Pass Price $30.00/Attendee
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Are you the adventurous type? Join Capt. Buddy Vaughan for a boat tour of Cobb Bay and the surrounding marshes where you will be sure to see numerous shorebirds such as American Oystercatchers, Marbled Godwits, Whimbrels, various sandpipers, and many other species on their high tide roosts. You also will get a glimpse of several nearby barrier island inlet beaches where you may encounter roosting flocks of Royal and Caspian Terns. If the birds are acting skittish, look up and you may see a Peregrine Falcon overhead. Be sure to bring a snack, a drink, sunscreen and a couple of layers of clothing just in case the wind picks up. This three-hour trip, at $75 per person, leaves Oyster harbor and has a 5-person capacity. A 10-minute personal vehicle trip 5 miles east of the Festival grounds is required.
In the last 30 years, over a quarter million birds have been banded at Kiptopeke State Park in order to increase our understanding of these migrants and their travels. This program begins at the Birding Staging Shelter and involves a short walk on a level grass trail. A volunteer from the Coastal Virginia Wildlife Observatory will take you on a tour of the banding facility and you will see a demonstration of the banding procedure. The 1-hour programs have a 30-person capacity. A 15-minute personal vehicle trip 10 miles south of the Festival grounds is required.
Bring your camera and binoculars and join us for a 3-hour birding adventure on this extraordinary barrier island. Program capacity is 25. Board the bus from the festival grounds. Important: Registration for this event will not be considered complete until CBBT Security Form has been completed and mailed to ESVAF Inc., P.O. Box 102, Cape Charles, VA 23310 or faxed to (651) 331-4882.
Join Captain Rick Kellam and explore the creeks and marshes of the Machipongo River and Parting Creek. These pristine waters are a great place to see shorebirds like whimbrels and marbled godwits along with terns and black skimmers. Be sure to take some time to scan the mudflats and masrhes from the viewing platform at the Wharf. This 2.5 trip has a 6 person capacity. A 35 minute personal vehicle trip north from the festival grounds is required
Explore a variety of habitats at Chatham Vineyards in Machipongo. Overlooking Church Creek, this historic farm boasts fields, woods and wetlands…and of course all those grapes. Chatham Vineyards is owned and operated by the Wehner family at historic Chatham Farm which has been a working farm for four centuries. The Wehner family’s commitment to stewardship is apparent in the abundance of wildlife to be seen here. Following the tour you’ll have the opportunity to stop in the tasting room and sample the award-winning wines produced at the Winery. Wines are available for purchase at the tasting room – so you can bring home some of your new favorites! Plan on a picnic lunch after your tour. Bring your own or contact the Vineyard (757) 678-5588 to make arrangements for a cheese platter. This 2.5-hour tour has a 20-person capacity. This trip requires a personal vehicle trip approximately 16 miles from the festival grounds.
Raptors, such as eagles, hawks and falcons, migrate down the Eastern Shore in great numbers. Since 1977, over 500,000 raptors have been recorded flying over Kiptopeke State Park. Join volunteers at Kiptopeke’s Birding Staging Shelter (wheelchair accessible) for a close-up visit with a newly banded raptor. The 1-hour program has a 30-person capacity. A 15-minute personal vehicle trip 10 miles south of the Festival grounds is required.
Kiptopeke State Park has an excellent butterfly garden where many species of butterflies are often observed. The 2-hour program has a 20-person capacity and will start at the Birding Staging Shelter. A 15-minute personal vehicle trip 10 miles south of the Festival grounds is required.
This site has a variety of habitats that host many migratory songbirds as well as butterflies, dragonflies and amphibians. With boardwalks and trails that traverse meadow habitat, maritime forest and a freshwater marsh and pond, this trip will provide for great diversity. The trail culminates with an overlook of the Chesapeake Bay. This 2-hour trip has a 20-person capacity and requires a 4 minute personal vehicle trip.
Eyre Hall, a Bayside tract of over 600 acres on Cherrystone Creek, has impressive habitat diversity. You will see open fields, mature forests, freshwater marshes and ponds, tidal mud flats, open saltwater and beaches. Eyre Hall was built in 1760 by the 5 times great-grandfather of the present owners on land he acquired in 1750. Birders are invited to tour the garden on their own after the hike. The garden is open daily free of charge. The 3-hour program has a 20-person capacity. A 20-minute personal vehicle trip 12 miles north of the Festival grounds is required.
