Spring 2009

INSIDE Az-Birding.com: New Tour Previews A Free Service from WINGS I Cape May Alongside our full range of regularly scheduled tours worldwide, I Guyana WINGS also has a long history of arranging private birding I Hawaii experiences for visitors to our home base in Tucson. We’re not I Midway Atoll alone in providing guiding services here: the four counties that make up the birder’s southeast Arizona are home to a large num - Trip Reports ber of excellent and experienced professional guides. I California I : Pantanal and Mato Grosso I Madagascar

Some Recent Tours Briefly Noted

The Wingbeat

Profiles I Jon Feenstra I Narca Moore-Craig

Private Tours To make it easier for traveling Design: Julie Hecimovich. birders to connect with the best of those local guides, WINGS has created a new online reservation service. Free to all users, AZ-Birding.com lets you select your dates and, if you wish, specify a guide; the new website also pro - vides some very useful trip-planning tools to help you get the most out of your visit.

If you have any questions, please give me a call at the WINGS office, or simply visit AZ-Birding.com for full details on using this new service. — Rick Wright, Managing Director

Recent Price Reductions WINGS The financial headlines have been dire, but even this dark cloud 1643 N. Alvernon Way has a brighter lining for traveling North American birders. With Suite 109 the recent strength of the US dollar, WINGS has been able to Tucson, AZ 85712 reduce the prices of many of its international tours—some by as Tel: 888-293-6443 much as 25%. As always, our actual invoices are recalculated (toll free in the U.S.) 520-320-9868 using the exchange rate then in effect; in a few recent cases, this Fax: 520-320-9373 has meant even greater savings passed on at invoicing. This just wing [email protected] may be your year to scratch that international birding itch! www.wingsbirds.com

For details on all WINGS tours please visit our website at www.wingsbirds.com New Tour Previews New Jersey: Cape May September 20-26, 2009

Cape May is the place to observe the spectacle of fall migration in North America. This sandy peninsula jutting out into the Atlantic Ocean funnels south-bound migrants to its nar- row terminus. Renowned the world over for mag- nificent morning flights with more and birders than 20 warbler and daytime flights of nearly a dozen species of gather at The raptors, September in Cape May is as exciting as it gets for seeing a new Meadows as the suite of birds every day. Furthermore, nearby areas in coastal southern sun sets over Cape May Point. New Jersey and in adjacent Delaware hold staggering numbers of staging Photo: Jon Feenstra. shorebirds and waterfowl. In addition to the famous migrants, we should see a number of the uncommon and local species resident along the New Jersey coast. Jon Feenstra and Jon Dunn lead.

Guyana October 16-29, 2010

Long overshadowed by its better-known neighbors to the west and the south, English-speaking Guyana preserves vast expanses of unbroken forest among its startling range of habitats. The sun rises relatively late here on the northeast coast of South America, making it possible to take advantage of dawn birding without keeping extreme “birder’s hours,” and the coun - try’s impressive system of rivers makes for easy travel by boat to many of the best birding areas. This tour to South America’s best-kept secret is an ideal introduction to the continent’s birds and a unique opportunity to The Guianan enjoy the region’s many Cock-of-the-rock is just one of the endemics, some of them colorfully garbed recently split. species to be found in its The Guyanese govern - namesake region. ment is working closely Photo: Wilderness Explorers. with indigenous peoples to create a sustainable ecotourism economy in

page 2 … WINGS News Spring 2009 For details on all WINGS tours, visit www.wingsbirds.com New Tour Previews the country’s interior, and our use of indigenous guides and lodges in local communities contributes directly to that effort, an experiment in conservation on the grandest possible scale. Gavin Bieber and a Guyanese guide lead.

Hawaii: A Rainbow of Birds March 2010

A tropical terrain of fire, mist, and rainbows, the Hawaiian Islands are the world’s most isolated archipelago. Only a few land - birds managed to colonize the The weird Nene, islands, but from Hawaii’s state those humble , stalks the lava flows on beginnings there partially webbed has evolved an feet. avian radiation Photo: without parallel. Narca Moore-Craig. We’ll seek Kauai’s endemic birds in the remote Alakai wilder - ness, and those of the Big Island in the beautiful native koa and ohia for - est of Hakalau National Wildlife Refuge. Adding to the splendor are the many introduced birds, most of which do not appear to harm the endemics. As we are charmed by the antics of an Elepaio and the shim - mering of an Iiwi, we’ll be mindful of the important conserva - tion work that has preserved at least part of this splendid avifauna.

Offshore, strong currents and upwellings attract an abundance of whales and other marine mammals. Weather permitting, we’ll voyage into those deeper waters ourselves to look for pelagic birds, to snorkel, and to enjoy the play of rainbows in the mist. Narca Moore-Craig leads.

Hawaii: The Albatrosses of Midway Atoll March – April 2010

Awash in history, the subtropical islands of Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge are famous world-wide for their nesting seabirds, espe-

For details on all WINGS tours, visit www.wingsbirds.com page 3 … WINGS News Spring 2009 New Tour Previews cially Laysan Albatrosses. The great “gooney birds” will still be engaged in their extravagant courtship rituals, and many pairs will be tending downy chicks. This relaxing tour also offers one of the best chances anywhere in the AOU Area to see Short-tailed Albatross. The nights thrum and flicker with the wings of Bonin Petrels at their burrows. Thanks to the eradication of introduced rats, even Tristram’s Storm Petrel may be breeding on Sand Island again. Among the other spe- cialties we hope to see are Midway is world- Christmas and Wedge-tailed Shearwaters, two species of tropicbird and famous for its three boobies, Gray-backed and White Terns, and the introduced Laysan nesting seabirds, such as this Duck. Migrating Bristle-thighed Curlews forage beneath ironwood trees, Wedge-tailed and vagrants from both sides of the Pacific appear regularly. Shearwater chick huddled at the Midway’s seabirds give famously close views, and to sit with albatrosses mouth of its nest burrow. right in front of us is a once-in-a-lifetime privilege. We’ll have plenty of Photo: time to spend with these legendary birds, and the opportunities for Narca Moore-Craig. sketching, photography, or simply close observation are unparalleled. Narca Moore-Craig leads.

