Pre- and Post-meeting Field Trips
San Diego is a world-class birding destination, with exactly 500 species reported in the county. A range of popular half-day to full-day field trips both before and after the meeting are available to help conference attendees sample the avifauna of this diverse and beautiful region.
On-line purchase on filed trip tickets is closed. Please inquire about availability at the registration desk.
NEW: Los Coronados Islands Pelagic Trip 2
(Saturday, 13 February)
Full-day trip by boat to Los Coronados Islands off Tijuana, Mexico, site of important colonies of the Brown Pelican, Brandt’s Cormorant, Western Gull, Xantus’ Murrelet, storm-petrels—and now Brown Booby. We will come and go by way of the most productive sites for pelagic birds off San Diego, center of the winter range of the Black-vented Shearwater; many other species such as the Short-tailed Shearwater and Rhinoceros Auklet are likely.
Itinerary/Cost:
- Bus leaves Town & Country at 6:00 a.m.
- Approximately 8-9 hours at sea.
- Bus arrives back at Town & Country at 6:00 p.m.
- Food is available for purchase at the boat’s galley.
- Cost: $80 per person; maximum group size 65.
Salton Sea Trip (Sunday, 7 February)
Full-day trip by bus from San Diego to the south end of the Salton Sea and Imperial Valley, man-made environments that are now the sites of some of the largest concentrations of birds in North America. The area is the winter home of vast numbers of wintering waterbirds such as the Snow and Ross’s Geese and White-faced Ibis, and a large fraction of the total population of the American White Pelican, Mountain Plover, Long-billed Curlew, and Eared Grebe. We will also see wintering land birds and localized resident species such as Abert’s Towhee. Leaders: Kathy Molina and Kimball Garrett.Itinerary/Cost:
- Bus leaves Town & Country at 5:00 a.m.
- Box lunch provided (specify meat or vegetarian sandwich).
- Bus returns to Town & Country at approximately 7:00 p.m.
- Cost: $75; maximum group size 48.
San Diego Coast (Sunday, 7 February)
Half-day trip by van or mini-coach to birding hot spots around San Diego, including the San Diego River mouth, south San Diego Bay, and the Tijuana River estuary. The San Diego River mouth attracts a wide diversity of shorebirds and waterfowl and is the principal site in California for foraging of the Little Blue Heron. The huge colony of terns in south San Diego Bay is not active in February, but the area features a great diversity of waterbirds. The Tijuana estuary is one of southern California’s largest remaining tidal marshes and critical habitat for the Light-footed Clapper Rail, Belding’s Savannah Sparrow, and Snowy Plover. It is foraging habitat for California’s only resident Yellow-crowned Night Herons.
Itinerary/Cost:
- Van or bus leaves Town & Country at 6:00 a.m.
- Arrive back at Town & Country by noon (lunch not included).
- Cost: $45 per person, maximum group size 20.
San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park
(Friday, 12 February)
Half-day trip by van or mini-coach to the Wild Animal Park, the world-famous San Diego Zoo’s 1800-acre park exhibiting over 3500 animals of 260 species. These include many dozens of birds, especially African, such as the Hamerkop, Waldrapp, and Black Egret. The park exhibits the California Condor as well as being the center for condor research and breeding. The park also attracts many wild birds, such as Scott’s Oriole, Costa’s Hummingbird, a large roost of Turkey Vultures (with a regular Zone-tailed Hawk), and wading birds (including Calfornia’s single resident Wood Stork). The trip will include a behind-the-scenes tour as well as the public exhibits and gardens.
Itinerary/Cost:
- Van or bus leaves Town & Country at 9:00 a.m.
- Lunch available for purchase at the Park’s snack bars and restaurants.
- Arrive back at Town & Country by 3:30 p.m.
- Cost: $85 per person, maximum group size 20.