The Winter Raptors of the New York Grasslands
Owls and Hawks!
The Winter Raptors of the Washington County Grasslands
Benefitting the Grassland Bird Trust
3 Days - 2 Nights
Potential sightings include wintering raptors, Arctic migrants, & endemics
Birding excursions led by local birder & GBT board member
All lodging, meals and parking included
February 27 - 29, 2024
$1,165 Double Occupancy $159 Single Supplement
March 1 - 3, 2024
$1,315 Double Occupancy $277 Single Supplement
Price will include $250 tax-deductible donation to the Grassland Bird Trust
Why This Tour is Special
The Grassland Bird Trust, which works to protect New York’s native grassland ecosystems, will benefit from these excursions. The cost of each tour includes a $250 tax-deductible donation to the GBT.
Our small footprint (one vehicle and limited guests) means that we are able to go where the birds are - without causing the commotion that stresses them - and our guide, a Grassland Bird Trust board member and avid birder, knows their secrets.
Potential sightings include all the raptors that winter in the grasslands: short-eared owls, northern harriers, bald eagles, rough-legged hawks, barred owls, and Cooper’s hawks. If we are lucky, we may sight snowy owls and American kestrels. The gentler Arctic migrants, like horned larks and snow buntings, will also be in attendance. And then there are our resident birds, including Eastern bluebirds, dark-eyed juncos, a variety of woodpeckers, and the ubiquitous but beautiful bluejays and cardinals.
We will have four excursions, two in the early morning and two in the late afternoon; those are the times that the raptors hunt and is the best time (and light) for photography. After we return in the evening, we will gather for our bird list and exchange ideas for capturing the best images, although this is not a photo workshop.
This is responsible tourism at work. Your travel dollars will stay in the local community. The accommodation is a locally owned hotel on the National Historic Register, and our meals are at restaurants owned by members of the community. And of, course, your cost includes your official donation to the GBT.
Detailed Itinerary
Detailed Itinerary
Image: ©Todd Scheuermann
Day 1
Please plan to arrive in Glens Falls, New York, in the late morning or early afternoon and check in at the Queensbury Hotel.
At 2:30 PM, our guide will meet us in the lobby for our first-afternoon expedition to the grasslands. We will leave our cars at the hotel and travel together, keeping our environmental footprint smaller and options larger.
Evening is the favorite hunting time for short-eared owls; we will look for them as well as snowy owls and northern harriers.
After the sun sets, we head to dinner at a local restaurant. Almost all the restaurants in the area are farm-to-table, and some are chef-owned. It makes for some delicious dining!
While we enjoy dinner, our guide will tell us a bit about the return of the grasslands and how they have lured back birds that had disappeared in the face of industry and agriculture. We will coordinate our first day's bird list and, most importantly, enjoy some of the specialties that have made our restaurant an area favorite. Then we head back to Queensbury Hotel for the night.
Day 2
We will meet our guide in the lobby at 5:30 AM. We will have a bagged breakfast and coffee on the way, or at our first stop, and begin birding as dawn gently breaks. Our itinerary today depends on where the birds are, but we will start in the Fort Edward grasslands.
We will stop for lunch at a local eatery; the choice will depend on the birds. After a relaxing lunch, we will go back to birding until sunset, then head back to Glens Falls.
If there is time before dinner, we will meet in the lobby to catch up on our birding list. You can grab a glass of wine or a drink at Fenimore's Pub in the lobby while we talk. Tonight, we will have dinner at another local restaurant located within walking distance of the hotel.
Day 3
Our guide will meet us in the lobby at 5:30 AM. Please check out before we leave for our morning. We will have a bagged breakfast on the way or at the site, and as the sun rises, we will begin birding. Our itinerary today depends on where the birds are, but we will start in the Fort Edward grasslands.
After our final morning of birding, we will head back to Glens Falls for our last lunch and to polish our bird list. Our lunch spot is walkable to the hotel, where our bags and vehicles await us for our journey home.
Wildlife
Birds
Bird species using the local grassland habitat in winter are the Arctic breeders horned lark, snow bunting, and northern shrike. Eastern Meadowlarks are also seen in some winters. Eastern bluebirds and Carolina wrens can be found in the “edge” habitat.
Washington County is especially appealing to wintering raptors, who migrate to the grasslands from colder climates in search of food. In addition to the resident red-tailed hawks, bald eagles, and northern harriers, rough-legged hawks, snowy owls, and short-eared owls are seen relatively frequently here. Other species, such as the peregrine falcon, merlin, Cooper’s hawk, barred owl, and golden eagle, have also been glimpsed in the winter.
