FEATURED TRIPS

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher - Linda Mack

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Coastal Louisiana offers marvelous spring birding without the crowds of the nearby Upper Texas Coast. Our trip will sample some of the many interesting habitats found here, including a visit to the Atchafalaya Swamp—one of the largest intact bottomland swamps in the nation, coastal prairies and rice fields that teem with ducks, herons, shorebirds, and terns; and coastal cheniers—oak woodlands along the Gulf of Mexico that can be loaded with colorful warblers and other Neotropic migrants. Birds we’ll do our best to see here include Fulvous Whistling-Duck, Reddish Egret, Swallow-tailed & Mississippi Kites, King Rail, Purple Gallinule, Snowy & Wilson’s Plovers, Long-billed Curlew, Hudsonian Godwit, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Sandwich Tern, Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, Cave Swallow, Swainson’s & Kentucky Warblers, Bachman’s Sparrow, and Painted Bunting. This tour has only two hotel changes.

Purple Gallunule - Linda Mack
Swallow-tailed Kite - Linda Mack

TOUR SIZE
Travel during this tour will be in vans, with no more than 7 participants plus a leader in one van. Tour size is limited to 12 participants.

ACTIVITY LEVEL: Easy to Moderate
The trip involves easy walking on flat ground.

PACE, WEATHER, AND TRAVEL CONDITIONS:
Our days in the field usually begin about 7:00 a.m. and will end no later than 6:00 p.m.

Temperatures will be warm to hot, with high humidity. Expect a temperature range from lows in the mid-50’s to highs in the mid-80’s. Rain or thunderstorms are always possible, so bring a poncho or rain jacket. Biting insects such as mosquitoes and no-see-ums may be present.

Additional information about the tour, with specific meeting times, a list of participants, addresses of motels, lists of things to bring, a reading list, a list of probable/possible birds, further information about weather, dress, etc., will be mailed to all participants well in advance of the tour.

Painted Bunting - Linda Mack

DATES:
Thursday April 23, 2024 (meet at our hotel in Lafayette at 6:30 p.m.) to Thursday April 30, 2024 (flights home anytime that day).

PRICE:
Cost for this tour is $3,395.00, based on double occupancy. Single supplement (if you request single occupancy or we are unable to find you a roommate) is $300. A deposit of $500 will confirm your space until February 23, 2024 when full payment becomes due.

PRICE INCLUDES:
Hotel accommodations for seven nights, tour leadership, ground transportation while in Louisiana, ferry fees, and entry fees. It does not include meals or airfare to/from Lafayette.

SEND DEPOSITS & OTHER PAYMENTS TO:
NJ Audubon Eco-travel
Attn: René Buccinna
2350 Route 47 North, Bldg. 1
Woodbine, NJ 08270
Phone: 609-400-3852
Email: [email protected]

Tour Leaders:

Scott Barnes began birding in the mid-1980’s and has been an avid naturalist ever since.  Encouragement and learning came from his parents and many birders, including members of the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club and staff of New Jersey Audubon.  An interest in travel and natural history has led him from the Bering Sea to the desert southwest to the tropics of Central America in search of birds and other wildlife. Scott compiles the Sandy Hook Christmas Bird Count, served for thirteen years on the New Jersey Bird Records Committee, led on See Life Paulagics boat trips for 19 years, serves on the NJ Waterfowl Stamp Advisory Committee, and is an eBird reviewer for NJ. He is the assistant director of the NJ Audubon Travel Program.  Scott has led NJ Audubon tours in 23 states in the U.S., and Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, and Trinidad & Tobago.  Scott co-led a Monhegan Island, Maine tour with Derek in 2012.

Dave Irons: Dave Irons had the good fortune to have parents who were birders and went on his first birding outings at age six. During his senior year of high school, he made connections with other birders his age and birding has been a driving force in his life ever since. His curiosity about vagrancy, biogeography, and the finer points of field ID sustain his passion nearly five decades later. Dave is a past member of the Oregon Bird Records Committee, and he served for more than a decade as the Oregon/Washington regional editor for North American Birds. He finds great joy in passing forward what he’s learned over a lifetime of birding through writing and teaching. He authored the ABA Field Guide to the Birds of Oregon (published in 2018) and has written articles for several other publications. Over the past two decades Dave has led field trips and taught birding classes for Lane Community College, the Pacific Northwest College of Art, the Siskiyou Field Institute, the Audubon Society of Portland (OR), Lane County Audubon Society, Western Field Ornithologists, Oregon Birding Association and the Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival. He and his wife Shawneen Finnegan make their home in Beaverton, Oregon and they are the eBird review coordinators for Oregon.

