belize birding - Holbrook Travel

BELIZE
Blue-crowned Motmot (Momotus momota)
BELIZE BIRDING
SWAROVSKI OPTIK WORKSHOP WITH EAGLE OPTICS
March 23-29, 2016
Make your reservation to see spectacular avian diversity,
and then leave your binoculars and spotting scope
at home. Sound crazy? Not when Eagle Optics and
Swarovski Optik team up to offer you an amazing bird
trip and outfit you with top-notch Swarovski binoculars.
In addition to its rich Maya history and unique culture,
the small country of Belize offers birders a huge diversity
of migrant and resident species in lush and varied
ecosystems Join Swarovski, Eagle Optics, and in-country
experts to see tropical birds like you have never seen
them before.
With only 10 spaces available, you should make your
reservation now. Once the trip is over you have the
opportunity to purchase the Swarovski binoculars at a
discounted price. Sign up now for a Swarovski birding
experience you’ll never forget!
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
• Field test the latest Swarovski optics while
birding in Belize.
• Go birding at Crooked Tree Sanctuary, a
vital habitat for migratory and resident
wetland species.
• Journey by boat up the New River to
the ruins of Lamanai, once a prominent
ceremonial center of the Maya civilization.
• Visit Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve,
home to Ocellated Turkey, Red-lored
Parrot and Blue-crowned Motmot.
• Search for the Hidden Valley’s “Big Five,”
the Black and White Hawk-Eagle, King
Vulture, Stygian Owl, Solitary Eagle and
the Orange-breasted Falcon.
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ITINERARY
BLD = BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER
MARCH 23 - CROOKED TREE
Upon arrival in Belize, transfer from the airport to Bird’s Eye
View Lodge. Enjoy dinner and an orientation this evening.
Overnight at Bird’s Eye View Lodge. (D)
MARCH 24 - CROOKED TREE
Early this morning take a boat trip on the lagoon for birding.
Visit the Crooked Tree Sanctuary, which contains both
wetland and terrestrial habitats, and learn about the Belize
Audubon Society’s role in the creation of this park. While
here, be on the lookout for Northern Jacana, Sungrebe,
Wood and Jabiru Storks, Bare-throated Tiger and Boatbilled Herons, Black-collared Hawk, Snail Kite, Neotropic
Cormorant, Anhinga, Limpkin, and American Pygmy
Kingfisher. Crooked Tree’s subtropical freshwater complex
is a vital habitat for migratory and resident wetland species,
a fact that led it to be designated a Ramsar site (#946) in
1998. The sanctuary contains streams, creeks, marshes, and
shallow lagoons. Large numbers of wading birds flock to the
lagoons during Belize’s dry season (February through May)
when food is harder to find in other regions of the country
and in nearby Guatemala and Mexico. Overnight at Bird’s Eye
View Lodge. (BLD)
MARCH 25 - CROOKED TREE
Today travel by boat up the New River to the Maya ruins
of Lamanai, with birding along the way. Lamanai, whose
name means “submerged crocodile,” was once a prominent
ceremonial center of the Maya civilization. The surrounding
forest is home to hundreds of species, such as the Collared
Aracari, Snail Kite, flycatchers, and tanagers. Overnight at
Bird’s Eye View Lodge. (BLD)
ABOUT YOUR LEADERS
BEN LIZDAS
Ben Lizdas has been working
at Eagle Optics for 13 years,
consulting with birders about
optics and spending time birding
across the country at numerous
birding festivals, where he enjoys
interacting with friends and
customers. Through his work as
Sales Manager with Eagle Optics, he’s also had the chance to develop
a love for tropical birding on trips to Panama, Costa Rica, Mexico,
and Guatemala. As a former restoration ecologist, Ben first fell in love
with birds and birding while doing vegetation studies on the prairies
and oak savannahs of Southern Wisconsin. Having witnessed and
appreciated the avian diversity of North and Central America while
on the road, he still maintains a fondness for those grassland birds that
first piqued his interest 10 years ago.
CLAY TAYLOR
Clay Taylor is the Naturalist
Market Manager for Swarovski
Optik North America and a
full-time birding naturalist who
travels to birding and nature
festivals all over the world. He
is also a veteran Digiscoper,
frequently giving workshops
and online advice. Clay grew up in Moodus, Connecticut, and
started birdwatching while in college. He served as president of the
Mattabeseck Audubon Society in Middletown, Connecticut, and
was the founder and first president of the Connecticut Butterfly
Association. He also worked as a naturalist for Hammonasset Beach
State Park. After years of birding in Connecticut, Clay moved to
Corpus Christi, Texas in 2008.
MARCH 26 - MOUNTAIN PINE RIDGE
Early departure for Mountain Pine Ridge, birding on the
way out of Crooked Tree. Lunch at a restaurant en route to
Green Hills Butterfly Farm. Depart for Hidden Valley early
to mid afternoon. Overnight at Hidden Valley Inn. (BLD)
MARCH 27 - MOUNTAIN PINE RIDGE
Birding in the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, looking
for local specialties. This area of Belize reveals a vegetation
and landscape that is very different from the country’s
predominantly tropical environment. Mountainous terrain
and Caribbean pine forests serve as home to Ocellated
Turkey, Red-lored Parrot and Blue-crowned Motmot.
Overnight at Hidden Valley Inn. (BLD)
MARCH 28 - MOUNTAIN PINE RIDGE
Full day trying to get Hidden Valley’s “Big Five,” the Blackand-white Hawk-Eagle, King Vulture, Stygian Owl, Solitary
Eagle and Orange-breasted Falcon. Overnight at Hidden
Valley Inn. (BLD)
MARCH 29 - FAREWELL
Depart for the airport and the flight home. (B)
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO ENROLL:
Limpkin (Aramus guarauna)
Lamanai
PROGRAM PRICING
$2,500 (10 participants)
Cost does not include international airfare or gratuities.
THE FINE PRINT
Price is based on double occupancy; for a single room throughout the trip,
add $400. A $200 per person deposit and enrollment form is required to
secure your space on the trip. This deposit is refundable until November 24
2015 excluding a $100 cancellation fee. Final payments are due no later
than December 19, 2015. Cancellations received after this date are not
refundable. Travel/trip cancellation insurance is strongly recommended.
For more information call Travel Insured at 800-243-3174. Holbrook
Travel’s agency number is 15849.
Contact Debbie Sturdivant Jordan at 866-748-6146 or debbie@holbrooktravel.com | http://holbrook.travel/eagleopticsbelize