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John James Audubon spent his most formative years as an artist in Kentucky which, in 1807, he described as “a spot designed by nature to become a place of great importance.”

On this natural and cultural history tour we will follow in his footsteps during the region’s peak spring birding and wildflower season. The tour begins and ends in Louisville. Naturally, the primary focus is birding, with a Kentucky twang.

Tour Highlights:

• Spring migration: this tour is timed for peak spring bird migration with visits to specialized habitats, hoping for uncommon birds like Bobolink, Cerulean Warbler, Swainson’s Warbler and Henslow’s Sparrow
• Audubon State Park: superb birding in Ohio River Valley wildlife preserves and home to the largest collection of JJ Audubon’s works
• Mammoth Cave National Park: spring birding in a unique ecological setting, optional spelunking in America’s largest cave system
• Appalachia: birdy days in one of the oldest mountain ranges on earth
• Camp Nelson: great grassland birding at a unique Civil War monument
• Bourbon and fast horses: taste and experience what KY is famous for
• The Shakers: a stay at the historic Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill within 3,000 acres of beautifully conserved wildlife habitat

Transportation: 15 passenger van with back seat removed for luggage, etc.

Group size: Minimum 6, maximum 8 participants

Expedition fees for this (11 night / 12 day) trip:
$3450 per person USD based on double occupancy
$750 Single Supplement

What’s included?
Expedition fee includes all transportation, guide service, park fees, lodging and meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) from breakfast on May 10 to drop off by noon in Louisville at tours end. For those who book through Golden Gate Audubon Society’s Big Trips Committee an administrative fee will be sent to GGAS.

What is not included?
Participants will be responsible for their own air or ground transportation to and from Louisville. All meals and beverages are included with the exception of alcoholic beverages. Participants will also be responsible for travel insurance (if desired), personal laundry and any other personal items not included on the “What’s included” list above.

Trip Packet: a complete packet of information for this tour including conditions for participation will be sent to each registrant on receipt of their booking. The information contained herein will give a sense of what to expect if you join this trip.

Lodging: Whenever practical we select lodging that is immediately adjacent to natural features. Otherwise we stay at highly rated standard hotels. All rooms will have ensuite bathrooms with hot water; most have laundry facilities and internet access.

Meals: Breakfasts will be provided throughout the tour by hosts and lodges and vary from basic continental style to more elaborate multi-course meals. Lunches and dinners will be taken at local restaurants with an emphasis on regional cuisines: Southern style (many healthy options), BBQ, seafood, steakhouses, etc. Some lunches will be picnic style.

Guide Service: Your guides for this trip, Eddie Bartley & Noreen Weeden, have been leading Nature Trip tours since 2004. Eddie is a born and raised Kentuckian from a very large “outdoorsy” family. Birder friends from the Kentucky Ornithological Society will join us in areas where their local knowledge will optimize the experience.

See Brochure here