March 18-30, Connecticut Audubon Society EcoTravel, PO Box 903, Essex, CT

Transcription

1 March 18-30, 2015 Connecticut Audubon Society EcoTravel, PO Box 903, Essex, CT

2 The Zapata Peninsula, Northern Archipelago and Eastern Endemic Birding Regions of Cuba Rich Birding and Culture ~ Exclusive Itinerary ~ The Connecticut Audubon Society (CAS) is offering an exclusive, U.S. led and managed birding program to Cuba! The program is coordinated by the Caribbean Conservation Trust, Inc. which is based in Connecticut. Caribbean Conservation Trust's (CCT) OFAC license number is CT CCT staff have an 18-year history of managing bird conservation programs in Cuba and this is the 9th year that CAS has sponsored a trip. Along with experienced bird guide Andy Griswold, our team will include a bilingual Cuban tour leader and local bir d guides/ naturalists. They will guide you through some of the best bird habitat in Cuba, the Caribbean s largest and most ecologically diverse island nation. Our program begins and ends in Havana, one of the most authentic colonial cities in the Americas. Our first morning in Cuba will include a visit to the home and private ornithological collection of Orlando Garrido, Cuba s greatest living naturalist. Sr. Garrido is a retired and venerable former curator of birds at the National Museum of Natural History in Havana, and co-author of the Field Guide to the Birds of Cuba as well as hundreds of scientific publications. This visit is always mentioned as a trip highlight by survey participants. We ll spend the rest of the day in Havana exploring historic Old Havana and spend the night again in the city. A post-trip extension option for an additional night in Havana is available. CAS and CCT designed this survey to take you to Cuba s most beautiful national parks, diverse biosphere reserves, and unique natural areas. We will interact with local scientists who work in research and conservation. In addition to birding, we will learn about the ecology and history of regions we visit. Finally, we can expect some degree of indulgence in the richness of Cuban music, dance, art, architecture, and history. Cuba s Endemic Birds Our itinerary provides opportunities to see most of Cuba s 30 endemic and future endemic species, and has yielded up to 165 total species on past trips. Species include (endemics and endemic subspecies in italics) : Bare-legged Owl, Cuban Oriole, Bee Hummingbird, Blue-headed Quail-Dove, Gray-fronted Quail-Dove, Cuban Black-Hawk, Cuban Blackbird, Cuban Grassquit, Cuban Green Woodpecker, Cuban Gnatcatcher, Cuban Martin, Cuban Parakeet, Cuban Parrot, Cuban Pewee, Cuban Pygmy-Owl, Cuban Solitaire, Cuban Tody, Cuban Trogon, Cuban Vireo, Fernandina s Flicker, Giant Kingbird, Gundlach s Hawk, Cuban Palm Crow, Cuban Meadowlark, Cuban Nightjar, Red-shouldered Blackbird, Tawny-shouldered Blackbird, Oriente Warbler, Yellow-headed Warbler, Zapata Wren, Zapata Sparrow, Cuban Crow, Cuban Emerald, Cuban Bullfinch, Plain Pigeon. Other species of interest include: Great Lizard-Cuckoo, La Sagra s Flycatcher, Loggerhead Kingbird, Olive-capped Warbler, Key West Quail-Dove,

