Pictures of our trip -Awesome trip-Awesome group!!!

Our group had such a great time on this trip. We had

165 species of birds and 27 of them were hummingbirds!!!

Just 2 hours from Quito, Las Gralarias Guest House is a small lodge situated on the equator at an elevation of 6000 feet/2000 meters elevation. The lodge, located within the famous birding site Reserva Las Gralarias, provides first-class comfort and service while serving as a model for conservation and restoration of the Andean cloud forest habitat and its avifauna. Conveniently situated just 2 miles/3.5 kilometers from the main highway, the lodge is easily accessible. The lodge was designed for the comfort of our clients - in fact, you can drive right up to the front door!

We started our trip to Yanacocha ghrough the Nono Mindo Road at 10,500 ft. birding along the road. We then arrived at Las Gralarias at 6,000 ft. where we had excellent lodging and wonderful Ecuadorian food prepared by their Ecuadorian chef. Five course meals for every meal!!!

We also had hummingbird feeders with many species at every balcony and feeding station. We also had many birds on the fruit feeders to include Tanagers, Toucans, Flowerpiercers and much more!

Day two had us birding and looking for nature finds at Reserva Las Gralarias. We hiked the lower cloud forest and then walked up the road in the afternoon,. We visited feeders for new species of hummingbirds. Such a stunning place and so much to see. We did see giant Milipedes and a Tarantilla at the Reserve.

Day three was to the Milpe Reserve and Mindo Descanso at 3,300 ft. for more hummingbirds and more birding and also to Mariposas Butterfly House.

Day four brought us to Senior Angel Paz's Antpitta Refuge where we saw the Cock of The Rock displaying and he called out the Giant, the Tawny and the Ochre Breasted Antpitta. What a sight!

We then ventured again to Hugo's Farm to climb down into the caverns and see the Oilbirds! What an adventurous group!

Day five took us birding to the Silanche Bird Sanctuary and then to Los Blancos looking over the Mirador LeBlanco (White River) for lunch and to watch the feeder stations.

Day six took us to Calacalapi to the equator for our pictures and then to 150 year old Hacienda for a terrific lunch at Los Palmar. We then went on to Oltaveilo to the market and bartered for many hand made goods.

Our last day was to the extinct volcano of Antisana. We went up to about 12,000 ft. where the air was thin and saw the volcanic rock formations from the last erruption hundreds of years ago. We saw many new birds and a beautiful lake at the base of the volcano. It was cold and windy, but  again we missed the Andean Condor. We must return!

This was a fabulous group that traveled together and the birding was fantastic with so many different species!

If you are interested in more information on this Birding Tour, please call Vicki Shoenfelt at 877-359-5235 or email her at Vicki@wildernesscenter.org

Las Gralarias Guest House

Overlook at Las Gralarias

Plate-billed Mountain Toucan

Our Group in Ecuador

Chiricahua Mountains

Carr Canyon

Sonita Creek

Roadrunner

View above Cave Creek Canyon

Gambel's Quail

Lazuli Bunting

 East of Tucson a hidden side of Arizona stretches across a vast area containing

some of the most interesting landscapes of the American Southwest.  Here the Chiricahua, Huachuca, Peloncillo mountains rise from colorful deserts and grasslands.  Dramatically, they portray a classic Southwestern landscape full of rock spires, distant views and rugged canyons.  Each mountain range has its own geologic story, and hosts a rich variety of plants and animals. 

    Southeast Arizona presents an amazing biological mixing ground, where the plants and animals from Mexico meet species of Rocky Mountain origin, and species of the western deserts mingle with those that inhabit the Great Plains.  Over three hundred species of birds have been recorded in the region including Harris’ Hawks, Elegant Trogons, Red-faced Warblers, Sulphur-bellied Flycatchers and more.  The emphasis of our trip will be on finding the bird and mammal specialties of the region with a compliment of natural history, geology, and hiking in this beautiful country.

   This was a wonderful trip with GREAT Birding. We had 171 species of birds, 7 species of mammals and a few lizards!

   We visited the Sonora Arizona Desert Museum, Madera Canyon / Arivaca Cienaga of the Buenos Aires NWR, Fort Huachuca’s Garden Canyon, home to Elegant Trogons, Black-throated Gray Warblers, Hepatic Tanagers, Sulphur-bellied Flycatchers, and Dusky-capped Flycatchers. Then on to Garden & Sawmill Canyons / Bisbee, Carr, Ash, & Ramsey Canyons, Whitewater Draw / Chiricahua National Monument / Portal / Night Birding and Portal / Cave Creek Canyon / Barfoot & Rustler’s Parks. We also had a mandatory fire evacuation our last night and went on less than 1 1/2 hours sleep to make it to Tucson for our flights.

