Winter Owls and Others to Benefit Project SNOWstorm
Winter Owls & Others
To Benefit Project SNOWstorm
8 Days - 7 Nights
The Great Lakes region of New York State and Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
are favorite wintering grounds for Snowy, Long and Short-eared, Northern Saw-wet,
and in some winters, rare Great Gray and Boreal owls
as well as an assortment of other raptors, Arctic songbirds and waterfowl.
January 31 - February 07, 2024
From $3683.00 ex flights. $435.00 Single supplement
Price includes a $500.00 tax-deductible donation to Project SNOWstorm
Limited to 7 Guests
Why This Tour is Special
Short-eared owl on the fence! “shorties” are one of the many owl species that winter in this area. Image:
Tis the Season! The magnificent, frozen landscapes surrounding Lake Ontario on both sides of the US / Canadian border are not for the faint of heart – but if you love raptors, these traditional wintering grounds are the perfect destination to seek them out.
From Frozen Grasslands to Ice-Frosted Wetlands and Mysterious Boreal Forests, the varied habitats we’ll explore provide unmatched opportunity to view (and photograph) a wide range of owls, hawks, harriers, shrikes, songbirds, and waterfowl - most of which breed and summer in the Arctic!
Owls are Island Hoppers. Explore Wolf Island and Amherst Island, including Owl Woods, "one of the best-known spots in Ontario for wintering birds," says the Kingston Naturalists. We will look for Snowy, Northern Saw-Whet, Long-Eared owls, the rare Boreal owl and more.
SHHH – Don't tell! We May Get Lucky. One or more longtime Project SNOWstorm volunteers plan to be working in the area during our time there. If the conditions are right, we will meet to watch, learn, and ask questions from the Snowy Owl expert.
Follow New Friends. Project SNOWstorm tracks the transmittered owls, so you can follow its amazing journeys if you meet a new friend.
Impact. Project SNOWstorm runs entirely on donations and volunteers. This is an unforgettable journey that does (measurable and followable) good!
Detailed Itinerary
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival Syracuse, Drive to Watertown, New York
Welcome to Syracuse! We'll meet you at the airport and depart for our short drive to Watertown. After getting everyone situated, we'll enjoy local birding and an evening photo shoot for owls, gulls, or staked-out rarities as time allows.
Dinner and Overnight in Watertown
Snowy Owl at Point Peninsula. Image Courtesy of ©Melissa Mance-Coniglio
Day 2: Point Peninsula, Ashland Flats WMA, and other areas around Jefferson County.
Our purposefully flexible schedule allows us time to travel to locations that will give us the best opportunities to find our target birds. Each winter brings particular highlights, and we'll attempt to experience them all during our stay in these beautiful northern climes.
Our first destination, Point Peninsula, is of particular interest to photographers. This area is an important migration corridor and one of the Northern United States' most critical wintering grounds for Arctic and tundra breeding raptors. Daily numbers here can reach into the hundreds of birds!
The higher concentrations of Rough-legged and Red-tailed Hawks, Northern Harriers, and Snowy, Long-eared, and Short-eared Owls depend on the highly variable numbers of small mammals they all feed.
We'll explore grasslands, hayfields, and overgrown agricultural fields here, along the more than 2,000 acres of the Ashland Flats Wildlife Management Area and the surrounding towns of Lyme, Cape Vincent, and Clayton for these charismatic carnivores.
We will look for pockets of these striking birds, which are, in turn, searching for prey in the form of mice, voles, and other small mammals. We may also visit the Point Peninsula Bird Conservation area, Perch River WMA, Chaumont Barrons, and Wellesley Island.
Dinner and Overnight in Watertown.
Northern Harrier Hawk. Image Courtesy of ©Aaron Winters
Day 3: Morning Birding, Perch River WMA, Wellesley Island, enter Canada en route to Kingston.
This morning, we have the flexibility to revisit any of our locations from the previous day or explore new sites en route to our border crossing.
Our options include the collection of wetlands, scrub woodlands, water impoundments, and early successional grasslands that make the Perch River WMA an attractive site to find wintering raptors and owls. We'll explore several portions of this nearly 8,000-acre reserve and its exciting collection of habitats before turning northward to Canada.