3 Ruddy Quail-Dove, Zenaida Dove, Stygian Owl, Greater Flamingo, Wood Stork, Roseate Spoonbill, Thick-billed Vireo, a great variety of wading birds, and numerous other migratory and resident species. Where We Travel The Zapata Peninsula, is Cuba s richest and most important birding destination located alongside the historic Bay of Pigs. Here, the best local guides will lead us through protected areas in Cienaga de Zapata National Park and other natural sites off the beaten track. The Zapata Peninsula covers more than 2,800 square miles and features easily accessible, everglades-like ecology and habitat. Framed by the pristine Caribbean coastal environment of the Bay of Pigs, the peninsula features vast open swamp land, low coastal forests, sparkling white sand beaches, healthy and accessible coral reefs, and refreshing natural limestone pools called cenotes. Bee Hummingbird, Zapata Wren, Zapata Sparrow, Fernandina s Flicker, Bare-legged Owl, Blue-headed and Grey-fronted Quail Doves, Tawnyshouldered and Red-shouldered Blackbirds are among the many birds we hope to find. Cuba s Western Mountains include two of the country s most diverse and dramatic ranges: the Sierra de la Rosario, and the Sierra de los Organos. We explore an area common to both ranges in search of western range endemic species such as the Cuban Grassquit, Cuban Tody, and Cuban Solitaire. Camaguey Province is our easternmost destination. The city of Camaguey provides the base for our efforts to track down Cuba s eastern endemic species (Cuban Parakeet, Cuban Palm Crow, and Giant Kingbird among them). Colonial Camaguey s prosperity nearly proved to be it s undoing, as it was a favorite of pirate raiding parties in the late 18 th century. Consequently, the city was moved inland from the coast, and its design was characterized by a maze of narrow, cobbled streets to confuse persistent raiders. In addition to its proximity to excellent birding destinations, Camaguey offers a unique and authentic Cuban experience often overlooked by the tourist crowd. Northern Archipelago featuring Cayo Coco and surrounding keys. We will have opportunities to experience excellent birding on Cuba s sunny Atlantic coast. Oriente Warbler, Cuban Gnatcatcher, Gundlach s Hawk, Zapata Sparrow, Bahama Mockingbird and Thick-billed Vireo are specialties here, as are numerous shorebirds and wading birds. The Conservation Project The U.S. Department of Treasury has provided a license for conducting bird conservation work in Cuba to the Caribbean Conservation Trust, Inc. (CCT), a U.S. based organization committed to the conservation of endemic and migratory birds and their habitats in the greater Caribbean region. The primary objective of the CCT is to enhance the ability of North American and Caribbean ornithologists, naturalists, resource managers, conservation organizations, institutions, and local citizens to conduct research and initiate programs to help conserve the birds of the Caribbean and their habitats. CAS and CCT are dedicated to bird and habitat conservation through education and relationship building and, as a result of our work and research findings, are in compliance with U.S. Treasury licensure for travel to Cuba. CCT is currently licensed through December The license application is pending for The Cuba Bird Survey This program is designed in the United States by experienced CAS and CCT leaders, in close conjunction with Cuban agencies and professionals who advise us on current travel conditions up to the date of our departure. In Cuba, the programs are actively managed by the same U.S. and Cuban leaders, all of whom seek the highest level of quality in all aspects of the trip. The program is professionally staffed and field tested over eighteen years in Cuba. We are dedicated to providing participants with informative nature oriented opportunities, the best quality food and accommodations available, and skilled local field guides. Cultural and educational elements provide for an authentic and unforgettable Cuban experience.

4 Your participation in this program will involve a simple bird and habitat survey. Each evening, the group will review and record a checklist of birds seen on that particular day. Program Leadership Andrew Griswold is the Dir ector of EcoTr avel for Connecticut Audubon Society and gr aduated as an honor student in biology from Hartwick College where he worked at their biological research station in the Caribbean studying avian ecology. Andy is the original concept creator and scientific consultant for a cable television series on bird watching called All Bird TV that aired on Discovery s Animal Planet. He is the original concept creator of the award winning Connecticut River Eagle Festival (at the time the largest birding festival in the Americas). He leads trips for Connecticut Audubon to Canada, Texas, South Florida, Nova Scotia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Cuba, and many other unique destinations. Andy is a licensed USCG 100-Ton Master boat captain and lives in Essex, Connecticut with his wife and their young son. He is known for his attentiveness to traveler s needs, fine birding skills, and infectious sense of humor. This will be Andy s seventh trip to Cuba. Cuban Specialists We will work with local naturalists from the national parks and biosphere reserves that we visit each day. Each local guide is an expert in the area birds, is out in the field regularly and knows where the birds are being found. A Bilingual Cuban Guide will be at our service throughout the program. Along with a professional driver, he or she will be with the group each day to tell us about Cuban history, culture, arts and lifestyle. He/she will also deal with logistics, meals, translation, and other nuts-and-bolts aspects of the travel experience. Additional Details Accommodations Accommodations feature some of Cuba's most comfortable and enchanting properties. Hotels and inns are staffed by friendly, helpful hosts and represent the best Cuba has to offer in the regions we visit. Our accommodations include modern European hotels, former colonial estates, refurbished vintage hotels, and simple beach-front bungalows. Further descriptive information will follow upon receipt of your reservation and initial payment. Information Following program registration, we will provide all participants with a bird list as well as details with regard to travel to Cuba, including all of the basics you need to know about travel documents, customs, facts about Cuba, currency, health and safety, health insurance, food, flights, and what to bring. Physical Demands and Expectations This program offers opportunities for ambitious birding, with early departure times on birding days, and occasional evening sessions. Most birding days provide for leisure time after lunch and before our afternoon birding sessions, and all accommodations have either a pool or beachfront access. Physical exertion will be light to moderate on most days, with the longest walks approximately 3 miles. Terrain is mostly flat and dry, with some hills present in western Cuba. All participants should be in reasonably good physical condition. Be prepared for strong sun, with temperatures in the 80s. Mosquitoes can be bothersome in the Zapata Region. Rain in the dry season (late October to early May) is fairly unusual. Those with medical concerns should check with their physician before taking part in the program. Your health and well-being are very important to us! Health and Travel Insurance Protection Any U.S. citizen traveling internationally these days should consider insurance protection. Reasonably priced coverage is available to provide protection against financial loss due to trip cancellation or delay, as well as lost baggage. In addition, your U.S.-based health plan is prohibited by the U.S. Treasury Department embargo from directly doing business with any Cuban health facilities (e.g. hospitals and clinics). While traveling in Cuba, you are not directly covered by your U.S. health plan. Cuba now