   Too many species to name, but just a few highlights are Eared Grebe, Mexican Mallard, Blue-winged Teal, White-tailed Kite, Gray Hawk, Swainsons Hawk, Zone-tailed Hawk, Prairie Falcon, American Avocet, Greater Roadrunner, Elf Owl, Mexican Spotted Owl, Broad-billed Hummingbird, Violet-crowned Hummingbird, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Calliope Hummingbird, Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Rufous Hummingbird, Acorn Woodpecker, Gila Woodpecker, Arizona Woodpecker, Gilded Flicker, Hammond's Flycatcher, Say's Phoebe, Black Phoebe, Vermillion Flycatcher, Cassin's Kingbird, Western Kingbird, Bell's Vireo, Plumbeous Vireo, Hutton's Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Mexican Jay, Chihuahuan Raven, Mexican Chickadee, Bridled Titmouse, Verdin, Bushtit, Pygmy Nuthatch, Mexican Brown Creeper, Canyon Wren, Bewick's Wren, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Townsend's Warbler, Hermit Warbler, MacGillivray's Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, Painted Redstart, Hepatic Tanager, Western Tanger, Green-tailed Towhee, Canyon Towhee, Abert's Towhee, Rufous-winged Towhee, Lark Sparrow, Black-throated Sparrow, Lark Bunting, Pyrrholoxia, Black-headed Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting, Varied Bunting, Hooded Oriole, Bullock's Oriole, Scott's Oriole, Swainson's Thrush, Curved-billed Thrasher, Phaniopap and Lesser Goldfinch.

   Our mammals were the Rock Squirrel, Brown Squirrel, Coyote, two kinds of Deer, Spotted Ground Squirrel, Jack Rabbit, Little Brown Bat and the Javelina.

   Thank you to all of our travelers that braved long birding days and a middle of the night fire evacuation. Thanks especially to Dale Nussbaum and Cynthia Norris for being part of the fire evacuation and luggage recovery team. Also for getting us to Tuscon for our flights!

   Bird pictures to follow soon.

The Wilderness Center traveled on an ecotour to America’s 50th state, Hawaii. This is truly an once-in-a-lifetime trip. It is focused on seeing the sites of Hawaii while learning about the state’s unique natural history.

    “It took us a long time to build the itinerary we were seeking,” Gordon Maupin the Center’s Executive Director and trip leader said. “Most trips to Hawaii are built around Hula dancers and beaches. We’ll see some beaches, but the trip will take a pass on the dancers in favor of volcanoes, whales, mountaintop telescopes, nature conservancy preserves, scenic state parks, birds, wildflowers, marine life, and scenic vistas,” he said.

    The trip includes visits three islands: Maui, Kauai and Hawaii. On Maui there will be a visit to the Maui Ocean Center, Haleakala National Park and Kahanu Gardens. The next day the group moves to the big island. From Hawaii travels will take a Humpback whale watch with biologists from the Pacific Whale Foundation, travel across the island to take in waterfalls and visit the summit of Mauna Kea the world famous mountaintop observatory. Of course, the time on the big island will be capped with a visit to Volcanoes National Park to see this natural wonder.

    Next the group will move to Kauai to visit Koke’e State Park and Waimea Canyon — the Grand Canyon of the Pacific.

 This trip was led by Executive Director, Gordon Maupin and Naturalists from Teton Science School on The Wilderness Center’s popular trip to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem on February 2-9, 2008. This “vacation with education” will take you to the breathtaking scenery of the world’s first national park. There is unparalleled wildlife viewing opportunities in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. On every trip the group sees Bald Eagles, Elk, Big Horn Sheep, Mule Deer, Bison, Coyotes, Moose, Trumpeter Swans, and many other magnificent species. On many trips the group views Wolves, Golden Eagles, River Otters, Trumpeter Swans, and a host of birds and other wildlife.

   The scenery of the Grand Tetons has made this area the backdrop for dozens of Hollywood films. The unique geology of Yellowstone National Park’s thermal features inspired the creation of the the world’s first National Park. In winter, geysers blow hot water and steam on to the surrounding landscape creating spectacular hoarfrost on the surrounding landscape. Enjoy this crystalline beauty while learning from expert naturalists along the way.

“Grand Teton National Park is a place of unparalleled beauty at any time of year,” Maupin says, “but in winter the place is absolutely breathtaking everywhere you look.” There is over 6,000 feet of  relief in one step from the top of Grand Teton to the Snake River in Jackson Hole.

