Road Scholar : Birding Grand Manan Island - New Brunswick

Birding Grand Manan Island

Program Number:

5377RJ

Start and End Dates:


	5/12/2013 - 5/18/2013; 9/1/2013 - 9/7/2013;

Duration:

6 nights

Location:

Grand Manan Island, New Brunswick

Price starting at:

$949.00 - Price may vary based on date, departure city

Program Type:

Birding; Natural History

Meals:

17; 6 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches, 6 Dinners

Meal Options:

Gluten Free; Low Salt; Low Fat; Vegetarian

Grand Manan is internationally renowned as a bird watcher’s paradise, still teeming with the myriad bird species that captivated J.J. Audubon in 1833. On this field trip-based program, study the seasonal migrants of the Grand Manan archipelago, and round out your week of learning with a visit to the Alan Moses Bird Collection at the island museum.

Highlights

• Experience a six-hour boat trip among the outer islands to study seasonal migrants.
• Field trips unveil the Anchorage Bird Sanctuary, the beaches and ponds of White Head Island, Castalia Marsh Sanctuary and more.
• Local interpreters and experts deliver up-close encounters with birds, sea life and the inter-tidal zone.

Activity Particulars

Walking up to one mile. Must be able to board and disembark vessel. Bring your own binoculars for birding.

Date Specific Information

5-12-2013

Take a boat trip around Machias Seal Island and get close views of this nesting colony featuring Puffins, Razorbills and Murres.

9-1-2013

Boat trip to a remote island to visit a large colony of Leach's storm petrels.

Grand Manan Island

The largest island in the Grand Manan archipelago is internationally renowned as a bird watcher's paradise and from spring to autumn still teems with the species of birds that enchanted J.J. Audubon in 1833 when he visited the islands.

Accommodations
Century-old inn with period furnishings, large verandah overlooking fisherman’s wharf.

Meals and Lodgings
	Marathon Inn
		Grand Manan Island, NB	6 nights

Marathon Inn
	Type:	Inn
	Description:	The Marathon Inn is everything you would expect of a hotel originally built over a century ago by a retired sea captain. The Inn has been well maintained over the years and has recently been refurbished. It still retains the charm and leisurly living of another age. Antiques and period decor complement the mood. You will be welcomed and served with gracious hospitality during your stay. The rooms are sun-clean and inviting with private bath.
	Contact info:	19 Marathon Lane Grand Manan, NB E5G 3A4 Canada phone: 888-660-8488 web: www.angelfire.com/biz2/marathon
	Room amenities:	private bath, hair dryers
	Smoking allowed:	No
	Additional nights prior:	$74.00- $109.00 Canadian Pre-booking required.
	Check in time:	2:00 PM
	Additional nights after:	$74.00- $109.00 Canadian Pre-booking required.
	Check out time:	11:00 PM

Travel Details
	Start of Program: 5:30 PM in Hotel Lounge: pre Dinner Reception. You will be staying at Marathon Inn that night.
	End of Program: Program ends after breakfast. Check out time is 11:00 a.m. Hotel shuttle departs at 6:45 a.m. for the first morning ferry. You will be staying at Marathon Inn the night before.
	Required documents: The Road Scholar Health & Safety Form is required. Passport is required for all air travel to and from Canada. A valid passport or original birth certificate along with a valid driver’s license or a state issued photo ID card will be required for land and sea border crossings to and from Canada. Passport requirement for land and sea is subject to change. Visit www.travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html for up-to-date info.
	Parking availability: Ample free parking at inn.

Transportation

	To Start of Program
	Location:	Grand Manan Island, NB

	From End of Program
	Location:	Grand Manan Island, NB
		(Additional transportation information same as above)
Travel Details
	Saint John, N.B.	From Airport
	Service:	Hotel Shuttle Marathon Inn phone: 888-660-8488 Advanced Reservations Required
	Per Person/One Way:	$37.50 Prices are subject to change.
	Travel Time:	2 hours 30 minutes
		Marathon Inn provides a pick up service (Sunday only) from Saint John, N.B., must arrive in Saint John by 11:30 AM to connect; prebooking necessary, cost $75.00 per person round trip includes ferry ticket, call 1-888-660-8488 to arrange or email mhl@nbnet.nb.ca.