Trip Reports California: The Southern Coast, Santa Cruz Island, the Salton Sea, and the Mohave Desert Jon Dunn’s most recent tour to that birdiest state, California, produced all the famous chaparral and oak woodland specialties—and more than a few surprises, too. Southern California may call to mind rampant development, but as Jon reports, it still boasts many areas that are as wild as they are beautiful:

Birding southern California’s chaparral and oak woods produced Nuttall’s , Oak Titmouse, California Thrasher, and the distinctive Wrentit. We were able to find a few Island Scrub-Jays on Santa Cruz Island, and the always unpredictable Lawrence’s Goldfinch was present in numbers in the Cuyamaca Mountains east of San Diego. At the Salton Sea, Yellow-footed Gulls were present in numbers along with several Savannah Sparrows of the distinctive “Large-billed” taxon and a wide

page 4 … WINGS News Spring 2009 For details on all WINGS tours, visit www.wingsbirds.com Trip Reports variety of desert species and migrants. In the Mohave Desert, we had fine views of two Le Conte’s Thrashers and plenty of migrants. On our return to Los Angeles we found 14 juvenile Sabine’s Gulls on the Lancaster sewage ponds, a very high number for any inland location.

Our tour began with a drive up the coast to Malibu Lagoon. Along the beach were cryptic Snowy Plovers and a Black Skimmer, and several migrant Vaux’s Swifts were overhead. Farther up the coast we found a small flock of exotic Mitred Parakeets in Zuma Canyon and a larger flock of Black-hooded Parakeets in Big Sycamore Canyon. There we also found a nice variety of chaparral species including California Quail, Wrentit, and California Thrasher. A Cassin’s Kingbird there was uncommon, and farther up the coast on the Oxnard Plain we had several Tricolored Blackbirds and a few migrant warblers including Townsend’s and the striking Hermit.

Our pelagic trip to Santa Cruz Island produced Black-vented and Pink- footed Shearwaters and a large number of Long- beaked Saddleback Dolphins. At Prisoner’s Cove we were able to find a few Island Scrub-Jays. A few migrants were present, too, including an unusual American Redstart. A Virginia Rail seen along the stream is considered casual in the Channel Islands. The Island Gray Fox and a small Gopher Snake of the endemic Santa Cruz Island subspecies also made brief but noteworthy Here just appearances. On the return we carefully checked the jetties of Ventura revealing his trademark white Marina and found Black Oystercatcher, Black Turnstone, and Surfbird. wingbar, Tricolored We left the next morning for Los Angeles, where the freeways were bliss - Blackbird is one fully traffic-free on a Saturday. In the eastern part of Los Angeles we were the many near- endemics southern able to locate a couple of Spotted Doves, an exotic species that is declin - California is ing for unknown reasons. Later in Orange County we found numerous famous for. migrants at Huntington Beach Central Park, including a very unusual Photo: Paul Lehman. Prairie Warbler found there the day before. Also present were Western Tanagers, Black-headed Grosbeaks including a late adult male, and a cou - ple of Bullock’s Orioles. Particularly memorable was the perched adult male Allen’s Hummingbird, which remained to give us outstanding scope views. Up the coast at Bolsa Chica we had good comparisons of Royal and Elegant Terns, along with numerous shorebirds, including several Red Knots, and two unusual Reddish Egrets. Near Laguna Beach we found the threatened California Gnatcatcher. We concluded the day in urban Santa Ana, where hundreds of exotic parrots descended at dusk. Most were Red-crowned, but there were also many Lilac-crowned and a few Red-lored.

For details on all WINGS tours, visit www.wingsbirds.com page 5 … WINGS News Spring 2009 Trip Reports We departed the next morning for San Diego. On Pt. Loma we saw an adult Little Blue Heron in the flood control channel, and later in the Cuyamaca Mountains at Green Valley Campground we had outstanding views of many Lawrence’s Goldfinches, a species that is notoriously erratic, especially outside the breeding season. Late in the day we met with Guy McCaskie at Cattle Call Park in Brawley, where we studied a wintering Gray Flycatcher. Guy would accom - pany us for the next two days, and we were most grateful for his assis - tance: no one knows the area better.

The Salton Sea is Highlights of our time at the Salton Sea are too numerous to list in full, the only locality in but they included, of course, the distinctive and very localized Yellow- the United States where the hand - footed Gull and several of the very distinctive “Large-billed” Savannah some Yellow- Sparrows, currently considered a subspecies rostratus of Savannah Sparrow footed Gull can be but unquestionably distinct from at least the mainland Savannah expected. Sparrows. These birds breed at the mouth of the Colorado River, and Photo: Paul Lehman. some move north after breeding to the Salton Sea region. Other high - lights included Greater White-fronted and Cackling Geese, two adult Swainson’s Hawks, three Peregrine Falcons, Baird’s and Stilt Sandpipers, half a dozen Franklin’s with hundreds of Laughing Gulls, a juvenile Parasitic Jaeger, several perched Lesser Nighthawks, Barn and Burrowing Owls, Black-tailed Gnatcatcher, and Abert’s Towhee.

We finally left the Salton Sea region, stopping briefly at Morongo Valley, where we had excellent studies of an adult male Vermilion Flycatcher and a briefly seen adult male Phainopepla. Later, high on Table Mountain, we had good studies of Pygmy Nuthatches and a single Cassin’s Finch. We continued to the Silver Saddle Ranch at Galileo Hill, an oasis in the Mohave Desert, where we spent the next two nights.

Galileo Hill is one of the best known migrant traps in the West, and we encountered numerous migrants literally right outside of our rooms. These included such species as Willow Flycatcher and MacGillivray’s Warbler. Sage Sparrows lurked around the desert edge. More unusual migrants included Northern Waterthrush (probably two birds) and a Bobolink. At nearby California City we located a pair of the striking Le Conte’s Thrasher. Several of our group found Chukars at the mouth of Jawbone Canyon to the north of California City.

On our final full day we stopped at the Lancaster sewage ponds in the

page 6 … WINGS News Spring 2009 For details on all WINGS tours, visit www.wingsbirds.com Trip Reports Antelope Valley. Here we had good studies of Snowy Plovers and Baird’s Sandpipers, along with an astounding 14 juvenile Sabine’s Gulls. Later at Tujunga Wash in the San Fernando Valley near Los Angeles, we finally located a Cactus Wren (an isolated population is present here). Two Cassin’s Kingbirds gave us excellent, prolonged studies. Our birding con - cluded at Playa del Rey among the Surfbirds and turnstones, followed by a sumptuous dinner in Marina del Rey.

Our next tour, scheduled for September 2009, once again visits the Golden State when migration is at its peak, and focuses on birds difficult or impossi - ble to see elsewhere in the United States.