Photo - Brett Ewald

GENERAL INFORMATION:

 Get ready to leave the noise and bustle of everyday life behind as we venture to this picturesque and serene island off the coast of Maine! Its remote location 10 miles offshore and diverse habitats help to make Monhegan one of the top migrant “traps” on the East Coast. Our time will be filled observing some of the incredible array of birds that reside on or visit this island, such as flycatchers, thrushes, vireos, warblers (over 20 species possible), sparrows, finches, and blackbirds. We will scan the ocean waves for waterfowl, alcids, shearwaters, jaegers, and other seabirds, while raptors pass by in their search for prey on the island. The list of possibilities reads like a checklist, and we’ll search for species such as Northern Gannet, Great Cormorant, Black Guillemot, Manx Shearwater, Wilson’s Storm-Petrel, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Parasitic Jaeger, Red-necked Phalarope, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Philadelphia Vireo, Connecticut Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat, Clay-colored Sparrow, and many more!!  Regularly sighted vagrants include Western Kingbird, White-eyed Vireo, Dickcissel, Lark Sparrow, Orchard Oriole, Blue Grosbeak, and more. Monhegan has also hosted a stunning list of rarities, topped by the likes of Magnificent Frigatebird, Bridled Tern, Swallow-tailed Kite, Say’s Phoebe, White-winged Dove, Northern Wheatear, Bell’s Vireo, Virginia Warbler, Lazuli Bunting, and Lark Bunting! We will be leaving our vehicles on the mainland and soaking it all in while covering some of the many trails on this small and peaceful island (only 1.7 miles long and .5 miles wide), which includes a freshwater ice pond, nine-acre meadow, and the tallest cliffs on the eastern seaboard (160’). Wonderful birding, breathtaking scenery, and an enchanting atmosphere – Monhegan has it all!

The tour starts/ends in Port Clyde, Maine. Besides the spectacular birding, coastal Maine has a natural beauty beyond compare. Monhegan itself has a quaint fishing village and artist’s retreat, with several shops and galleries; it is a favorite tourist day-trip destination in the summer. Maine is also famous for its historical lighthouses, one of which is located right on the island. This tour will truly be a memorable coastal experience!

Additional information about the tour, with specific meeting times, accommodations, lists of things to bring, a reading list, further information about weather, dress, and so forth, will be mailed to all participants well in advance of the tour.

Northern Gannet - Brett Ewald
Black-throated Green warbler - Brett Ewald

TOUR SIZE: This tour is limited to 10 participants.

ACTIVITY LEVEL: Moderate. This tour has been given an activity level of Moderate. It is considered a more active tour with daily intermediate to long-distance walking on sloping or uneven terrain, and/or climbing stairs. It also involves a water crossing over open ocean, with the possibility of rough seas. Those with physical limitations or trouble with seasickness should take these factors into consideration or contact the tour leader for details.

PACE, WEATHER, AND TRAVEL CONDITIONS: The focus of the tour will be birds and scenery, but we will have time for other wildlife, botany, and photography. We will be walking throughout the tour, as there is not ground transportation. All accommodations are at an inn or guesthouse; stairs are required for any rooms above the ground floor (there are no elevators). Expect a warm to cool climate, depending on current weather systems, with daily high temperatures usually in the 60s and lows in the mid to upper 40s. The pace is relaxed, with some hikes of one-two miles on easy to moderate terrain (some woodland trails with exposed roots and uneven ground).

DATES: Wednesday, September 18 to Monday, September 23, 2024

Photo - Brett Ewald
Juvenile Black Gullemot - Brett Ewald

PRICE: $2295 based on double occupancy; $650 single supplement (payable if you request single occupancy or if we cannot find you a suitable roommate). A deposit of $500 will hold your place until July 15, 2024 when full payment becomes due.

