| You will fly from Anchorage to Adak, most likely on a Sunday or Thursday. From the Adak Airport we'll make the short drive to our lodging facilities, comfortable two-bedroom apartments that were formerly housing for naval officers when the base was active. They are all equipped with cable TV, telephone, a kitchen, and washer and dryer. As soon as everyone has moved in, we'll begin birding. Our first stop is an overlook of Kulik Bay to look for alcids and cormorants. From there, we'll continue to Clam Lagoon, THE hotspot on Adak - this location has yielded TWO of North America's few Spot-billed Ducks and its first Broad-billed Sandpiper. Recently we have found Marsh Sandpiper, Lesser Sand-Plover, Far Eastern Curlew, Brambling and other good birds at the lagoon. |
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We'll spend most of our days looking for seabirds, shorebirds, Asian vagrants, other migrants, and some of the island's resident species such as Lapland Longspur, Snow Bunting, and Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch. We'll check Clam Lagoon at least twice each day, plus other areas including the old Loran station at the north end of the island to look for seabirds that may include Laysan and Black-footed Albatross and Short-tailed Shearwater. We'll visit Lake Andrew where we saw Common Greenshank and Yellow Wagtail two years ago, and the town itself where the few ornamental spruce trees are prime habitat for a vagrant songbird. Part of the excitement of birding on the Aleutians is that you never know what may show up where or when. |
| We are planning an offshore boat trip to look for Whiskered Auklet and other seabirds such as albatrosses, Short-tailed Shearwater, Northern Fulmar, and a variety of alcids. We will schedule this trip early in the tour so that we have a back-up date in case of bad weather. We will make every effort to take the boat trip. If for any reason it does not go, you will receive a refund for the boat portion of the tour fee. We were able to run all of our scheduled boat trips in May 2006 and 2007. |
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We'll take one more look at Clam Lagoon and perhaps a few other sites,
then return to town to prepare for the return flight to Anchorage. Or,
if you are staying for another week, we'll do it all over again, with
new migrants arriving on a regular basis.
In past years we have included the price of your airfare from
Anchorage to Adak in the $4695 tour fee. We are no longer doing that.
It is quite possible for you to save money on your airfare if you book
it all at one time. In September 2007, I flew from Baltimore to
Anchorage to Adak using frequent flyer miles. It cost me 25,000 miles
and $25 on American Airlines. Also, Alaska Air sometimes has a sale on
their tickets to Adak, another way to save money. So the tour fee is
now $3495 for a week instead of $4695, with you paying for all of your
air travel from home to Adak. And Lori Heathcote,
BIRD TREKS
travel agent, will still assist you with your air travel upon request.
We feel that you will be able to save money with this new pricing
arrangement and perhaps use the savings to spend additional time on
Adak.
This tour will be led by John Puschock and/or Bob
Schutsky. John is author of a chapter of the ABA/Lane Birder's
Guide to Alaska. He operated four bird banding stations in
northwestern Alaska. John has now conducted eleven very successful
tours to Adak, a total of 13 weeks on this exciting Aleutian outpost.
Bob has spent four weeks on Adak in the past two years, co-leading
tours with John.
$3495 per person for one week. The price may go up or down slightly
due to factors beyond our control. We will do our best to hold to the
quoted price. Also, dependent upon the rooming arrangements, we may be
able to offer a discount for any couple sharing a bed.
Expert guide service, lodging for seven nights, ALL meals,
entrance fees and permits, and all ground transportation on Adak.
ALL tips are also included in the tour fee, except for anything
that you may wish to give to your tour leader(s) and boat captain.
Does not include cost of airfare to and from Anchorage and Adak. BIRD TREKS will, upon request, help you obtain the best airfare. You are responsible for any costs during your layover in Anchorage. Also not included are the cost of alcoholic beverages and items of a personal nature.
Does not include cost of airfare to and from Anchorage and Adak. BIRD TREKS will, upon request, help you obtain the best airfare. You are responsible for any costs during your layover in Anchorage. Also not included are the cost of alcoholic beverages and items of a personal nature.
A $900 deposit will assure your reservation on the tour. The balance
is payable 10 February 2008. Adak is a spectacular birding destination
that has only recently become accessible to the birding public. John
Puschock and
BIRD TREKS
are leading the way on Adak. We expect these tours to fill quickly.
Send your deposit soon to insure your reservation and to obtain the
best possible airfare to Anchorage.
Services:
We offer the services of our exclusive
BIRD TREKS travel agent,
Lori Heathcote, in arranging your air travel. Lori has 22 years
of experience in the travel industry and is a veteran birder. Contact
her through Bailey Travel at 1-800-224-5399, or you can e-mail
lori@baileytravel.com.
By dealing with Lori you have the security of a 24-hour toll-free
telephone number in case of any travel emergency. She can also assist
you with all pre- and post-tour travel plans.
Cancellation
Policy:
With written notice more than 90 days prior to the first day of the
tour, 100% of your deposit will be refunded, minus a $100 service fee.
With 30-90 days notice, you will receive a 50% re- fund of the full
cost of the tour. No refund can be made with less than 30 days notice.
You will receive a full re- fund if you provide a replacement for your
spot on the tour. No partial refund can be given once a tour begins.
We strongly recommend that you purchase trip
cancellation insurance to protect your investment in case of injury or
illness to you or your family prior to or during a tour. Click on the
following link to Access America or contact
BIRD TREKS for information
on obtaining this coverage.
216 Spring Lane
Peach Bottom, PA 17563
Phone: 717-548-3303
Fax: 717-548-3327
e-mail: info@birdtreks.com
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