as Utqiagvik, which is often translated as “the place where Snowy Owls are hunted.” All four eider species can be seen in a single day, and it is a great location for breeding shorebirds. Lucky observers at times see Polar Bear here. We will spend three nights and parts of four days exploring this unique town and its outskirts, smack in the middle of the arctic wilderness.
Each location offers a chance at scarce or rare visitors from Asia, adding an element of ‘jackpot birding’ to each day. They enough constitute a fantastic trip but if possible, a birder should not miss out on the unique and rarity prone Pribilof Islands. With that in mind, as well as it’s unpredictable weather, we have decided to offer a short excursion to the “Pribs” as an extension to chase down some of the most desired birds in the United States. On remote St. Paul Island, the steep and winding cliff faces hold nesting Red-legged Kittiwakes, Red-faced Cormorants, and thousands of alcids (auks) including Least, Parakeet, and Crested Auklets, as well as Horned and Tufted Puffins. It also offers a chance at scarce or rare visitors from Asia. Visit a tremendous marine wilderness and see the Bering Sea at its best.
Join us for an incomparable adventure to Alaska’s very best birding hotspots.
Group Size: 11 people
Cost for Main Trip:
- Birds Georgia Member: $10,800*
- Non-member: $10,850* (Includes a one-year Birds Georgia membership)
- $4,600*
*Based on double occupancy and 10 participants. See more details below if travelling solo
* Prices are an estimate due to local vendors not setting prices yet. Final prices expected to be set in September or October of 2024. Trip costs were based off of 2024 trip costs with a minor increase included. Please reach out to Adam Betuel if you have any questions.
Alaska is grand, in its size, its landscapes, and its wildlife diversity. It is home to fabulous long-distance migrants, seldom-seen inhabitants of the remote north, and often welcomes wayward vagrants from Asia. This tour offers chances for a broad range of birds and wildlife including nesting colonies of hard to track down seabirds, the wonderous landscapes of Nome, a lottery for oddball vagrants from across the turbulent Bering Sea, and a visit to the Arctic Circle where snazzy shorebirds and waterfowl dominate and at times are punctuated by Snowy Owls.
Nome is unlike any other spot in North America, and ranks among the best birding places on Earth. Intensely scenic, it offers a chance at rare breeding birds such as Bristle-thighed Curlew, Bluethroat, Northern Wheatear, Arctic Loon, Gyrfalcon, and still others. It also offers chances for mammals like Muskox and Grizzly Bear, and even other mammals more mythical in nature.
Utqiagvik is as far north as you can get in the State(s). Eiders and shorebirds abound. All the way up at 71 degrees north, just inside the Arctic Circle lies a northward projecting point and an adjoining town. Formerly known as Barrow, the native Inupiat people have long known it as Utqiagvik, which is often translated as “the place where Snowy Owls are hunted.” All four eider species can be seen in a single day, and it is a great location for breeding shorebirds. Lucky observers at times see Polar Bear here. We will spend three nights and parts of four days exploring this unique town and its outskirts, smack in the middle of the arctic wilderness.
Each location offers a chance at scarce or rare visitors from Asia, adding an element of ‘jackpot birding’ to each day. They enough constitute a fantastic trip but if possible, a birder should not miss out on the unique and rarity prone Pribilof Islands. With that in mind, as well as it’s unpredictable weather, we have decided to offer a short excursion to the “Pribs” as an extension to chase down some of the most desired birds in the United States. On remote St. Paul Island, the steep and winding cliff faces hold nesting Red-legged Kittiwakes, Red-faced Cormorants, and thousands of alcids (auks) including Least, Parakeet, and Crested Auklets, as well as Horned and Tufted Puffins. It also offers a chance at scarce or rare visitors from Asia. Visit a tremendous marine wilderness and see the Bering Sea at its best.
Join us for an incomparable adventure to Alaska’s very best birding hotspots.
Southern Africa:
Towering falls to desert dunes
Sunday, August 17 to Tuesday, September 2, 2025
Three spots remain!
Three spots remain!
Lesser Flamingos. Photo by George Armistead.