Brazil: The Pantanal and Mato Grosso Rainforest Judy Davis reports from the renowned Pantanal, the largest freshwater wet - land in the world, and from the Mato Grosso Rainforest, where participants on her latest Brazil tour experienced firsthand the incredible diversity of the Bird Continent:

From the moment we left the city of Cuiabá, the vastness and diversity of the Pantanal revealed itself to us. The brakes of the bus were in constant use as Southern Screamers were sighted in a field, Giant River Otters appeared unexpectedly in a flooded area, parrots were spotted landing in nearby trees, and kingfishers and herons stood guard over every bridge. Each flooded pool appeared to have its own resident Snail Kite, Limpkin, and a population of caimans. Our comfortable and welcoming lodge will always be equated with its flagship species, the Hyacinth Macaw, which was evident on the grounds at all hours of the day—but neither will we soon forget our host’s uncanny ability to show us the reptiles of the fazenda .

Our walks along forest trails had us using auditory and scanning skills to spot a Great Potoo on a daytime The rare Hyacinth roost, a Mato Grosso Antbird, and many small . A leisurely Macaw, emblematic bird boat trip provided a more relaxed but no less productive birding experi - of the Pantanal, ence with guans, raptors, otters, and nighthawks. Night drives always is one of a vast stimulate the senses and heighten expectations, and our decision to forgo array of endemics found in Brazil. an hour’s sleep one night was rewarded with unparalleled views of tapir, Photo: David Fisher.

For details on all WINGS tours, visit www.wingsbirds.com page 7 … WINGS News Spring 2009 Trip Reports Boat-billed Herons, Crab-eating Foxes, nightjars, a Great Potoo, and thousands of red caiman eyes staring from the watery edges. And always, our hosts greeted our return with smiles, and the excellent food and serv - ice combined with the incredible birding to make it difficult to say farewell as we moved on to explore the southern Amazonian forest.

From the spotting of the first Helmeted Curassow along the river’s edge, Cristalino Lodge offered something new and exciting each day. Antbirds dispelled the myth of their invisibility by actually showing themselves; , jacamars, and macaws appeared, perched and in flight; and and many other species all provided opportunities to become familiar with Neotropical bird families during our five-day stay.

What is it that makes a tropical forest lodge one of the quintessential experiences for a birder? Is it because birding commences the moment you step outside the door to your bungalow? Is it the boat trips along a tranquil river? Or is it the canopy tower, which allows a different perspective for viewing birds? Our experience at Cristalino would indicate that it is the combination of all these things and more, including the unexpected comfort of accommo- dation in such a remote setting, the diversity of food (including the ever- present chocolate cake) no matter how early we wanted to begin birding each morning, and the quality of birdlife by whatever means we chose to experience it: forest trails, boat trips, canopy tower!

Whether standing still while a Banded Antbird circled us, enjoying the brilliance of a Spangled , The nearly watching a pair of Red-fan Parrots at eye level from high in the canopy, mythical Harpy seeing a Sunbittern in flight, or self-inflicting whiplash as we tried to fol - Eagle holds on in Brazil’s tropical low a Varzea as it flew back and forth in front of the boat, forests. each hour provided new and exciting experiences. Five days allowed us to Photo: Judy Davis. touch only the surface of this diverse ecosystem.

The Chapada, our third ecosystem of the trip, gave us some welcome relief from the constant attention that tropical forest birding demands. We spent early mornings in the cerrado, with open spaces and low trees and vegetation, while White-rumped and White-banded Tanagers and Chapada Flycatchers all made the expected appearances. As the heat of the open habitat descended upon us, we welcomed the opportunity to retreat into the shade of the forest, where we found the birds very cooper - ative. Our encounters with a male Band-tailed and a Pavonine Cuckoo were a couple of the mega-highlights of our short time here. Sunset from our lodge grounds, with views of Blue-winged Macaws

page 8 … WINGS News Spring 2009 For details on all WINGS tours, visit www.wingsbirds.com Trip Reports perched and in flight, rivaled the sunsets we experienced during our time in the Pantanal and at Cristalino.

A Tropical Screech-Owl in the pre-dawn darkness was most cooperative on our final morning just before we took in the scenic beauty of a Chapada sunrise from a lookout point. The outdoor dining area, a Brazilian barbecue, our comfortable rooms, our host rapidly becoming one of the group rather than a detached hotel owner: all of these things made it difficult to pack for our flights and put an end to this incredibly diverse and bird-rich tour, which had merged three ecosystems into a birding experience not soon forgotten.

Join Judy’s next Brazil tours, in July 2009, for an unbeatable birding extravaganza featuring more than 80 of South America’s 92 bird families—all in civilized comfort. A pair of Rufous Horneros attend their elaborate Madagascar mud nest in Brazil. Even by Madagascar standards, our 2008 tour was exceptional. As Brian Photo: Judy Davis. Finch reports, the group was introduced to most of the region’s endemics, a wide array of mammals including 23 species of lemur, and some extremely good food:

On the rarity side we found a Pectoral Sandpiper at Tulear, the first or possibly second Madagascar record of this Asian/American vagrant. A Sandwich Tern discovered at Nosy Ve appears to be the island’s second record. A colony of 20 nesting Little Swifts in Tana was also a great dis - covery, and Madagascar Black Swifts behaved as if they were nesting in the same building. A superb and confiding Madagascar Cuckoo-Hawk was located at Ampijoroa. Madagascar Partridges were feeding in the open on the shore at Isalo.

On our first walk outside our Mahajanga hotel, we caught up with Madagascar , Common Jery, and Madagascar White-eye. The next morning we left for Ampijoroa, stopping briefly at Amboromalandy for Black Egrets and our first Humblot’s Heron. The specialties of Ampijoroa fell one by one, including Red-capped and Coquerel’s Couas, Rufous , and several widespread endemics. On the lake we picked up Madagascar Fish Eagle, Madagascar Jacana, and a few African Darters. We returned for our picnic, a casual affair beginning with freshly pre - pared spring-roll pastries with shallot handles. The lobster went down

For details on all WINGS tours, visit www.wingsbirds.com page 9 … WINGS News Spring 2009 Trip Reports well, especially with the béarnaise, and no one complained about the spit- roasted king prawns. And there was fresh fruit and welcome coffee, with ranono-sirimamy for that extra taste. The chocolates that went with the coffee were just too much after tucking into fresh honey crepes. A noc - turnal sojourn rewarded us with the Golden Mouse Lemur, endemic to Ampijoroa and found only around Lake Ravelobe. We also found a sleep - ing Rhinoceros Chameleon with its chainsaw-like nasal appendage.

The next morning we had much better views of White-breasted Mesites. Our encounter with lemurs was an “ooh” and “aah” experience, with bouncy Coquerel’s Sifakas, endearing Yoda-like Milne-Edward’s Sportive Lemurs, and sleepy Western Avahis. Reptiles and butterflies were equally eye-catching, with watchful Nile Crocodiles, indifferent day-geckos, somewhat brazen Collared Iguanids, and the enormous Madagascar Giant Swallowtail.

