Canyon Adventure in Condor Country Exploring Special Places of Utah and Arizona s Four Corners Region A Special Tour by the Nature and Raptor Center of Pueblo SEPTEMBER 3 8, 2013 Join NRCP Naturalist and Program Director, John Gallagher for a great opportunity to explore the Four Corners region, in search of wild California Condors, raptors, and canyon country wildlife. On this week long adventure in some of the Four Corners spectacular parks and monuments, we focus on understanding the ecology and current status of the California Condor population. We also experience fantastic geology, a vast expanse of geography, lush forests, open sagebrush clad valleys and canyons with the colors of rainbows. We should see signature Great Basin bird species such as Pinyon Jays, Juniper Titmice, and Golden Eagles, as well as migrating songbirds. In addition to seeing THE grandest canyon of them all from the less congested North Rim of Grand Canyon, we ll also spend time in Zion National Park, where condors have found a stronghold.
The tour starts in Page, Arizona, a small but very convenient airport with service from Denver and Colorado Springs. Local guides meet us here, and to start our condor search, we travel over to Zion National Park, where one vividly sees how the landscape provides excellent habitat for condors and other raptors. If their typical pattern of use holds true, we should be able to see condors flying, preening, bathing, interacting, and resting. Spectacular! From Zion we continue to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, visiting Pipe Springs National Monument en route. Near Marble Canyon and Page, we visit the Vermilion Cliffs Condor Viewing Area of the Bureau of Land Management, enjoy a raft trip down the Colorado River on a quiet stretch below the Glen Canyon Dam, and hike with a Navajo guide in scenic Antelope Canyon. California Condors are among the rarest raptors in the world, today numbering about 320 birds, half of which occur in the wild. In 1982 the population was a mere 22 individuals. After work to bring numbers up in a totally captive population, release to the wild began, first in California in 1992. In December of 1996, Arizona had six young captive bred condors released into the wild at the Vermilion Cliffs, not far from the Grand Canyon. Subsequent releases have occurred each year following the initial release in a recovery program coordinated with federal land agencies and The Peregrine Fund. While back from the brink, California Condors are still an Endangered Species and they still face ongoing challenges, particularly that of lead poisoning. Over 70 condors soar over northern Arizona and southern Utah, and this population now includes wild born individuals from active nest caves in the Grand Canyon and the Vermilion Cliffs.
ITINERARY Tues., Sept. 3 Arrivals in Page / On to Zion National Park Please plan your arrival in Page, Arizona no later than 2PM. Note, as it is a small airport this time may be revised to match current flights; as we go to press the mid day arrival is just after 12:30PM. Our guides will quickly pick up our vehicles, and soon we ll be out among vivid red rock landscapes. From Page we head to Zion National Park, where at this time of year we have our best chances to find and observe wild California Condors, who summer in a remote part of the park near Kolob Reservoir. Today we drive as far as Springdale, passing through Kanab, and entering Zion from the East, by way of scenic Checkerboard Mesa. It is a scenic, two and a half hour drive on which we may see Bighorn Sheep, great lighting on the rock monoliths, or interesting birds such as Pinyon Jays en route. To get a start on our condor search, we park our vehicles at the park s Visitor s Center, and take the national park shuttle into the main Canyon, to explore the Big Bend area across from Weeping Wall, where condors are frequently sighted. This is a great welcome to stand under massive rock walls, in condor terrain! Accommodations in Springdale (D) Returning to our vans, we go a short way into the town of Springdale, to settle in and enjoy a welcome dinner together, and time to rest up from our the day s travels. Springdale sits in a dramatic setting and is the western gateway community for Zion National Park. Wed., Sept. 4 Zion National Park / Kolob Reservoir / Springdale We have the full day to spend (hopefully!) with California Condors, focusing on seeing a group of birds that are part of the restored population. This group summers in the high country of Zion National Park, near adjacent Kolob Reservoir. For a number of years they have been quite faithful to this site, and a good deal of research has been conducted here.