Before we cross into Canada, a late morning visit to Wellesley Island State Park (NY) is also possible, depending on when we arrive near the border.
Or, depending on the birds, we may decide to cross the border early to allow us time in areas on the Canadian side of the river. There, we will visit portions of Thousand Islands National Park. It all depends upon what is present and what our group is most interested in doing as the sun rises.
We will likely arrive in Kingston (Ontario) with some time to visit an open water site for wintering swans and other waterfowl.
Dinner and Over Night in Kingston.
Day 4: Wolfe Island, Kingston area, & possibly shoreline portions of Thousand Islands National Park
Sub-adult Bald Eagle surveying its territory. ©Courtesy of Aaron Winters
Canada's Wolfe Island, just a short ferry ride SE of Kingston, offers a wide variety of habitats for owls, raptors, and other birds, including open fields, woodlots, wetlands, and open water with many bays and coves.
During the winter, Wolfe Island, especially the western part—which hosts higher populations of voles than the nearby mainland—attracts numerous hawks and owls (most notably Snowy Owls, Northern Harriers, and Rough-legged Hawks). This perfect combination of varied habitats and the attendant population of voles, mice, and other small mammals attract these avian predators to the Island.
Snowy and Short-eared Owls are generally present, in varying numbers, each winter. Significant numbers of Rough-legged and Red-tailed Hawks and Northern Harriers top the parade of raptors. Less commonly, we have found long-eared owls, northern hawks, and great gray owls here. More exotic species, including Mute Swan, Eurasian Wigeon, and Long-tailed Duck, have also appeared here during Winter.
We'll enjoy lunch on the Island so that we have time to savor the rich variety of natural subjects around us.
As we travel Lake Ontario's eastern end, we'll visit its northern and southern shores. Exploring nooks and crannies allows close appreciation of the simple beauty of the St. Lawrence River's ice kaleidoscopes along the snowy shoreline while we scan for ducks and gulls. We can expect to see Long-tailed Duck, Common Goldeneye, Red-breasted, and Common Mergansers, but we may also find waterfowl rarities such as Harlequin Duck and Barrow's Goldeneye.
The natural beauty of the Thousand Islands region is legendary. On the US side are more than 15 New York State Parks offering unique perspectives of this transition area between the boreal forests of the Canadian Shield and the woodlands of the Adirondacks.
On the Canadian side, Thousand Islands, one of Canada's oldest national parks and the first established east of the Canadian Rockies, offers uncountable scenic views of unrivaled beauty. Rough-legged Hawks are one of North America's most strikingly marked buteos, and their plumage is perhaps the most variable. Admiring this high-arctic breeding raptor's incredible variety of plumages is one highlight of our Winter Raptor tour.
Additional raptor possibilities include Snowy Owl, Red-tailed Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, and, if lucky, Gyrfalcon. A typical collection of winter gulls could include Herring, Glaucous, Iceland, Great Black-backed Gull, and perhaps a rarity or two.
Dinner and Over Night in Kingston.
Day 5: Amherst Island.
Snowy Owls face many dangers, living with landscape changes is one. Image: Courtesy of ©Arron Winters
Amherst Island is internationally renowned as one of Canada's most crucial winter season birding sites. The Island's most notable winter residents are large numbers of hawks, harriers, owls, shrikes, and waterfowl. And fabulous views captured by binoculars or cameras increase Amherst Island's popularity.
Situated along the northeastern shore of Lake Ontario, Amherst Island lies only 18 kilometers west of Wolfe Island within the St. Lawrence River. The rectangularly shaped and relatively flat Island is a patchwork quilt of farmlands, woodlots, marshes, and wetlands. Amherst Island is serviced from the mainland by ferry, and its network of gravel roads allows us to explore the Island. Most of the Island is private property, so most of our birding will be from these roadsides.
The number of owls and other raptors we will see depends on various factors that will not reveal themselves until January.
We will spend all day on Amherst Island, enjoying a box lunch at midday. Sites we'll visit include the ferry and the North Channel of the St. Lawrence River. We will look for Snowy Owls roosting on the ice and rarities along the open water created by the ferry. A past notable rarety spotted was an Ivory Gull that spent more than two weeks here in 2001.
