SUMMER IDAHO: CASSIA CROSSBILL & MUCH MORE!
JUNE 1 – 7, 2019
Stanley Lake, Idaho © Barry Zimmer
With its 58 th Supplement, the American Ornithological Society split off the Cassia Crossbill from the Red Crossbill complex, giving it full species status. This created not only the newest United States endemic, but also one of the most endangered species in our country. Basically limited to Idaho’s South Hills and Albion Mountains, a tiny range comprising only 70 square kilometers, the Cassia Crossbill is surely one of the hardest species to add to one’s life list. This tour will be devoted to finding this special new species, but also to introducing birders to the fabulous birding in the state of Idaho.
We will concentrate on the south-central portion of the state where a good variety of habitats occur. Open grasslands, scrub pasture land and marshlands could yield such species as Trumpeter Swan, Cinnamon Teal, Western and Clark’s grebes, Ferruginous Hawk (scarce), Prairie Falcon, Gray Partridge, California Quail, Long-billed Curlew, Wilson’s Phalarope, Burrowing Owl, Brewer’s Sparrow and Yellow-headed Blackbird. Foothill areas with junipers and oaks could produce such Summer Idaho, Page 2 gems as Golden Eagle, Gray Flycatcher, the highly sought Pinyon Jay, Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay, Juniper Titmouse, Canyon Wren, Mountain Bluebird, Townsend’s Solitaire, Sage Thrasher, Black- throated Gray Warbler, and Green-tailed Towhee, while riparian tracts are home to Black-billed Magpie, Yellow-breasted Chat, Lazuli Bunting, Black-headed Grosbeak and Bullock’s Oriole. Finally, in the higher elevation pine forests and willow-lined streams, we will seek out such species as Calliope Hummingbird; Lewis’s Woodpecker; Red-naped Sapsucker; Cordilleran, Hammond’s and Dusky flycatchers; Mountain Chickadee; MacGillivray’s Warbler; Western Tanager; Cassin’s Finch; Red Crossbill; and of course, our newest species, the Cassia Crossbill. Even such species Lazuli Bunting © Barry Zimmer as Williamson’s Sapsucker, American Three-toed Woodpecker and Clark’s Nutcracker are possible if we get high enough in elevation.
Mammals should also be plentiful along our route with possibilities including Pronghorn, Elk, Moose, Red Fox, Yellow-bellied Marmot and American Badger.
Discover the avian wonders that southern Idaho has to offer, plus seek out the special endemic Cassia Crossbill in its tiny world range on this trip through “the Gem State.”
June 1, Day 1: Arrival in Boise. Participants should plan to arrive in Boise at any time this afternoon and catch the shuttle to our hotel where a room will be reserved in your name. We will meet in the hotel lobby at 5:30 p.m. for a brief orientation session followed by dinner.
NIGHT: Hampton Inn, Boise
June 2, Day 2: Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area, Camas Prairie Centennial Marsh and Drive to Twin Falls. We will likely start out with a brief stop or two in the Pleasant Valley area very near Summer Idaho, Page 3 the airport. Grasslands here may harbor California Quail, Gray Partridge (uncommon) and Swainson’s Hawk among others. A short drive to the southwest will take us to the Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area. Here from a scenically spectacular overlook, we will search for Golden Eagle, Prairie Falcon, Ferruginous Hawk (scarce), White-throated Swifts (often at eye level), Common Raven (often sailing about acrobatically along the gorge) and Rock Wren. Some years, nests of various raptors may be found quite close and nearly at eye level as we scan along the cliff faces above the Snake River.
Prairie Falcon © Barry Zimmer
After an early lunch in Mountain Home, we will head northward through the Camas Prairie. We will make stops at a variety of small lakes, ponds, sagebrush flats and willow-lined creeks, where avian possibilities include Cinnamon Teal, Ruddy Duck, Western Grebe, Sandhill Crane, American Avocet, Black-necked Stilt, Wilson’s Phalarope, Wilson’s Snipe, Black Tern, Lewis’s Woodpecker, Sage Thrasher, Brewer’s and Vesper sparrows, spectacular Lazuli Buntings and Yellow-headed Blackbird among others. A good amount of time will be spent cruising around the Camas Prairie Centennial Marsh, a location that offers excellent wildlife viewing.