5 requires that tourists purchase medical coverage from them (about $40) for coverage while in Cuba. Details on this requirement will follow your registration. Additional insurance to cover an emergency medical evacuation, trip delay, lost baggage, etc. is available through our provider. To acquire insurance, travelers may contact the CAS office ( ) to have us send a brochure or call the insurance company (Travelex) directly at Travelers will need to give the following number to Traveles to be sure to get the best insurance plan and to associate you with Connecticut Audubon Society and this Cuba departure: Location Number: Company Name: CT AUD SOC Agent Code: AG CAS Cuba Bird Survey programs include: All accommodations, meals, guide services, most tips (guides, drivers, naturalists and restaurant and bell staff ), airport/ hotel transfers, ground transportation in Cuba, bottled water, some drinks, admission fees (itinerary only), licensing fees, and program management services, which include the provision of all pre- and post-program materials, an on-site U.S. program manager, a full-time Cuban bilingual guide, bilingual Cuban naturalists, and a full-time driver. Program fees include a donation to help support environmental education and conservation efforts in Cuba. Not Included: Travel to and from Havana, Cuba, items of a personal nature such as laundry, phone calls, beverages, bar and housekeeping tips, etc., and airport departure taxes, passport fees, medical insurance, other fees not listed in the program, accommodations/meals outside of Cuba. Flights: We help facilitate airfare directly to Cuba from Miami, Florida, through a New Jersey based air charter agency. You will receive more detail on these arrangements once you are registered for the program. The cost of this round-trip flight is approximately $425. Whatever agency you choose to book flights from your home to Miami, it will be your responsibility to be sure that you arrive at your Cuba-bound departure airport at least 4 hours prior to the scheduled departure to Havana. We are happy to help you with these flight arrangements. Trip Costs, Terms, and Conditions Land costs for the 13 day itinerary are $5, per person all inclusive, for shared accommodations. With a Connecticut Audubon Society Member Discount: $5,150. Single supplement is $450. Cost for the one night Havana extension is $ per person sharing or $ per single accommodation. (Pricing as of August 4, 2014). Payment A $1,000 deposit is due as soon as possible to reserve space in this program. This can be a check or money order payable to Caribbean Conservation Trust and mailed to: Connecticut Audubon Society PO Box 903, Essex, CT For questions, please contact Andrew Griswold, Director of Connecticut Audubon Society EcoTravel at or agriswold@ctaudubon.org Full balance payment is due 90 days prior to the departure date. Details of individual invoices will be provided. We will provide balance payment information following receipt of your deposit and initial registration.