Front Road runs the length of Amherst Island and offers excellent viewpoints for resting and hunting Red-tailed and Rough-legged Hawks, Northern Harriers, Snowy and Short-eared Owls, and Northern Shrike. Binoculars, cameras, and spotting scopes will allow us to enjoy these fantastic creatures intimately.
The West End of Amherst Island crosses many pastures, hayfields, and agricultural lands. Pastures and grasslands offer the same mix of owls and raptors. Plowed areas may not be as attractive to the raptors, but numbers of mixed flocks of Snow Buntings and Horned Larks, perhaps with a Lapland Longspur or two, are usually present.
Historically, Owl Woods has been the most reliable spot to find Northern Saw-whet and Long-eared Owls, and while both species are generally present most winters, we'll be searching diligently for the rare Boreal Owl.
The Kingston Field Naturalists (KFN) own and maintain a reserve on the Island's eastern end. Here, we usually find many of our winter targets, including Snowy Owls perched on fence posts or elevated nesting platforms used by Ospreys.
Kingston Field Naturalist's work to preserve this site is admirable, and our visit includes a donation to them.
We'll return to Kingston with time to warm up, refresh, and change clothes before dinner.
Dinner and Over Night in Kingston.
Day 6: Kingston area to Ottawa.
Shopping! Voles, mice and other rodents scampering under the frozen grasslands and farm fields offer a winter bounty that raptors depend on. Image Courtesy of ©Aaron Winters
We have several options for this morning's outing and will decide based primarily on the group's desires.
We may search for other winter residents if we've done well on the owls and raptors. Around the region, numerous Mountain Ash and flowering Crab Apple trees are a magnet for Bohemian Waxwings and rarities like Varied Thrush and Townsend's Solitaire.
Highlights from past years include finding 1,00's of Bohemian Waxwings feeding voraciously on Mountain Ash trees. Other winters provided cooperative Mountain Bluebirds, stunning Harlequin Ducks along the lake's shore, and true vagrants such as King and Common Eider and Tufted Ducks.
We'll likely spend time visiting established feeding stations buzzing with Wintertime activity. Targets include all the Winter finches, but we'll hope to find Common and Hoary Redpolls, Pine and Evening Grosbeaks, and the more common winter finches. After lunch, we'll travel north of Kingston en route to Canada's capital city, historic Ottawa.
We'll do our first searches for any staked-out rarities in the area. Past sightings include Gyrfalcon, Great Gray, Northern Hawk and Boreal Owls, Gray Partridge, Black-backed and American Three-toed Woodpeckers, Bohemian Waxwings, and the host of winter finches.
We hope to have some time in the late afternoon to visit some of the open water areas near the city where numbers of swans and waterfowl make perfect photography subjects in the golden late afternoon light.
Dinner and Over Night Ottawa.
Day 7: Ottawa area, open areas west of Ottawa, Algonquin Provincial Park.
What could be better than sunrise with a Snowy owl? Image: Courtesy of ©Melissa Mance-Coniglio
We'll visit some open areas west of Ottawa, hoping for more owls and raptors. Much of the rest of our day will be spent in the more secluded boreal forests along the edges of Algonquin Provincial Park searching for Ruffed and Spruce Grouse, Black-backed and American Three-toed Woodpeckers, Red and White-winged Crossbills, Boreal Chickadee and the always entertaining Canada Jay.
And we'll continue our search for owls! While numbers fluctuate yearly, the Great Gray Owl is a permanent resident of Eastern Ontario, particularly Algonquin Provincial Park. Northern Hawk Owl is an annual visitor, and each winter brings small forest owls—Northern Saw-whet, Boreal, and Long-eared Owl —to the region where we often find them sharing wintering hunting or roosting areas.
When prey across their more northerly ranges becomes scarce, the owls move south in numbers. During these periodic owl irruptions, anything goes. When such an irruption occurs, the region's bogs, meadows, and forests provide one-of-a-kind birding thrills. Our leader is well-connected with the region's active birders, and the local network is always in contact when a rarity appears.
Dinner and Over Night Ottawa.
Day 8: Ottawa clean-up, open water areas. Our Tour ends at about 12:00 Noon at the airport.
We will have a final morning for our last birding outing amid this captivating region before beginning our journey home.