We should arrive in Twin Falls (our home for the next four nights) late in the afternoon.
NIGHT: Hampton Inn, Twin Falls
June 3, Day 3: Southern Hills All Day. This day should be a very special one as we journey into the Southern Hills in search of the newly split and endemic Cassia Crossbill. As two types of Red Crossbill are also possible in these mountains, we will take great care in separating birds out by calls. Our travels today will take us through a variety of habitats from sagebrush flats to riparian lined streams to lodgepole pine forests interspersed with birch and aspens. Our search for the crossbill will likely be interrupted by other avian gems throughout the day. Early on, en route to Rock Creek Canyon, we may encounter Chukar (uncommon), Long-billed Curlew and Sage Thrasher in the sagebrush flats and agricultural areas. Higher up in elevation, MacGillivray’s Warbler, Green- tailed Towhee, Fox Sparrow (the slate-colored subspecies) and Lincoln’s Sparrow may be found along the stream sides, while nearby conifer forests harbor Williamson’s Sapsucker (very uncommon), Cordilleran Flycatcher, Summer Idaho, Page 4 Red-breasted Nuthatch, Mountain Chickadee, Hermit Thrush, Ruby-crowned Kinglet and Cassin’s Finch. Red- naped Sapsucker, Hammond’s and Dusky flycatchers, Swainson’s Thrush and Western Tanager prefer mixed forest situations, while the incomparable Lewis’s Woodpecker favors recent burns. Additionally, we will keep an eye out along the roadsides, since two phantoms of the forest, Ruffed and Dusky grouse, are at least possible in this area as well.
After a picnic lunch, we will visit a property filled with hummingbird feeders. Three species occur here—Broad- tailed, Black-chinned and Calliope, and all are quite common. Our success, or lack thereof, in locating the Cassia Crossbill will determine our late afternoon plans. If we have already tallied the crossbill, we will likely head down in elevation, searching areas we bypassed earlier in the morning. If we still need the crossbill, we will linger late into the afternoon at upper elevation campgrounds.
NIGHT: Hampton Inn, Twin Falls
June 4, Day 4: City of Rocks National Preserve, Castle Rocks State Park. This morning we will head southeasterly toward scenic City of Rocks National Preserve and Castle Rock State Park. Juniper covered foothills and vast expanses of sagebrush here attract a different set of birds (some with a distinctly southwestern flavor). Special birds possible in the juniper forests include Gray Flycatcher, the nomadic Pinyon Jay (somewhat unpredictable, common some years, scarce others), Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay, Juniper Titmouse, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher and Black-throated Gray Warbler. Sagebrush areas bordering mixed forests could yield magnificent Mountain Bluebirds, more Sage Thrashers, Green-tailed and Spotted towhees and Brewer’s Sparrow. Even the common Virginia’s Warbler, at the very northern edge of its range, is a possibility here. The scenery alone is worth the visit to this spectacular area.
Sage Thrasher © Barry Zimmer
Following another picnic lunch, our afternoon plans will be flexible. Possible destinations include a visit to Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge to the north (Clark’s Grebe, American White Pelican, Bank Swallow, Yellow- Summer Idaho, Page 5 breasted Chat and Bullock’s Oriole are among the many possibilities) and/or the Hagerman Wildlife Management area to the west of Twin Falls (Sora, Virginia Rail, Ring-necked Pheasant, California Quail and a variety of waterfowl and shorebirds). NIGHT: Hampton Inn, Twin Falls
June 5, Day 5: Return to Southern Hills/ Albion Mountains or Head Eastward Toward Idaho Falls. Since finding the Cassia Crossbill is the main focus of this tour, we will return to its favored haunts in the Southern Hills or Albion Mountains if we are still missing this special, enigmatic bird. There are plenty of areas to explore and much forest to cover in these two small ranges.
If, however, we have already enjoyed success with the crossbill, then this will be an open day for exploration. Although it is over two hours to the east, the Idaho Falls area offers some excellent birding. Camas National Wildlife Refuge hosts large numbers of nesting White-faced Ibis and Franklin’s Gulls, and majestic Trumpeter Swan and a variety of other waterfowl and shorebirds are likely. We will play it by ear today, depending on our previous successes.
