About WINGS Tours
The Company
We began in 1973 when Davis Finch and Will Russell formed Northeast Birding, an organization offering birdwatching trips under our own leadership. At first these were to places in the northeastern United States and adjacent Canada that we knew particularly well, but after some exploratory ventures our program was gradually enlarged to include tours to Alaska, Mexico, Central and South America, Europe and Asia. Rich Stallcup from California joined the company in 1977, giving us broader knowledge and better geographical balance, and the range of our tours has continued to expand. In February 1980 we concluded an agreement with a British bird tour organization, Sunbird, under which we offered a schedule of joint tours with each company taking primary responsibility for tours in its areas of competence. In July 1980 we formed WINGS, incorporating Northeast Birding and Will Russell Weekends. We purchased Sunbird in August 1982 and David Fisher was appointed director of our United Kingdom operations. In 1987 we moved our headquarters from Northeast Harbor, Maine, to Tucson, Arizona.
Sunbird
Certain tours listed in this catalog are organized by our British company, Sunbird. Their standards are identical to ours. Sunbird-organized tours are identified as such at the end of the tour text. Sunbird’s website can be found at www.sunbirdtours.co.uk.
The Trips
Our tours are planned as ones that we ourselves would like to go on, so they are very strongly oriented toward birds. All WINGS leaders have varied interests in natural history and other more or less closely related fields, but the timing and itinerary of our tours is dictated almost entirely by ornithological considerations. A certain few tours, however, are designed to combine serious birdwatching with other activities appropriate to the area, or even with simple relaxation, and these are clearly indicated as such.
Unless otherwise noted in the tour text, group size for the tours ranges from four to 16 people plus the leader(s). Very occasionally group sizes will be larger, as when high fixed-cost expenses such as chartered aircraft or boats require that larger groups be assembled to keep per-person costs within bounds.
If you have never taken a birding tour, you might want to look at our essay, Choosing a Birding Tour.
Reservations and Contact Information
Reservations for tours require a deposit of 10% of the tour cost per person of which $150 is non-refundable upon receipt. Certain tours such as Kenya and most cruises may have higher deposit requirements; participants will be notified of those deposit amounts when they register. Reservations with deposits are accepted in order of their receipt. Telephoned reservations are accepted provided they are followed by the appropriate deposit within 10 days. Reservations can be made on-line here.
Our telephone numbers are (888) 293-6443 (toll-free) and (520) 320-9868.
Our fax number is (520) 320-9373.
Our e-mail address is wings@wingsbirds.com
The office is staffed from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Mountain Standard Time, Monday through Friday, by Lauren Bosch, Greg Greene, Kris LaFleur and Kathi McIvor.
Our mailing address:
WINGS
1643 N. Alvernon, Suite 109
Tucson, Arizona 85712
Payment and Refunds
Invoices for the balance of the tour price will be mailed about 14 weeks (98 days) before the departure date. Payment is due upon receipt of our invoice. Refunds for tours are made according to the following schedule:
If notice of cancellation is received more than 14 weeks (98 days) before departure, the deposit, less $150, and any payments are refundable.
If notice of cancellation is received between 14 weeks (98 days) and 10 weeks (70 days) before departure, the deposit is not refundable but any payment covering the balance of the tour price will be returned. Please note that anyone canceling a Sunbird-organized tour outside of 70 days may also be subject to cancellation penalties for deposits or payments made on their behalf for air tickets or concert tickets.
If notice of cancellation is received 10 weeks (70 days) or fewer before departure, we will refund separable costs such as individual airline tickets or room charges, insofar as monies are returned to us by the providers of these services.
We cannot refund inseparable costs such as those for vehicle rental, leaders’ expenses or other fixed-cost services. In most cases the refundable portion will be less than 50% and often less than 25% of the tour price.
Please note that certain tours may have more restrictive cancellation policies. In such cases notification will be made at the time of registration.
Payment should be made in U.S. dollars by check, credit card (Mastercard or Visa), money order or bank transfer.
Travel Insurance
You may wish to consider purchasing travel insurance. It’s moderately expensive but it can give welcome protection to those for whom a health-related trip cancellation is a concern. Travel insurance also usually protects you in the event of your falling ill while on the tour (i.e., it will get you back home). Please note that most travel insurance companies require insurance be purchased no later than the day the initial deposit(s) are sent to the travel company, and please note as well that all policies have fairly restrictive conditions. Travel insurance information is available through most travel agencies.
What the Trip Price Includes
The price for tours includes all travel as noted in the itinerary, lodging in comfortable hotels/motels or their equivalent unless otherwise indicated, all meals unless otherwise noted, tour materials and the services of the leader(s). Routine tips for included meals, porters, drivers and other service providers are included.
The Single Occupancy Supplement listed for each tour provides a single room throughout the tour unless otherwise noted. Certain small lodges will not provide single rooms if they are heavily booked; these are listed in the “Notes” section of their respective tour itinerary. In such cases, the portion of the Single Occupancy Supplement applicable to the lodge or lodges will be refunded.
Unless a single room is specifically requested on your reservation form, all registrants will be assigned a suitable roommate. If a roommate is unavailable, a single room will be provided and the Single Occupancy Supplement assessed.
Baggage handling assistance is provided by our hotels or by the leader(s) unless otherwise noted.
