Schoodic Institute Bird Monitor Volunteer Training
2024-05-28 08:00 - 09:30 (America/New_York) | Wright Hall at Schoodic Institute, 9 Atterbury Circle, Winter Harbor, ME, 04693, United States
Do you have an interest in the birds of Acadia National Park? Do you want to take your interest to the next level? Join us on Tuesday, May 28 at Schoodic Institute’s Wright Hall from 8:00am – 9:30am for a bird monitoring training session! This will be a great opportunity to join our team of bird monitors. Bring a sense of curiosity and binoculars (if you have them). We’ll cover the history of bird observation in Acadia and our current monitoring methods, including the use of Merlin (a bird identification app), as well as trails and hotspots to be monitored. Beginners are welcome!
Can’t make it to this session? Don’t worry – you can join us in the next session, taking place on June 11th. Find more details here.
Questions? Please email Seth Benz at sbenz@schoodicinstitute.

2024 Katahdin Splendor: Birds and Wildlife in the Shadow of Maine’s Highest Peak
2024-06-04 - 2024-06-07 | Maine
Registration is open! Please scroll down to register.
The combined scenic expanse of Baxter State Park and Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument is the stage for this extraordinary tour. Here, the history of nature exploration and birding is as rich and captivating as the landscape itself. We’ll search for boreal birds – Spruce Grouse, Black-backed and Three-toed Woodpeckers, Boreal Chickadee and Gray Jay – as well as a variety of warblers, and moose! Lodging and dining will be at Big Moose Inn, a charming oasis featuring Fredericka’s restaurant and the Loose Moose Bar Camp & Grille.
This 4-day, 3-night tour begins in Bangor and travels by van immediately to the Maine Highlands in and around Baxter State Park, where we will search for the elusive boreal birds, and witness Fox and Lincoln’s sparrows singing on their territories. We’ll have a great chance for the tougher-to-find warblers, such as Blackpoll, Bay-breasted, Tennessee and Mourning, and northern forest flycatchers such as Alder, Least, Yellow-bellied and Olive-sided.
Sample itinerary:
Day One: The tour starts at 8am in the morning in Bangor. We’ll pick you up at your place of lodging if you come in the day before or at the Odlin Road Parking Lot (free parking) and head directly north to one of the best boreal birding spots deep in the Maine forest. Each night will be spent at the Big Moose Inn, between two quiet lakes.
Day Two: We’ll rise with the sun and head up the west side of Baxter State Park, enjoying the abundance of warblers, thrushes, flycatchers, and finches that breed in the northern forest. This will also be a chance to locate any rare woodpeckers or grouse that might be missed on the first day.
Day Three: We will start the day with an early breakfast before heading east to Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, where we’ll investigate a trail or two leading off the primary Park Tote Road.
Day Four: Starting early in the morning, we will head up the east side of the Baxter State Park to Roaring Brook. At Sandy Stream Pond, we’ll enjoy close-ups of moose, listen for Philadelphia Vireos, and search out a few other elusive species. By lunch time, we’ll have finished up with the mountains and will make our way back to Bangor for the tour’s end by 2pm.
Price of $1,280.00 is based upon double occupancy. To register, please fill out the form below or contact Seth Benz at sbenz@schoodicinstitute.org.
2024 Katahdin Splendor Bird Tour