Driving Directions
	St. Stephen or Saint John	Route 1 from St. Stephen/Calais border crossing approximately 30 miles east to Black's Harbour exit, or Route 1 from Saint John approximately 50 miles west to Black's Harbour exit; 5 miles to village of Black's Harbour, follow signs to ferry dock; no ticket office at Black's Harbour ferry dock - arrive at ferry line up at least one hour prior to desired departure time; ferry trip is one and a half hours; modern ferry with cafeteria on board.. You may make ferry reservations on line(www.coastaltransport.ca ) or by phone at 1-506-662-3724 up to 90 days before departure

Equipment Requirements: Must provide own binoculars.

The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.

Daily Schedule

Day 1:

Arrivals, Welcome Dinner and Birding Introduction
(Sunday, May 12)

Arrive To:	Check in, registration
Dinner:	In main dining room and orientation in Annex Lounge
Evening:	Birding introduction

Accommodations:	Marathon Inn
Meals Included:	Dinner

Day 2:

Birding Field Trip, Fisherman's Wharf
(Monday, May 13)

Breakfast:	Optional 6am coffee at the Inn and birding walk before breakfast. Hot or cold cereal, fruit, hot entree (cook's choice; changes daily) juice, coffee, tea
Morning:	Birding Field Trip
Lunch:	At the Inn
Afternoon:	Guided walk of Fisherman's Wharf: an expert led tour of a working facility with insight into the day to day activities of the local fishing industry.
Dinner:	At the Inn, set appetizer & dessert (made fresh daily); choice of fresh catch of the day or meat entree daily, pre order after breakfast each day
Evening:	Birding: slide/lecture format

Accommodations:	Marathon Inn
Meals Included:	Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3:

Birding Boat Trip, "Seabirds and Marine Mammals"
(Tuesday, May 14)

Breakfast:	Optional 6am coffee at the Inn and birding walk before breakfast. Hot or cold cereal, fruit, hot entree (cook's choice; changes daily) juice, coffee, tea.
Morning:	Boat trip through the beautiful Grand Manan archipelago to seek nesting Black Guillemots, Alcids such as Puffins and Razorbills; early migratory seabirds such as gannets. loons, phalaropes and other marine creatures.
Lunch:	On board vessel
Afternoon:	Continuation of boat trip
Dinner:	At the Inn, set appetizer & dessert (made fresh daily); choice of fresh catch of the day or meat entree daily, pre order after breakfast each day.
Evening:	Seabirds & Marine Mammals: lecture/slide format

Accommodations:	Marathon Inn
Meals Included:	Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4:

White Head Island Birding
(Wednesday, May 15)

Breakfast:	Optional 6am coffee at the Inn and birding walk before breakfast. Hot or cold cereal, fruit, hot entree (cook's choice; changes daily) juice, coffee, tea.
Morning:	Bus and barge ferry to White Head Island for field trip with rich birding opportunities in varied terrain of quarzite cliffs, bogs, sand beaches. Experience the quaintness of a truly remote island community.
Lunch:	Bag lunch provided
Afternoon:	Continuation of birding field trip to White Head Island
Dinner:	At the Inn, set appetizer & dessert (made fresh daily); choice of fresh catch of the day or meat entree daily, pre order after breakfast each day.
Evening:	Free evening after dinner

Accommodations:	Marathon Inn
Meals Included:	Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5:

Anchorage Bird Sanctuary, Grand Manan Museum
(Thursday, May 16)

Breakfast:	Optional 6am coffee at the Inn and birding walk before breakfast. Hot or cold cereal, fruit, hot entree (cook's choice; changes daily) juice, coffee, tea.
Morning:	A land based field trip to Anchorage Beach and the Long Pond Migratory Bird Sanctuary which offers great birding opportunities to view ducks and shorebirds during the Spring Migration.
Lunch:	At the Inn
Afternoon:	Guided visit to Grand Manan Museum (includes fisheries & geology exhibit); also home of of the renowned Alan Moses bird collection; many local cultural artifacts.
Dinner:	At the Inn, set appetizer & dessert (made fresh daily); choice of fresh catch of the day or meat entree daily, pre order after breakfast each day.
Evening:	"Living Tides of Fundy" video

Accommodations:	Marathon Inn
Meals Included:	Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6:

Lifestyle and Culture of a Fishing Community
(Friday, May 17)

