We offered this trip for the first time last year and it was a great success—so much so that we ended up running two trips. Winter birding in Minnesota can be extremely rewarding with both amazing birds and breathtaking scenery. This six-day itinerary focuses on owls as well as a variety of other species that call the boreal forest and Lake Superior their winter home. Starting in Minneapolis, the tour will target Long-eared, Northern Saw-Whet, and Great Horned Owls, all of which occur in this area but are not found further north. From there we’ll head up to Duluth for the next four nights. The incredible Sax-Zim Bog will be our focus for the next few days; it’s home to loads of our target species, such as Great Grey and Barred Owls, Northern Hawk-Owl, Pine and Evening Grosbeaks, Boreal Chickadee, Ruffed Grouse, Common Redpoll, and Canada Jay. In addition to this well-known USA birding site, the tour will explore the Duluth/Superior harbor for species such as Iceland and Glaucous Gulls, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser, and Long-tailed Duck. This is also the best tour location to find the coveted Snowy Owl to round out our owl targets for this trip. The bog and the lake are not the only birding destinations; we’ll  venture into Superior National Forest in search of both Black-backed and American Three-toed Woodpeckers and, with some luck, Spruce Grouse. After three full days exploring the area, we’ll pack up and leave Duluth to head back to the airport in Minneapolis. Extra birding may be possible on the final day, depending on flight times. This trip is limited to 7 people.

For a detailed trip report from last year’s trip, click here.

Price:
$2,890 per person, sharing 
Single supplement: $410

Questions? Contact GGBA Travel Coordinator Eric Schroeder at travelprogram@goldengatebirdalliance.org.

Ready to register?  Contact Eric first.  He will put you in touch with Birding Ecotours.

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This trip is led by the GGBA-beloved podcaster and guide Ivan Phillipsen of Wild Latitudes. Ivan was born and raised in southern California and is excited to take us to his old haunts.

The tour begins and ends in Palm Springs, in the Coachella Valley. This is the western edge of the Sonoran Desert—a landscape of sand dunes, cacti, dry flood channels, and boulder-strewn slopes. Surrounding the valley are the snow-dusted peaks of several mountain ranges. A fascinating mixture of birds, other vertebrates, insects, and desert plants awaits you in this unique environment.

Joshua Tree National Park / Ivan Phillipsen

Our exciting and educational journey will take us to nature hotspots across the Coachella Valley, through Joshua Tree National Park, to the shores of the Salton Sea, and into Anza Borrego Desert State Park. You’ll not only see wonderful birds on this trip, but you’ll also learn about desert ecosystems and the region’s fascinating geology.  Several of the most magnificent sites we’ll visit are lush desert oases, shaded by native California Fan Palms.

Some special birds we hope to find include Greater Roadrunner, Phainopepla, Verdin, Gambel’s Quail, Common Ground Dove, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Neotropic Cormorant, Burrowing Owl, Cactus Wren, Canyon Wren, Abert’s Towhee, and Black-throated Sparrow.

California Fan Palms in the Indian Canyons / Ivan Phillipsen

Canyon Wren / Ivan Phillipsen

And Ivan has added something new for this year’s trip—a trip up the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway into the wilderness of the San Jacinto Mountains. At 8,516 feet you’ll be high above the desert, surrounded by coniferous forest where we’ll look for some high-elevation species, including White-headed Woodpecker, Mountain Chickadee, and Clark’s Nutcracker. After an afternoon of birding, we’ll enjoy dinner at the tram’s Mountain Station before heading back to our hotel.

Wild Latitudes is offering us a very attractive price:
$2,375 per person
$585 single supplement

Questions?  Contact Dawn at travelprogram@goldengatebirds.org.

Ready to register?  Contact Dawn first.  She will register you and put you in contact with Wild Latitudes.…

The GGBA participants in our 2025 “Birds of Central Panama” trip were so enthralled with the Canopy experience that they asked the GGBA Travel Program to arrange a trip to Canopy Camp.  (See 2025 “Birds of Central Panama” in “PAST TRIPS”.)  Several members of the Central Panama trip are unable to make this Canopy Camp trip, so we are offering it to the entire GGBA membership.

Harpy Eagle – Peggy Steffens

Canopy Camp is situated in the lowlands of far eastern Panama, in the Darién province, near the end of the Pan-American Highway.  This is a birder’s paradise, but the biggest draw for birders is the Harpy Eagle – the world’s most formidable eagle!  Our trip is timed for the best chance at great looks at this impressive bird that has been extirpated from most of the areas where it was originally found!

Please check out the excellent description of Canopy Camp on the Canopy website:  Canopy Camp – The Canopy Family

ITINERARY: 
https://canopytower.com/our-tours/the-birds-of-the-canopy-camp-darien/#tabatab0
This itinerary includes the arrival night (Day #1) Feb 28, 2026 at the Riande Airport Hotel included in the package and then leaves the next morning at 7:30 a.m. for the 6-hr trip to the Canopy Camp. 
On your departure (Day #8)  March 07th, 2026 you will arrive in Panama City between 2:00pm – 3:00pm. Canopy Camp Tour ends at Riande Airport Hotel or at Tocumen Airport, we recommend overnight in an Airport Hotel or book a flight later than 6:00pm.

PRICE:
$3,860.10 per person in a Standard Tent (2 people)
$4,080.86 per person in a Deluxe Tent (2 people)
Single Supplement:  $1,190  ($170/day)

A few notes:
A Standard Tent is 173 sq ft.  There are 6 standard tents, each with 2 single beds.
A Deluxe Tent is 249 sq ft.  There are 2 deluxe tents, one with 2 single beds and the other with 1 queen bed.
For pictures of the tents:  Canopy Camp Accommodations

Have questions?  Ready to book?  Contact Dawn, not Canopy.
travelprogram@goldengatebirds.org

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