The drive up to the site is spectacular, providing long views of the colorful rock monoliths so famous in Zion. We will network with members of the condor research team to know the best hours of the day to be on either side of a small, dramatic canyon where the birds like to rest and, in the evening, to roost. This will be the main focus of our day, but we also have time to stop for photography, for observing other birds and wildlife, and to learn about the geology of the region. Expect a great day in and around Zion! Accommodations in Springdale (B,L) We return to Springdale at the end of our field day, and you can dine at the restaurant of your choice, at your leisure. Thurs., Sept. 5 Zion / Pipe Springs National Monument / North Rim of the Grand Canyon Flycatchers and possibly Greater Roadrunners. As Zion is a blending area, more northern species such as Yellow bellied Sapsuckers enjoy the historic orchard, and often there is an agile Cooper s Hawk roosting in lush cottonwood trees. Grand views back on Zion highlight our scenic drive. This morning we head to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, passing through some magnificent terrain to get there. We depart Zion National Park on a back road along the Virgin River, stopping at the ghost town of Grafton. Grafton is an historic site, located along the river, and it is a great spot to pick up sightings of some Southwestern bird species, such as Say s Phoebes, Vermilion Our stop at historic Pipe Springs National Monument may provide one of the best birding spots of the trip; the presence of water provides an oasis for migrants if we are going to find some early season warblers and flycatchers on the move, this is a good place to do so. Enjoy a picnic lunch either at Pipe Springs, or at a vista point as we climb in elevation towards North Rim, one that gives us a clear view of the many layers of Utah s Grand Staircase geologic phenomena. On the drive from Jacob Lake into the park, we pass a number of very large meadows, lined with aspens and pines. Learn more about extensive research done in this area, on the Kaibab Plateau, to better understand rare Northern Goshawk food and nesting habits, in particular their relationship to the Kaibab Squirrel, a
form of tassel eared squirrel that evolved here in geographic isolation. As we get into pine forests near Jacob Lake, we may find flocks of Wild Turkeys, vocal Steller s Jays, colorful Western Bluebirds, and handsome Mule Deer bucks, starting to think about courtship. We then enjoy a later dinner in the historic North Rim Lodge, located right on the rim. We reserve seating for you, as we find the smaller tables allow for the best service, so this dinner is at your own cost. The patio next to the restaurant is also a fine place for viewing myriad stars in the clear night skies. Accommodations at the North Rim of Grand Canyon (B,L) Fri., Sept. 6 North Rim Sunrise / Short Hikes / Vermilion Cliffs National Monument This morning you can choose to walk several hours down into the canyon, or venture on a more leisurely trail through prime Kaibab Squirrel habitat with more views of the Canyon. The forests of the North Rim are some of the most complex and beautiful in the region home to a number of interesting forest birds, such as We plan to then spend the full afternoon seeing the Grand Canyon in fine light, at various viewpoints along the rim. After checking in, we head out with the intent to stay out through sunset, about 6:50PM this evening. We drive out to Cape Royal for a full view of the Canyon, approximately 10 miles wide and over a mile deep. The vivid panorama reveals a fantastic geologic history, and views of the San Francisco Peaks across the rim. Weathering and erosion have created fantastic buttes and mesas within the canyon, and water and wind have sculptured the canyon walls. Pygmy Nuthatch, and the elusive Northern Goshawk. Along with Wild Turkey and Mule Deer, we should encounter Kaibab Squirrels. Enjoy time on your walk for photography, wildlife viewing, and simply taking in this famous World Heritage site. Leaving the Grand Canyon after lunch, we descend by driving the highway route down a massive fold in bold geologic layers. Along the way we stop for views, photographs and to better understand Earth s history. At House Rock Valley the Bureau of Land Management has set up a California Condor Information and Viewing Area. We hope to meet members of the
Peregrine Fund Research team here, if we have not yet done so at some location of our tour. Our route is designed to visit several of the known condor use areas, increasing our chances to observe the birds. We may see other raptors such as Northern Harriers, hunting over the sage. From the viewpoint, we see some of the spectacular geology of Vermilion Cliffs National Monument as well. Accommodations at Marble Canyon Lodge, (B,L,D) Sat., Sept. 7 Colorado River Raft Adventure / Antelope Canyon / Marble Canyon This morning we enjoy breakfast, and if the birds are using the Vermilion Cliffs site to roost, we may make a run out to see them take flight for the day. Sunrise is early, about 6:00 AM, so this is an optional outing. After breakfast, we head over to Page, where we meet local Navajo guides at 9AM for a hike in one of the most photograhed slot canyons of the West, Upper Antelope Canyon. We have lunch in Page, and spend the afternoon on a grand adventure a half day float trip through fifteen miles of spectacular scenery on the Colorado River. We get on the river just below the Glen Canyon Dam. Local boatmen know California Condors well, for both adults and juveniles frequent the river corridor. They are not present at all times, but we do have a chance of seeing them and we keep our eyes to the sky. We may also encounter Peregrine Falcons or Golden Eagles. And we are certain to find some grand scenery and hints of past cultures in some impressive petroglyph panels along the way. We return to Marble Canyon perhaps as a beautiful sunset helps us bid adieu to the Canyon Country we ve explored. So far from any city if clear, look out to the brilliant stars of these open Southwest skies.