The following items are not included in the tour price: passports, visas, departure taxes, immunizations, excess baggage charges, optional excursions, telephone calls, alcoholic beverages, laundry, room service, snacks and anything of a purely personal nature. If you have questions about the inclusion of any cost item, please contact us.
Trip Alterations
Changes in itinerary may occur even though our tours are carefully planned. If major changes are necessary before the start of the tour, participants will be informed and may withdraw without penalty if they so choose. Should a change of itinerary or mode of operation be forced upon us while the tour is in progress as, for example, by an airline strike, weather delay or political crisis, the additional costs, if any, are the responsibility of the participant. Please note that when two leaders are listed, the second may not accompany the tour if it is insufficiently subscribed.
Price Increases
Price increases may occur unexpectedly. In costing tours months in advance we try to anticipate the rising cost of airfares, ground transportation and lodging, but if unexpected increases occur we reserve the right to charge participants an increase of up to 10% of the tour price. If greater increases are necessary, participants may withdraw without penalty. The prices for 2009 tours organized by our British company, Sunbird, are based on an exchange rate of £1 = $2.00; note that tour invoices are prepared using the exchange rate in effect at the time of invoicing.
Restrictions on Participation
Restrictions on participation are a matter of common sense and we have no absolute ones. If you have a health problem or any physical limitation which may hamper or restrict your full involvement in any aspect of the tour, or about which we should be aware for your safety (e.g. walking difficulties, diabetes, asthma, angina, etc.), please advise us in detail and in writing at the time you reserve space. We will provide any information that you or your doctor may need to judge your capacity to participate fully in the tour and we may request a physician’s letter indicating that you are healthy enough to participate on the tour. We do not normally program strenuous physical exercise, but if it cannot be avoided the fact is made explicit in the tour description and in the general information sheets for the tour. Participants should be able to complete gentle walks of one-half day’s duration, ride in any seat in tour vehicles and meet the simple schedule of the tour. We reserve the right to send home persons unable or unwilling to conduct themselves in a manner compatible with the satisfactory operation of the tour.
Please note that we do not allow the collecting of plants or animals during the course of any tour.
Trip Cancellation
We reserve the right to cancel any tour or tour extension for which there are insufficient reservations 10 weeks (70 days) before the departure date. Undersubscribed Christmas tours may be cancelled 90 days before departure. In case of cancellation, all deposits and other payments for the tour or tour extension will be refunded. Participants should note that the cancellation of a tour’s pre-tour or post-tour extension does not alter their rights and obligations with respect to the core portion of the same tour.
Trip Materials
Past or prospective birdlists and general information sheets will be sent to each registrant on receipt of a deposit. Final tour information, meeting instructions, participant list and additional material, if any, will be mailed about three weeks before tour departure. A final tour report will be mailed to all participants upon the completion of each tour.
The Pace of Our Trips
Birdwatching involves some odd hours and at least a modest amount of physical activity, and we want all participants to understand fully what’s required. Birds are most active during the early hours and often we’ll have a pre-breakfast walk or an early breakfast before leaving for more distant points. All tours require gentle walking, sometimes for periods of up to six hours. Birdwatching is continuous, of course, and we rest as necessary. At times we climb hills, walk on uneven or wet terrain or push through vegetation. On tours with more than one leader we sometimes have “faster” and “slower” groups. Lunches are often picnics but sometimes we have a sit-down or “fast food” lunch. In warm climates we usually rest during the heat of the day, venturing forth again in mid- to late afternoon and returning to the hotel an hour or so before dinner. A birdlist is compiled most days, usually before or after dinner. Nightlife more adventurous than an after-dinner drink is seldom possible as we normally stay in hotels well away from commercial development.
All activities are optional within the general framework of the tour. We encourage and assist participants in the pursuit of personal aims if these do not conflict with the conduct of the tour. Persons with specific non-ornithological goals should contact WINGS before the tour to determine if they can be realized.
Most tour participants have been birdwatching for some time, and while their skills vary tremendously, they normally have binoculars, know how to use them and are familiar with at least the rudiments of how to watch birds. If you have never watched birds before, please contact us and we’ll suggest a few ways to prepare for your tour.
Travel to Point of Trip Departure
WINGS and Avenues to Travel would be happy to assist with your travel arrangements. If you would like their assistance, please contact Avenues to Travel at (800) 736-7320 or (520) 297-7320 and identify yourself as a WINGS client.
Assumption of Risk and Liability Release Agreement
While WINGS BIRDWATCHING TOURS, INC. spares no effort in its attempt to provide its clients and staff with a safe travel environment, we frequently travel to remote locations where medical care may be nonexistent or minimal, where the terrain may be rugged and unpeopled, and where local governments may respond very differently than our own. We expect our clients will take reasonable and prudent care for their own safety and will recognize that WINGS cannot guarantee anyone’s personal safety. For these reasons, we are only willing to provide you with the tour opportunity you have requested if you accept your personal responsibilities and release us from liability for your safety within the limits of the law by entering into the Assumption Of Risk And Liability Release Agreement that you will be sent at the time you register for a tour.
Download the Assumption Of Risk And Liability Release Agreement [PDF, 64KB].
Note: Information on this web site supersedes any materials concerning tour descriptions, itineraries, costs, etc., published or distributed prior to 1 July 2007.
Updated: September 2008