PRICE INCLUDES: Professional guide services are included for the duration of the tour. This tour also includes five nights of seaside accommodations at a hotel/inn or guesthouse. Each room has a private bath. All rooms are furnished with one queen or king bed (a sofa bed is also available in some rooms). Smoking is not permitted inside the building. Dinner at two of the fine local restaurants is provided (Wednesday and Sunday), as well as breakfast each morning. All other meals are the responsibility of the individual tour participants. The cost of the ferry crossing is included. Transportation to/from Port Clyde is not included – for those flying into Portland, there are several options to travel to Port Clyde. For those driving to Port Clyde and leaving a car on the mainland, parking will be arranged for the duration of the time on Monhegan.

SEND DEPOSITS AND OTHER PAYMENTS TO:

NJ Audubon Eco-Travel
c/o René Buccinna
2350 Route 47 North, Bldg. 1
Woodbine, NJ  08270
Phone: (609) 400-3852
Please make checks payable to New Jersey Audubon

OR

by email to [email protected]

Call 609-400-3852 with questions.

PRICE: $2295 based on double occupancy; $650 single supplement (payable if you request single occupancy or if we cannot find you a suitable roommate). A deposit of $500 will hold your place until July 15, 2024 when full payment becomes due.

PRICE INCLUDES: Professional guide services are included for the duration of the tour. This tour also includes five nights of seaside accommodations at a hotel/inn or guesthouse. Each room has a private bath. All rooms are furnished with one queen or king bed (a sofa bed is also available in some rooms). Smoking is not permitted inside the building. Dinner at two of the fine local restaurants is provided (Wednesday and Sunday), as well as breakfast each morning. All other meals are the responsibility of the individual tour participants. The cost of the ferry crossing is included. Transportation to/from Port Clyde is not included – for those flying into Portland, there are several options to travel to Port Clyde. For those driving to Port Clyde and leaving a car on the mainland, parking will be arranged for the duration of the time on Monhegan.

SEND DEPOSITS AND OTHER PAYMENTS TO:

NJ Audubon Eco-Travel
c/o René Buccinna
2350 Route 47 North, Bldg. 1
Woodbine, NJ  08270
Phone: (609) 400-3852
Please make checks payable to New Jersey Audubon

OR

by email to [email protected]

Call 609-400-3852 with questions.

TOUR LEADERS:

Brett Ewald is the Director of New Jersey Audubon’s Cape
May Bird Observatory, facilitating the appreciation and understanding of birds and nature through their full schedule of walks, workshops, presentations, and research. He has been enthralled with birds for over 40 years, specializing in migration and distribution patterns, including as Director of the Hamlin Beach Lakewatch for Braddock Bay Raptor Research in New York. These endeavors have taken him from the mountains of New Mexico to the beaches of New Jersey – including a stint (no pun intended) as the Cape May hawkwatch counter in 1990. For sixteen years, he was the owner and guide for Lakeshore Nature Tours, focusing on the birdlife of North America at the premier destinations, from the Arctic Ocean in Alaska to the Rio Grande Valley of Texas (including multiple tours to Monhegan Island). He currently resides in Cape May Beach and shares his favorite moments with his wife, Sheryl, and their energetic companion, Neah Bay, a Treeing Walker Coonhound. He looks forward to putting his knowledge, experience, and enthusiasm to work for you.

RESPONSIBILITY:

The New Jersey Audubon Society, as tour operator, does not act as an agent for any person or firm providing transportation, accommodations, or services on the tour; and the Society accepts no responsibility for any loss, damage, expense, injury or claim arising from any defect in any vehicle, conveyance, or accommodation provided by any such person or firm.  Neither shall the New Jersey Audubon Society be held responsible for any loss or delay caused by changes in transportation services, strikes, illness, weather, or other cause.  We strongly recommend the purchase of trip cancellation insurance to protect yourself.

TERMS:

The New Jersey Audubon Society reserves the right to alter itinerary or arrangements, if necessary, without penalty; and to prorate any increases or decreases in trip price caused by such alterations; and to cancel the tour at any time prior to departure, with full refund as settlement to tour participants.

REFUND POLICY:

For cancellations more than 60 days before the starting date of the trip, deposits will be returned less a $25.00 service charge.  Cancellations made 60 days or less before the starting date of the trip will be charged $250.00, unless the space can be filled (in which case the $25.00 service charge would apply).  Deposits are non-transferable from tour to tour.  If cancellations take place after hotels and vans have been booked and other services contracted for, hotel, van rental and other service policies will determine what portion, if any, of payments are recoverable.  No refunds will be made to no-shows or for any unused portion of the tour, unless arranged prior to departure date.  All cancellations must be in writing and are presumed final.

