Above: Birds Georgia trip to St. Marks, Florida, February 2026 | Photo by Joanna Parkman.
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 award-winning 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.
Early Registration Access for Leadership Giving Circle members
By making a commitment of $1,000 or more each year, Leadership Giving Circle members help deepen our work to protect birds and habitat from the mountains to the coast and everywhere in between. Leadership Giving Circle members receive exclusive benefits, including early access to our travel program registration, discounts on store purchases, and access to special Leadership Circle trips.
To learn more, visit our Leadership Giving Circle page.
Birds Georgia's award-winning 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.
Early Registration Access for Leadership Giving Circle members
By making a commitment of $1,000 or more each year, Leadership Giving Circle members help deepen our work to protect birds and habitat from the mountains to the coast and everywhere in between. Leadership Giving Circle members receive exclusive benefits, including early access to our travel program registration, discounts on store purchases, and access to special Leadership Circle trips.
To learn more, visit our Leadership Giving Circle page.
upcoming trips
Hyacinth Macaw. Photo by Supreet Sahoo, Audubon Photography Awards.
BRAZIL: THE WORLD-CLASS PANTANAL
Trip 1:
Main tour: July 10 to 20, 2026
Extension (optional): July 21 to July 25, 2026
Trip 2:
Main tour: July 25 to August 4, 2026
Extension II (optional): August 5 to 9, 2026
Experience one of the world's great wild places on a Birds Georgia adventure to Brazil's spectacular Pantanal, the largest freshwater wetland on Earth. Timed for the dry season's peak wildlife viewing, this journey offers extraordinary birding, stunning landscapes, and opportunities to encounter iconic bird species like Hyacinth Macaw and Toco Toucan, along with wildlife like Giant Anteater, Giant Otter, and hopefully even the elusive Jaguar!
Travel in comfort aboard a floating lodge and welcoming working ranches while enjoying guided boat excursions, safari-style wildlife drives, and authentic Brazilian cuisine under brilliant southern skies.
Birds Georgia experts Adam Betuel (Trip 1) and Gabe Andrle (Trip 2) lead each departure, joined by Brazilian naturalist Xavier Muñoz of Neblina Forest, whose local knowledge brings the region’s wildlife and culture to life.
Travelers can also extend their journey into the breathtaking Atlantic Forest, one of the world’s most threatened and bird-rich ecosystems, where vibrant endemics reward every moment in the field.
Trip 1:
Main tour: July 10 to 20, 2026
Extension (optional): July 21 to July 25, 2026
Trip 2:
Main tour: July 25 to August 4, 2026
Extension II (optional): August 5 to 9, 2026
Experience one of the world's great wild places on a Birds Georgia adventure to Brazil's spectacular Pantanal, the largest freshwater wetland on Earth. Timed for the dry season's peak wildlife viewing, this journey offers extraordinary birding, stunning landscapes, and opportunities to encounter iconic bird species like Hyacinth Macaw and Toco Toucan, along with wildlife like Giant Anteater, Giant Otter, and hopefully even the elusive Jaguar!
Travel in comfort aboard a floating lodge and welcoming working ranches while enjoying guided boat excursions, safari-style wildlife drives, and authentic Brazilian cuisine under brilliant southern skies.
Birds Georgia experts Adam Betuel (Trip 1) and Gabe Andrle (Trip 2) lead each departure, joined by Brazilian naturalist Xavier Muñoz of Neblina Forest, whose local knowledge brings the region’s wildlife and culture to life.
Travelers can also extend their journey into the breathtaking Atlantic Forest, one of the world’s most threatened and bird-rich ecosystems, where vibrant endemics reward every moment in the field.
Both trips are full at this time. Please complete the registration process if you would like to be added to the waiting list. No money will be collected when you join the waiting list. Should a space become available, will contact you and collect payment at that time should you choose to attend.
Broad-billed Hummingbird. Photo by Vincenzo Barraco/Audubon Photography Awards
SOUTHEAST ARIZONA'S SECOND SPRING
August 25 to 31, 2026
Southeast Arizona ranks high on many birders’ lists as the country’s top birding region. With numerous range-restricted species in beautiful mountain and desert landscapes, it’s no mystery why.
This itinerary will allow you to soak in many of the ecological wonders Southeast Arizona has to offer. From the deserts of Tucson where we will get familiar with common specialties of the Sonoran Desert through four distinct “sky island” mountain ranges that birds like Elegant Trogon and Red-faced Warbler call home, we’ll get a thorough sampling of the best the region offers. Our itinerary will take us to such fabled hotspots as Mount Lemmon, Madera Canyon, and Patagonia.
Southeast Arizona in late summer – known as the second spring due to the monsoon rains that come through and green the desert at that time – is hard to beat. Birds abound as the land comes alive with occasional rains storms, and this itinerary is sure to net many of the highly sought-after species in this region. This is the time of peak hummingbird diversity—we could see ten or more species—and is a great time to find other regional specialties like Olive Warbler, Painted Redstart, Rose-throated Becard, Whiskered Screech-Owl, Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher, Black-capped Gnatcatcher, Thick-billed Kingbird, and many others.
August 25 to 31, 2026
Southeast Arizona ranks high on many birders’ lists as the country’s top birding region. With numerous range-restricted species in beautiful mountain and desert landscapes, it’s no mystery why.
This itinerary will allow you to soak in many of the ecological wonders Southeast Arizona has to offer. From the deserts of Tucson where we will get familiar with common specialties of the Sonoran Desert through four distinct “sky island” mountain ranges that birds like Elegant Trogon and Red-faced Warbler call home, we’ll get a thorough sampling of the best the region offers. Our itinerary will take us to such fabled hotspots as Mount Lemmon, Madera Canyon, and Patagonia.
