Join us for a 2024 Birding Excursion!
Introducing two new tours! Katahdin Splendor combines explorations of Baxter State Park and the new Katahdin Woods and Waterways National Monument, and Coastal Splendor features a chartered puffin cruise, warbler hotspots, and a scrumptious lobster dinner. Each tour is offered once early in the month of June, key timing for the best variety of species.
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.
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.
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’s Bird Ecology Programs are offered year-round.
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!
2024 Birding Excursions with Schoodic Institute and Partners
| MAY 16-19 | FINDING ACADIA’S EARLY BIRDS (FULL) |
| MAY 21-24 | SPRING BIRDS OF ACADIA, WITH PUFFIN CRUISE (FULL) |
| JUNE 4-7 | KATAHDIN SPLENDOR: BIRDS OF THE NORTH WOODS |
| JUNE 8-10 | COASTAL SPLENDOR: PUFFINS, WARBLERS, AND LOBSTER (FULL) |
| JULY 7-12 | ABA’S ACADIA NATIONAL PARK EXPLORATION |
| JULY 13-17 | ACADIA’S ICONIC BIRDS, WHALES, AND SCENIC VIEWS |
| AUG 27-31 | MAINE’S BOLD COAST: SCHOODIC TO HEAD HARBOR PASSAGE (FULL) |
| DEC 2-9 | TEXAS: BIRDING THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY |
| 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. | |