2024 Coastal Splendor: Puffins, Warblers, Lobster and Lodging by the Edge of the Sea (FULL)
2024-06-08 - 2024-06-10 | Schoodic Institute, 9 Atterbury Circle, Winter Harbor, ME, 04693, United States
Thank you for your interest. We are currently at capacity for this event, but good news – we have more birding excursions available!
For more information on our 2024 bird tours, please click here. If you would like to be placed on a waitlist for this tour, please contact Michelle Pinkham at 207-288-1356 or mpinkham@schoodicinstitute.org.
Petit Manan Island is home to an active seabird breeding colony. Schoodic Institute staff will take you there on a boat trip to observe nesting Atlantic Puffin, Common Eider, Razorbill, and Arctic and Common terns. We will also search coastal waters and ledges for Gray and Harbor seals, Bald Eagle, and Peregrine Falcon. Back at Schoodic Institute, we will enjoy locally-sourced foods, including fresh-caught lobster. Birding highlights include nesting warblers, bobolinks, and a field trip to nearby Blueberry Barrens in search of Upland Sandpiper. Participant lodging is nestled within earshot of pulsing ocean waves on the campus of Schoodic Institute. This promises to be an exciting 3-day experience!
Acadia National Park and the Downeast Maine region feature world class glacially-sculpted volcanic mountain-top balds, as well as nearshore ledges bathed by impressive tidal fluctuations. Treeless offshore islands are home to iconic breeding birds as are the spruce-dominated peninsulas that reach out into the cold coastal waters of the Gulf of Maine. Join us for a brief and exciting journey through this scenic landscape in search of its fascinating birdlife.
Day 1: Begins on the campus of Schoodic Institute with check-in at 3:00pm. We’ll gather at 4:00pm for introductions and an introduction to the ecology of the Gulf of Maine from the vantage of Schoodic Point. We’ll enjoy an opening reception prior to dinner, and evening presentation on puffin restoration efforts and preparation for the upcoming puffin cruise.
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, which will be a field lunch at a bird-rich picnic spot, we’ll then inspect some 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 on the day’s experience, identification tips and review, and how to get the most out of eBird use will follow a scrumptious lobster dinner (6:00pm – 7:00pm).
Day 3: Optional before-breakfast bird walk. After breakfast, we’ll have the option of a culminating stroll to Schoodic Point. Checkout is at 10:00am.
Price of $785.00 is based upon double occupancy. Lodging upgrade options possible while available. To register, please fill out the form below or contact Michelle Pinkham at 207-288-1356.
For more information on our 2024 bird tours, please click here.

Schoodic Institute Bird Monitor Volunteer Training II
2024-06-11 07:00 - 09:30 | Frazer Point Picnic Area, Moore Rd., Winter Harbor, ME, 04693, United States
Do you have an interest in the birds of Acadia National Park? Do you want to take your interest to the next level? Join us on Tuesday, June 11 at the Frazer Point Picnic Area (in Winter Harbor) from 7:00am – 9:30am for a bird monitoring training session! This will be a great opportunity to join our team of bird monitors. Bring a sense of curiosity and binoculars (if you have them). We’ll cover the history of bird observation in Acadia and our current monitoring methods, including the use of Merlin (a bird identification app), as well as trails and hotspots to be monitored. Beginners are welcome!
Questions? Please email Seth Benz at sbenz@schoodicinstitute.

Downeast Maine Puffins and Seabirds with Caretta Inspired Journeys
2024-07-03 - 2024-07-08 | Maine
Join Caretta Inspired Journeys for a taste of summer in Downeast Maine and experience the unique coastal islands of the North Atlantic!
This five-day excursion starts at the Bangor Maine Airport. From there we will travel to Rockland, Maine for early afternoon briefings about about the Atlantic Puffins recovery at the Audubon Society’s Project Puffin. We will also learn about the protection and management of all the breeding seabirds on remote islands via an interactive zoom discussion with island researchers at the Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center (MCINWR). Accommodations for all five nights are provided at Schoodic Institute. We are fortunate to be able to provide private room accommodations in 2 and 4 bedroom apartments at Schoodic Institute. Each apartment is equipped with a full kitchen and we will stop for grocery shopping on the way to Schoodic Institute that evening.
The trip includes a guided kayaking tour of Frenchman’s Bay on the 4th of July (weather-permitting, fireworks from Bar Harbor and other coastal communities should be visible in the evening from where we’re staying). A MCINWR representative will guide a nature walk and beach clean-up activities on Petit Manan Point that is adjacent to a Puffin nesting colony. You’ll also have some time to make your own plans to take a group tour of Acadia National Park, dine/shop in Bar Harbor, or rent bikes/hike on the Schoodic Peninsula. Information on these DIY options will be sent when you register online. On Sunday, July 7, we will go on a two-hour Puffin Cruise out of Bar Harbor to benefit MCINWR through their Friends group. There will be staff on board who can communicate with island researchers to answer your questions.
To register, click here.

Demonstration Day: Bird Carving with Wendell Gilley Museum
2024-07-10 09:00 - 16:00 | Rockefeller Hall, Schoodic Institute at Acadia National park, 9 Atterbury Circle, Winter Harbor, ME, 04693, United States
See how it’s done! Watch birds emerge from a block of basswood when Juliana Ramirez – staff artist at the Wendell Gilley Museum in Southwest Harbor – is a special guest at Schoodic Institute on July 10, August 7, and September 11. She’ll be there from 9am to 12pm and 1pm to 4pm each of those days doing hands-on bird carving demonstrations outside of the Welcome Center at Rockefeller Hall on Schoodic Institute’s campus.
Visit with Juliana, and pick up a carving knife yourself – there is no charge to give it a try! Then visit the display of bird carvings from the Wendell Gilley Museum inside the Welcome Center.
Juliana is a seabird field biologist, working for the last several years with the Seabird Institute/Project Puffin. She is also a working artist who specializes in green (non-toxic) printmaking and bird carving. She teaches both of these topics at the Gilley, along with beehouse making and wood burning.