Hyacinth Macaw - Mark Garland

GENERAL INFORMATION:

The Pantanal, located in southwestern Brazil and spilling into Bolivia and Paraguay, is the world’s largest tropical wetland, a complex mix of habitats covering more than 42 million acres in a massive low, flat area that’s part of the headwaters of the Paraguay River.  During the rainy season of November to April the wetlands flood, and for the rest of the year the water recedes and wildlife is concentrated into the areas where water remains.  We will explore this region by bus, boat, open safari vehicles, and on foot to search for the rich wildlife of the Pantanal.  We can expect to see a great assortment of water birds, a good variety of raptors, parrots, and songbirds, an exciting collection of mammals, and lots of caimans.  Many trips visit either the northern or southern Pantanal areas; our trip visits both.

Jabiru Stork - Mark Garland
Guira Cuckoo - Mark Garland
Capped Heron - Mark Garland

PACE, WEATHER, AND TRAVEL CONDITIONS:

This trip features a mix of travel types. Participants should be able to walk/stand for short to moderate distances/periods; all walking will be done at a slow pace. Climate is generally warm and dry during the day, with cooler temperatures during the evenings.

GROUP SIZE: Tour size is limited to 10 participants.

ACTIVITY LEVEL:  Easy to Moderate
The trip involves light to moderate amounts of walking but no strenuous hikes. Some wildlife viewing is conducted from boat or open safari vehicles.

DATES: Sunday, June 30 to Wednesday, July 10, 2024

PRICE: Cost for the tour is $6,300 per person, based on double occupancy.  Single supplement (if we cannot find you a roommate, or you request single) is $700. A deposit of $500 will hold your place until April 30, 2024, when full payment becomes due.

PRICE INCLUDES:

All lodging and meals, all boat and safari vehicle tours, all transportation in Brazil including flights on commercial jet aircraft between São Paulo and Cuiaba, between Cuiaba and Campo Grande, and between Campo Grande and São Paulo, and the services of 3 leaders.

Price does not include:  Travel from your home to meeting point in São Paulo, bar beverages, gratuities, and items of a personal nature such as laundry, international phone calls, etc.

SEND DEPOSITS & OTHER PAYMENTS TO:

NJ Audubon / Eco-Travel
Attn: Rene’ Buccinna
2350 Route 47 North, Building 1
Woodbine, NJ 08270
tel. 609-400-3852.

OR

By email [email protected]

Please make checks payable to New Jersey Audubon.  Visa, MasterCard and Discover are also accepted.

CANCELLATION POLICY:

All cancellations must be made in writing.  Please note that due to administrative costs incurred in handling any booking, Neblina Forest will retain your deposit upon cancellation.  In addition, the following charges will apply:

  • 60-43 days before tour begins, 50% of total tour cost will be retained
  • 42-29 days before tour begins, 75% of total tour cost will be retained
  • 28 days or less before tour begins, 100% of total tour cost will be retained

No refunds will be made if you leave a trip for any reason whatsoever, whether voluntarily or not, after the tour has begun.  No refunds will be made for any accommodations, transportation, sightseeing locations, meals or services not utilized.

Tour Leaders

Tom Reed is the Migration Count Coordinator for NJ Audubon’s Cape May Bird Observatory, responsible for overseeing the observatory’s migration monitoring programs, community science initiatives, and the Monarch Monitoring Project. In addition to Eco-Travel, “TR” also plays a role in our Guide-for-Hire and School of Birding programs. Each year he pens Cape May’s annual bird report- a full accounting of every species recorded in a given year, and the only effort of its kind in North America!  Tom Reed has a passion for birds and birding and is passionate about sharing his knowledge with others.  As the Migration Count Coordinator, Tom has studied bird migration not only in Cape May but at other internationally known migration watches.    He has traveled widely throughout the US, along with multiple trips to Central America, Europe, and the Middle East.  After all, you never know what will show up at Cape May, so you have to be ready for anything…


Mark Garland
is an Associate Naturalist with NJ Audubon’s Cape May Bird Observatory, where he formerly worked as Senior Naturalist.  He has extensive experience as a leader of nature travel programs and has led dozens of trips to Central and South America.  He visited all of the areas on this itinerary in 2023 with local leader Xavier Muñoz, with whom he previously worked on trips to Ecuador.