Birds Georgia Leader: Adam Betuel, Director of Conservation
Local Guide: Adam Betuel (Birds Georgia Director of Conservation), Josh Engel (Red Hill Birding), and local guide
Group Size: 13 people (can be run with a smaller group at an elevated price)
Member price: : $9,950*
Non-member price: $10,000* (Includes a one-year Birds Georgia membership)
Single supplement for non-shared hotel room: $500/person
*Based on double occupancy. See more details below if traveling solo
*Sharing of a room is almost a certainty at one location. More info on Day 2 in trip description.
Namibia and Botswana are desert countries, yet they are unexpected oases of amazing bird and animal diversity. From the nutrient-rich Benguela Current that brings moisture and life to the western coastline, across the Kalahari to the swamps and broad-leafed woodlands that fringe the Okavango River, and following the Zambezi River to the incredible Victoria Falls, no two days in this region are alike. In between lies the mountainous escarpment that forms the backbone of the country and the wildlife-filled Etosha National Park. A stellar cast of birds live here, like Rockrunner, White-tailed Shrike, Dune Lark, Damara Hornbill, Rüppel’s Parrot, Southern Carmine Bee-eater, African Skimmer, and Pel’s Fishing Owl.
Namibia and Botswana are among the least densely populated countries in the world, yet contain world-class tourism infrastructure. The scarcity of people translates into abundant birds and wildlife, even outside of formally protected areas. The arid nature of both countries means that any place with water attracts large quantities of creatures, and many lodges and protected areas provide permanent water sources just for this purpose. The unique habitats—the Kalahari Scrubland, the Namib Desert, the Okavango Swamps—means an abundance of unique and endemic birds and animals. This trip is not just excellent for birds; it also presents wonderful opportunities to see and photograph the megafauna that Africa is so famous for, including lion, giraffe, elephant, black rhinoceros, leopard, a wide diversity of antelopes and smaller mammals, and reptiles.
Namibia and Botswana are easy countries to travel in; we stay in wonderful hotels in extraordinary locations. We will be in custom-modified vehicles that are designed for tours like this, so that everyone has a window seat and those windows open wide for great viewing and photography. Despite remaining under the radar from a global tourism perspective, the tourism infrastructure is outstanding: the roads are excellent, the hotels comfortable, and the food delicious. These are among the safest countries in Africa, with vibrant democracies and a free press. Between the birding, the mammals, the people, and the infrastructure, it is no wonder that it is a favorite of guides and wildlife travelers alike.
Local Guide: Adam Betuel (Birds Georgia Director of Conservation), Josh Engel (Red Hill Birding), and local guide
Group Size: 13 people (can be run with a smaller group at an elevated price)
Member price: : $9,950*
Non-member price: $10,000* (Includes a one-year Birds Georgia membership)
Single supplement for non-shared hotel room: $500/person
*Based on double occupancy. See more details below if traveling solo
*Sharing of a room is almost a certainty at one location. More info on Day 2 in trip description.
Namibia and Botswana are desert countries, yet they are unexpected oases of amazing bird and animal diversity. From the nutrient-rich Benguela Current that brings moisture and life to the western coastline, across the Kalahari to the swamps and broad-leafed woodlands that fringe the Okavango River, and following the Zambezi River to the incredible Victoria Falls, no two days in this region are alike. In between lies the mountainous escarpment that forms the backbone of the country and the wildlife-filled Etosha National Park. A stellar cast of birds live here, like Rockrunner, White-tailed Shrike, Dune Lark, Damara Hornbill, Rüppel’s Parrot, Southern Carmine Bee-eater, African Skimmer, and Pel’s Fishing Owl.
Namibia and Botswana are among the least densely populated countries in the world, yet contain world-class tourism infrastructure. The scarcity of people translates into abundant birds and wildlife, even outside of formally protected areas. The arid nature of both countries means that any place with water attracts large quantities of creatures, and many lodges and protected areas provide permanent water sources just for this purpose. The unique habitats—the Kalahari Scrubland, the Namib Desert, the Okavango Swamps—means an abundance of unique and endemic birds and animals. This trip is not just excellent for birds; it also presents wonderful opportunities to see and photograph the megafauna that Africa is so famous for, including lion, giraffe, elephant, black rhinoceros, leopard, a wide diversity of antelopes and smaller mammals, and reptiles.