On one of our four nights in Twin Falls, we may offer a late-night owling excursion. Barn Owl and Great Horned owls scour the sagebrush country and agricultural fields, while Common Poorwills inhabit the foothills. Even the highly sought and near mythical Flammulated Owl is a possibility in the higher pine forests. Please note that any owling excursion will require a very late night, as it doesn’t get dark enough to start owling until nearly 10:00 p.m.
NIGHT: Hampton Inn, Twin Falls
Mountain Bluebird © Barry Zimmer
Summer Idaho, Page 6 June 6, Day 6: Sawtooth National Forest; Return to Boise. On our final day, we will likely embark on a northerly, somewhat circuitous route back towards Boise. The scenery between Galena Summit (nearly 9,000 feet elevation) and Stanley is simply mind-blowing and worthy of the detour. Additionally, the surrounding high mountain forests allow for better chances at several desirable upper elevation species. While most are uncommon, low density birds that require a healthy dose of luck to find, we will keep an eye out for the likes of Northern Goshawk, American Three-toed Woodpecker, Williamson’s Sapsucker, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Clark’s Nutcracker, Cassin’s Finch, Red Crossbill and Pine Grosbeak among others.
Intermountain valleys in this region play host to numerous Pronghorns and Elk, while bird species include wonderfully common Mountain Bluebirds.
Note: If we have hot tips on other desirable species back in the Boise area, we may opt instead, to head directly there and then expand northward in pursuit of those species.
At any rate, we will arrive back in Boise in time to clean up, tally our checklist, and enjoy our final dinner together.
NIGHT: Hampton Inn, Boise
June 7, Day 7: Departures for Home. Tour participants may plan to depart for home at any time today.
TOUR SIZE: This tour will be limited to 14 participants.
TOUR LEADERS: Barry Zimmer, Brennan Mulrooney and Victor Emanuel
Barry Zimmer has been birding since the age of eight. His main areas of expertise lie in North and Central America, but his travels have taken him throughout much of the world, including such exotic locales as Japan, Russia, Madagascar, Africa, and New Zealand. Barry is a longtime member of the New Mexico Bird Records Committee, and served on the Texas Bird Records Committee for 12 years. He has coauthored three books: Birds of the Trans-Pecos , A Birder's Guide to the Rio Grande Valley , and Birds and Birdfinding in the El Paso Area . Barry has a keen interest in nature photography, having captured over 1,600 species of birds on film. His other interests include sports (a diehard Red Sox fan), cooking, and movies. He received his degree in psychology at the University of Texas in El Paso. Barry resides in El Paso with his wife, Yvonne, and their daughter, Alexandra.
Brennan Mulrooney was born and raised in San Diego, California. Growing up, his heart and mind were captured by the ocean. He split his summer days between helping out behind the scenes at southern California’s leading aquarium and working on sport fishing vessels off the coast. As a wildlife and fisheries biology major at UC Davis, he developed his fascination with birds and love of birding while taking a required ornithology course. After graduating from UC Davis, Brennan traveled throughout the United States working on widespread ornithological field studies. His work took him from the mountains of northern California to the Salton Sea in southern California, and from Cape May, New Jersey to Key Largo, Florida. After a six-year stay in the Florida Keys, Brennan returned home to San Diego where he currently lives with his wife Brynne, their son Declan, and daughter Saoirse. Participants often comment that Brennan’s sharp eyes, sharper wit, and easygoing attitude make it a pleasure to bird with him. Summer Idaho, Page 7 Victor Emanuel started birding in Texas 69 years ago at the age of eight. His travels have taken him to all the continents, with his areas of concentration being Texas, Arizona, Mexico, Panama, and Peru. He is the founder and compiler for 50 years of the record- breaking Freeport Christmas Bird Count, and served a term as president of the Texas Ornithological Society. Birds and natural history have been a major focus throughout his life. He derives great pleasure from seeing and hearing birds, and sharing with others these avian sights and sounds, both the common ones and the more unusual ones. He initiated the first birding camps for young people, and considers that one of his greatest achievements. Victor holds a B.A. in zoology and botany from the University of Texas and an M.A. in government from Harvard. In 1993, he was the recipient of the Roger Tory Peterson Excellence in Birding Award, given by the Houston Audubon Society in recognition of a lifetime of dedication to careful observation, education, and addition to the body of avian knowledge. In 2004, he received the Roger Tory Peterson Award from the American Birding Association, and the Arthur A. Allen Award from the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology. He is a past board member of the Nature Conservancy of Texas, the National Audubon Society, the American Bird Conservancy, and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. In May 2017, the University of Texas Press published his memoir, One More Warbler, A Life with Birds .
FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS: The fee for the tour is $2,895 per person in double occupancy from Boise. This includes all meals from dinner on Day 1 to dinner on Day 6, accommodations as stated in the itinerary, ground transportation during the tour, gratuities, and guide services provided by the tour leaders. It does not include airfare from your home to Boise and return, airport departure taxes, alcoholic beverages, special gratuities, phone calls, laundry, or items of a personal nature.
The single supplement for this tour is $425 . You will be charged a single supplement if you desire single accommodations, or if you prefer to share but have no roommate and we cannot provide one for you.
REGISTRATION & DEPOSIT: To register for this tour, please contact the VENT office. The initial deposit for this tour is $300 per person. If you would like to pay your initial deposit by check, money order, or bank transfer, your tour space will be held for 10 days to allow time for the VENT office to receive your deposit and completed registration form. If you prefer to pay the initial deposit using a credit card, your deposit must be made with MasterCard, Visa, or American Express at the time of registration. The VENT registration form (available from the VENT office or by download at www.ventbird.com ) should then be completed, signed, and returned to the VENT office.
PAYMENTS: Initial tour deposits may be made by MasterCard, Visa, American Express, check, money order, or bank transfer. All other tour payments, including second deposits, interim payments, final balances, special arrangements, etc., must be made by check, money order, or bank transfer (contact the VENT office for bank transfer information). Full payment of the tour fee is due 120 days prior to the tour departure date.
CANCELLATION POLICY: Refunds are made according to the following schedule: If cancellation is made 120 days or more before the tour departure date, a cancellation fee of $150 per person will be charged unless the deposit is transferred to a new registration for another VENT tour that will operate within the next 12 months, in which case the cancellation fee will be $50 per person. If cancellation is made between 120 and 90 days before departure date, the deposit is not refundable, but any payments covering the balance of the fee will be refunded. If cancellation is made fewer than 90 days before departure date, no refund is available. This policy and fee schedule also applies to pre-trip and post-trip extensions. We strongly recommend the purchase of trip cancellation insurance for your protection.
If you cancel: Your refund will be: 120 days or more before departure date Your deposit minus $150* Between 120 and 90 days before departure No refund of the deposit, but any payments on the balance will be refunded Summer Idaho, Page 8 Fewer than 90 days before departure date No refund available
*Unless the deposit is transferred to a new registration for another VENT tour that will operate within the next 12 months, in which case the cancellation fee will be $50 per person.
Upon cancellation of the transportation or travel services, where you, the customer, are not at fault and have not cancelled in violation of the terms and conditions of any of the contract for transportation or travel services, all sums paid to VENT for services not received by you will be promptly refunded by VENT to you unless you otherwise advise VENT in writing.
Victor Emanuel Nature Tours is not a participant in the California Travel Consumer Restitution Fund. California law requires certain sellers of travel to have a trust account or bond. This business has a bond issued by Travelers in the amount of $50,000. CST #2014998-50.
FUEL AND FUEL SURCHARGES: In the uncertain, often volatile oil market of late, it is difficult – if not impossible – to predict fuel costs over the long term, and more specifically, at the time of operation of this departure. Our prices are based upon the prevailing fuel rates at the time of itinerary publication. While we will do everything possible to maintain our prices, if the fuel rates increase significantly, it may be necessary to institute a fuel surcharge.
TRAVEL INSURANCE: To safeguard against losses due to illness, accident, or other unforeseen circumstances, we strongly recommend the purchase of travel insurance as soon as possible after making a deposit. VENT has partnered with Redpoint Resolutions as our preferred travel insurance provider. Through Redpoint, we recommend Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance TM . Designed for all types of travelers, Ripcord is among the most highly regarded travel insurance programs available.
