Winter Raptor Tour in the Washington County Grassland of New York

Join us for a tour of the Washington County Grasslands for an opportunity to see and photograph Short-eared Owls, Snowy Owls, Northern Harriers, American Kestrels and more!  Bring your camera and binoculars.

You’ll be “introduced” to the birds by the passionate folks who are devoted to protecting the grassland birds and their habitat.  The raptors will only be here a short time before they return to their Arctic breeding grounds.

Our small footprint (one vehicle and a maximum of 6 guests) allows us to go to the areas the birds love best. The guide is a Grassland Bird Trust board member who is intimately involved with preserving this biodiverse habitat.

We will have four excursions, two in the early morning and two in the late afternoon as these are the times that the raptors hunt and is the best time for photography. After we return in the evening, we will gather to review our bird lists and exchange ideas for capturing the best images (although this is not a photo workshop).

Almost all the raptors that winter here are in decline across their ranges. Some, like the endangered Short-eared Owl and the threatened Northern Harrier, are in serious danger of becoming extinct here. The Washington County grasslands in the Important Bird Area (IBA) are their best chance for survival.

The birds are wild and free and we don’t know who will arrive and stay.  As of this writing we have already seen Northern Harrier Hawks and Cooper’s Hawks. We have also spotted Short-eared Owls and our first Snowy Owl of the season. The American Kestrels are here, as is the photogenic Barred Owl. The gentler Arctic migrants, like Horned Larks and Snow Buntings, have also arrived. And then there are our resident birds, including Eastern Bluebirds, Dark-eyed Juncos, a variety of woodpeckers, and the ubiquitous but beautiful Blue Jays and Cardinals. We may see Bald Eagles, which have made a fantastic recovery since the end of the DDT era.

Meals are at locally owned establishments; most are farm to table. Your accommodation will be at a locally owned hotel, the Queensbury, in Glens Falls, NY. The Queensbury is on the National Historic Register. For questions on the tour itinerary contact Roberta Kravette at (908) 656-4016 or rkravette@signpostpublishing.com.

The cost is $1,409 for the Feb 21-23 tour and $1,544 for Feb 24-26.  Included in the cost is a $250 donation to Grassland Bird Trust, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit land trust. Participants are responsible for their transportation to Glens Falls.

Pictured: Short-eared Owl
Picture Credit: Ryan Van Meter

By registering for the tour you agree to the terms of our Trips and Events Release.

Birding Tour in Namibia & Botswana

Join Grassland Bird Trust (GBT) for an unforgettable AFRICAN BIRDWATCHING AND WILDLIFE VIEWING EXPERIENCE!

Have you ever wanted to go on an African birding adventure? This is your chance! Grassland Bird Trust is working with Destination: Wildlife and Nature Travel Birds to provide you with a hand-crafted birding and wildlife watching trip made just for Grassland Bird Trust! This tour will not only benefit local conservation in Namibia and Botswana but will also help fund GBT’s projects related to grassland conservation.

On this trip, we will seek out 620 species of birds and wildlife (lions, elephants, rhino, cheetah, giraffe, zebra, and more) traveling by air-conditioned vehicle with a window seat for each guest, take short walks and a private Okavango River cruise. After unforgettable days, we’ll enjoy breathtaking sunsets and delicious dinners at comfortable full-service lodges!

GBT board director Paloma Spina and travel advisor Roberta Kravette will take you from Windhoek, Namibia’s capital, north through Etosha National Park and east all the way to Botswana. Check out our trip flyer for more information.

Pictured: Southern Carmine Bee-eater
Picture Credit: Nature Travel Birds