A boat trip on the Betsiboka River gave us two of the country’s rarest species, Bernier’s Teal in the mangroves and the dapper Bernier’s Ibis on the oozy mud. The assemblage also included two Lesser Flamingos, many Whimbrels, and a party of comical Terek Sandpipers. The dark- phase Dimorphic Egrets were a startling shade of A cuckoo relative, the terrestrial blue, flying ahead of the boat to land back in the mangroves. Next morn - Green-capped ing we set off for Ranomafana. After a shopping stop in Antsirabe and a Coua is one of six tasty lunch in Ambositra, we located many Madagascar Larks and representatives of its tribe found in Cisticolas in a swampy area. Our first Madagascar Brush Warblers, southeastern Madagascar Swamp Warblers, and Madagascar Wagtails were also here, Madagascar. but the prize went to a Cuckoo Roller attacking a Yellow-billed Kite over - Photo: Brian Finch. head.

The expertise of our local guides led us to all of the local specialties, including one-and-only-chance species such as Pollen’s Vanga, Gray and Brown Emutail, and Forest Rock Thrush. A pair of roosting Collared Nightjars at a distance of ten feet was one of the most staggering endemics. We also had ample opportunity to photograph Fossa, and the cutest imaginable Brown Mouse Lemurs leapt from branch to branch licking up squashed bananas. There were at least 60 people present, chat - tering softly among themselves, but everything went very silent when a Fossa jumped up, grabbed an unsuspecting Mouse Lemur, and ate it!

During our picnic at Vohiparara, a male Yellow-bellied Sunbird-Asity arrived in gleaming splendor. Climbing to the highest point at Vohiparara, we eventually found four Meller’s Ducks, one of the most

page 10 … WINGS News Spring 2009 For details on all WINGS tours, visit www.wingsbirds.com Trip Reports endangered species of Madagascar. In the evening a Rufous-headed Ground Roller was brashly feeding on the path. Nearby we studied Wedge-tailed Jerys busily bathing in a stream.

The Relais de la Reine was as superb as ever, and the meals helped make us a very contented collection of birders! The Benson’s Rock Thrushes were their obliging selves in the dawn light, and we also found two coveys of Madagascar Partridge, plus other nice birds such as Gray-headed Lovebirds and Madagascar Hoopoes. Our winding route through the for - est to Zombitse produced much of interest. A rare Standing’s Day-Gecko was discovered on a tree trunk, Three-eyed Iguanids with their pineal eye were scurrying about, and quaint Red-necked and Madagascar Skinks were basking near the picnic area. One Oustalet’s Chameleon we found was more than two feet long! We were shown many orchids, as well as the endemic and endearing Appert’s Greenbul. Giant and Coquerel’s Couas obliged, and Cuckoo Rollers put on a fine loud display. Delightful Red- tailed Sportive Lemurs peered at us from their daytime retreats.

Our boat trip to Anakao treated us to close encounters with Risso’s Dolphins and Southern Right Whales. At Anakao our first male Littoral Rock Thrush perched atop a spiky euphorbia while a few Subdesert Brush Warblers hopped clicking over the sand. This exquisite island para - dise of Nosy Ve welcomed us with a Sandwich Tern—only the second for Madagascar. Red-tailed Tropicbirds greeted us with their strident calls, while offspring of various ages waited quietly under the bushes to be fed. Dapper White-fronted Plovers skittered along the tidal wrack with their precocial chicks only days old.

A Ring-tailed Lemur storms off in a huff at Berenty. Photo: Brian Finch.

The next morning we searched the gray dry scrub for Verreaux’s Coua and Red-shouldered Vanga. The vanga, one of the rarest of birds with a maximum of just six known individuals, came in to our guide’s whistles, then led us a merry chase; along the way we had a remarkably obliging

For details on all WINGS tours, visit www.wingsbirds.com page 11 … WINGS News Spring 2009 Trip Reports Verreaux’s Coua sunning in a small tree. A stop at the airport pool pro - vided us with a Pectoral Sandpiper, only the second record for the island. We made it down to the St. Augustin road just as five Madagascar Sandgrouse arrived at their drinking site. The prize on the way to Ifaty was a pair of Madagascar Plovers posing on a ridge. A roosting Madagascar Nightjar offered us ideal conditions for studying its delicate camouflaged plumage.

By 8:30 the next morning we had had good views of all our main targets: Subdesert Mesite, Running and Green-capped Coua, Ground Roller, and Archbold’s Newtonia, in addition to Hook-billed, Sickle-billed, and White-headed . In the afternoon we back- tracked towards Tulear to search the swamps, find- ing several White-throated Rails and a pair of Madagascar Rails. We also saw two Little Bitterns of the endemic race, two Greater Painted Snipe, and about six Baillon’s Crakes.

The next morning we bumped and bounced our way to Berenty. We The amazing Long- arrived in time to see the White-browed Owls at their daytime roost. tailed Ground- White-footed Sportive Lemurs were equally obliging, and a visit to the Roller is a secretive Madagascar Flying Fox colony was something special. We located a few inhabitant of Hamerkops on the way to Perinet, where our guide promptly led us to a Madagascar’s pair of roosting Rainforest Scops Owls. spiny forest. Photo: Brian Finch. Over the next few days, Nuthatch Vangas were met with on several occa - sions, Short-legged Ground Roller taunted us from the slopes, Madagascar Flufftails timidly inspected the group, and Velvet Asities glowed in the forest shade. We also had beautiful Diademed Sifakas, striking Black-and-white Ruffed Lemurs, and appealing Greater Dwarf Lemurs.

Tsaratsaotra Private Reserve sheltered a few Hottentot Teal and seven species of herons raising young. The recently arrived Madagascar Squacco (Pond) Herons were waving their exaggerated plumes in the faces of their intended. Dimorphic Egrets were in all stages, from nest building to feed - ing nearly independent young, and noisy clusters of Cattle Egrets incu - bated in the stands of bamboo. Scattered pairs of Black Egrets were build - ing nests. Among the large numbers of waterfowl were numerous Knob- billed Ducks.

Our Cap Masoala extension took us back to the Indian Ocean coast. On our evening walk we photographed a sleeping Panther Chameleon. The

page 12 … WINGS News Spring 2009 For details on all WINGS tours, visit www.wingsbirds.com Trip Reports next morning’s crossing was very smooth, and on arrival we found the incomparable Helmet Vanga behind our lodge. In the afternoon we locat - ed an extremely obliging Scaly Ground Roller, and in the evening near the lodge we saw Weasel Sportive Lemur and several new frogs.