We ask that everyone book return flights that depart in the mid-afternoon hours to give us that final opportunity to search for any species that may have eluded us thus far or to revisit a favorite locale.
The Tour concludes upon your return to the airport or departure from the group.
Snowy owls (two!) getting ready for the hunt on Amherst Island, Lake Ontario, Canada. Image by ©Melissa Mance-Coniglio
Accommodations
Accommodations
At Destination: Wildlife, we strive to apply the principles of responsible, 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 who 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.
LODGING: We will stay in hotels near our birding/photography destinations, some are rather remote and not geared to luxury tourism. Our hotels are uniformly clean and comfortable with the standard hotel amenities (two bedded rooms, private bathroom facilities, hot water, phone, etc.).
Laundry Service: Laundry service will be available at the guest laundry of most of our hotels during your visit, barring unforeseen circumstances such as mechanical or electrical failure. However, their hours of operation and our schedule may not allow us to take advantage of laundry service. Items that can be washed in your room’s sink and hung to dry overnight are always a good idea.
Electricity: As in the rest of the United States, electricity in New York and Ontario is sixty-cycle alternating current. There is always the chance of a power outage, and the current supply may be weak or fluctuate, particularly in some of the more remote areas on our itinerary. A short extension cord might be a good idea if you have items that you need to recharge at night, as plug-ins around your hotel room may not be plentiful or convenient. Also, a three-prong to two-prong adaptor is a good idea in the event that your room’s outlets are limited to one outlet style or the other.
WiFi and Internet Service: Some areas are remote and there may not be WiFi or internet access all or part of the day in the field or at some lodging.
Tour Information
Tour Information
Dates
January 31 - February 07, 2024
Start and End Point
The tour starts in Syracuse, New York and ends in Ottowa, Canada
The frozen beauty of Lake Ontario . Image: Courtesy of ©Rebecca McCabe
Travel Insurance
For all Destination: Wildlife tours, all guests must have a minimum level of travel insurance coverage for medical emergency evacuation and repatriation of $200,000 (USD or equivalent in other currency). We highly recommend comprehensive travel protection for your tour. Or sign a waiver of release prior to departure.
Important note: Most travel insurance will not cover preexisting conditions unless purchased within 14 days (of the initial deposit and 7 days for some carriers). We highly recommend you purchase your travel insurance immediately after making a deposit.
Please contact us if you need assistance.
Visas and Passports
At this time, a visa is not required for U.S. passport holders who plan to visit Canada for tourism or informal business meetings for fewer than 180 days per calendar year. A passport is required with one open page for entry into Canada.
Getting There and Back
Arrival: Guests will be picked up at Syracuse Hancock International Airport on January 27, 2024. Guests using air transportation must arrive in Syracuse at Syracuse Hancock International Airport before 12 noon on January 27. We highly suggest that you plan to arrive a day early, on January 26th for a more relaxed start in case of delays or inclement weather. We can recommend a comfortable overnight hotel.
Departure: The tour ends and guests will be dropped off at the Mcdonald-Cartier International Airport in Ottowa in the late afternoon on February 03, 2024 for an evening flight hime. Or overnight at the airport is possible. Prefer to head back to Syracuse? Let us know.
Need help with transportation or hotel rooms? Just ask.
Group Size
Limited to 7 Guests. The group size on this tour is limited to 7 guests plus a tour leader and local expert guide. Our small group policy is an essential aspect of our tours. It allows for more interaction between guests and allows us to access behind-the-scenes activities. And our small group means more flexibility in our accommodation and ground travel choices. In all, the small group size can provide for a richer personal experience.
Price
$3683.00 (USD) each, double occupancy excluding flights.
► Price does not include round-trip airfare to Syracuse, New York or from Ottowa, Canada.
► There is a single-room supplement of $435.
► A $500 donation to Project SNOWstorm, is included in the tour price. This donation is tax deductible for US residents.
Included:
► Tour Price Includes: Accommodations, services of a trip leader and professional local guides when appropriate, entrance into all reserves and parks, private transportation, all meals from dinner on Day 1 through breakfast on the final day, snacks during the excursions, airport transfers on the first and final days, and all internal transfers.
► Donation: A $500 donation to Project SNOWstorm is included in the price of the tour, and this donation is tax deductible for US residents.