Many of the birds that call this Important Birding Area home are a few of the threatened and rapidly declining grassland bird species that depend on the open fields and meadows of the Washington County Grasslands IBA for their survival. Your trip, and the awareness it raises in the local community, as well as your gift to the GBT, help preserve this important habitat.
Northern harrier swoops in for a meal. Image: ©Gordon Ellmers
Other Wildlife
Although the focus of this tour is birding, there is an opportunity to see some of the local mammals, too. In addition to the usual grassland wildlife, such as cottontail rabbits, woodchucks, skunks, and deer, you may also get a glimpse of a red fox, coyote, or bobcat. And it you are really lucky, you may see a fisher (AKA fisher cat) along the woodline.
A very uncommon sight - a fisher in the open. Image: ©Gordon Ellmers
Accommodations
Accommodations
At Destination: Wildlife, we strive to apply the principles of conservation tourism - travel that supports wildlife, habitats, and local communities. This implies a commitment to ensure your tourism dollars stay local, creating jobs and improving the livelihoods of those that live there. We use locally owned and operated accommodations, restaurants, and other providers for these reasons. But this commitment also ensures you receive the personal touch only a small business can provide while giving you a more authentic experience.
Queensbury Hotel
The Queensbury Hotel has been a focal point of the Glens Falls region for close to 100 years. Well-known performers such as Bob Dylan, Louis Armstrong, and Kenny Rogers have all called the Queensbury Hotel their “home” at one point or another throughout the hotel’s 90+ year history. Benny Goodman and Guy Lombardo would give performances in the hotel’s Ballroom. Kenny Anderson, Joe Frazier, and Jackie Robinson are some athletes that have visited the area and chose to stay at The Q. Politician Robert F. Kennedy promised to return to the Glens Falls region, win or lose, after the 1964 election for Senator. The day after he won the election, Kennedy fulfilled his promise and showed up to a luncheon at the hotel to promise to help the growth of the surrounding areas.
Although the hotel fell on hard times with the changing economy of the surrounding area, things began to turn around in 2016 when the building was purchased by a local developer. When we took our first group of birders to this area in 2017, only the lobby and one floor had been renovated. Since that time, the hotel has earned a special place in our hearts and has become an important piece of the renaissance in downtown Glens Falls.
The original renovation/restoration of the hotel was finished in 2019 while maintaining the original architecture and design. The original terrazzo floors of the Grand Lobby have been restored. The guest rooms have a sleek and modern appearance while retaining vintage features like the original mahogany doors. The Queensbury now has 125 bedrooms and suites, an indoor pool, a Jacuzzi, a variety of dining options, a lounge, and various event space options.
Tour Information
Tour Information
Snowy Owl looking us over. Image: ©Todd Scheuermann
Dates
► February 27 - 29, 2024
► March 1 - 3, 2024
Price
$1,165 double occupancy for February 27 - 29 tour
$1,315 double occupancy for March 01 - 03 tour
► There is a single-room supplement of $159 for the February dates and $277 for the March dates.
► A $250 donation to the Grassland Bird Trust is included in the price of the tour, and this donation is tax deductible for US residents.
Group Size
Limited to 6 guests plus a tour host and birding guide. An important aspect of winter birding tours, especially raptors, is to avoid stressing the birds. This is easier with a smaller group, which is by its nature quieter and less obtrusive. The small group size also allows for more interaction between guests and our guide. And by using a single vehicle, we can access places we could not otherwise.
Included
► Tour Price Includes: Accommodations, services of a birding guide from the GBT, all meals from dinner on Day 1 through lunch on the final day, light snacks in the vehicle, and a warm vehicle and experienced driver for the excursions. Parking is free in the hotel lot.
► Donation: A $250 donation to the Grasslands Bird Trust is included in the price of the tour, and this donation is tax deductible for US residents.
Not Included
Travel to and from Glens Falls, New York, alcoholic beverages, gratuities, items of a personal nature (phone calls, laundry and internet, etc.), travel and medical evacuation insurance.
Physical Requirements
Easy. This birding tour with Destination: Wildlife requires very little walking. Travelers must be able to walk short distances from the vehicle to blinds and observation points. These are generally walks of a few minutes duration on well-defined trails. Excursions are on generally smooth roads but do involve several hours of intermittent travel each day. Guests must be prepared for below-freezing temperatures and slippery surfaces.
