Puffins, Loons, and Blueberry Barrens with Schoodic Institute

Stay tuned – registration will open soon! 

Schoodic Institute’s Seth Benz teams up with the Mindful Birding Network’s founder Holly Merker for a special tour designed to enhance your enjoyment of all birds, especially those that nest in Acadia National Park or its nearby surroundings.

We’ll travel and walk at a leisurely pace while learning about sight identification, bird habitats and behavior, and we’ll pay extra attention to enhancing your field birding skills and enjoyment of nature. Schoodic Institute is ideally situated just a stone’s throw from Schoodic Point, a migration through-point that tallies tens of thousands of passing birds annually. Lodging is in cozy cabins where you will be awakened by birdsong – Hermit Thrush, Winter Wren, and Magnolia Warbler. Blue-headed vireos and Northern Parula warblers often serenade you as you walk to Schooner Commons, the Institute’s dining hall. Featured field trips include a boat cruise to see Atlantic Puffin, a visit to the east coast’s largest blueberry barrens where Upland Sandpiper, Vesper Sparrow, and Northern Harrier nest, and a visit to the Somes-Meynell Wildlife Sanctuary with chances of seeing a Common Loon chick or two.

Registration is required. The program cost is $1,395 per participant. Space is limited so register quickly!

Day 1: Check-in is at 3pm. “Acadia’s Puffins, Peregrines, and Loon”s begins on the Schoodic Institute campus at 4:30 pm with introductions and orientation. This late afternoon will feature the start of field birding. A reception will precede dinner. Dinner is from 6:00pm to 7:00pm. An evening presentation on puffin restoration will prepare us for tomorrow’s special boat trip to an active seabird colony.

Day 2: An optional morning bird walk on campus – think warblers – before breakfast! Breakfast is served from 7:00am to 8:00am in Schooner Commons. We’ll then pack for a day afield and travel 40 minutes or so to the boat launch in Steuben for a 2-hour cruise to Petit Manan Island. This is our best chance to see Atlantic Puffin, Razorbill, Common Murre, and several tern species as we circumnavigate the island, one of just 5 islands in Maine inhabited by Atlantic Puffin thanks to restoration efforts. Seals and other wildlife are also possible. After lunch at a bird-rich picnic spot, we’ll visit nearby blueberry barrens to look for an assortment of birds, including Upland Sandpiper, Vesper Sparrow, and American Kestrel. Of course, there will be other birds to see along the way.  An evening discussion with Holly Merker follows dinner.  Learn about the Mindful Birding Network and how to get the most out of eBird and other birdwatching apps).

Day 3: Optional bird walk before breakfast. We’ll visit a wildlife sanctuary with the possibility of seeing a recently hatched loon chick or two. We’ll also visit the summit of Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park. Dinner this last night features your choice of lobster or a delicious alternative. Afterward, we’ll sum up the day and complete a checklist review.

Day 4: Optional before-breakfast bird walk. After breakfast, we’ll have the option of a culminating visit to Schoodic Point or a short hike along Sundew Trail. Checkout is at 10:00am.

Cost of $1,395.00 is based upon double occupancy. Lodging upgrade options possible while available. To register, contact Michelle Pinkham at (207) 288-1356 or fill out the form below.

Price includes lodging and meals, van travel, boat fare, and guiding fees. Not included in price: airfare, trip insurance, alcohol beverages not offered by host, gas stop snacks, and gratuities. An Acadia National Park pass may be necessary if you will be traveling in the park in your own vehicle while not on this tour. These will be available to purchase at check-in or while on campus( for an approximate fee of $35).

 TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS

• You can drive directly to Schoodic Institute
• Get picked up in Bangor, Maine at either the airport (at 2 pm), or
• Pick up at Odlin Road Park & Ride (at 2 pm) near the airport (this is a safe, patrolled parking lot).
• We’ll return you to Bangor by Noon on Day 4. If you are making a plane reservation, please plan your departure after 2 pm.