Not Included:
► Travel to and from Syracuse, New York (or other starting point), beverages, gratuities, passport and visa fees if required, items of a personal nature (phone calls, laundry and internet, etc.), airline baggage fees, airport and departure taxes, travel protection, and medical evacuation insurance.
Cancellation Policy
Please see here for our cancellation policy
Need to Know
Need to Know
Physical Requirements:
Moderate. This is generally a moderately active trip
Birding and photography during the region's winter season consist of early starts with predawn breakfasts at our hotel. Luckily, we will be enough north that the sun will not rise until about 7:30 AM during our tour! ]
A few mornings may have predawn drives of up to an hour for our first birding areas so that we will set our alarms accordingly.
Scanning for owls. Image: Courtesy of ©Rebecca McCabe
Our emphasis is on seeing all of the unique birds found in the areas we visit, and will cover most of the Eastern Lake Ontario Region. The few longer drives between some birding stops offer convenient 'nap time' and are broken up by birding breaks or meals so that they shouldn't prove to be too difficult—for the drivers OR participants!
Please note: there WILL be situations where the leader(s) will ask the group to walk for birding or to photography site. You should be in reasonable physical condition and able to walk up to a half mile at a time—at a birding pace—over flat terrain.
As each day may have a bitter cold, fog, snow, and an oft-present wind—or any combination of these—much of our birding is done from the comfort of our vehicles. The snow-covered terrain makes walking off roadways difficult. Consequently, most out-of-vehicle birding will be along plowed roads, walkable paths, or packed trails, almost always near our vehicles. Any walks through the snow are short and always at your option to participate. As you might expect, we will spend much more time in the vehicle than on most tours.
Our travel will be in a van or SUV with window seats for everyone! This insures there are no problems with space or comfortable riding for the duration of the tour.
The roads we travel vary significantly in condition. From paved and 'highway-like' to dirt/rocky tracks through the northern boreal forest, that will seem more like bumps atop bumps when traveling in remote inland locations. Thankfully, these latter drives are not long and shouldn't pose a problem—to our vehicles or spines! Access roads to some forest areas can change significantly from month to month and year to year, depending upon logging activity, but we'll be prepared for almost anything.
Health
Travel within the US and Canada is relatively straightforward. As always, when traveling, if receiving treatment via prescription or over-the-counter medication, be sure to bring a supply that will see you safely through your tour travels.
Pack all medication in your carry-on baggage in their original containers. Airline baggage restrictions often change with little or no warning, so please check with your airline in the weeks before departure.
Standard travel precautions dictate that you should always be up to date with your MMR and Tetanus shots, and we encourage all travelers to receive vaccinations as recommended by the CDC.
Generally, birding during a northern winter poses no major health risks. The most common problems on this tour arise from clients not being prepared for the cold and wind. Warm, waterproof clothing and sturdy waterproof boots are essential gear. By dressing appropriately, you'll find the northern winter surprisingly manageable. You'll not only stay warm and dry, you'll be comfortable! Please review our recommended packing list. A wealth of general health information for travelers can be found at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, GA., the CDC website at: www.cdc.gov/travel
Please Note:
It is ILLEGAL to enter Canada with cannabis. We do not allow our guests to travel with cannabis in any form. No gummies, no sleep aids or pain relievers, no supplements - NO CANNABIS. PERIOD. Violators will be required to leave the group at their own expense. There are no refunds for substance violations.
Crossing state or international borders with cannabis or other illegal substances opens you to fines and arrest. Destination: Wildlife, Signpost Publishing, LLC and their agents, employees, venders, clients or others are NOT responsible and cannot help you. Travel insurance does not cover trip interruption or cancellation due to illegal substance violations.
Climate:
Lake Ontario. Image Courtesy of ©Rebecca McCabe
As one might expect, the Winter season on the margins of Lake Ontario has a few climatic challenges!
►Average Temperatures: Statistically, the region's average temperatures for January are a low of 7ºF and a high of 22ºF.
Typical HIGH temperatures in the region in January are in the single digits to upper teens, generally a few degrees colder in the more inland locations.
Typical LOW temperatures fall into the single digits, generally a few degrees lower inland.