The next morning we found a Bernier’s Vanga attacking a Banded Kestrel, a Madagascar Sparrowhawk, a confiding pair of Short-legged Ground Rollers, a pair of Brown Mesites showing nesting behavior, and a Parson’s Chameleon that looked three feet long! A walk on the beach rewarded us with displaying Madagascar Pratincoles and equally delight - ful mudskippers grazing on algae on rocks, like piscine sheep.

It soon came time to leave the Cap, and we enjoyed another smooth crossing to Nosy Mangabe. After lunch we found one of the world’s smallest reptiles, a terrestrial leaf-litter chameleon. The next morning on the way to the airport we stopped off at Tamatave for our last new bird of the trip, House Sparrow—a specialty of Tamatave. Many thanks are due to the participants, whose wonderful group dynamics were a complement to a very merry holiday full of birds, buffets, and barrels of laughter.

September 2009 will find Brian back on the Red Island, in search of the more than 100 birds that are endemic to this place where evolution runs wild. Like all of Brian’s tours, this one will also take in everything natural, from plants to butterflies, and put you in contact with some of the friendliest and most hospitable people anywhere.

Some Recent Tours Briefly Noted

September’s Austria: Birds and Music tour was greeted by unprecedent - ed warmth—and by Crag Martins, apparently the northernmost record for the country, and by Rock Buntings, rare and local in Austria. These were accompanied by the more expected Nutcracker and Crested Tit. Down at lake level, one small patch of mud provided us with an especial - ly memorable sight: a Spotted Crake and a Water Rail walking together, with Wood and Green Sandpipers and a Bluethroat as supporting cast. Lake Neusiedl’s twenty species of shorebirds included Black-winged Stilt, Avocet, Kentish Plover, Spotted Redshank, Pectoral Sandpiper, Curlew Sandpiper, and Red-necked Phalarope. The music was as satisfying as the birds: magnificent performances of Haydn’s “Ritorno di Tobia,” a fine selection of symphonies, and his violin concerto. Equally inspiring were Handel arias sung by Vesselina Kasarova. And the evening of songs deliv - ered by the French soprano Patricia Petibon was extraordinary. Bulgaria , too, enjoyed warm temperatures moderated by a comfortable sea breeze. The tour’s raptor list included five species of eagle, incredible views of Levant Sparrowhawk, numerous Marsh and Montagu’s Harriers, and a Red-footed Falcon. Our high count of White Storks was 500, while Great White Pelicans numbered in the thousands. highlights included scores of Red-backed Shrikes along with Woodchat and Lesser Gray Shrikes, Calandra and Short-toed Larks, Pied and Isabelline Wheatears,

For details on all WINGS tours, visit www.wingsbirds.com page 13 … WINGS News Spring 2009 Some Recent Tours Briefly Noted

A European Bee-eater flashes past in Bulgaria. Photo: James Lidster.

Red-breasted Flycatcher, Tawny Pipit, Ortolan Bunting, and—best of all—a very showy Citrine Wagtail. Maine’s Monhegan was, as always, absolutely lovely. We didn’t have a big push of migrants, but we had enough, and we saw them well—in most cases very well. The Monhegan specialties, Lark and Clay-colored Sparrows and Dickcissel, were all represented, and falcons were everywhere: at one point five Peregrines were lined up on the

Maine’s windward side of Monhegan Island Manana, a formi- offers a rest to dable peril for tired migrants any small such as this Bay- breasted Warbler. migrant that flew Photo: Derek Lovitch. by. The island was as charming as ever, the Maine coast spectacular, and the night skies unbelievably bright. South Africa ’s Western Cape had a cool and late spring this year, but the heat—and the birding—in the Kalahari Desert lived up to expec - tations. Namaqua and Burchell’s Sandgrouse drinking at waterholes were a classic spectacle of the northern Cape, and they were joined by huge flocks of Red-headed Finches, Cape Sparrows, Cape Turtle Doves, and dainty Namaqua Doves. Away from the waterholes we found a sleepy Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl, Swallow-tailed Bee-eaters, Gabar Goshawks, Lappet-faced and White-backed Vultures, an obliging Kalahari Scrub Robin, Ashy Tit, Crimson-breasted Shrike, Secretarybird, Lanner Falcon, and numerous Tawny Eagles. Southeast and the Manu Biosphere Reserve once again proved that few places on earth can produce such an incredible in so short a time. From Machu Picchu to the Manu Road to the lowland rainforest at Manu Wildlife Center, our tour was chock-full of exciting experiences and fantastic birding. We saw and heard more than 620 species in less than three weeks: 22 species of parrot (including seven macaws!), 35 hummingbirds, eight , more than 50 antbirds, 75 flycatchers, and 50 tanagers. Among the exciting birds

page 14 … WINGS News Spring 2009 For details on all WINGS tours, visit www.wingsbirds.com Some Recent Tours Briefly Noted encountered were Horned The stunning colors of African Screamer, laniids like this Black-and- Crimson-breasted white Hawk- Shrike are a surprise to birders Eagle, Black- used to the and-chestnut subdued plumage Eagle, a stun - of northern ning Collared species. Forest Falcon, Photo: Steve Rooke. Sungrebes and Sunbitterns, Andean Cock- of-the-rock, and forest A big-eyed delights such Rufescent Screech- as Hairy-crest - Owl emerges from ed Antbird its daytime roost and Band- near Peru’s Cock- of-the-rock Lodge. tailed Manakin. Nine species of monkey was also a treat. Chile once Photo: Gary Rosenberg. again impressed with its remarkable contrasts, from windswept Tierra del Fuego to the rich Humboldt Current, and from fecund altiplano bofedales to the barren Atacama Desert. Highlights this year included a family group of Magellanic , impossibly long-winged Northern Royal Albatrosses wheeling around our boat, a flock of the endemic Slender-billed Parakeets that appeared as if out of the ether, Andean Condors drifting along postcard-perfect Andean ridges, and a beautiful Andean bog surrounded by massive purple and green scree slopes reaching up to snow-capped peaks where Diademed Sandpiper-Plovers entertained us for an hour. The trip list was very respectable for Chile: among our 269 species were two rheas, three tinamous, two penguins, 15 tubenoses, two flamingos, 22 waterfowl, 11 raptors, 33 shorebirds, 27 furnariids, six

A Buller’s Albatross from New Zealand encounters Peruvian Pelicans in Chile’s Humboldt Current. Photo: Steve Howell.

