Question 1

Are your tours suitable for beginners?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely! We offer tours for all experience levels:
 • Beginner-friendly tours with comprehensive instructions
 • Patient, knowledgeable guides who welcome questions
 • Small group sizes to ensure personalized attention
If you are new to birding and have questions regarding how suitable a group tour is for you, please contact us and we will be more than happy to assist you.

Question 2

How many participants per tour?

Accepted Answer

We maintain small group sizes to ensure personalized attention and maximize the enjoyment of your trip. Small groups also allow for a more intimate connection with both the birds and the habitats we explore. Unless otherwise noted, our tour group sizes may range between 6 to 14 participants with one tour leader per 8 participants.

Question 3

What health and fitness level is required for your tours?

Accepted Answer

Most of our tours range from easy to moderate difficulty level:
 • Easy Tours: Minimal walking, mostly accessible terrain.
 • Moderate Tours: Some walking on uneven terrain, about 2-3 miles per day and standing for extended periods of time.
 • Advanced or Intense Tours: Challenging terrain, longer hikes, remote locations.
We provide difficulty levels for each specific tour to help you choose the right experience.

Question 4

I have dietary restrictions, can the tour accommodate me?

Accepted Answer

Please notify us if you have a significant dietary restriction, and also note this on the registration form and pre-tour survey. Some destinations are more accommodating than others, and it is helpful for us to know early if there will be difficulty in finding appropriate food options. Your tour leader will be notified of your dietary restrictions so they may source alternative options when possible. However, we cannot guarantee that all food allergies can be accommodated at every destination.

Question 5

Do your guides use playbacks during the tour?

Accepted Answer

Some of our guides will occasionally use playbacks, but only when it is allowed and appropriate. We do not use playbacks when it may disturb any endangered or threatened species. We also avoid the use of playbacks in areas where there are many birders and encourage our guides to keep the volume low and use only short snippets of sound followed by a long pause.

Question 6

Who keeps track of bird sightings during the tour?

Accepted Answer

Your tour leader will keep track of bird sightings and provide updates to the group in the evenings.  Our guides maintain an eBird list for the tour and will share these checklists with participants.

Question 7

Do you offer private or customized tours?

Accepted Answer

Yes! We specialize in creating custon birding experiences:
 • Private tours for individuals or small groups
 • Customized itineraries based on your interests and experience level
 • Special focused tours (photography, target birds, etc.)
 • Corporate and/or educational group packages
 • Partial, full day or weekend tours

Question 8

What is the difficulty level and pace of your tours?

Accepted Answer

Most of our tours fall within the Easy to Moderate (1-3 miles of daily walking) level of difficulty. Field time each day is typically between 7-10 hours (weather permitting). Most of the birding is done on trails, boardwalks, beaches and along the road as we drive to various birding locations. Walking on uneven, soggy terrain, or in the rain is possible. Days generally start early with breakfast at a hotel and departure for the field between 6:30 to 7:00 am. We bird throughout the morning, take a break for lunch and resume birding until 5:00 pm followed by dinner at a local restaurant.

Each tour itinerary includes detailed information on what to expect, the level of difficulty, and the overall pace, helping you choose the experience that best fits your comfort and interests.

American Avocets © Greg Lasley

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