6 Cancellation and refund policy * All cancellations must be done in writing and are effective upon receipt in the CT Audubon Society EcoTravel office. Should it become necessary for you to cancel, all payments will be refunded after a deduction of our cancellation fee outlined below: More than 90 days prior to the tour... $ per person (land only) Less than 90 days prior to the tour...no REFUND IS GRANTED. In the unlikely event that we must cancel the tour, a full refund less a $ processing fee for your license application will be forwarded to you, should cancellation occur after your license has been processed. *Please be aware that the stated refund policies apply only to the land portion of the trip, and that airlines may have different policies that exist beyond our ability to control. Additional registration fees may apply. As with all international travel programs, we highly encourage trip cancellation and travel insurance policies. Connecticut Audubon, CCT, and its agents and constituents reserve the right to make changes to the itineraries. Land/Air arrangements may be subject to price increases beyond our control.

7 Copyright Connecticut Audubon Society and Caribbean Conservation Trust, Inc CUBA BIRD SURVEY The Zapata Peninsula, Northern Archipelago, Eastern and Western Endemic Birding Regions of Cuba March 2015 Day 0 Tuesday, March 17, 2015 Arrive in Miami. Overnight at an airport hotel (not included). Day 1 Wednesday, March 18, 2015 Flights to Havana. Brief introduction with accommodations at the famous Hotel Nacional, overlooking the Florida Straits in Havana. Day 2 This is a full day in Havana and will include a visit to the home and private ornithological collection of Orlando Garrido, Cuba s greatest living naturalist. Sr. Garrido is a retired and venerable former curator of birds at the National Museum of Natural History in Havana, and co-author of the Field Guide to the Birds of Cuba as well as hundreds of scientific publications. This visit is always mentioned as a trip highlight. We ll spend the rest of the day in Havana exploring historic Old Havana and spend the night again in the city. Day 3 Breakfast, check out, and drive (1 hour) west to the Sierra del la Rosario Mountains. Birding on slightly hilly, easy trails followed by lunch and drive west (45 minutes) to San Diego de los Banos for dinner and accommodations. The endemic Cuban Grassquit, Cuban Tody, Cuban Trogon, Cuban Green Woodpecker and Yellow-headed Warbler are likely to be seen here. Accommodations and dinner at Hotel Mirador. Day 4 Departure to nearby La Guira National Park and Cueva Portales (50 minutes). The Giant Kingbird and Cuban Solitaire with it s enchanting, flute-like melody are primary target birds. Cueva de Portales is a classic through cave carved by the San Diego River, which currently meanders through. Within the cave, Che Guevara established a headquarters during the missile crisis of Red-legged Honeycreepers and Olive-capped Warblers are common nearby. Lunch at the hotel followed by check-out and departure east to the Zapata Peninsula (4+ hours). Accommodation and dinner at Hotel Playa Larga on the dazzling Bay of Pigs. Birding stops along the way as opportunity permits. Possible evening trek for Stygian Owl (easy, flat open walk). Day 5 Ear ly br eakfast and dr ive to Ber mejas (45 minutes) for mixed forest birding (flat, easy walking trail system 2+ miles). Excellent chance for Bee Hummingbird, Fernandina s Flicker, Blue-Headed Quail-Dove, Cuban Parrot, Cuban Nightjar, and the threatened Cuban Parakeet. Cuban Blackbirds, Cuban Bullfinch, Loggerhead Kingbirds, Bare-legged and Cuban Pygmy Owls are also likely. Lunch at Cueva de Pesces, a tranquil natural limestone pool (cenote). Afternoon birding in Sopillar, or free time at our beachfront hotel. Dinner and accommodation at Playa Larga. Day 6 Early visit to La Turba (30 minutes) in search Red-shouldered and Tawny-shouldered Blackbirds, as well as the Zapata Wren and Zapata Sparrow, two of Cuba s most limited range endemic birds. This is dry foot, deep access birding thanks to canal roads and easy paths, offering wide open views of the swamp. Lunch followed by late afternoon birding option nearby Las Salinas Refuge (nearby flat, dry dirt roadway 1+ miles). Habitat is varied between low, dense forest, mangrove, marsh, and open wetlands. Here we are likely to encounter the endemic Cuban Black Hawk as well as numerous wading birds including Greater Flamingo, Roseate Spoonbill, White Ibis, Reddish Egret, as well as various ducks and shorebirds. Accommodations and dinner at Playa Larga.