For details on all WINGS tours, visit www.wingsbirds.com page 15 … WINGS News Spring 2009 Some Recent Tours Briefly Noted tapaculos, 23 tyrant flycatchers, and all five Chilean siskins. In Ethiopia , Hammerkops picked up fish at our feet and ranks of ugly Marabou Storks waited for just about anything to come their way. The birds at Langano included the endemic Black-winged Lovebird, African Orange- An American bellied Parrot, Black-billed Woodhoopoe, Rufous Chatterer, Abyssinian Crocodile watches Black Wheatear, Little Rock Thrush, and Rüppell’s Weaver. The pink the birds of South haze at Lake Abiata resolved into thousands of Greater and Lesser Florida’s swamps with an interest Flamingos, and two Black Crowned Cranes mingled with the 50 or so as great as any Common Cranes. A pre-breakfast wander at Wondo Genet gave us our birder’s. first White-cheeked Turacos and sightings of the endemic Abyssinian Photo: Laura Robinson. Woodpecker, Black-throated Wattle-eye, and Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike. A superb day on the gray and green Roof of Africa produced Moorland Francolins, Blue- winged Geese, Ruddy Shelducks, Wattled Cranes, Spot-breasted Lapwings, Thekla Larks, Black-headed Siskins, and, of course, several elegant Ethiopian Wolves. South Florida in November took in the “sea of grass” of the Everglades, cypress bottomlands, upland pine-oak scrub and grassland savannas, coastal mangroves and bays, and sparkling white beaches. We Erect-crested had repeated outstanding views of White and Glossy Ibis, Wood Stork, Penguins dot the Roseate Spoonbill, 11 heron species, and Limpkin. We also found seven rocks of the species of parrot, Red-whiskered Bulbul, Common and Hill Mynas, and Antipodes, the “other end of Spot-breasted Oriole among the wide variety of exotics that thrive in the earth.” Florida’s tropical climate. Other specialties included 23 species of shore - Photo: Steve Howell. bird, Short-tailed Hawk, White-crowned Pigeon, Smooth-billed Ani, Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Gray Kingbird, and Florida Scrub-Jay, while among the rarities were a family of Least Grebes, an American Flamingo, two Lesser Nighthawks, a Tropical Kingbird, and a Rusty Blackbird. New Zealand’s Subantarctic Islands in November featured seven species of penguins (four of them endemic to the region) and 41 species of

page 16 … WINGS News Spring 2009 For details on all WINGS tours, visit www.wingsbirds.com Some Recent Tours Briefly Noted tubenoses (31 on a single day!), including the legendary Magenta Petrel. The mesmerizing Southern Ocean, dotted with islands of biodiversity, has to be seen to be believed: from lush swaths of megaherbs to a point- blank pod of hunting Killer Whales, from prion identification to the majesty of Southern Royal Albatrosses on their nests, from New Zealand Pipits walking over your shoes to White-faced Storm Petrels skipping over the waves. Our base for all this: a comfortable ship with great food and a staff intent on sharing their appreciation for this unique heritage—life doesn’t get any better! Our 2008 tour to Papua New Guinea could easily have been called WINGS in Paradise. As we traversed the highlands, explored the forests and waterways of the lowlands, and wound our way through the hill country around Port Moresby, birds-of-paradise captured our emotions day after day. Lekking Lesser and Raggiana Birds-of-para - dise let us admire every aspect of their remarkable plumage, and the calls of Brown Sicklebills in the forests of the Tari highlands will remain as vivid in memory as the blue of their eyes. A King of Saxony Bird-of-para - dise flipped his remarkable crown plumes as he displayed from a treetop, and the tail feathers of a Ribbon-tailed Astrapia floated as effortlessly as a satin ribbon. Each “paradise” species seemed more surreal than the one before. No video, no painting, no description could prepare us for how remarkable this family of birds is—and the same goes for all the wonders of New Guinea. Brazil’s Southeast Atlantic Rainforest once again gave us ten days of excellent birding in comfortable settings, with sightings of many of the region’s sought-after endemics. Just the names Saw-billed Hermit, Three-toed Jacamar, Star-throated Antwren, , or Buff-throated Purpletuft are enough to get a birder salivating. Colorful tanagers that have you clamoring for a repeat viewing, hummingbirds at feeders allowing you to actually study their plumage for identification, ranging from big and noisy to small and silent, antbirds of every size and vocalization, and tapaculos that didn’t always remain invisible were just some of the superb birds that left us longing to return for more. Our Uganda tour recorded 521 bird species in 19 days, among them more than 30 birds of prey, 17 pigeons, six turacos, 15 cuckoos, 11 kingfishers, nine bee-eaters, 12 swallows, 16 cisticolas, nine apalises, 21 , 24 chats (including a staggering eight robin-chats), 21 sunbirds, 34 weavers, and 25 estrildid The well-named Greater Painted finches! The 44 species of mammals included 13 primates and wonderful Snipe favors experiences with Gorillas and Chimpanzees. We also recorded more than small temporary 200 butterflies, including Africa’s largest, Giant African Swallowtail. In pools in Uganda. Murchison we found a Western Savannah Monitor—likely the first Photo: Brian Finch. record for the East African region. Uganda is a magically beautiful and captivating country, far beyond the descriptions of any travel literature. Our first Butterflies and Birds tour to Brazil’s Cristalino Jungle Lodge

For details on all WINGS tours, visit www.wingsbirds.com page 17 … WINGS News Spring 2009 Some Recent Tours Briefly Noted was a terrific success. Not surprisingly, we tallied more butterflies than birds, and both were amazingly diverse. Even with a few hours off each afternoon, we tallied more than 360 species of butterflies and skippers. The five species of , several eighty-eights, owl-butterflies, and a Violet-tipped Diaph were especially well received. We also managed to see around 300 species of birds. These mostly took the stage at dawn (especially from the canopy tower), but were also featured in the late afternoon, from the delightful boat rides on the Cristalino River, where Sunbittern and Kawall’s Parrot were seen, or coming to freshwater ponds at dusk. A Snow-capped Manakin, several Bare-eyed Antbirds, Spotted Wood Quail, and Spot-backed Antbird were especially noteworthy. WINGS returned to Panama with a very successful trip to the Canopy Tower and Canopy Lodge. Our highlight species included a Tiny Hawk on a nest; a Striped Cuckoo, teed up and singing; close views of a stun - ning male Blue Cotinga; 19 hummingbird species including extended views of the endemic Veraguan Mango and a White-tipped Sicklebill; six species of trogons; ant swarms attended by Bicolored, Spotted, and the incredible Ocellated Antbirds; and gaudy Rufous-winged, Bay-headed, Emerald, Silver-throated, Golden-hooded, Crimson-backed, and Flame- rumped Tanagers. All this accompanied by superlative fresh food, varied flora, beautiful landscapes, and great camaraderie! Gambia always amazes with how many birds there are or how showy they can be. The rarest bird of our December tour was undoubtedly a Brown-necked Raven, a Gambian tick for both of our local guides. The raven lost out in the beauty stakes to the Shining-blue Kingfisher (one of eight species including Gray- The River Gambia offers headed, African a chance at the Pygmy, striking but Malachite, and elusive African Finfoot. Giant). Equally Photo: James Lidster. exciting was an African Goshawk, perched close in an area of forest that has recently opened up for birding. This year’s Arizona in Winter tour experienced excellent weather and wonderful birding. The big highlight was a wintering Northern Jacana, only the fourth for Arizona. We also found most of the famous winter specialties, including Mountain Plover, Ferruginous Hawk, Chestnut-col - lared and McCown’s Longspurs, and thousands of Sandhill Cranes. The almost unending array of raptors, a wide variety of wintering ducks, Western Grebe, 12 species of sparrows, and winter residents such as Vermilion Flycatcher, Black Phoebe, Lazuli Bunting, and Pyrrhuloxia make Arizona a wonderful place to visit in winter. Our first tours to Ghana offered an impressive demonstration of what this bird-rich coun - try has to offer. For most people there is one key bird here, the Yellow-