Acadia’s Iconic Birds, Whales, and Scenic Views
2024-07-13 - 2024-07-17 | Rockefeller Hall, Schoodic Institute at Acadia National park, 9 Atterbury Circle, Winter Harbor, ME, 04693, United States
Join Schoodic Institute and Hillstar Nature Tours, with guides Holly Merker and Seth Benz, on July 13 – July 17, 2024 to explore Acadia National Park! This exciting bird tour will feature an Atlantic puffin tour and a separate whalewatching tour in the nutrient-rich waters of the Gulf of Maine. Observe common loons, shearwaters and humpback whales, and learn about regional ecology at a comfortable pace. Plus, you’ll enjoy an exclusive tour to the iconic summit of Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park.
Register now to experience the thrill of discovery while being immersed in Acadia National Park’s history and outstanding beauty, her landscapes, and seascapes. Below are some details of what you can expect from this tour:

5 days in coastal Maine for puffins, whales, and more.

relaxed overall pace, with dining and overnight accommodations at Schoodic Institute (right at Schoodic Point in Acadia!)

many scenic visits to Acadia National Park

All that, plus two great guides!

To register and view a full daily itinerary, please visit Hillstar Nature Tours.

Demonstration Day: Bird Carving with Wendell Gilley Museum
2024-08-07 09:00 - 16:00 | Rockefeller Hall, Schoodic Institute at Acadia National park, 9 Atterbury Circle, Winter Harbor, ME, 04693, United States
See how it’s done! Watch birds emerge from a block of basswood when Juliana Ramirez – staff artist at the Wendell Gilley Museum in Southwest Harbor – is a special guest at Schoodic Institute on August 7 and September 11. She’ll be there from 9am to 12pm and 1pm to 4pm each of those days doing hands-on bird carving demonstrations outside of the Welcome Center at Rockefeller Hall on Schoodic Institute’s campus.
Visit with Juliana, and pick up a carving knife yourself – there is no charge to give it a try! Then visit the display of bird carvings from the Wendell Gilley Museum inside the Welcome Center.
Juliana is a seabird field biologist, working for the last several years with the Seabird Institute/Project Puffin. She is also a working artist who specializes in green (non-toxic) printmaking and bird carving. She teaches both of these topics at the Gilley, along with beehouse making and wood burning.

