FEATURED ENDORSED TOUR 
Oct 4-10 - River of Raptors Conference in Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico — A convergence of migration flyways forms a narrow bottleneck in 
central Veracruz. The result is the world’s largest concentration of migrating raptors and we plan to be there to see it! This area, rich in di- 
versity, yields 40 species of warblers & vireos, plus tanagers, brush-finches, saltators and orioles, 16 species of hummers, 7 different wood- 
peckers, over 20 Tyrant flycathers! Registration and more information on the amazing opportunity to view fall hawk migration and great 
resident and endemic birds can be found at www.aba.org/mtgs/2009riverofraptors or call (800) 850-2473 x230. 
Sep 15-24 - Trinidad & Tobago — - Enjoy 10 days in T&T with an offi- 
cial list of 457 species and acclaimed to be the best place in the New 
World to first experience the splendor of tropical birds. Trip repeated 
10/13, 11/10, and 12/1. Contact Bill Murphy, www.trinidadbirding.com, 
billmurphy8@sbcglobal.net, (317) 849-4868 or (317) 407-0467 
Sep 21-Oct 1 - Costa Rica — Enjoy ten fabulous days in this beautiful 
country that boasts 850 species. You’ll bird from sea to sky with visits to 
Savegre Lodge, Selva Verde Lodge, the Sarapiqui area. La Paz Waterfall 
Gardens, and the Arenal Hanging Bridges. Trip also runs Oct 26-Nov 5, 
& Dec 7-17. Contact Rick Houlk, www.ocoeeadventuretravei.com, 
rick@bluemooncruises.org, (888) 723-8622. 
Oct 1-4 - Veracruz Endemics — This tour will target specific endemics 
that are unlikely to be found on conference field trips. Beginning in Ve- 
racruz City and ending in Xalapa, we’ll search for Tuxtia Quail-Dove, 
Long-tailed Sabrewing, Sumichrast’s Wren, Bearded Wood-Partridge, 
and others. Contact Wildside Nature Tours, www.wildsidetoursinc.com, 
binns@wildsidetoursinc.com, (888) 875-9453. 
Oct 10-13 - Catemaco, Mexico — We will visit lowland rainforest for 
Red-lored Parrot & White Hawk, cloud forest for Emerald Toucanet & 
Eye-ringed Flatbill, savannah for Aplomado Falcon k Double-striped 
Thick-Knee, and a boat trip on a scenic coastal lagoon. Tour begins in 
Xalapa and ends in Veracruz City. Contact Wildside Nature Tours, 
www.wildsidetoursinc.com, binns@wildsidetoursinc.com, (888) 875-9453. 
Oct 10-17 - Oaxaca Valley, Mexico — View pre-Columbian Ruins shel- 
tered by towering mountains searching for Gray-breasted Woodpecker 
and Boucard’s Wren, as well as Beautiful Hummingbird and Ocellated 
Thrasher. We’ll also visit the 10,000’ high Cerro San Felipe for Dwarf Jay. 
Tour begins in Xalapa and ends in Oaxaca City. Contact Borderland 
Tours, www.borderland-tours.com, rtaylor@borderland-tours.com, 
(800) 525-7753. 
Dec 28-Jan 25 - Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia and Falkland 
Islands — A spectacular voyage of discovery to an awe-inspiring world 
devoted to nature, wildlife, science and peace. Stunning vistas, busy 
penguin rookeries, seal colonies, nesting Snow Petrels, whales and 
plenty of seabirds. Expect many of the world’s species of albatross dur- 
ing our voyage, pointed out by the many expert birding leaders aboard. 
Fourteen experienced Expedition Staff aboard the M/V Polar Star. What 
a way to bring in the New Year! Contact Cheeseman’s Ecology Safaris, 
www.cheesemans.com, info@cheesemans.com, (800) 527-5330. 
Year-long Birding Opportunities 
Hawaii — If a trip to Hawaii is in your plans, birding with Hawaii For- 
est & Trail guides is the best way to maximize your experience. The 
Hakalau Forest National Forest Wildlife Refuge holds many endemics 
while the Rainforest & Dryforest Birdwatching Adventure on Mauna Kea 
offers more. Contact Hawaii Forest & Trail, www.hawaii-forest.com, 
info@hawaii-forest.com, (800) 464-1993. 