Xavier Muñoz
is the owner and CEO of Neblina Forest, a company specializing in birding and wildlife tours in South America.  Xavier has guided groups to the Pantanal and other areas in Brazil for more than a decade.  He lives in Brazil for half of the year and in Ecuador for the other half.

White Woodpecker - Mark Garland

OPERATION NOTE: This tour is designed and operated by Neblina Forest, a South American company with more than 30 years of experience running birding and nature tours in their home continent and beyond.  NJ Audubon has worked closely with Neblina Forest to tailor this trip specifically to provide the best Pantanal experience for our participants.

Taj Mahal - George Armistead/Hillstar Nature

INDIA: Wondrous Wetlands, The Taj Mahal & Tiger Country January 31 to February 13, 2025
(With optional extension to Gajarat February 13 to 20, 2025)

Leaders: Tom Reed, George Armistead, & local guides

GENERAL INFORMATION (main tour):

Join New Jersey Audubon and Hillstar Nature for a truly exciting collaboration! This adventure is a classic two-leg trip: the first a swing around south of Delhi to see legendary wetland hotspots and to absorb the magnificence of the Taj Mahal, followed by a week exploring the forests that inspired Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book. A great mix of wading birds are possible, including the statuesque Sarus Crane, the skulky Black Bittern, two species of jaunty jacanas, magnificent migrant Barheaded Geese, and many more. We also stand a very good chance to see the world’s largest cat, the Bengal Tiger. One always needs luck when pursuing any wild cat, but we’ll maximize our chances.

Jewels of Gajarat Extension
February 13 to 20, 2025

GENERAL INFORMATION
This Jewels of Gujarat expedition takes us on an exploration of India’s colorful western state. Visiting national parks and reserves that include Sasan Gir and The Rann of Kutch, in search of the rare Asiatic Lion and the elusive Khur (also known as Indian Onager), a rare wild horse.  Gujarat also offers thriving populations of Leopard, Sloth Bear, Wolf, and Blackbuck. We’ll need some luck to see all of these but any visit here is rich with wildlife; the wetlands support big congregations of birds, and are a real haven for migrants, including a nice variety of waders and raptors. The birdlife features heavy concentrations of wintering Asian waterfowl, flamingos, storks, harriers, regional endemics and globally threatened species such as White-naped Tit, White-browed Bushchat, and highly sought-after monotypics such as Hypocolius and Crab- Plover. Travel in India is not just about wildlife, however, and wherever we go we engage in cultural experiences to enjoy the spectacular heritage and diversity of India’s unique west.

Gray Langus - George Armistead/Hillstar Nature
Jungle Owlet - George Armistead/Hillstar Nature
River Lapwing - George Armistead/Hillstar Nature

PACE, WEATHER, AND TRAVEL CONDITIONS:

This trip features a mix of travel types. Participants should be able to walk/stand for short to moderate distances/periods; all walking will be done at a slow pace. Climate is generally warm and dry. We will have a few longer drives during the course of the tour.

GROUP SIZE: Tour size is limited to 13 participants for the main tour.  Tour size for the extension is limited to 10 participants.

ACTIVITY LEVEL:  Moderate.

The trip involves light to moderate amounts of walking but no strenuous hikes. Some wildlife viewing is conducted from boat or open safari vehicles.   A couple of longer drives and one short flight are also included.

DATES:

Friday, January 31, 2025 to Thursday, February 13, 2025 for the main tour.
Thursday, February 13 to Thursday, February 20, 2025 for the extension.

PRICE (main tour): Cost for the main tour is $7,695 per person, based on double occupancy.  Single supplement (if we cannot find you a roommate, or you request single) is $1,090. A deposit of $1,000 will hold your place until September 30, 2024, when full payment is due.

PRICE (extension):  Cost for the extension is $4,535 per person, based on double occupancy.  Single supplement (if we cannot find you a suitable roommate, or you request single) is $880.  A deposit of $1,000/person is required to hold your space until September 30, 2024 when full payment is due.  Extension is limited to 10 participants.

PRICE INCLUDES (main tour):

Services from arrival on Day 1 into Delhi International Airport (DEL) until our return to our hotel in Delhi on Day 14, including:

  • All meals from dinner on Day 1 through breakfast on Day 15.
  • All accommodations from Day 1 through the evening of Day 14.
  • All transport from arrival into DEL on Day 1, and including transport back to DEL on Day 15.
  • All guiding services, access/safari permits, and entrance fees to birding areas.
  • Tips for drivers, staff at hotels and restaurants.