2024 Maine’s Bold Coast: Schoodic to Head Harbor Passage
2024-08-27 - 2024-08-31 | Schoodic Institute, 9 Atterbury Circle, Winter Harbor, ME, 04693, United States
Thank you for your interest! We are currently at capacity for this event.
For more information on our 2024 bird tours, please click here. If you would like to be placed on a waitlist for this tour, please contact Michelle Pinkham at 207-288-1356 or mpinkham@schoodicinstitute.org.
Maine’s Downeast region is ideal for exploring the quieter reaches of Acadia National Park, spruce-bordered rocky headlands, nearby blueberry barrens, and diverse hotspots on the preserved lands of coastal Washington County. Join Schoodic Institute’s bird ecology director Seth Benz on this exciting bird tour and experience the excellent birding Downeast Maine has to offer!
This program begins at 2:00pm in Bangor, ME (or you may opt to drive to Schoodic Institute for a 3pm check-in and 4pm tour start). We will meet at Rockefeller Hall on the Schoodic Institute campus (9 Atterbury Circle, Winter Harbor, ME 04693) for introductions and a tour of the institute campus. We’ll spend two nights at Schoodic Institute in Acadia National Park and two nights at Eastland Motel in Lubec; Maine’s easternmost town. From each lodge, day trips will investigate nearby intertidal areas flooded with migrating shorebirds and wood edges peppered with restless flocks of southbound warblers. We’ll also venture offshore for pelagic birds and whales into Head Harbor Passage, a deep-water channel between Canada and the United States.
We are offering van transportation from Bangor (Odlin Road Park & Ride parking area is very near the Bangor Airport). We will pick you up at the airport OR participants may provide their own ground transportation to and from Schoodic Institute. All participants must be prepared to wear a facial mask that covers nose and mouth during all van travel. Changes to the status of COVID-19 precautions are monitored closely by Schoodic Institute and are subject to the guidance of the Maine CDC (and U.S. CDC). We will adjust accordingly.
Participants should bring binoculars. A camera (optional) can be fun as all tours are fairly scenic. Spotting scopes are useful but optional and your guide will provide one for group use, as well as guidebooks. None of the tours require strenuous hiking. Birding will be slow moving and on level ground. There may be some spots that are muddy, uneven, and slippery, but large boots are unnecessary. The boat tour can be cold and damp. Bring appropriate clothing. Price per participant is $1,650.00 – please register below.
Sample Itinerary:
Day 1: The tour begins in Bangor, Maine at 2pm (transportation pick-up available), OR on the Schoodic Institute campus at 3pm as the group convenes at 4pm for this 5-day, 4-night tour. Check-in and orientation is at Rockefeller Hall. We have an introductory reception beginning at 4pm. Dinner is at 6pm in Schooner Commons. Following dinner, we will have an evening presentation to get acquainted with the history and ecology of the region.
Day 2: We’ll start with an optional bird walk before breakfast. Breakfast is from 7am – 8am. We’ll then spend the day afield to survey birding hotspots in Acadia National Park and vicinity. We’ll return for an hour of leisure prior to a Lobster Dinner in the dining hall of Schoodic Institute. After dinner discussion will focus on events of the day and research and education work of the institute.
Day 3: Following breakfast, we’ll transition from the Schoodic Peninsula by birding our way to Lubec, arriving by late afternoon. Along the way, we’ll visit Roque Bluffs State Park and another birding hotspot or two. Dinner will be at a local eatery in Lubec. After dinner we’ll do a checklist review and preparation for the next day’s adventure.
Day 4: The focus today is a boat trip out of Eastport into Head Harbor Passage which lies between the U.S. and Canada – with a tide so strong that the world’s second largest whirlpool, “The Old Sow,” swirls in the middle. So much sea life congregates in this channel that minke whales are usually sighted from land. The channel fills with Bonaparte’s Gulls, Black-legged Kittiwakes, Common Eiders, Black Guillemots, and Razorbills, feeding off mackerel and herring offshore.
Day 5: The last day’s itinerary is the leader’s choice, giving us a good portion of the day to make up for any bad weather or missed opportunities along the route from Lubec back toward Schoodic/Bangor. The tour ends at 2pm in Bangor.
A species list from a previous Winged Migration tour is available upon request.

Demonstration Day: Bird Carving with Wendell Gilley Museum
2024-09-11 09:00 - 16:00 | Rockefeller Hall, Schoodic Institute at Acadia National park, 9 Atterbury Circle, Winter Harbor, ME, 04693, United States
See how it’s done! Watch birds emerge from a block of basswood when Juliana Ramirez – staff artist at the Wendell Gilley Museum in Southwest Harbor – is a special guest at Schoodic Institute on September 11. She’ll be there from 9am to 12pm and 1pm to 4pm each of those days doing hands-on bird carving demonstrations outside of the Welcome Center at Rockefeller Hall on Schoodic Institute’s campus.
Visit with Juliana, and pick up a carving knife yourself – there is no charge to give it a try! Then visit the display of bird carvings from the Wendell Gilley Museum inside the Welcome Center.
Juliana is a seabird field biologist, working for the last several years with the Seabird Institute/Project Puffin. She is also a working artist who specializes in green (non-toxic) printmaking and bird carving. She teaches both of these topics at the Gilley, along with beehouse making and wood burning.