Uncommon Highs: Temperatures may rise into the 30'sºF.
Uncommon Lows: Temperstures can plunge well below zero. On rare occasions, daytime' highs' may remain below zero in the more northern points on our itinerary. In open areas, wind can blow snow into deep drifts, and wind-chill factors (the cooling effect making temperatures appear lower) are a concern. When the wind is blowing, and it can blow rather strongly at times, wind-chills in the -20ºF to -40ºF are not uncommon.
Luckily, closed, heavily forested areas significantly reduce the effects of wind. Expect snow at any time. And while the boreal forest region does get its share of snow, storms severe enough to prevent us from birding are rare—in 40+ years of leading tours in the Great Lakes Region, we've yet to miss even a single day of birding!
Road workers are experienced and capable, so even secondary and side roads are quickly plowed, sanded, and salted. You WILL encounter wind, fog, snow, and ice during your visit. All occur frequently, sometimes in rapidly changing combinations or even at once! But, unless conditions become extremely windy, most participants should be able to handle a typical birding day with little discomfort, as much of our birding will be from (or very near
Language:
While English is spoken throughout the areas we'll visit, French is also widely used, but you WILL be able to understand most people you encounter! Travel to a new destination is an adventure. We encourage embracing the differences of a new culture and its language to make your travel all the more enjoyable and memorable. Oui en effet!
Currency:
Remember, your essential expenses during the tour are covered, including your meals. However, you will almost certainly want cash for gift purchases, tips for personal services, those meals not covered by the itinerary, liquor, beverages not included with meals, and departure tax. ATMs are available in most of the cities in the area, and credit cards are widely accepted.
As with all travel, keep your currency and identification/passport on your person at all times. Some establishments accept US dollars in Canada. However, your exchange rate might not be as favorable as withdrawing Canadian Dollars from an ATM.
TIME:
Our tour route lies entirely within the Eastern Time Zone.
Meals
Most dietary restrictions (plant-based diets, gluten-free, etc.) can be accommodated at the hotels and lodges, however, we will be spending time in smaller villages that may not have the food choices of larger metropolises. We recommend packing personal snacks if you have dietary restrictions or allergies. Please inform us of any dietary requirements due to serious medical conditions or strict personal restrictions.
Lunch options may be box lunches picnic style when far from 'civilization', or, when available, at conveniently located mom-and-pop cafes or sandwich shops.
Because the sun sets quite early this far north—generally around 5:00 PM—our birding days are not long. Dinner is by far our most relaxing meal of the day, usually at a restaurant close to our hotel, often beginning with a social/cocktail hour as we review the day's adventures and photographs and complete a checklist of our sightings.
Responsible Photography:
Photographers are welcome but are expected to follow responsible wildlife photography etiquette and guidelines. We DO NOT chase birds.
Bring the longest lens you have, look into renting one if you do not have one for the trip. A startled bird uses up the precious energy necessary for survival in these harsh conditions. We will stay well back in order not to disturb them. Binoculars are a must - and for good photography, you will need a long lens.
Additionally, the birds do not pay attention to property lines, but we human must. Regardless of the excitement of a finding a particular species, respect for the property owner is of paramount concern. Different property owners have different tolerances. We will respect each individual’s wishes.
And please remember that this is a bird “watching” tour first and foremost. The scenery, activities, culture, people, and birds we visit & witness will be highly memorable. Landscape, people, and memory shots will be relatively simple to take, serious bird photography is a different matter. You will bring back unforgettable images in your heart - and if the conditions are correct, and you have sufficient lenses, we hope that you bring home a few on “film,” too.
Bring your film/memory media with you, as it may be difficult, if not impossible, to find your particular brand once we arrive.
We always recommend precautionary measures to protect your equipment; moisture and dust-proof bags are a good idea. We do spend time watching feeders and food sources that can offer exceptional bird photography. Please let us know if you have any questions about photographing birds in winter. Our tour leader will be happy to help you.
SMOKING:
Smoking is prohibited while in the vehicles or close quarters with the group, such as during mealtime, while doing the checklist, or at group meetings. If you share a room with a nonsmoker, there is no smoking in the room. While in the field, we ask that you smoke away from the group, preferably downwind. Please note that New York is a non-smoking state in that smoking is NOT allowed in most public areas, including virtually all hotels, cafes, restaurants, and bars.