PRICE INCLUDES (extension):

Services from departure on February 13 from Delhi to Rajkot, until our return to our hotel in Delhi through drop-off on February 20 at DEL, including:

  • All meals from breakfast on Day 1 through breakfast on Day 8.
  • All accommodations from Day 1 through until Day 8.
  • All transport in Delhi on Day 1, and including transport back to DEL when guests depart on their international flights out of India. It also includes the internal flights, between Gujarat and Delhi.
  • All guide services, access permits and entrance fees to birding areas.
  • Tips for drivers and staff at hotels and restaurants.

PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE (main tour and extension):

  • International flights.
  • Alcoholic beverages, laundry services, charges for phone calls, and any other items of a personal nature.
  • Expenses associated with travel such as insurance, visa fees, airport taxes, airline baggage fees, vaccinations, etc.
  • Tips for the tour’s local guides.

CANCELLATION POLICY

All cancellations must be in writing.  If a guest/participant cancels registration:

  • 120 days or more prior to the start of the tour, a refund is issued minus a $500/person processing fee.
  • Between 119 and 90 days prior to the start of the tour, half of the tour fee will be returned to the registrant.
  • 89 days or less prior to departure, no refund of payments or deposits are issued.
Bengal Tiger - George Armistead/Hillstar Nature

SEND DEPOSITS & OTHER PAYMENTS TO:

Hillstar Nature will handle registration and payment for this tour. Please visit their website at https://www.hillstarnature.com/india-taj-nja-25 for additional information about this tour, detailed itinerary and how to register.

DOCUMENT REQUIREMENTS

All travelers must have a current passport, valid for at least six months beyond the start date of this tour, with at least one blank page for visas. A visa is required of US citizens entering India.

Tour Leaders

Tom Reed is the Migration Count Coordinator for NJ Audubon’s Cape May Bird Observatory, responsible for overseeing the observatory’s migration monitoring programs, community science initiatives, and the Monarch Monitoring Project. In addition to Eco-Travel, “TR” also plays a role in our Guide-for-Hire and School of Birding programs. Each year he pens Cape May’s annual bird report- a full accounting of every species recorded in a given year, and the only effort of its kind in North America!  Tom Reed has a passion for birds and birding and is passionate about sharing his knowledge with others.  As the Migration Count Coordinator, Tom has studied bird migration not only in Cape May but at other internationally known migration watches.    He has traveled widely throughout the US, along with multiple trips to Central America, Europe, and the Middle East.  After all, you never know what will show up at Cape May, so you have to be ready for anything.

George Armistead, a birder since the age of nine, has a long history in connecting people with nature through guided trips and expedition travel. Leading field trips since his teenage years he began guiding tours professionally in 2002. After 20 years of developing and guiding tours to dozens of countries across all seven continents, he formed Hillstar Nature with the goal of bringing together a team who can provide fulfilling and authentic wildlife experiences. George has authored two books on birds including Better Birding: Tips, Tools, and Concepts for the Field (2015, Princeton University Press) and The ABA Field Guide to the Birds of Pennsylvania (2016, Scott & Nix, Inc.). He received a masters degree in environmental studies at the University of Pennsylvania, and  is an associate at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, where he spent seven years helping to curate the photographic and specimen collections. Today he lectures on birds, co-hosts Lifelist: A Birding Podcast, and guides tours internationally and in North America. When not traveling George enjoys birding locally in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and along the Delmarva Peninsula.

Contact us at : [email protected] or 609-400-3852 for trip details and tickets

WHY ECO-TRAVEL

New Jersey Audubon’s Eco-Travel Program has taken participants around the world for over 30 years.

NJ Audubon staff design natural history and birding trips to a variety of domestic and foreign destination sites, ranging from relaxed nature getaways to relatively intensive birding adventures. Specific trip goals are stated in each trip’s itinerary, but one goal of every trip is for participants to better understand ecological systems both far and near, and from that understanding to maintain a high ethic concerning earth and resource stewardship in their daily lives. By traveling with New Jersey Audubon, you are helping preserve your natural heritage, since proceeds from our Eco-Travel Program directly support NJAudubon’s mission of conservation, environmental education, and wildlife research.

Program Goal

The goal of NJ Audubon’s Eco-Travel Program is to reflect our broad conservation mission through a balanced offering of natural history and birding ecotours for NJ Audubon members, New Jersey residents, and any other interested individuals.