2025 Spring Birds of Acadia with Puffin Cruise
2025-05-20 - 2025-05-23 | Maine
Thank you for your interest! This event is reached max capacity.
For more information on our 2025 bird tours, please click here. If you would like to be placed on a waitlist for this tour, please contact Michelle Pinkham at 207-288-1356 or mpinkham@schoodicinstitute.org.
Schoodic Institute’s Seth Benz is joined by Holly Merker, author of Ornitherapy, to lead this leisurely tour designed to enhance your enjoyment of all birds, especially those that frequent or pass through Acadia National Park and its immediate surroundings.
We’ll move at a leisurely pace while learning about bird song and sight identification, bird habitats and behavior, and we’ll pay extra attention to enhancing your field birding skills and enjoyment of nature. The entire tour will be based out of Schoodic Institute, a research and learning center, ideally situated just a stone’s throw from Schoodic Point, a migration checkpoint 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. Maine has a way of spoiling birders – and this spring tour is designed to do just that.
Registration is required. The program cost is $1,285 per participant. Space is limited so register quickly!
Day 1: Check-in is at 3pm. “Spring Birds” begins on the Schoodic Institute campus at 4:30pm with introductions and orientation. The 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 efforts will follow dinner in preparation 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, which will be a field lunch at a bird-rich picnic spot, we’ll then inspect some nearby Blueberry barrens habitat 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 on the day’s experience, identification tips and review, and how to get the most out of eBird use will follow dinner (6:00pm – 7:00pm).
Day 3: Optional campus bird walk before breakfast. We’ll then spend the day investigating hotspots on the Schoodic Peninsula section of Acadia National Park as well as the nearby villages of Prospect Harbor and Corea with good prospects for finding spruce grouse. Lunch will be in the field (carefully packed in a cooler along with water). We’ll return to campus by 5:00pm for leisure time before the 6:00pm dinner. Dinner this last night together is 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 stroll to Schoodic Point. Checkout is at 10:00am.
Price of $1,285.00 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 $35.
TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS

You can drive directly to Schoodic Institute
Pick 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).

Acadia’s Puffins, Peregrines, and Loons with Schoodic Institute
2025-07-15 - 2025-07-18 | Maine
Thank you for your interest! This event is reached max capacity.
For more information on our 2025 bird tours, please click here. If you would like to be placed on a waitlist for this tour, please contact Michelle Pinkham at 207-288-1356 or mpinkham@schoodicinstitute.org.
Schoodic Institute’s Seth Benz will lead this leisurely tour designed to enhance your enjoyment of all birds, especially those that nest in Acadia National Park or its immediate surroundings.
We’ll move 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. The entire tour will be based out of Schoodic Institute, ideally situated just a stone’s throw from Schoodic Point, a migration checkpoint 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. Maine has a way of spoiling birders – and this mid-July tour is designed to do just that.
Registration is required. The program cost is $1,295 per participant. Space is limited so register quickly!
Day 1: Check-in is at 3pm. “Acadia’s Puffins, Peregrines, and Loons begins on the Schoodic Institute campus at 4:30pm 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 efforts will follow dinner in preparation 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, which will be a field lunch at a bird-rich picnic spot, we’ll then inspect some nearby Blueberry barrens habitat 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 on the day’s experience, identification tips and review, and how to get the most out of eBird use will follow dinner (6:00pm – 7:00pm).
Day 3: Optional campus bird walk before breakfast. We’ll visit a loon sanctuary with the possibility of seeing a recently hatched loon chick or two. We’ll also visit a Peregrine Falcon eyrie site. Lunch will be in the field (carefully packed in a cooler along with water). The Cadillac Mountain Summit is included. We’ll return to campus by 5:00pm for leisure time before the 6:00pm dinner. 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 stroll to Schoodic Point. Checkout is at 10:00am.
Price of $1,295.00 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 $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 12pm noon on Day 4. If you are making a plane reservation, please plan your departure after 2pm.

Northern Ecuador Bird Tour with Sabrewing Nature Tours
2025-09-06 - 2025-09-19 | Maine
Ecuador has long been considered one of the best birding destinations in the world, and once you’re there, you’ll understand why! On this exciting tour, we’ll visit a wide variety of habitats as we travel from elevations of 14,000 feet at Papallacta Pass down to 1,000 feet at Silanche Reserve.
Our tour will start in the famous Mindo area at Septimo Paraiso. From here, we will explore the many birding hotspots of the region including Silanche Reserve, Refugio Paz de las Aves where Angel Paz will feed his famous antpittas, Tandayapa Pass, and more! Highlights during this part of the tour could include Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, Giant, Moustached, and Yellow-bellied Antpittas, Plate-billed Mountain Toucan, Toucan Barbet, Scarlet-breasted Dacnis, Rufous-winged, Blue-whiskered, Scarlet-browed, Gray-and-gold, and Tawny-crested Tanagers, Oilbird, and many more.
Once we are finished in the Mindo area, we will move to the Eastern slope of the Andes on the other side of Quito. Here we will visit three lodges, Guango, Cabañas San Isidro, and Wildsumaco. These lodges are located at a variety of elevations which will mean each time we change lodges we will see a host of new species. Highlights on this part of the trip could include Sword-billed Hummingbird, Torrent Duck, White-capped Dipper, San Isidro Owl, Golden-collared Toucanet, Golden-collared Honeycreeper, White-capped, Saffron-crowned, Golden-naped, Beryl-spangled, Blue-and-black, Magpie, White-lined, Silver-beaked, Blue-browed, Orange-eared, Spotted, Yellow-bellied and Golden-eared Tanagers, and much more.
All of these wonderful lodges provide great accommodations and amazing food. Previously on this itinerary, we have seen over 500 species including 60+ hummingbirds!
For more information and to register, please click here.