Packing and Notes
Packing List and Notes from our Team Leader
The weather in the Lake Ontario Region in January and February is notoriously unpredictable. It can be VERY cold. Expect deep snow, and most areas will be frozen solid—with only fast-moving rivers and Lake Ontario still containing open water. While much of our birding will be from a heated vehicle, the best weapon in your arsenal against cold is dressing in layers. It's your most advantageous defense against unpredictable weather.
► OUTER LAYERS of clothing should—at a minimum—fit loosely over your various inner layers. The air space between your layers provides warming insulation, so the tighter your clothing fits, the faster you'll get cold. You'll never regret erring on the large side with your winter clothing. Cold-weather gear is ESSENTIAL and should include
1. Thermal underwear (both tops and bottoms), long-sleeved shirt (I like a turtleneck),
2. Fleece, sweater, or sweatshirt - a fleece is best.
3. Heavy 'winter' coat or jacket. Rain and windproof is optimal.
4. Snow pants or wool pants. Lacking either, bring pants constructed of the heaviest material you have.
Note: Jeans easily become wet/frozen and are slow to dry; they are not your best choice.
Notes: I've found that medium-weight wool or similar synthetics like polar fleece for shirts and sweaters work best. If you chill easily, add another layer or increase the weight of your outermost layer. Wool is a good idea if you can wear it because it retains its insulating properties even when wet; it should be your material of choice for caps, mittens, socks, and pants. Heavy wool or synthetic snow pants over light sweatpants or thermal underwear work best.
► EXTREMITIES — hands/fingers, head, facial features, and feet/toes—are particularly vulnerable to cold temps and wind. To be most prepared, bring:
5. Warm cap and scarf (I use a neck gaiter) to cover your ears, head, and neck.
6. Balaclava: Anyone particularly sensitive to cold might consider wearing a balaclava. This formfitting hood fits over your head and face with cutouts for eyes and a slitted covering for your nose.
7. Hands: Mittens work better than gloves to keep your hands warm. However, they do restrict the use of your hands.
8. Socks: Heavy wool (or synthetic equivalent) socks.
9. Footwear: Insulated, waterproof footwear will help keep you comfortable in the field.
We strongly recommend bringing insulated boots; those with felt liners work particularly well (Sorel and LaCrosse brands are my favorites), as opposed to leather hiking or work boots.
Notes: Boot Fit: It's essential that your boots fit loose enough to accommodate your feet while wearing heavy socks—wool is preferred. I cannot stress enough how important it is that your feet do NOT fit tightly within your boots. While I find that 'Gore-tex' hiking boots work well for me, please keep in mind that I live in Minnesota and am used to cold, wet, and snow! I promise they will NOT keep YOUR feet warm under typical winter conditions.
A few participants on past tours have found that 'NEOS' type overboots worked well for them. While they are not inexpensive, NEOS boots slip easily on/off over your most comfortable pair of hiking shoes and keep your feet dry in snow, slush, and water to nearly knee height. Note that they have NO insulation and do little to help keep your feet warm.
►THINGS I DON’T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT
10. Emergency Kit: Cipro and Immodium for "traveler's stomach," Band-Aids, hydrocortisone cream and anti-fungal ointment.
11. Cash. My preference is to carry a small amount of cash for tips or personal purchases. I keep my credit cards and identification on my person at ALL times. ATM machines should be available.
12. Sunscreen is critical if it is sunny even in very cold weather. Bring it.
13. Extra batteries for anything that uses them.
14. Sunglasses, an extra pair of eyeglasses, and anti-fogging cloth/spray.
►OTHER STUFF I travel with:
15. Binocular rain guard,
16. Sink stopper
17. Various-sized waterproof bags (to keep books and TP dry),
18. Bandanna
19. Notebook and pencil
20. Big waterproof bag for dirty boots
21. Ear plugs, and ventilated toothbrush holder
Note: Do not plan on buying supplies such as sunscreen, memory media, batteries, etc. Bring plenty. Keep in mind that this region is a remote country. Our itinerary is subject to change based on the idiosyncratic nature of birds, weather, and transportation. Expect things to be different, and enjoy the differences!