Breakfast:	Optional 6am coffee at the Inn and birding walk before breakfast. Hot or cold cereal, fruit, hot entree (cook's choice; changes daily) juice, coffee, tea.
Morning:	Field trip to visit and learn about various aspects of the fishing industry past and present, reflecting the culture and lifestyle of a fishing island. Visit lobster pounds, smoked herring stands, dulsing operations, boat building,salt fish operation, visit a small fishers' supply store.
Lunch:	At the Inn
Afternoon:	Free afternoon
Dinner:	Choice of lobster or steak dinner
Evening:	Graduation & farewell get together

Accommodations:	Marathon Inn
Meals Included:	Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7:

Farewells and Departure
(Saturday, May 18)

Breakfast:	Continental breakfast at 6:15 a.m. for those who wish to depart on the 7:30 a.m. ferry. Full breakfast begins at 7:30 a.m. for remainder
Morning:	Check out time is 11:00 a.m. Hotel shuttle departs from inn at 6:45 a.m. to connect with first morning ferry

Meals Included:

Breakfast

Free Time Opportunities
Grand Manan Island, NB	Adventure High Kayak & Bike Rentals Bicycle & Kayak rental within walking distance of inn

Important information about your itinerary: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information featured on this website. Itineraries are based on our best information at this time. Circumstances beyond our control may require us to adjust itineraries or other details. We regret any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding. Information will be sent to you from your Program Provider approximately three weeks prior to the program start date. The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.

Birds of New Brunswick

Author: Roger Burrows

Description: A good companion to your favorite field guide. In depth look at local birds

You can't find a better value than Road Scholar.

As a not-for-profit organization, we are dedicated to providing all-inclusive educational programs at great value. From lectures to gratuities to field trips to accommodations - the tuition you pay up front is all that you pay.

Specifically, this program includes:

6 nights accommodations
17 meals: 6 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 6 dinners
Expert-led lectures: 3
Expert-led lectures

Led by one or more of our world-class instructors, typically in a classroom setting, lectures come in the form of presentations, discussions or workshops and offer expert insight into your area of study.
Field trips: 7
Field trips

The world is your classroom, as you're on location with an instructor to pursue your educational theme firsthand.

Plus these special experiences...

Boat trip through the Grand Manan archipelago to seek Black Guillemots, Puffins and Razorbills; early migratory seabirds such as gannets and loons
Sail past fog stations, light houses, salmon farming sites, weirs and working fishing boats and savor the best of the local catch at dinner
Barge ferry to Whitehead Island to seek southbound adult & juvenal shorebirds, plovers & sandpipers, ruddy turnstones, whimbrels & redknots and gulls
A guided walk of Fisherman's Wharf and a visit to the Grand Manan Museum

View the Daily Schedule to see more

And included with all Road Scholar programs:

Learning led by expert instructors who are authorities in the field of study.
An experienced Group Leader attuned to the needs of Road Scholar participants.
Customary gratuities throughout the program that you would normally pay yourself.
The Road Scholar Travel Assistance Plan, providing 24-hour-a-day emergency assistance coverage.
Taxes

Highlights

Activity Particulars

Walking up to one mile. Must be able to board and disembark vessel. Bring your own binoculars for birding.

Date Specific Information

Take a boat trip around Machias Seal Island and get close views of this nesting colony featuring Puffins, Razorbills and Murres.

Boat trip to a remote island to visit a large colony of Leach's storm petrels.

Grand Manan Island

The largest island in the Grand Manan archipelago is internationally renowned as a bird watcher's paradise and from spring to autumn still teems with the species of birds that enchanted J.J. Audubon in 1833 when he visited the islands.

Meals and Lodgings

Travel Details

Travel Details

Saint John, N.B.

From Airport

Service:

Hotel ShuttleMarathon Innphone: 888-660-8488Advanced Reservations Required

Per Person/One Way:

$37.50Prices are subject to change.

Travel Time:

2 hours 30 minutes

Marathon Inn provides a pick up service (Sunday only) from Saint John, N.B., must arrive in Saint John by 11:30 AM to connect; prebooking necessary, cost $75.00 per person round trip includes ferry ticket, call 1-888-660-8488 to arrange or email mhl@nbnet.nb.ca.

Daily Schedule

Free Time Opportunities

Suggested Reading List