Namibia and Botswana are easy countries to travel in; we stay in wonderful hotels in extraordinary locations. We will be in custom-modified vehicles that are designed for tours like this, so that everyone has a window seat and those windows open wide for great viewing and photography. Despite remaining under the radar from a global tourism perspective, the tourism infrastructure is outstanding: the roads are excellent, the hotels comfortable, and the food delicious. These are among the safest countries in Africa, with vibrant democracies and a free press. Between the birding, the mammals, the people, and the infrastructure, it is no wonder that it is a favorite of guides and wildlife travelers alike.
Louisiana: Birding the Cajun Way
October 29 to November 2, 2025
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.
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.
Wood Duck. Photo by Chokchai Leangsuksun, Audubon Photography Awards
Guide: Adam Betuel (Birds Georgia), Heather Levy (Birds Georgia), and Red Hill Guide
Group Size: 9 people max
Fees:
Birds Georgia Member: $2,950*
Non-member: $3,000* (Includes a one-year Birds Georgia membership)
Single supplement for a non-shared hotel room: $315/person
*Based on double occupancy and 9 participants. See more details below if traveling solo
*We will do our best to avoid this scenario, but depending on group construction, solo travelers may be forced to pay a single supplement. All efforts will be made to avoid this expense though it cannot be guaranteed. Impacted travelers, should they decide to cancel, will be reimbursed following the cancellation policy below.
Pre-trip Meeting: TBD via Zoom
Questions? Please email Adam Betuel
Louisiana is a place unlike anywhere else in the states and possibly, the world. It has its own culture, language, food, and a rich history. It conjures images of sweaty swamps, colorful floats, rich food, and sleepy rural roads. What may not immediately come to mind is a unique avifauna. A community of birds that mix Atlantic and Central Flyway migrants. A place where western and eastern breeding birds blend. Expansive swampy and bottomland habitats not far from Gulf views and agricultural lands. Even more serendipitous is the uniting of the state’s bird life with their renowned cuisine. Louisiana is the primary rice-growing region in our country and while that rice speaks to gumbo and jambalaya, it also should make one think of Yellow Rails and other wetland and grassland-loving birds that utilize this rice-growing region in the winter months.
On this five-day trip, Birds Georgia will be leading you around the Central and Southwestern regions of Louisiana, exploring a diversity of habitats, but with a focus on the ever-elusive Yellow Rail and target birds that call this place their winter home. This region is not the most bird-rich destination in the breeding season, but it is a massively important migratory region and even more robust with bird life in the winter months. This trip is scheduled to incorporate the famous Yellow Rails & Rice Festival and build upon this core event with trips taking us to diverse places, bird-rich locations, and in search of hard-to-find species. We will encounter many of the familiar birds found across Georgia but also expect to find western species rare further east, geese much more common in the central flyway, overwintering flycatchers, and denizens of the thick marsh. It will be an exciting time experiencing the intersection of bird watching and bird habitat with the needs of humans, expansive coastal habitats, and as much Creole food as we can consume!
Group Size: 9 people max
Fees:
Birds Georgia Member: $2,950*
Non-member: $3,000* (Includes a one-year Birds Georgia membership)
Single supplement for a non-shared hotel room: $315/person
*Based on double occupancy and 9 participants. See more details below if traveling solo
*We will do our best to avoid this scenario, but depending on group construction, solo travelers may be forced to pay a single supplement. All efforts will be made to avoid this expense though it cannot be guaranteed. Impacted travelers, should they decide to cancel, will be reimbursed following the cancellation policy below.
Pre-trip Meeting: TBD via Zoom
Questions? Please email Adam Betuel
Louisiana is a place unlike anywhere else in the states and possibly, the world. It has its own culture, language, food, and a rich history. It conjures images of sweaty swamps, colorful floats, rich food, and sleepy rural roads. What may not immediately come to mind is a unique avifauna. A community of birds that mix Atlantic and Central Flyway migrants. A place where western and eastern breeding birds blend. Expansive swampy and bottomland habitats not far from Gulf views and agricultural lands. Even more serendipitous is the uniting of the state’s bird life with their renowned cuisine. Louisiana is the primary rice-growing region in our country and while that rice speaks to gumbo and jambalaya, it also should make one think of Yellow Rails and other wetland and grassland-loving birds that utilize this rice-growing region in the winter months.