Southeast Arizona in late summer – known as the second spring due to the monsoon rains that come through and green the desert at that time – is hard to beat. Birds abound as the land comes alive with occasional rains storms, and this itinerary is sure to net many of the highly sought-after species in this region. This is the time of peak hummingbird diversity—we could see ten or more species—and is a great time to find other regional specialties like Olive Warbler, Painted Redstart, Rose-throated Becard, Whiskered Screech-Owl, Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher, Black-capped Gnatcatcher, Thick-billed Kingbird, and many others.
*8 spots remaining
Townsend's Warbler. Photo by Red Hill Birding
EVERGREEN BIRDING IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST
September 9 to 18, 2026
Experience the Pacific Northwest at its very best with Birds Georgia. September brings clear skies, light crowds, and peak fall migration as birds stream south along the Pacific Flyway. This scenic journey begins in Portland and concludes in Seattle, carrying you through rugged coastline, lush rainforest, and dramatic mountain landscapes. Along the way, you’ll search for iconic regional species, enjoy outstanding migrating birds, and venture offshore on an exciting pelagic trip.
Birds Georgia's Adam Betuel is joined by Steve Huggins of Red Hill Birding to lead this scenic, species-rich adventure.
September 9 to 18, 2026
Experience the Pacific Northwest at its very best with Birds Georgia. September brings clear skies, light crowds, and peak fall migration as birds stream south along the Pacific Flyway. This scenic journey begins in Portland and concludes in Seattle, carrying you through rugged coastline, lush rainforest, and dramatic mountain landscapes. Along the way, you’ll search for iconic regional species, enjoy outstanding migrating birds, and venture offshore on an exciting pelagic trip.
Birds Georgia's Adam Betuel is joined by Steve Huggins of Red Hill Birding to lead this scenic, species-rich adventure.
This trip is full at this time. Please complete the registration process if you would like to be added to the waiting list. No money will be collected when you join the waiting list. Should a space become available, will contact you and collect payment at that time should you choose to attend.
Andean Cock-of-the-rock. Photo by George Scott/Audubon Photography Awards
COLOMBIA: A RAINBOW OF BIRDS
November 10 to 23, 2026
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. This two-week trip will be the third tour Birds Georgia has organized in the past few years, each one visiting a different region of this birdy nation. This time, our efforts are focuses on the montane slopes west of Bogota, the famous Chocó habitat on the coastal slope of the western Andes, and the biodiverse rises and valleys in between.
Of the hundreds of bird species possible, a few to look forward to include Recurved-billed Bushbird, Beautiful Woodpecker, Gold-ringed Tanager, and the Andean Cock-of-the-rock. This trip will be absolutely loaded with the tropical environments, and the birds they hold, that birders dream of!
Birds Georgia's Adam Betuel partners with expert Colombian guide Diego Calderón of COLOMBIA Birding to lead this immersive, two-week journey.
November 10 to 23, 2026
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. This two-week trip will be the third tour Birds Georgia has organized in the past few years, each one visiting a different region of this birdy nation. This time, our efforts are focuses on the montane slopes west of Bogota, the famous Chocó habitat on the coastal slope of the western Andes, and the biodiverse rises and valleys in between.
Of the hundreds of bird species possible, a few to look forward to include Recurved-billed Bushbird, Beautiful Woodpecker, Gold-ringed Tanager, and the Andean Cock-of-the-rock. This trip will be absolutely loaded with the tropical environments, and the birds they hold, that birders dream of!
Birds Georgia's Adam Betuel partners with expert Colombian guide Diego Calderón of COLOMBIA Birding to lead this immersive, two-week journey.
This trip is full at this time. Please complete the registration process if you would like to be added to the waiting list. No money will be collected when you join the waiting list. Should a space become available, will contact you and collect payment at that time should you choose to attend.
Sarus Crane. Photo by George Armistead
INDIA: TIGERS, THE TAJ, AND ALL THINGS FEATHERED
March 2 to 12, 2027
Extension (optional): March 12 to 16, 2027
Join Birds Georgia's Adam Betuel and renowned international bird guide George Armistead for a 10-day journey through India blending spectacular birding with unforgettable cultural and wildlife experiences. Highlights include visits to the iconic Taj Mahal and multiple opportunities to search for Bengal Tiger in renowned wildlife reserves.
Travelers will enjoy comfortable lodges, outstanding regional cuisine, landscapes that inspired Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book, and remarkable wildlife encounters among Sarus Crane and dazzling Indian Peafowl.
An optional extension is based at Jim’s Jungle Retreat near Corbett National Park, where exceptional bird diversity offers chances to see species such as Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Crested Treeswift, and Yellow-footed Green Pigeon.
March 2 to 12, 2027
Extension (optional): March 12 to 16, 2027
Join Birds Georgia's Adam Betuel and renowned international bird guide George Armistead for a 10-day journey through India blending spectacular birding with unforgettable cultural and wildlife experiences. Highlights include visits to the iconic Taj Mahal and multiple opportunities to search for Bengal Tiger in renowned wildlife reserves.
Travelers will enjoy comfortable lodges, outstanding regional cuisine, landscapes that inspired Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book, and remarkable wildlife encounters among Sarus Crane and dazzling Indian Peafowl.
An optional extension is based at Jim’s Jungle Retreat near Corbett National Park, where exceptional bird diversity offers chances to see species such as Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, Blue-bearded Bee-eater, Crested Treeswift, and Yellow-footed Green Pigeon.
*1 spot remaining
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.