This evening we celebrate our week with dinner at a favorite local restaurant. Accommodations in Marble Canyon Lodge (B,L,D) Sun., Sept. 8 Marble Canyon / Departures from Page This morning we time our departures to meet the flights from Page back to Denver and Colorado Springs. As we publish this itinerary, flights occur at 7AM and 1:15PM and we ll coordinate departures according to flights that are booked. (B) REGISTRATION Registration and payment for this journey will be handled by The Nature and Raptor Center of Pueblo, working in partnership with a small eco travel company based in Arizona, Naturalist Journeys, LLC. Registration will be subject to Naturalist Journeys, LLC terms and conditions, which are outlined on the registration form. All registrations will be handled through the Nature and Raptor Center, please contact: John Gallagher The Nature and Raptor Center of Pueblo 5200 Nature Center Rd Pueblo, CO 81003 (719) 549 2414 Once registration is confirmed, additional payment can be made by check or credit card and instructions for this will be given with your tour confirmation. Space for this special tour is limited, contact us today!
COST OF THE JOURNEY Cost of the journey is $1995.00* per person, based on double occupancy, from Page, Arizona. Until May 15, 2013: *There is a SPECIAL PRICE OFFER of $1859 per person, double occupancy, for members of the Nature and Raptor Center of Pueblo (NRCP) and the Arkansas Valley Audubon Society (AVAS). This discount is for NRCP or AVAS members and those persons traveling with a current member The tour cost includes: accommodations for 5 nights, most meals as specified in the itinerary (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner), airport welcome and transfer or hotel shuttle, land transportation during the journey, professional guide services, park and other entrance fees, and miscellaneous program expenses. A portion of the tour fee will benefit the Nature and Raptor Center of Pueblo. Single supplement is $295.00. Cost does not include: round trip airfare to and from Page, items of a personal nature such as laundry, telephone, drinks from the bar, or gratuities for luggage handling or personal services. With fewer than 6 participants, a small group surcharge (typically $100 200 per participant) may apply, or we may request that you pick up the cost of a few additional dinners in lieu of this surcharge. Group Size: Maximum of 12 and minimum of 6 participants. TRAVEL INFORMATION The airport for this journey is the Page Municipal Airport in Page, AZ (PGA). Participants may also drive, and park vehicles to join the group from Page. Plan on arriving in Page no later than 2:00 PM on Sept. 3 and departing as needed for return flights on Sun., Sept. 8. Naturalist Journeys, LLC is an equal opportunity service provider and committed to the goal of ensuring equal opportunity for all in employment and program delivery. Photo Credits: California Condor close up by Narca Moore Craig, California Condor perched by Mike Read, Vermilion Cliffs sign by Beth Morsman, Glen Canyon Dam, River Scenic and Petroglyphs by John Gallagher, all other images, Peg Abbott/Naturalist Journeys, LLC.
Nature and Raptor Center of Pueblo www.natureandraptor.org The Mission of the Nature and Raptor Center of Pueblo is to provide unique experiences in education, conservation and recreation that inspire responsible environmental decision making.