Critical benefits of Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance include a completely integrated program with a single contact for emergency services, travel assistance, and insurance claims; medical evacuation and rescue services from your point of injury or illness to your hospital of choice; comprehensive travel insurance for trip cancellation/interruption , primary medical expense coverage, and much more. Waiver for pre-existing conditions is available but must be purchased within 14 days of tour deposit. Optional expanded insurance coverage is available and includes items such as security evacuation coverage in case of a natural disaster or other security events, and a “Cancel for Any Reason” clause (must be purchased within 14 days of tour deposit). Ripcord is available to U.S. and non-U.S. residents.
For a price quote, or to purchase travel insurance, please visit: ripcordrescuetravelinsurance.com/ventbird ; or click the Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance TM logo on our website (click Help and Trip Insurance); or call +1- 415-481-0600. Pricing is based on age, trip cost, trip length, and level of coverage.
AIR INFORMATION: Victor Emanuel Travel is a full-service travel agency and wholly owned subsidiary of Victor Emanuel Nature Tours (VENT). Victor Emanuel Travel will be happy to make any domestic or international air travel arrangements from your home and return. Please feel free to call the VENT office to confirm your air arrangements.
BAGGAGE: As space in the vehicles is limited, please restrict your luggage to one medium-sized bag and one carry-on bag.
CONDITIONS & CLIMATE: Elevations on this tour will vary from about 2,500 feet to nearly 9,000 feet, and a wide variety of habitats will be covered. Most birding will be of the roadside variety with walks generally limited to a mile or less in distance. Some of these walks will involve ups and downs, but many will be flat or nearly so. None of our expected walks will be particularly strenuous. The weather in Idaho can be notoriously unpredictable in early June. Average temperatures in Twin Falls at this season range from lows in the upper 50’s to low 60’s and highs from the mid to upper 70’s. It should be noted, however, that temperatures in the high mountains can Summer Idaho, Page 9 be considerably cooler, and conversely, temperatures in the lowlands can, on occasion, reach into the nineties. Rainfall is always a possibility, although June is not a particularly wet month in this area. As a precaution, a rain jacket or small umbrella is recommended. Sunrise in June is roughly around 6:00 a.m. while sunset comes shortly after 9:00 p.m.
Most mornings we will have breakfast available at our hotel around 6:00 a.m. and be heading into the field around 6:45 a.m. There may be the possibility of an earlier morning one day. If we opt for an owling excursion, it will last late into the evening with arrival back at the hotel around midnight. This is necessitated by the late sunset at this latitude and the distance involved to get to/ from owling areas.
CLOTHING: Informal dress is the rule throughout the tour. The layered approach will be necessary for our birding. A light to medium jacket, sweater and/ or long-sleeved shirts will be appropriate in the early morning hours in the mountains, while lighter clothing such as t-shirts will be in order later in the day and in the lowlands. Long pants are generally recommended for most of our birding, but shorts could come in handy on warmer days. A hat is essential for protection from the sun. Sturdy walking shoes or light hiking boots are generally recommended, but much of our birding could be done in tennis shoes/ walking shoes as well. Gloves and a warmer hat could also be useful (especially for late night owling).
EQUIPMENT: You should pack a pair of binoculars that are in good repair, along with a belt pack or day pack (for carrying books, sunscreen, extra film, etc.). A small refillable water bottle to carry in the field is also recommended. As a precaution, it is a good idea to pack your binoculars, a change of clothing, toiletry items, medications and travel documents in your airline carry-on bag. Your leader will have a spotting scope, but if you have one and wish to bring it, please feel free to do so.
HEALTH: If you are taking prescription medication or over-the-counter medicine, be sure to bring an ample supply that will allow you to get through the tour safely. Please consult your physician as necessary. Remember to pack all medication in your carry-on baggage, preferably in original containers or packaging. As airline baggage restrictions can change without warning, please check with your airline for procedures for packing medication.
As standard travel precautions, you should always be up to date with tetanus shots, and strongly consider inoculations against hepatitis types A and B.
In addition to your physician, a good source of general health information for travelers is the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta Georgia. The CDC operates a 24-hour recorded Travelers’ Information Line at 800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636), or you can check their website at www.cdc.gov/travel . Canadian citizens should check the website of the Public Health Agency of Canada: www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/new_e.html (click on travel health).