Cooper’s Hawk in the Washington County Grasslands. Image: ©Gordon Ellmers
Meals
Most dietary restrictions (plant-based diets, gluten-free, etc.) can be accommodated at hotels and restaurants, but we recommend packing personal snacks if you have dietary restrictions or allergies. Please inform us of any dietary requirements, serious medical conditions or strict personal restrictions as soon as possible.
Need to Know
This is a birding trip. Although others are welcome, priority will be given to bird sightings and photography and maximizing time with our avian friends.
The Grasslands in late February are still cold. Average low temperatures are around 20 degrees Fahrenheit, and they remain around freezing most of the day. Wind chills may get as low as zero, especially in the mornings. and remember, you will be relatively stationary most of the time you are outside of the vehicle. We will assist with clothing selection and packing lists well in advance of your departure.
Regarding birds: Many birds transit the grasslands or over winter in this Important Birding Area. BUT conditions vary, and the birds here live wild and free: we can never guarantee that you will see them or promise exactly what your experience will be.
Early Mornings: The best time for raptor sightings is usually around, and slightly after first light and right before dusk. That means we must depart early, as in no later than 5:30 AM every morning.
Trip Insurance
We highly recommend comprehensive travel insurance. A variety of policies are available to cover cancellations, medical emergencies, lost luggage, and trip interruptions. Destination: Wildlife can assist in purchasing travel or evacuation insurance, but you are under no obligation to use our services.
Getting There and Back
The closest airport with commercial air service is Albany, NY, and it is possible to rent cars at the airport. Please schedule your travel to arrive by 1 PM pm in order to allow time for delays and checking into the hotel before heading out at 2:30 PM. You are free to depart at any time after lunch on Day 3.
Making a Difference
How Your Trip Makes A Difference
Grassland Bird Trust
Conserving critical habitat for endangered, threatened, and rapidly declining grassland birds
The Grassland Bird Trust, Inc. (GBT) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit land trust conserving critical habitat for endangered, threatened, and rapidly declining grassland birds in the Washington County Grasslands Important Bird Area (IBA) in Fort Edward, New York.
The Washington County Grasslands IBA is critical to the survival of the New York State endangered Short-eared owls and threatened Northern Harriers, according to wildlife biologists at the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). The IBA is listed in the New York State Open Space Plan as a regional conservation priority. It supports 10 of 11 grassland birds listed as “species of greatest conservation need” in the New York State Wildlife Action Plan. This area is one of eight “Grassland Bird Conservation Centers” at the heart of the state’s grassland bird conservation efforts.
Since GBT’s founding in 2010, we’ve acquired and permanently protected 78 acres of critical habitat in the heart of the IBA and assisted New York State DEC with the acquisition of another 180 acres of critical habitat nearby.
GBT has also constructed and manages the Alfred Z. Solomon Grassland Bird viewing area and covered viewing blind that overlooks GBT’s conserved lands. In 2022, the AZS view area was added to the New York State Birding Trail. GBT is in the process of building a 2-mile hiking trail through the viewing area to introduce birding enthusiasts to the IBA.
A portion of your trip’s cost is donated directly to help support The Grassland Bird Trust.
Go to grasslandbirdtrust.org to learn more about this wonderful organization.
A young snowy owl spends his first winter in the Washington County Grasslands. Your visit gives helps to ensure that they will be here for it next year, too. Image: ©Gordon Ellmers
Reviews
Reviews for Destination: Wildlife
Kate, New York State
Birding in Costa Rica
10, it was an amazing trip. (Please rate from 1- worst to 10 – best)
Liz and Alan, New York State
Birding Costa Rica and Private Sail Cruise 2021
We are in awe of the care that you took to make our trip successful. The attention to detail, your ready availability when things didn’t go as planned. Your excitement as our trip progressed and the supervision to the very end to make sure everything turned out alright. Thank you for all that you do. Liz & Alan
Noreen, New York State
Exploring Women’s Winter Wolf Trek
The trip was fabulous and couldn't have been much better. My one suggestion is around the Zoom call. I was impressed that you did a Zoom call rather than just sending a gear list - it is an example of how much personal attention you devoted to us.
John, New York
Birding Namibia & Botswana
I highly recommend the Birding Safari presented by Destination Wildlife. Professional, highly educated guides treat one to the beauty of nature and all the creatures big and small living within. An absolute must in your journeys. 10 stars.