***Scroll down for the full schedule; follow links to individual tours to register***
Schoodic Institute’s Bird Ecology Programs are offered year-round.
Finding Acadia’s Early Birds combines the discovery of arriving spring birds with a first-of-the-year chartered puffin cruise. Schoodic Institute is conveniently equipped to offer comfortable accommodations, locally-sourced food, and spectacular scenery.
Spring Birds of Acadia opens the multi-day program year with an emphasis on returning songbirds at known land bird hotspots. Holly Merker, author of Ornitherapy, teams up with Seth Benz, Schoodic’s Bird Ecology Director, to lead. This tour also features the first boat charter to see Atlantic puffins.
Special GROUP tours – Mountains to the Sea combines two days of birding in the shadow of Maine’s highest peak, Mount Katahdin, with two more days exploring Acadia National Park and a nearby Atlantic puffin colony at Petit Manan Island. Clearwater Audubon Society of Florida has reserved this tour in late May, and Georgia Audubon will enjoy Mountains to the Sea in mid-June.
Hillstar Nature Tours is partnering with Schoodic Institute for two mid-July adventures called Acadia’s Iconic Birds, Whales, and Scenic Views. Each 5-day tour features an Atlantic puffin charter and a separate whale watching voyage into nutrient-rich waters of the Gulf of Maine. Observe common loons, shearwaters and humpback whales, and learn about regional ecology at a comfortable pace. Holly Merker and Seth Benz are the co-guides. Click here for availability.
Maine’s Bold Coast: Schoodic to Head Harbor Passage is a late August celebration of migration. We’ll explore rocky headlands, saltmarshes, blueberry barrens, evergreen forests, and a deep water passage. From shorebirds to pelagic species and songbirds on the move, this tour is an invitation to witness beautiful scenery and thrill to the joy of birdwatching.
Schoodic Institute is excited to offer custom guided birding trips throughout Acadia National Park and Downeast Maine. In addition to regularly scheduled tours, we create exclusive, first-class experiences with personalized service to ensure that your birding excursion is rewarding and memorable. We are happy to accommodate a variety of possibilities – from a single day, two-hour field trip to a multi-day tour and anything in between. No matter how long you stay or the size of your group, we will make plans to guide you to special places and birds in our area. From a boat tour to see Atlantic Puffins, Razorbills, and terns at a nearby active seabird island, to coastal trails and preserves in search of warblers and boreal specialties, to leisurely outings to witness seasonal migrations of songbirds, hawks, and shorebirds, or to search for winter waterfowl, we offer a wide diversity of seasonal experiences and species pursuits sure to impress you.
Acadia National Park and the surrounding region combine a great list of possible birds with gorgeous scenery for an unforgettable experience. Schoodic Institute is a perfect location for affordable lodging and dining. Local guiding is through the Schoodic Institute Bird Ecology Program. To plan your unique experience, contact sbenz@schoodicinstitute.org. Bird Schoodic, Acadia National Park, and Downeast Maine with us!
2023 Birding Excursions with Schoodic Institute and Partners
| MAY 17-20 | FINDING ACADIA’S EARLY BIRDS: A SPECIAL MAINE BIRDING EXCURSION – FULL |
| MAY 22-25 | 2023 SPRING BIRDS IN ACADIA, WITH PUFFIN CRUISE – FULL |
| MAY 26-31 | MOUNTAINS TO THE SEA – FULL |
| JUNE 11-15 | MOUNTAINS TO THE SEA – FULL |
| JULY 15-19 | ACADIA’S ICONIC BIRDS, WHALES, AND SCENIC VIEWS |
| JULY 21-25 | ACADIA’S ICONIC BIRDS, WHALES, AND SCENIC VIEWS – FULL |
| AUG 27-31 | MAINE’S BOLD COAST: SCHOODIC TO HEAD HARBOR PASSAGE |
| SEP 10-15 | LIVING ON THE WIND: FALL MIGRATION AND MONHEGAN ISLAND |
| If an event you wish to sign up for is marked “FULL”, please contact Michelle at (207)288-1356 to be placed on a waiting list. | |