INSECTS: Generally, bugs are not a big problem, but there may be some mosquitoes in areas we visit. Likewise, ticks are also a possibility. It is recommended that you carry some form of insect repellent or perhaps bring clothing pre-treated with permethrin.
INTERNET: Cell phone service is generally available throughout the tour, although some mountain areas may lack reception. Wi-Fi is available at both of our hotels.
SUGGESTED READING : A number of traditional booksellers and online stores list excellent inventories of field guides and other natural history resources that will help prepare you for this tour. We recommend www.amazon.com which has a wide selection; www.buteobooks.com and www.nhbs.com which specialize in ornithology and natural history books; and www.abebooks.com for out-of-print and hard-to-find titles.
Bird Field Guides: Dunn, Jon L. & Jonathan Alderfer (Editors). National Geographic Society Field Guide to the Birds of North America . 6th edition, 2011. Summer Idaho, Page 10 Kaufman, Kenn. Kaufman Field Guide to Birds of North America. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2005. The best available photographic field guide to the birds of North America.
Sibley, David Allen. The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Western North America . New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2nd edition, 2016. This is a slimmed down version of The Sibley Guide to Birds.
Other Birding Books: Zimmer, Kevin J. Birding in the American West: A Handbook. Ithaca: Comstock/Cornell University Press, 2000. Teaches you how to sort out the tough species identification comparisons.
Other Natural History: Bowers, Bowers, and Kaufman. Mammals of North America . Kaufman Focus Guides. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 2004.
Brock, Jim P. and Kenn Kaufman. Field Guide to Butterflies of North America. Houghton Mifflin Co, 2006.
Kricher, John C. and Gordon Morrison. A Field Guide to the Ecology of Western Forests (Peterson Field Guides). Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1993.
Petrides, George A. and Olivia. Western Trees. Second Edition. Peterson Field Guide Series. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1998.
Stebbins, Robert C. Western Reptiles and Amphibians. (Peterson Field Guides). Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2003 (3 rd reprint ed.).
TIPPING: Tipping (restaurant staff, porters, drivers, local guides) is included on VENT tours. However, if you feel one or both of your VENT leaders or any local guides have given you exceptional service, it is entirely appropriate to tip. We emphasize that tips are not expected and are entirely optional. Tips should be given directly to your tour leader; they should not be sent to the VENT office.
RESPONSIBILITY: Victor Emanuel Nature Tours, Inc. (VENT) and/or its Agents act only as agents for the passenger in regard to travel, whether by railroad, motorcar, motorcoach, boat, or airplane and assume no liability for injury, damage, loss, accident, delay, or irregularity which may be occasioned either by reason of defect in any vehicle or for any reason whatsoever, or through the acts or default of any company or person engaged in conveying the passenger or in carrying out the arrangements of the tour. VENT and its agents can accept no responsibility for losses or additional expenses due to delay or changes in air or other services, sickness, weather, strike, war, quarantine, or other causes. All such losses or expenses will have to be borne by the passenger, as tour rates provide for arrangements only for the time stated. The right is reserved to substitute hotels of similar category for those indicated and to make any changes in the itinerary where deemed necessary or caused by changes in air schedules. The right is reserved to cancel any tour prior to departure, in which case full refund will constitute full settlement to the passenger. The right is reserved to substitute leaders on any tour. Where this is necessary, notification will be given to tour members. No refund will be made for any unused portion of the tour unless arrangements are made in sufficient time to avoid penalties. The prices of the tours are based on tariffs and exchange rates in effect on August 20, 2018, and are subject to adjustment in the event of any change therein. The right is reserved to decline to accept or to retain any person as a member of any tour. Baggage is at owner's risk entirely. The airlines concerned and their agents and affiliates are not to be held responsible for any act, omission, or event during the time passengers are not on board their aircraft. The passenger ticket in use by said airlines, when issued, shall constitute the sole contract between the airlines and the purchaser of these tickets and/or passenger. The services of any I.A.T.A.N. carrier may be used for these tours, and transportation within the United States may be provided by any member carrier of the Airline Reporting Corporation. SIC:20190601 8/20/2018-EL/RS P/7/15/2018-BZ