   “In the background are the snow-covered mountains, in the foreground there may be bull elk with magnificent racks,” he said. The group will take the famous horse drawn sleigh ride on the National Elk Refuge where thousands of elk gather during the winter. In addition, bison, mule deer, coyotes, and potentially wolves or mountain lions visit the refuge.

   After a few days in the Jackson Hole area, the trip will head north into Yellowstone National Park where they will be transported to the Old Faithful Snowlodge via classic snowcoaches. From the Old Faithful area, the group will tour the geyser basin and take the “grand tour” of Yellowstone in a daylong trip visiting the spectacular features of the park.

   Some folks are concerned by the cold weather of Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks in winter. “The thermometer is very misleading. Although the temperature may be cold, the dry, thin mountain air keeps it from penetrating. It can be amazingly comfortable especially in the sunshine,” Maupin said. “Usually I’m more comfortable in Wyoming winters than Ohio winters,” he said.

   A winter visit to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is a once in a lifetime opportunity for most people. Nowhere else in the world is there such a concentration of natural beauty and wildlife.

Report from the Dry Tortugas Trip April 14-18, 2007

 5-14: After a long flight delay and an extra layover, 11 travelers arrived in Key West in time to have dinner at Red Fish, Blue Fish.We got our fill of the local protected Roosters, Chickens and chicks. A few joined us for dinner! We then traveled to Stock Island to meet our boat.

 5-15:  At 5 a.m. our boat (The Playmate) headed for the Dry Tortugas Islands. We had a storm moving in and we dealt with strong winds and 8 ft. waves.

  We arrived right 8 hours later, right before the storm hit and we ate a hearty meal on the boat and went to shore to bird. The sunset over the island, especially with the fort in view, was spectacular. Seas were still rough and we were rocked to sleep in our small cabins.

5:16: Pre-breakfast at 6 a.m. Boat docked on the Dry Tortugas Island (only able to dock big boat 2 hrs. a day), we had two hours of great birding that started with the spotting of a Short-eared owl (West Indies species) right in the middle of the fort in the top of a tree.

  Met for breakfast at 8 a.m. and back to the island for more birding. Record cold at 61 degrees and 40 m.p.h. winds. Everyone dressed in sweatshirts and pants, and of course, binoculars. Excellent birding day with warblers landing in grape trees right in front of our eyes. Other highlights were the Wimbrel, the Merlin, the Peregrin Falcon, Ruby Throated Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Eastern and Gray Kingbirds,Short-billed Dowicher, Bank and Barn Swallows, Purple Martins, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, a Sora (right inside of the fort.) A Yellow-billed Cuckoo,Orchard and Baltimore Oriole, Summer and Scarlet Tanager, an Indigo Bunting,a Lincolns Sparrow, a Willet, a Black-bellied Plover, Laughing Gulls, Herring Gulls, Brown Pelicans, Northern Mockingbirds, Gray Catbirds, White-eyed vireos and more. AND the warblers!!!!: Northern Parula, Yellow Warbler, Black and White Warbler, Cape-May Warbler, Hooded, Worm Eating Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Palm and Prairie Warblers, American Redstart, Prothonotary Warbler. There were all so close and by the end of the day we were saying, just another warbler? Also another favorite was the Blue Grosbeak that seams to stay in the same spot for all to see.

   Because of the rough seas, we didn't get to snorkel, but the ferries and sea planes couldn't come in and we had the island all to ourselves.

   The sea calmed by the end of the day and groups were taken in a skiff to see the nesting Brown Noddies and Magnificent Frigate Birds. Also spotted were the Royal, the Sandwich and the Roseate Turn. There was also a 5-6 ft. American Crocodile on the island. Everyone got a good look.

  Dinner (another culinary delight) was full of laughter and fun and followed by everyone filling out there trip bird lists. What a happy birding group!!!

5-17-07: Last morning on the island for birding. Lots of favorites seen again! We headed back for Key West as the first Sea Plane was coming into the island.

  The seas were calm and blue and the temperature quickly came back to the normal 75-80.

  We saw mating Loggerhead Turtles, Dolphins playing, more turns, Ruddy Turnstones and Brown Noddies, Egrets, Frigate Birds and much more.

   We arrived back at the boat dock at 3:30 and our shuttle took us to our hotel in Key West.

   We met for the sunset party and then spend the evening on our own (most had dinner and went to bed).

5-18-07: Many walked to the beach, or downtown Key West and we spotted more Hooded and Yellow Warblers by our pool. We also got our Mourning Dove, Eurasian Collar Dove, Hummingbirds and more.

   We ended our trip at 10 a.m. at Key West airport for our return flight. It was the most beautiful weather day, of course!!!