These tours reflect natural systems education and maintain a high ethic concerning earth and resource stewardship.

HEALTH PROTOCOLS FOR NJA ECO-TRAVEL

NJ Audubon continues to put health and safety first. We follow federal and state health guidance about best practices to ensure the health and safety of participants, staff and volunteers.

We highly recommend that all travelers be vaccinated for COVID-19 and that travel participants self-test no more than 3 days prior to the tour to do everything possible to keep everyone safe. If the tour is visiting an international destination, there may be additional requirements to enter/exit the country.

Pre-tour recommendations to minimize your exposure:

  • Avoid mid to large size gatherings.
  • Practice social distancing.
  • Purchase travel insurance that specifically covers illnesses and expenses.

During the tour:

  • Use of face coverings is optional and based on individual comfort level, unless it is required by a transportation conveyance or country/state/local policy
  • Bring several well-fitting face masks and plenty of hand sanitizer on the tour.
  • If you feel ill or exhibit any possible COVID-19 symptoms during the tour, let the tour leader know immediately.

NJ AUDUBON ECO-TOURS FEATURE:

  • Small group size (maximum 12 on most trips)
  • Leader to participant ratio of 1:6 or better on domestic tours
  • Destinations planned to coincide with greatest bird diversity
  • Window seats for all participants on most domestic tours

WE OFFER TOURS WITH A VARIETY OF PACES AND GOALS:

  • Relaxed vacations with nature
  • General ecology exploring a diversity of animal and plant groups, as well as geology
  • General ecology with a focus on birdlife
  • Intensive birding adventures

A NOTE on PHOTOGRAPHY

NJ Audubon tours provide plenty of opportunities to take photos of birds, other animals and scenery. If you enjoy digiscoping, please contact the tour leader about bringing your own telescope as the leader’s scope will be utilized for all tour participants. Serious photography is not a focus of NJ Audubon tours, unless specified. The NJ Audubon tour leader will manage participants’ photographic desires with birdwatching activities.

Learn about past Eco Travel tours

Hear from our guides and attendees, view stunning images and discover what species they encountered

Activity Levels Defined

Be Prepared!

In addition to being properly prepared for the trip in terms of attire and optical equipment, for maximum enjoyment of any Eco-Travel tour, you should be properly prepared for the activity level of the tour. We have developed the following logos and descriptions for use to define the activity level of each of our tours. Please make sure your tour selection matches your expectations in terms of daily activity. For instance, if you are a recreational birder who enjoys short walks, or are not capable of hiking, then a tour listed as “Moderate” or “Active” is not for you. However, if you enjoy long hikes in more remote areas, then you should focus on our “Active” tours. In all cases, please contact us if you have any questions regarding the activity level for any tour.

Easy:

A relaxed tour with low activity. Daily walks include walking relatively short distances over level terrain or paved walkways. Tour involves mostly van travel, with stops at various sites. Minimal steps. Free time to relax between morning and afternoon outings.

Moderate:

A more active tour with daily intermediate- to long-distance walking on sloping or uneven terrain, and/or climbing stairs. Includes several long field days, with many lunches in the field. Those with physical limitations should take this into consideration, or contact the tour leader for details.

Active:

An intensive tour with long-distance, sometimes strenuous hiking most days. Participants should be physically fit.

Eco-Travel Policies

Be sure to read and understand the following New Jersey Audubon Society Eco-Travel Policies before booking a trip with us.

Click Here to download our policy document in PDF format.

PARTICIPATION

Participants in NJ Audubon Eco-travel are expected to understand and accept the conditions covering tour price, refund policy, responsibility, and terms as outlined in the tour information. By registering, participants affirm that they have read the itinerary and are in general good health and are physically able to keep up with the group in the ordinary course of field activities. Participants accept as their personal risk the hazards of participation inherent in field activities, and will not hold the New Jersey Audubon Society or its tour leaders responsible for same.

NJ Audubon reserves the right, at the sole discretion of the tour leader, to ask a participant to leave any group trip at their own expense, if, in the leader’s judgment, that person’s continued participation is detrimental to the overall quality of the tour, to other trip members or to the individual. In such a case, NJ Audubons’ liability would be limited to costs recoverable, if any, by NJ Audubon from vendors and tour operators of unused portions of the tour. We reserve the right to decline the registration of any individual whose previous conduct on a NJ Audubon program has been deemed detrimental.

