VENTflash #111 August 25, 2010
Posted by Victor Emanuel
Victor Emanuel
Victor Emanuel started birding in Texas 63 years ago at the age of eight. His travels have taken him to all the continents, with his areas of concentration being Texas, Ari...Dear friends,
There are a number of places I have visited that I consider among my favorite destinations. Some of these are well-known sites, such as Southeast Arizona, the Upper Texas Coast, and Panama. However, I have always particularly enjoyed telling people about my favorite places that are far less obvious—hidden gems overlooked by most travelers. Two places that fall into this category are Little St. Simons Island off the Georgia coast, and the Napo Wildlife Center in Ecuador. At first glance, these disparate sites appear to have little in common, but a closer look reveals that each of these locations showcase beautiful lodges set amid extensive tracts of privately-owned or preserved land. In addition to boasting fabulous settings, both regularly produce memorable encounters with birds and other wildlife.
VENT is offering trips to Little St. Simons Island and the Napo Wildlife Center in the coming months. I am certain that you will have a marvelous time at either place.
Georgia: Little St. Simons Island, October 6-10, 2010
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Black Skimmers— Photo: Michael O'Brien |
Little St. Simons is a small barrier island off the southern coast of Georgia. The biological wealth of the island is on full display in the form of 10,000 acres of pristine coastal forests, extensive marshes, and miles of shell-laden beaches. Privately-owned, the island has been spared the runaway development that has engulfed many other barrier islands. Although I have visited Little St. Simons many times, each visit is different, and each time I am reminded of how remarkable a place it is.
I had the pleasure of spending a long weekend at Little St. Simons Island in early October last year. That visit was my seventh and by far the best. With autumn migration in full effect, we saw a remarkable number of shorebirds and many Peregrine Falcons (as many as 12 in a day!). It seemed that no matter where we went, falcons were everywhere, as if appearing out of nowhere.
The Altamaha River empties into the Atlantic Ocean at the north end of the island. The nutrient- filled waters of the delta provide a rich feeding area for terns, gulls, and shorebirds. On one memorable afternoon visit we saw 21 species of birds on a tiny sandbar just off the beach. Among the medley of birds were Piping Plovers (an endangered species), Red Knots, Ruddy Turnstones, Dunlins, and Sandwich Terns. We estimated there were 4,500 Black Skimmers, 100 American Oystercatchers, and 150 Marbled Godwits. Two Long-billed Curlews alighted near the godwits and presented us with a superb comparison of these big shorebirds.
As at all great migration spots, the sense of movement one perceives at Little St. Simons Island is everywhere. Great flocks of shorebirds move with the tide; aggregations of tree swallows feed over the marshes; groups of gulls and terns cluster together on open beaches; and hawks dot the skies overhead. One never knows what will turn up from one moment to the next.
The finest qualities of Little St. Simons, however, are its peacefulness and pristine condtion. Free from cars, traffic, noise, and clutter, this island is a world of its own and a privilege to visit.
Little St. Simons Island, October 6-10, 2010 with Victor Emanuel and Barry Lyon; $3,295 in double occupancy from Jacksonville, FL. Two rooms are still available.
Ecuador: Amazonia at Napo Wildlife Center, January 7-16, 2011:
$500/person discounts for registrations before November 1, 2010
Nestled in the lowlands of eastern Ecuador, the Napo Wildlife Center boasts an extraordinary web of untarnished rivers, rainforests, and wildlife along a significant tributary of the Amazon River. Located in the huge Yasuni National Park, the lodge is a model in sustainable development, whereby the local indigenous community supports its traditional way of life by embracing an environmental ethic grounded in ecotourism.
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Napo Wildlife Center— Photo: Peter English |
After years of planning, the opening of the Napo Wildlife Center in 2003 was a landmark event. I was privileged to watch a process play out in which something that began as an idea culminated in the construction of what I consider one of South America's best jungle lodges. My friend Peter English played a key role in bringing the project to fruition. Through him I met Giovanni Rivadeneira, a local indigenous guide who had the vision to see how an eco-lodge could benefit his community. VENT brought some of the first birding groups to ever visit this superb lodge, including a tour I led there with Peter.
Set on a secluded jungle lake a few hours by boat from the town of Coca, the Napo Wildlife Center hosts a fully intact rainforest ecosystem that supports some of South America's most captivating wildlife. Hundreds of bird species are guaranteed on any visit, but it is the chance to see Harpy and Crested eagles, several species of macaws, and a wonderful mix of parrots, toucans, hummingbirds, flycatchers, woodpeckers, antbirds, barbets, and tanagers that is so enticing. Mammal sightings are more challenging, but among the possibilities are an array of primates, giant otter, sloths, and cats. As for the lodge, the rooms, food, and service are truly excellent—better, in fact, than at almost any other jungle lodge I know of. The canopy tower is one of the highest quality observation towers I have ever seen, as well as the most ecologically sensitive in its design and construction. Two parrot-licks (saladas) offer unforgettable spectacles where hundreds of parrots and parakeets swarm about on the ground to ingest minerals that aid in food digestion.
Our next Ecuador: Amazonia at Napo Wildlife Center tour will operate, January 7-16, 2011 with David Wolf and Paul Greenfield; fee is $3,695 in double occupancy from Quito. Since we must release any unsold rooms by November 1, 2010, we are offering a discount of $500/person for any signups prior to that date. Register by November 1 and pay just $3,195.
Our Napo Wildlife Center tour can be combined with our tour to Ecuador: Eastern Slope of the Andes, January 15-24, 2011, for a complete rainforest and Andes experience. Register for both tours and receive a $100/person combined tour discount.
I hope you will be able to take advantage of these wonderful opportunities.
Best wishes,
Victor Emanuel