On this five-day trip, Birds Georgia will be leading you around the Central and Southwestern regions of Louisiana, exploring a diversity of habitats, but with a focus on the ever-elusive Yellow Rail and target birds that call this place their winter home. This region is not the most bird-rich destination in the breeding season, but it is a massively important migratory region and even more robust with bird life in the winter months. This trip is scheduled to incorporate the famous Yellow Rails & Rice Festival and build upon this core event with trips taking us to diverse places, bird-rich locations, and in search of hard-to-find species. We will encounter many of the familiar birds found across Georgia but also expect to find western species rare further east, geese much more common in the central flyway, overwintering flycatchers, and denizens of the thick marsh. It will be an exciting time experiencing the intersection of bird watching and bird habitat with the needs of humans, expansive coastal habitats, and as much Creole food as we can consume!
Puerto Rico: Island of Enhantment
December 8 to 13, 2025
Mangrove Cuckoo. Photo by Jimmy Dhillon, Audubon Photography Awards.
Birds Georgia Leader: Gabe Andrle, Habitat Program Manager
Local Guides: Gabriel Lugo (Wildside Nature Tours)
Group Size: 13 participants
Birds Georgia Member Price: $3,765*
Nonmember Price: $3,815* (Includes a one-year Birds Georgia membership)
Single supplement for non-shared hotel room: $450/person
*Based on double occupancy. See more details below if traveling solo
Questions? Please email Gabe Andrle.
This exciting exploration of Puerto Rico’s prime birding locations will target the island’s 19 endemic birds and other Caribbean specialties during 6-days/5-nights with local guide and Caribbean specialist, Gabriel Lugo! Many of the island’s specialties are threatened or endangered, and many species currently recognized as regional subspecies may one day be split to become an island endemic. In the case of the Puerto Rican Amazon Parrot and ‘Caribbean’ Sharp-shinned Hawk, there are very few individuals left in the wild. During our trip we will explore a variety of habitats; from the cliffs and rocky beaches along the northern coast, to the jungle forests on karst ‘haystack hills’ in the northwest, to the salty lagoons and dry thorn scrub along the southwest coast, and through the central cloud forests. We’ll cover most of this small island looking for some great birds and enjoying the friendly and colorful communities of Puerto Rico along the way!
Please Note: Credit card processing fees are now included in the registration price.
Local Guides: Gabriel Lugo (Wildside Nature Tours)
Group Size: 13 participants
Birds Georgia Member Price: $3,765*
Nonmember Price: $3,815* (Includes a one-year Birds Georgia membership)
Single supplement for non-shared hotel room: $450/person
*Based on double occupancy. See more details below if traveling solo
Questions? Please email Gabe Andrle.
This exciting exploration of Puerto Rico’s prime birding locations will target the island’s 19 endemic birds and other Caribbean specialties during 6-days/5-nights with local guide and Caribbean specialist, Gabriel Lugo! Many of the island’s specialties are threatened or endangered, and many species currently recognized as regional subspecies may one day be split to become an island endemic. In the case of the Puerto Rican Amazon Parrot and ‘Caribbean’ Sharp-shinned Hawk, there are very few individuals left in the wild. During our trip we will explore a variety of habitats; from the cliffs and rocky beaches along the northern coast, to the jungle forests on karst ‘haystack hills’ in the northwest, to the salty lagoons and dry thorn scrub along the southwest coast, and through the central cloud forests. We’ll cover most of this small island looking for some great birds and enjoying the friendly and colorful communities of Puerto Rico along the way!
Please Note: Credit card processing fees are now included in the registration price.
trips we're planning...
Be sure to join Birds Georgia as a member to ensure you receive all updates regarding the Birds Georgia Travel Program. Registration for the following 2026 trips will open later this year.
- Colombia
- Upstate New York
- Brazil
- Oregon & Washington
- South Dakota
- Arizona
- St. Mark's NWR
- Wheeler NWR
- South Carolina