2026 Schoodic Winter Birding Adventure (RSVP!)
2026-01-17 08:00 - 12:00 | Maine
Discover winter birds on the Schoodic Peninsula!

Embrace the magic of winter on the Schoodic Peninsula with a free, self-guided birding adventure open to all ages and experience-levels on Saturday, January 17th from 8am to 12pm.
This event is a great way to explore Acadia’s winter wildlife at your own pace. Meet us at Schoodic Institute’s Gatehouse for warm drinks, snacks, and fun activities before walking the loop road to the point.

Meet Gillian, Abby, and Julia—our 2025 Cathy and Jim Gero Acadia Early-Career Fellows
Borrow binoculars and explore bird ID guides
Play games to learn more about birding

Then, set out to discover the region’s winter birds at your own pace! Located at the entrance to Schoodic Institute’s campus in Winter Harbor, ME, swing by the gatehouse first to meet the team, enjoy refreshments and games, then explore the area.

All ages and experience levels are welcome—beginners encouraged!

Please note: heated and accessible bathrooms will be located at the gatehouse. Parking on the Schoodic Institute campus can be found near Rockefeller Hall and at the North Lot (there will be directional signs to help point you in the right direction). If you have mobility issues, there will be parking spots available near the gatehouse.

Questions? Please reach out to Gillian Audier at gaudier@schoodicinstitute.com.

2026 Schoodic Winter Birding Adventure
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AfghanistanAlbaniaAlgeriaAmerican SamoaAndorraAngolaAnguillaAntarcticaAntigua and BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaArubaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBermudaBhutanBoliviaBonaire, Sint Eustatius and SabaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBouvet IslandBrazilBritish Indian Ocean TerritoryBrunei DarussalamBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCabo VerdeCambodiaCameroonCanadaCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChadChileChinaChristmas IslandCocos IslandsColombiaComorosCongoCongo, Democratic Republic of theCook IslandsCosta RicaCroatiaCubaCuraçaoCyprusCzechiaCôte d'IvoireDenmarkDjiboutiDominicaDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEquatorial GuineaEritreaEstoniaEswatiniEthiopiaFalkland IslandsFaroe IslandsFijiFinlandFranceFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaFrench Southern TerritoriesGabonGambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGibraltarGreeceGreenlandGrenadaGuadeloupeGuamGuatemalaGuernseyGuineaGuinea-BissauGuyanaHaitiHeard Island and McDonald IslandsHoly SeeHondurasHong KongHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIrelandIsle of ManIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJerseyJordanKazakhstanKenyaKiribatiKorea, Democratic People's Republic ofKorea, Republic ofKuwaitKyrgyzstanLao People's Democratic RepublicLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMacaoMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMarshall IslandsMartiniqueMauritaniaMauritiusMayotteMexicoMicronesiaMoldovaMonacoMongoliaMontenegroMontserratMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNauruNepalNetherlandsNew CaledoniaNew ZealandNicaraguaNigerNigeriaNiueNorfolk IslandNorth MacedoniaNorthern Mariana IslandsNorwayOmanPakistanPalauPalestine, State ofPanamaPapua New GuineaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPitcairnPolandPortugalPuerto RicoQatarRomaniaRussian FederationRwandaRéunionSaint BarthélemySaint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da CunhaSaint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaSaint MartinSaint Pierre and MiquelonSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesSamoaSan MarinoSao Tome and PrincipeSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSeychellesSierra LeoneSingaporeSint MaartenSlovakiaSloveniaSolomon IslandsSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich IslandsSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSudanSurinameSvalbard and Jan MayenSwedenSwitzerlandSyria Arab RepublicTaiwanTajikistanTanzania, the United Republic ofThailandTimor-LesteTogoTokelauTongaTrinidad and TobagoTunisiaTurkmenistanTurks and Caicos IslandsTuvaluTürkiyeUS Minor Outlying IslandsUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited KingdomUnited StatesUruguayUzbekistanVanuatuVenezuelaViet NamVirgin Islands, BritishVirgin Islands, U.S.Wallis and FutunaWestern SaharaYemenZambiaZimbabweÅland Islands
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