page 18 … WINGS News Spring 2009 For details on all WINGS tours, visit www.wingsbirds.com Some Recent Tours Briefly Noted headed Picathartes or Rockfowl; we saw not one but up to five birds at their secret cave. The only safe place to see this enigmatic species any - where is Ghana. Our back-to-back tours produced quality bird after qual - ity bird including African Finfoot, Congo Serpent Eagle, Black Sparrowhawk, African Cuckoo Hawk, Brown Nightjar, Fraser’s Eagle Owl, Red-billed Helmet Shrike, Sabine’s Puffback, Blue-headed Wood Dove, Yellow-throated and Emerald Cuckoos, Red-billed and Black Dwarf Hornbills…the list goes on and on! Our first WINGS tour to Western India: Gujurat and the Rann of Kutch focused on the region’s desert specialties and yielded impressive numbers of great birds and mammals in dramatic settings. Our final poll for “Bird of the Trip” reveals just how productive it was: our “best of” list included Laggar Falcon, three bustards (Great Indian and Macqueen’s, plus Lesser Florican), Crab-plover, Sociable Plover, Indian Courser, Indian Eagle- and Mottled Wood Owls, Sykes’s Nightjar, Marshall’s Iora, White-naped tit, and White-browed Bush Chat. We had excellent looks at Asiatic Lion, Leopard, Asiatic Wild Ass, and Black Buck on our game drives. Our final tally of 294 species included up to ten Paddyfield Warblers on six different dates, Asian Desert Warblers on three days, and Sykes’s Warbler on six, with another nine globally threatened species and no fewer than 25 species endemic to the Indian subcontinent. This year’s Fall Migration at Western India’s Gujarat is an Gambell and the Pribilofs was blessed with several days of very light excellent place winds, when we recorded such mega-goodies as Brown Shrike, Willow to see Warbler, “Siberian” Stonechat, Pechora Pipit, and a ridiculous total of Hypocolius, the four Dusky Warblers. It isn’t often that a tour records a first North sole member of an enigmatic American record, but this tour did just that on the extension to St. Paul avian family. Island, where a Solitary Snipe was found and photographed at Photo: Paul Holt. Hutchinson Hill. This enigmatic highland snipe was entirely unexpected, but now joins the 2002 Willow Warbler on the list of North American firsts discovered on this dependably great Alaska tour. Birding in Argentina is always incredible, whether reveling in the abundance of birds in the Yungas forests, searching for flamingos on high Andean lakes, or seeing the snow-capped peaks of the Andes surrounding the Beagle Channel. Record high temperatures and dry weather were a bonus as we explored reserves close to Buenos Aires. Though we wondered about the effect of the heat on the Magellanic Penguin colony in Punta Tombo, our morning there was free of the winds that often make it nearly impossible to hold optics steady while viewing Chubut Steamer Ducks. The leg - endary winds of the Beagle Channel picked up during our journey and

For details on all WINGS tours, visit www.wingsbirds.com page 19 … WINGS News Spring 2009 Some Recent Tours Briefly Noted were enjoyed by albatrosses glid- ing against the backdrop of the Andes and Magellanic A Red-legged Diving-Petrels Seriema trots along flying close to Argentina’s the water. By the altiplano. time it was over, Photo: Judy Davis. Argentina had delivered bird families ranging from the tropical to the sub-Antarctic, including tou - cans, antshrikes, flamingos, seedsnipes, rheas, penguins, plantcutters, tinamous, albatrosses, and diving-petrels, all against the spectacular scenic backdrops that always make these tours a sensational birding experience. Even after two weeks in Kenya , this country of endless wonder was still producing new birds. An impressive 603 species were seen, with another 15 species heard. These totals included seven storks, 48 birds of prey, nine hornbills, 12 barbets, 18 owls and nightjars, 16 cisticolas, 19 sunbirds, 17 starlings, and 16 Ploceus weavers—together with 69 identified mammals and 27 identified reptiles and amphibians, plus a few frogs that got away. A whole host of butterflies and dragonflies were pointed out, as well as the fasci - The rare and nating flora. Oaxaca, Mexico, at Christmas provided a great backdrop brilliant Tacazze Sunbird is one of for our explorations of Zapotec ruin sites, local markets, and the impres - twenty species sive 2,000-year-old cypress, El Tule . The avian highlights this time we regularly included great views of endemics such as Beautiful Hummingbird, record in Kenya. Pileated Flycatcher, Golden Vireo, and the amazing Bridled Sparrow. Our Photo: Brian Finch. group tallied an excellent 297 species, including an astounding 14 new species added to the cumulative list from the past 13 years! Just as impor - tant on a Christmas trip to Oaxaca is the opportunity to sample the vibrant local culture of Oaxaca City, steeped in a mixture of Catholic and Zapotec traditions. Christmas processionals through the town square contribute to the festive atmosphere in this pretty colonial city, and none of this year’s participants will ever look at a radish in the same way after witnessing the amazing sculptures created for the Day of the Radishes. For the second year, our tour of Australia: Tasmania, Victoria, and the Plains-wanderer found all the endemics of Bruny Island. Drought was still in evidence around Deniliquin, but we still located specialties includ - ing Inland Dotterel and Superb Parrot, and our seven Plains-wanderers were the most we hadever seen in a single night. Chiltern, newly added to the tour this year, also produced some excellent highlights: Regent