Equipment - Don’t forget your:
✓ Binoculars!
✓ A daypack is handy for carrying your books, sunscreen, and smaller items—put your name on it.
✓ An alarm clock is essential—you don't want to miss those precious morning birding hours!
✓ Camera
✓ Lenses - the longest you have
✓ Memory Cards and Batteries
* Scope The leaders will have a superb spotting scope for the group's use, but if you have one and wish to use it, please feel free to bring it along.
Experienced traveler's tip: It's always a good idea to pack your binoculars, your camera, a change of clothing, toiletry items, prescription medications, and travel documents in your carry-on luggage in the event your checked baggage is delayed or lost.
LUGGAGE:
✓ Bring what you need but please consider the usefulness of each item.
✓ Soft-sided luggage is preferred as it is more easily handled or loaded into vans.
✓ Weight: Please do not bring excessively heavy bags. If you cannot lift your bag, consider two lighter bags instead.
✓ Tag it! Remember to attach an identification tag to the outside of your bags while not forgetting to insert a similar tag inside each piece of luggage.
You know all this already if you travel a great deal—but it's worth reviewing.
This Snowy Owl seems unbothered by the frozen conditions of its Arctic home. We visitors, however, best make good use of the tour packing list! Image: Thanks to Jean Hall and Project SNOWstorm.
Making a Difference
How Your Trip Makes A Difference
This tour directly supports the following conservation organization:
Project SNOWstorm
About Project SNOWStorm in their own words:
“Project SNOWstorm was launched in 2013 and is now one of the world's largest collaborative research projects focusing on Snowy Owls. It is staffed by a largely volunteer team of scientists, banders, and wildlife veterinarians. We are funded entirely by tax-deductible donations from the public.”
Scott Weidensaul is co-founder of Project SNOWstorm, This is from his letter welcoming supporters to the new 2023-2024 season of Snowy Owl research:
This will be Project SNOWstorm’s 11th season of snowy owl research, as we wait for previously transmittered birds to come back south in the weeks ahead, and look toward tracking new owls this winter, each of which will add to our rapidly growing understanding of this species’ winter ecology. But there’s also been a lot of work going on in the so-called off-season, too, and we’re anxious to share more about that with you in the weeks ahead. In the meantime, there’s a summary here of what we’ve been up to.
As has been the case from its start in December 2013, SNOWstorm remains funded entirely by donations from the public (tax-deductible for U.S. taxpayers; apologies to our many Canadian friends). And as has also been the case from the beginning, no one on the SNOWstorm team takes any kind of salary or stipend — we’re all volunteers here, so all the funds we raise go directly into the field or the lab, covering the costs of transmitters, GSM data fees or satellite time for the data transmission, toxicology and other lab analysis, and covering basic expenses like fuel, food and lodging for our collaborators when they’re in the field trapping for us. Read more
Why Project SNOWstorm?
“Project SNOWstorm's tracking work represents the largest and most diverse set of winter movement data for snowy owls anywhere in the world, and we're drilling down into it to see what it reveals about these Arctic migrants, the habitats they use, and how best to protect and conserve them.
We continue to publish a stream of peer-reviewed scientific articles based on our research, so our findings inform the wider conservation of snowy owls, in such prestigious international journals as Nature, Ornithology, Oecologia and Ibis, on subjects ranging from the winter survival of immature snowy owls; factors associated with the return of translocated owls to airports; whether snowy owls migrating north in spring use stopover periods to sample potential breeding sites; and the influence of landscape cover versus social dominance on snowy owl movement patterns.
We provided significant support for the post-doctoral work of Dr. Rebecca McCabe as she, with our colleagues in the International Snowy Owl Working Group, completed a global status assessment of snowy owl populations worldwide -- the first time such an effort has been made, and a critical step in determining conservation action for this species. This assessment is currently in peer-review pending publication.” read more
And a BIG Note of Thanks!!
A BIG THANK YOU to photographer, Aaron Winters, teacher and artist, Melissa Mance-Coniglio, and Rebecca McCabe, research biologist at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary and core Project SNOWstorm team member for generously allowing us to use their wonderful photography.
The Winter Owls and Others are waiting for you. Let’s Go! Image: Courtesy of ©Aaron Winters