8 Day 7 Breakfast, check out, and birding options on the peninsula (leader discretion). Lunch followed by departure for Camaguey (6 hours). Dinner and accommodations at the vintage Gran Hotel in town. Day 8 Dr ive to Najasa, our easter nmost destination, and best oppor tunity for endemics like the Cuban Par a- keet, Giant Kingbird, Palm Crow, as well as resident Cuban Parrot, and Plain Pigeon. Trails are mostly flat with some minor hills, 2+ miles. Lunch at a horse ranch and then return to Camaguey free afternoon to explore this interesting city, where time seems to have stood still over the last half century. Day 9 Br eakfast followed by check out and dr ive nor thwest to Cayo Coco (4 + hour s) in Cuba s nor ther n ar chipelago, the setting for Hemingway s Islands in the Stream. The keys offer excellent birding, scenery, and accommodation. All inclusive accommodation and meals at Sol Cayo Coco hotel. Time allowing, enjoy a visit to a traditional guava paste factory and local cheese vendor. Day 10 Morning birding on Cayo Paredon Grande, the northeastern-most key in the Cayo Coco archipelago, which is one of Cuba s most important migratory landfalls. Cuban Gnatcatcher, Oriente Warbler, Scaly naped Pigeon, Thick-billed Vireo, Gundlach s Hawk, and a subspecies of Zapata Sparrow are target birds for the archipelago. Lunch at the hotel followed by afternoon birding on Cayo Guillermo amidst mangrove flats, low coastal scrub, and pristine white sand shoreline (roadside, flat walking). Dinner, accommodation in Sol Cayo Coco. Day 11 AM birding on the Las Dolinas trail (flat but rocky and narrow trails, 2+ miles) for quail doves and other forest birds. Bahama Mockingbird is another target enroute. Late checkout followed by lunch; drive to Remedios (2+ hours) for dinner and accommodation at a lovely hotel on the town square. Day 12 Breakfast, check out, and drive to Havana (5 hours) with a stop in Santa Clara to visit the Ché Guevara Memorial. Accommodation in Havana. Farewell dinner overlooking the city and sea. Day 13 Monday, March 30, 2015 Breakfast followed by departure to Jose Marti Airport for flights home. Optional Program Extension in Cuba (Departure for home on March 31, 2015) A post-trip option of one additional night in Havana is available at additional cost featuring airport transportation and accommodation in Havana. Havana is a fascinating place with much to offer despite the state of the Cuban economy. The post-trip option includes airport transfers, accommodations and breakfast in Havana. Special guide services and other arrangements can be made separately.

9 Florida Everglades Day Trip For Early Arrivals to Miami As in years past, Connecticut Audubon Society is offering a day of birding in the Key Biscayne and Everglades National Park areas for early arriving travelers on March 18. In the past, we have been very successful in finding some Florida rarities on this day including Short-tailed Hawk, Snail Kite, LaSagre s Flycatcher, and Red-footed Booby. Cost of this oneday adventure depends on the number of participants and would require that one plan an arrival in Miami no later than 915AM and a stay at the Miami Airport Hilton that night. For west coasters to participate in the day trip, one would need to take the red-eye or arrive a day early and spend an additional night. Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park is located on the southern end of Key Biscayne, Florida. Located within the park is the Cape Florida Light, the oldest standing structure in the Greater Miami area. The park contains a mile of pristine beach that is regarded as one of the finest beaches within the United States. The beach provides swimming and snorkeling and the surrounding waters provide great boating and fishing. Boaters may camp in their boats by setting anchor in No Name Harbor for a fee. There are no lifeguards on the beach and swimming is at your own risk. The park is located along the Atlantic Flyway migratory route and is considered one of the best locations for birding in the county. Although most U.S. national parks preserve unique geographic features, Everglades National Park was the first created to protect a fragile ecosystem. The Everglades are a network of wetlands and forests fed by a river flowing.25 miles (0.40 km) per day out of Lake Okeechobee, southwest into Florida Bay. The Park is the most significant breeding ground for tropical wading birds in North America, contains the largest mangrove ecosystem in the western hemisphere is home to 36 threatened or protected species including the Florida panther, the American crocodile, and the West Indian manatee, and supports 350 species of birds, 300 species of fresh and saltwater fish, 40 species of mammals, and 50 species of reptiles. The majority of South Florida's fresh water, which is stored in the Biscayne Aquifer, is recharged in the park. With a minimum of six participants, the cost is $140 per person. Contact CAS EcoTravel to reserve your spot agriswold@ctaudubon.org