page 20 … WINGS News Spring 2009 For details on all WINGS tours, visit www.wingsbirds.com Some Recent Tours Briefly Noted Honeyeaters at the nest, our first Painted Honeyeater in 22 years, and only our third Turquoise Parrots ever—this locality will definitely be on the 2009 itinerary, too. Australia: South Australia and Northern Territory was a chance to visit Gluepot Reserve, which turned up a number of species rarely seen on our old itinerary: a confiding pair of White- browed Treecreepers, stunning Striated Grass- wrens, and nearby the next morning a male Redthroat. In Alice Springs we watched a Western Bowerbird decorate its bower, tracked down a pair of Bourke’s Parrots, and found two Long-toed Stints at the sewage ponds. In Darwin a Chestnut Rail performed well for once, no fewer than three Beach Thick-knees showed up at East Point, and the Rainbow Pittas were as obliging as ever. And at Yellow Water we enjoyed two Great-billed Striking Hooded Herons, our only Rufous Night-Herons of the tour, and five species of Plovers nest kingfisher including point-blank views of Little. Our tour to Queensland above the tide - and New South Wales started this year with our first-ever visit to line on the Kingfisher Lodge, where high - beautiful beaches of Australia’s lights included Papuan Phillips Island. Frogmouth and two Masked Photo: David Fisher. Owls, the latter a lifer for every - one including both leaders! Near Mount Molloy, displaying Australian Bustards competed with Square-tailed Kites for bird-of-the-day honors. Close encounters with Southern Cassowary proved to be every - one’s trip favorite. Six Red-foot - The Australian ed Boobies were unprecedented Brush-turkey builds its at Michaelmas Cay, and a enormous nest Masked Booby in flight was mounds in even rarer. Point-blank views of Queensland’s Marbled Frogmouth at rainforests. O’Reilly’s took some beating, Photo: David Fisher. though the Albert’s Lyrebird feeding at our feet did its best to compete. No fewer than three Superb Lyrebirds sang and strutted their stuff at Minnamurra, while our pelagic trip was quite simply the best ever: 24 pelagic bird species as well as Humpbacks and Orcas. This year’s Southeast China in Winter featured six species of crane, but two unex - pected birds triumphed in our end-of-trip poll for “Bird of the Tour:” Reed Parrotbill, arguably the most attractive parrotbill on the planet, rocketed to the top of the list, with an incredibly cooperative Collared Owlet hard on its heels. Other highlights included more than 7,600 Swan Geese and excellent looks at Lesser White-fronted; Mandarin and Falcated Ducks, Baikal Teal, Smew, and Scaly-sided Merganser; two first- year Saunders’s and no less than 26 Relict Gulls; 905 Oriental Storks,

For details on all WINGS tours, visit www.wingsbirds.com page 21 … WINGS News Spring 2009 Some Recent Tours Briefly Noted 4,500 Eurasian Spoonbills, and four gorgeous Pied Falconets in a single day; Bull-headed Shrike and Japanese Waxwing; six species of thrush including some incredibly co- operative White’s; An inquisitive Red-billed Starlings; Brambling watches its and nine species of watchers on the bunting including wintering Yellow-browed and grounds in Pallas’s. Next year’s southeast China. Photo: Blake tour adds a new site, Mathesen. where we’ll hope to see Spoon-billed Sandpiper.

The Wingbeat

Are you reading The Wingbeat? Birders from around the world are visit - ing the new WINGS e-journal, wingsbirds.com/blog, for the latest in rar - ity news, tour updates, leader happenings, birding quizzes, and more.

Profiles Jon Feenstra WINGS is happy to wel - come Jon Feenstra as our newest Associate Leader. Raised in the Appalachian ridges of northwestern New Jersey, Jon’s play - ground was the outdoors. He grew up holding a fishing pole and a pair of binoculars. After college, he moved from New Jersey to Los Angeles, where he completed his graduate work in physical chemistry at the California Institute of Technology. There he became active in southern California birding: leading field trips, writing articles on

page 22 … WINGS News Spring 2009 For details on all WINGS tours, visit www.wingsbirds.com Profiles bird distribution and local issues, and spending time exploring the diverse and bird-rich area. He finished his Ph.D. and decided to make birding his full-time passion. When not traveling the country or the world, Jon lives in urban Los Angeles and works as a free-lance ecological consultant. He volunteers for the Pasadena and Los Angeles Audubon Societies, serves on the board of directors of Western Field Ornithologists, leads most of southern California’s pelagic trips, and has contributed to several publica - tions on terrestrial and pelagic bird distribution. During any other time he reads widely, supports the local music scene, and plans his next adventure.

Jon will be leading our tour of Cape May this September with Jon Dunn.

Narca Moore-Craig WINGS is delighted to have Narca Moore- Craig join our corps of professional leaders. A native of Texas, Narca’s early memories are of hours spent in treetops with Red-headed Woodpeckers. Her path has wound from the Permian Basin of Texas through the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, coastal Oregon, the deciduous forests of Illinois, the Gray Ranch of New Mexico, and the deserts of California and Arizona. Along the way, she first majored in Spanish at the University of Colorado, then built a profession as a wildlife artist and earned a B.A. in biology from the University of California, Riverside, where she was the first woman to win the Jaeger Award in Field Biology. Narca was also the first woman president of Western Field Ornithologists and has served on the Arizona Bird Committee.

In addition to field research, Narca has led natural history and birding tours to six continents, including five voyages to Antarctica. She has guid - ed for many nonprofit organizations, including World Wildlife Fund, the Smithsonian Institution, and Harvard’s Museum of Comparative Zoology. Among her many interests as a birder are seabirds and the birds of oceanic islands. For decades Narca has focused on bird art, and her award-winning art has been featured in numerous publications. Wildlife art and birding work hand-in-hand for Narca, both teaching us to be careful observers, both immersing us in wilderness. Narca lives with her husband, Alan Craig, in Portal, Arizona, in the shadow of the Chiricahua Mountains, and treasures the time spent with friends there.

Narca’s first WINGS tours will take her to Hawaii and Midway Atoll in spring 2010.

For details on all WINGS tours, visit www.wingsbirds.com page 23 … WINGS News Spring 2009 2 e 9 Z g 7 d d a A r . e t t , a D o s r I n d o o N o n s P A t s i a e . t c P r m u S S r P . T e U P . 9 d A 0 e . 1 t S s . . e e t U u S q S y 2 e a 1 R 7 W 5 e n 8 G c o i a n v n r r e o z e v i l N r S A A e . I , g N n n o 3 s a c 4 h u 6 W 1 C T

Private Tours

WINGS offers customized itineraries for individuals and groups to desti - nations all around the world. If you find it especially appealing to bird where you want, alone or with friends, and at your own pace, consider a private tour with a WINGS leader. Where would you like to go?

For more information on arranging a private tour anywhere in the world, call the WINGS office at 520 320-9868. We’ll be happy to help!

page 24 … WINGS News Spring 2009 For details on all WINGS tours, visit www.wingsbirds.com