South Africa — Do you have target birds you want in Africa, and don’t 
want to take a standard tour as the birds you need are scattered hither 
and yon? Contact Avian Leisure for custom tours as you like it - you 
pick the place and the pace. Avian Leisure Birding & Wildlife Safaris, 
www.avianleisure.com, enquiries@avianleisure.com, -i-27 21 786 1414. 
2010 Tours 
Jan 7-16 - Cuba’s Wild Western Peninsula -- includes the Western 
Mountains and Zapata Peninsula with US leader and local guide Ar- 
turo Kirkconnell. join the limited size group of licensed US birders and 
celebrate their 15th year of managing conservation and birding pro- 
grams, led by the Cuba Bird Survey with The Caribbean Conservation 
Trust, Inc. Extension options available. Contact Gary Markowski, 
Caribbean Conservation Trust, Inc., cubirds@aol.com, (860) 350-6752. 
Feb 26-Mar7 - Guyana Birding a new frontier in birding, with 
over 800 species total recorded in this small country! Visit all three 
major habitat zones, from Georgetown to the vast interior forests of 
Iwokrama, to the Atta Rainforest Lodge and the Rupununi Savannah 
for maximum birding opportunities. Fly over Kaieteur Falls! Post ex- 
tension trip to Karanambu Ranch. Contact Siemer & Hand Travel, 
www.siemerhand.com, travel@siemerhand.com, (800) 451-4321. 
Mar 18-29, 2010 - Copper Canyon, Mexico — Mountain Trogon, Red- 
headed Tanager, Spotted Wren, Military Macaw, Golden Vireo, Five- 
striped Sparrow, Flame-colored Tanager, Russet Nightingale Thrush, 
Rufous-capped Brushfinch, Hooded Grosbeak, Rufous-crowned Mot- 
mot, Blue Mockingbird and Mexican Parrotlet were highlights of the 
2009 trip. Includes magical train ride down the canyon to El Fuerte. 
Contact Bill West, WestWings Birding Tours, www.home.earthlink.net/ 
-wingswestnm., wingswestnm@earthlink.net, (800)583-6928. 
Mar 22-29, 2010 - Israel ~ Spring Migration on the Arava Desert Fly- 
way - This is the ideal time to visit southern Israel, as the weather is 
great, the desert is still in bloom, and the prospect of rare and enig- 
matic species is real. For an authentic taste of Israeli life, lodging will 
be in a kibbutz, where basic accommodations are the norm, however 
the location is spectacular. Guides Neil Donaghy, Ashley Saunders and 
several days with top Israeli birder Jonathan Merav. Contact Celtic 
Birding Tours, http://celticbirdtours.com, Birds@celtictours.org.uk, 
April 7-18 - Western Mountains, Zapata Peninsula, Northern Archi- 
pelago and Eastern Endemic Ranges of Cuba — limited to 14 partic- 
ipants with US leader and local leader William Suarez. Excellent oppor- 
tunity to see the treasures of Cuba. Contact Gary Markowski, Caribbean 
Conservation Trust, Inc., cubirds@aol.com, (860) 350-6752. 
May 8-11, 2010 - Wrangell, Alaska — Stikine River Shorebird Rende- 
vous - Enjoy the magnificence of migration along the Inside Passage, 
and discover the beauty of the Stikine River Delta and the surrounding 
glacier country. Land and boat birding. Contact Jim Leslie, Alaska Wa- 
ters, inc., www.alaskawaters.com, jim-leslie@ 
alaskawaters.com, (907) 874-2378. 
May 11-24, 2010 - North Wales & Norfolk: Highlands & Islands — 
Join Alan Davies, of the Biggest Twitch fame and popular Corpus Con- 
vention guide, when the woodlands are full of bird song, and the mag- 
nificent cliffs host a plethora of seabirds. The wealth of species to be 
expected probably cannot be matched anywhere else in the UK, plus 
the possibility of scarce migrants. Contact Celtic Birding Tours, 
http://celticbirdtours.com, Birds@celtictours.org.uk. 
Please contact tour company directly for information and reservations, and identify yourself as an ABA member. Tour companies pay ABA a commission for each ABA participant. 