Minors (children under the age of 18) are welcome as participants on some (not all) of our tours. Minor participants must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. Please confirm suitability of the tour for minors with the tour leader before registering.

REGISTRATION

To register for a specific tour, to request detailed itineraries for specific tours, or for additional information, contact:

NJ Audubon Eco-travel
Attn: René Buccinna
2350 Route 47 North, Bldg. 1
Woodbine, NJ 08270
Phone: 609-400-3852
Email: [email protected]

Click Here to download the Registration Form in fillable PDF format.

Click here to download the Registration Form as a fillable word document

A registration form must be completed in full and signed by the participant (s) for all tours.

All tours require a $500 deposit on registration, with the balance due 60 days prior to the start of the tour for domestic tours, unless otherwise noted in the tour information. For international tours, refer to the individual tour information.

DEPOSITS

Deposits are required to reserve your space, unless otherwise stated in the tour itinerary. All tours require a $500/person deposit on registration, with the balance due 60 days prior to the start of the tour for domestic tours, unless otherwise noted in the tour information. For international tours, please refer to the individual tour information.

For weekend van tours, the required deposit is $500/person, with the balance due 30 days prior to the start of the tour.

PAYMENT

We accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, personal check, or cash as payment for tours.

EXCLUSIONS

The following items are not included in the tour price unless specifically stated in the tour itinerary: Airfare to and from departure city, passports, visas, departure taxes, immunizations, excess baggage charges, optional excursions, telephone calls, alcoholic beverages, laundry, room service, snacks and anything of a purely personal nature, excursions deviating from the scheduled tour, gratuities to non NJ Audubon employees (bus drivers, local guides, tour operators, lodge staff etc.). NJ Audubon employees are unable to accept gratuities.

TERMS

The New Jersey Audubon Society reserves the right to alter itinerary or arrangements, if necessary, without penalty; and to prorate any increases or decreases in trip price caused by such alterations; and to cancel the tour at any time prior to departure, with full refund as settlement to tour participants.

REFUNDS FOR DOMESTIC TOURS

For cancellations more than 60 days before the starting date of the trip, deposits will be returned less a $50.00 service charge. Cancellations made 60 days or less before the starting date of the trip will be charged $250.00, unless the space can be filled (in which case the $50.00 service charge would apply). However, if cancellations made less than 60 days before the start of the tour take place after hotels and vans have been booked and other services contracted for, hotel, van rental and other service policies will determine what portion, if any, of payments are recoverable. No refunds will be made to no-shows or for any unused portion of the tour, unless arranged prior to departure date.
Deposits transferred from tour to tour are subject to service charge schedule for cancellations and are conditional upon available space for tours.
All cancellations must be in writing and are presumed final.

FOR INTERNATIONAL TOURS

Refer to the individual tour information.

IN CASE OF CANCELLATION OF A TRIP BY NJ AUDUBON

Rarely, NJ Audubon Eco-travel programs must be cancelled by us.
We make every effort to avoid this situation. If a trip is in danger of being cancelled, we will notify any participants of that fact two weeks prior to the date final payment for the trip is due.

If NJ Audubon cancels a trip, and has notified participants of the potential cancellation 10 weeks prior to departure, and notifies participants of final cancellation four or more weeks before scheduled departure, our liability is restricted to refunding in full any deposits or payments that have been made to NJ Audubon for the trip.

AIR TRAVEL

Tour participants are required to make arrangements for their own air travel unless this is covered by the tour price. Please do not purchase non-refundable air tickets until assured that the trip will run as planned. We recommend purchasing travel insurance and/or deferring the purchase of airline tickets until the date final payment is due (normally 60 days prior to departure), at which time it will be known whether the trip will run or is in danger of cancellation.

RESPONSIBILITY

New Jersey Audubon, as tour operator, does not act as an agent for any person or firm providing transportation, accommodations, or services on the tour; and the Society accepts no responsibility for any loss, damage, expense, injury or claim arising from any defect in any vehicle, conveyance, or accommodation provided by any such person or firm. Neither shall New Jersey Audubon be held responsible for any loss or delay caused by changes in transportation services, strikes, illness, weather, or other cause. We strongly recommend the purchase of trip cancellation insurance.

Download our TRAVEL POLICIES document in PDF format.