BOSQUE DEL APACHE, NEW MEXICO TOUR
November 13 to 21, 2010
GENERAL INFORMATION
Visit one of America’s most photographic places, the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, and other splendid birding locations in the Land of Enchantment. The refuge is home to as many as 10,000 Sandhill Cranes and thousands of Snow and Ross’s Geese and other waterfowl; dawn and dusk flights are unforgettable! Sandia Crest’s 10,000 foot elevation offers chances for all three species of Rosy-Finches, Red Crossbills and other high elevation passerines as well as remarkable scenery and views. We will visit Percha Dam, a location near Truth or Consequences that many consider New Mexico’s best birding location, with such specialties as Crissal Thrasher, Mountain Bluebird and Phainopepla. We will find Western and Clark’s Grebes as well as other waterfowl on reservoirs along the dammed Rio Grande River as well as visit great birding locations such as Animas Creek, Water Canyon and the Rio Grande Nature Center. The tour features staying at only two motels. Our primary outpost will be Socorro, a pleasant community in central New Mexico with lots of nice restaurants and excellent lodging.
PACE, WEATHER, AND TRAVEL CONDITIONS
The pace of the tour will be moderate to easy as a typical day will begin about 7:00 a.m. following breakfast and end about 6:00 p.m. We will begin and end the tour at a motel in Albuquerque followed by the luxury of having all our activities emanating from our motel in Socorro for the remainder of the tour, minimizing luggage handling.
The weather will be cool in the morning with temperatures near 30 degrees F, warming up to about 60 degrees in the afternoon. Temperatures atop Sandia Crest could be in the 30 to 40 degree range. Inclement weather is possible, but not likely as New Mexico is usually bathed in sunshine at this season.
Birding will be primarily on refuge roads, back roads, and in campgrounds with some walking on local trails, but none of the hiking will be strenuous.
Transportation for this tour will be in 12 or 15 passenger vans with no more than 7 participants in one van. The tour size is limited to 14 people.
You will receive an additional pre-tour information letter including a list of items to bring, lists of motels and information regarding accessing the motel and meeting the group. This letter will be mailed well in advance of the tour.
TOUR SIZE:
This trip is limited to 14 participants. Travel will be in vans or large SUVs, with no more than 7 participants plus a leader in one 12-passenger van.
DATES: Saturday, November 13th, 2010 (Meet at our hotel) to Sunday, November 21st, 2010 (flights home)
PRICE:
Cost for this tour is $1,600.00 per person, based on double occupancy. Single supplement (payable if you request single occupancy or if we cannot find you a suitable roommate) is $350.00. A deposit of $500.00 will hold your place until September 15, 2010, when full payment becomes due.
PRICE INCLUDES:
Lodging for 8 nights, all entry fees, all land transportation from Albuquerque, expert leadership.
PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:
Not included in the cost: Round-trip transportation from your home to Albuquerque; Meals
SEND DEPOSITS AND OTHER PAYMENTS TO:
NJ Audubon Eco-Travel
P.O. Box 126
Bernardsville, NJ 07924
(908) 204-8998
Make checks payable to: New Jersey Audubon
Or by e-mail to: travel@njaudubon.org
TOUR LEADERS:
Pete Bacinski is Director of the New Jersey Audubon Society’s Sandy Hook Bird Observatory with over 25 years of tour and workshop experience. He grew up in Lyndhurst, NJ with an interest in natural history since early childhood. He attended Pace University in New York City receiving a B.S. in biology followed by M.S. in biology, specializing in entomology, and an MBA in marketing both from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Pete began volunteering for New Jersey Audubon in 1971, leading his first field trip for the organization in 1973. He has participated in every World Series of Birding competition since the event’s inception in 1984 including three winning teams in 1984, 1988 and 1990. Pete was a member of the New Jersey Bird Records Committee for eleven years and was a regional field notes editor for Records of New Jersey birds for eight years. He established and directs the Sandy Hook Bird Observatory for NJAS and is co-compiler and voice of the Voice of New Jersey Audubon rare bird alert for the state of New Jersey. Pete has also been a steering committee member and regional coordinator for the Birds of New Jersey atlas project and currently writes a weekly column in the Newark Star Ledger entitled Seen in New Jersey. Pete’s favorite natural history interests are birds, butterflies, wildflowers, ferns, insects, “herps”, and mammals. Other interests include classical music, American History, audio-books, weather, public speaking and photography. Pete currently resides in Atlantic Highlands.
.A second leader will be assigned if registration warrants.